AP Top 25 (ND #11)

[dublinirish]

I'm more concerned with USC and Stanford than Miami. I know the U has talent, but they still haven't beaten anyone. They barely beat a 1-2 FSU. I haven't watched any of their games so maybe I'm missing the eye test.

they are average enough on offense but they got a group of tall receivers that could cause ND's corners problems

 

[wizards8507]

I'm more concerned with USC and Stanford than Miami. I know the U has talent, but they still haven't beaten anyone. They barely beat a 1-2 FSU. I haven't watched any of their games so maybe I'm missing the eye test.

Have you watched any USC? They're not good.

 

[IrishLion]

Have you watched any USC? They're not good.

I have watched some. I think their offense could be balanced enough to cause us problems. Their RB's are legit, and Darnold is capable of catching fire and testing our corners down the field if he's on his game.

HOWEVER. We finally have a front-four on defense that's capable of causing some chaos without extra help, which in-turn maximizes the effect of our blitzes when we DO send extra help, AND we have one of the best d-coordinators in the country and he's got two weeks to study/prepare.

The defense will be in the right spots and make some plays. The question is if Heisman-Hype Darnold shows up and makes plays anyway, and if our offense can run the ball better than they did against UGA.

 

[stlnd01]

Future games that worry me, ranked:

NC State
Miami
USC
Stanford
Navy
Wake

 

[zelezo vlk]

I will continue to be pissed about Wisconsin in the top-10 until they finally lose like the frauds they are, or until the playoff committee drops them out of the top-10 because of their shit schedule.

Their best win is UTAH STATE. LOL WUT.

They haven't played anyone, and they WON'T play anyone except scUM (who might not be good), and then whoever comes out of the other half of the B1G for a conference championship.

Most fraudulent top-10 team ever?

You have described pretty much every Sconny season

 

[dublinirish]

You have described pretty much every Sconny season

indeed, their NC scheduling is notoriously pathetic

2017
09/01 - Utah State
09/09 - Florida Atlantic
09/16 - at BYU

2018
09/01 - Western Kentucky
09/08 - New Mexico
09/15 - BYU

2019
08/31 - at USF
09/07 - Central Michigan
10/05 - Kent State

Them scheduling those two games vs ND is actually a huge departure for them.

 

[zelezo vlk]

indeed, their NC scheduling is notoriously pathetic

2017
09/01 - Utah State
09/09 - Florida Atlantic
09/16 - at BYU

2018
09/01 - Western Kentucky
09/08 - New Mexico
09/15 - BYU

2019
08/31 - at USF
09/07 - Central Michigan
10/05 - Kent State

Them scheduling those two games vs ND is actually a huge departure for them.

I was being a little facetious; shitting on Wisconsin is just my thing. They did play LSU last year, but Wisconsin plays a pretty damn easy schedule, doesn't even go undefeated, goes to the Rose Bowl, gets embarrassed by Oregon or Stanford. They're alright with a lot of Rose Bowl appearances, but I wouldn't be. That's why people clamoring for Bielema and giving the Badgers love has always surprised me: they're solidly tier 2, and never more than that.

 

[BobbyMac]

Can we stahp with this already? You're arguing over whether Finebaum is right or wrong over something he never said. Nobody said "ND controls its own destiny." Some blogger at 24/7 misquoted Finebaum.

Who cares, that's not the point now. If you wanna regulate, go to the Trump thread.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I'm more concerned with USC and Stanford than Miami. I know the U has talent, but they still haven't beaten anyone. They barely beat a 1-2 FSU. I haven't watched any of their games so maybe I'm missing the eye test.

Um, disagree. I think we are capable of beating anyone on our schedule but Miami looks for real.

USC is hot and cold. If they put together a complete game, we are in for a death match.

Stanford always plays tough so we have to be tougher.

NC State is still scary as well.

 

[ND NYC]

for now let's just beat SC

 

[greyhammer90]

It's very interesting that FPI has us as favorites for every game except Miami and Stanford. The Miami thing doesn't surprise me, but the Stanford one does. Especially considering that we are projected to win against USC 76% of the time.

 

[Irish#1]

I have watched some. I think their offense could be balanced enough to cause us problems. Their RB's are legit, and Darnold is capable of catching fire and testing our corners down the field if he's on his game.

HOWEVER. We finally have a front-four on defense that's capable of causing some chaos without extra help, which in-turn maximizes the effect of our blitzes when we DO send extra help, AND we have one of the best d-coordinators in the country and he's got two weeks to study/prepare.

The defense will be in the right spots and make some plays. The question is if Heisman-Hype Darnold shows up and makes plays anyway, and if our offense can run the ball better than they did against UGA.

Yep

 

[Dizzyphil]

It's very interesting that FPI has us as favorites for every game except Miami and Stanford. The Miami thing doesn't surprise me, but the Stanford one does. Especially considering that we are projected to win against USC 76% of the time.

Away games?

 

[ab2cmiller]

Pat Forde Ranks the "Top 5" one loss teams. (video)

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/ranking-college-footballs-one-loss-195411198.html

Couldn't get video to embed

5. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
3. USC
2. Auburn
1. Notre Dame

 

[notredomer23]

Pat Forde Ranks the "Top 5" one loss teams. (video)

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/ranking-college-footballs-one-loss-195411198.html

Couldn't get video to embed

5. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
3. USC
2. Auburn
1. Notre Dame

 

[IrishLion]

It appears that most of the national writers are actually looking at schedules and realizing that ND is beating the dogshit out of power-5 competition.

 

[koonja]

Pat Forde Ranks the "Top 5" one loss teams. (video)

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/ranking-college-footballs-one-loss-195411198.html

Couldn't get video to embed

5. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
3. USC
2. Auburn
1. Notre Dame

He ranks ND as the #1, 1-loss team? Or am I reading this wrong?

Would be pleasantly surprised by that.

 

[zelezo vlk]

He ranks ND as the #1, 1-loss team? Or am I reading this wrong?

Would be pleasantly surprised by that.

Yes. As of now, Pat Forde thinks that ND is the best 1-loss team

 

[ab2cmiller]

He ranks ND as the #1, 1-loss team? Or am I reading this wrong?

Would be pleasantly surprised by that.

Yes he ranks them at the top. He announced them in reverse order on the video, so I put them in that order.

If you are uncertain, you could always click on the link that I provided. LOL

 

[koonja]

Yes he ranks them at the top. He announced them in reverse order on the video, so I put them in that order.

If you are uncertain, you could always click on the link that I provided. LOL

blocked at work.

 

[BobbyMac]

Love it and I don't have a problem with his pick. ND has a better W while Auburn's L is better because it was on the road at the #1 team in the country (per resume). I still lean towards Auburn being the #1, 1 loss team because they control their destiny. As good as ND's remaining slate is, Auburn's is better because if they win out, they would have beaten @LSU, @A&M, UGA, Bama and then UGA (my guess) again in Atlanta. 12-1 with two W's over the team that beat you and Bama sounds like a death sentence from here.

Question then is... Would ND get voted in over Bama if a 1 loss team was in play? ND's schedule could look better than Bama's come December.

 

[greyhammer90]

Question then is... Would ND get voted in over Bama if a 1 loss team was in play? ND's schedule could look better than Bama's come December.

Noooooooooooooooooope.

Bama would have to lose two for ND to get in regardless of schedule. The dynasty and SEC favorability versus recent 4-8.

We're not going 6-0 anyways so I don't know why we're all getting our hopes up.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Noooooooooooooooooope.

Bama would have to lose two for ND to get in regardless of schedule. The dynasty and SEC favorability versus recent 4-8.

We're not going 6-0 anyways so I don't know why we're all getting our hopes up.

Go back to NDNation you coward!

 

[greyhammer90]

Go back to NDNation you coward!

Schedule's brutal yo. If we go 5-1 I'll be extremely impressed.

 

[BobbyMac]

Noooooooooooooooooope.

Bama would have to lose two for ND to get in regardless of schedule. The dynasty and SEC favorability versus recent 4-8.

We're not going 6-0 anyways so I don't know why we're all getting our hopes up.

Because ND's not out of it. And as long as they're in it... I'm livin la vida loca.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Schedule's brutal yo. If we go 5-1 I'll be extremely impressed.

I agree, which will make running the table even more impressive.

I don't want to see ND get blown out in the postseason again, so I'm more than okay with 5-1 if it comes with a bowl game against a team like 2015 Iowa. That'd be so sweet

 

[IrishLion]

Schedule's brutal yo. If we go 5-1 I'll be extremely impressed.

If we go 5-1, that means we only lost one game between USC, NC State, Miami, Stanford and Navy... the only loss that would "look" bad would be Navy, but they may very well be 9-0 or 8-1 heading into the game against ND, and it also means you beat the other good opponents.

If ND is 10-2 after the back-half of the schedule, we've got a legit good squad on our hands, and one that should finally be able to compete with one of the big dogs in a NY6 game.

 

[zelezo vlk]

If we go 5-1, that means we only lost one game between USC, NC State, Miami, Stanford and Navy... the only loss that would "look" bad would be Navy, but they may very well be 9-0 or 8-1 heading into the game against ND, and it also means you beat the other good opponents.

If ND is 10-2 after the back-half of the schedule, we've got a legit good squad on our hands, and one that should finally be able to compete with one of the big dogs in a NY6 game.

I can't wait to see the best D lineman break his foot and his replacement be sent home before the big game against Ohio State again.

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

If we go 5-1, that means we only lost one game between USC, NC State, Miami, Stanford and Navy... the only loss that would "look" bad would be Navy, but they may very well be 9-0 or 8-1 heading into the game against ND, and it also means you beat the other good opponents.

If ND is 10-2 after the back-half of the schedule, we've got a legit good squad on our hands, and one that should finally be able to compete with one of the big dogs in a NY6 game.

Has Elko coached against Navy? I feel like we can put a old school beat down on them this year for some reason. I want to drop 50 on them.

 

[NDWorld247]

Love it and I don't have a problem with his pick. ND has a better W while Auburn's L is better because it was on the road at the #1 team in the country (per resume). I still lean towards Auburn being the #1, 1 loss team because they control their destiny. As good as ND's remaining slate is, Auburn's is better because if they win out, they would have beaten @LSU, @A&M, UGA, Bama and then UGA (my guess) again in Atlanta. 12-1 with two W's over the team that beat you and Bama sounds like a death sentence from here.

Question then is... Would ND get voted in over Bama if a 1 loss team was in play? ND's schedule could look better than Bama's come December.

I don't agree with the bolded statement above. Auburn's offense was abysmal in their loss to Clemson. They gained 20 total yards in the 2nd half! Total game stats = 79 yards passing and 38 yards rushing. ND had 211 yards passing and 55 yards rushing against a statistically better defense, and was in a position to win for most of the game. ND wasn't over-matched. Auburn was.

I think ND has the best loss in the country. Does that make ND the best 1-loss team? I don't think so. I also think the Playoff Selection Committee has proven quality wins > best loss and I'm concerned with ND's quality wins when the dust settles in December. We may not have a win against a team better than 9-3 when all is said and done.