AP Top 25 (ND #11)

[Wingman Ray]

And I offer that win by Clemson over Auburn wasn't great. Auburn just lost to an LSU team that got owned all game by Troy. Not come from behind after losing all game like Miami this week but legitimately getting owned all game long.

Polls make zero sense. B10 loses to every OOC opponent with a pulse yet they stack the top 10 due to cupcake schedules and a week conference. Go figure.

I guess in the end it doesn't matter. ND beating USC, Stanford, Miami and NCS should show without a doubt that that have earned a chance to get bent over again by Bama.

 

[Fbolt]

The polls are based completely on biases this early in the season. After ND (13) plays USC (11), the U (8), and NC State (16), everyone, us crazy ND fans included, will have a good idea of where the Irish stand.

On field results, particularly against teams ranked in front of the Irish, will matter. In three weeks, biases will be put aside and the playoff committee will have made their initial selections. Results and committees can't ignore ND forever.

 

[Fbolt]

What the numbers tell us about this year's College Football Playoff contenders

 

[dwshade]

What the numbers tell us about this year's College Football Playoff contenders

ND wins out they should be a lock with that SOS.

 

[Fbolt]

Absolutely no doubt in my mind if ND wins out they'll be there. Impossible to ignore.

 

[phgreek]

And I offer that win by Clemson over Auburn wasn't great. Auburn just lost to an LSU team that got owned all game by Troy. Not come from behind after losing all game like Miami this week but legitimately getting owned all game long.

Polls make zero sense. B10 loses to every OOC opponent with a pulse yet they stack the top 10 due to cupcake schedules and a week conference. Go figure.

I guess in the end it doesn't matter. ND beating USC, Stanford, Miami and NCS should show without a doubt that that have earned a chance to get bent over again by Bama.

I freakin LMAO...mostly because it is the true. The futility in all of this poll discussion is, Alabama is going to ape rape whoever the hell shows up this year.

 

[tko]

I freakin LMAO...mostly because it is the true. The futility in all of this poll discussion is, Alabama is going to ape rape whoever the hell shows up this year.

The visual is amazing.

 

[dwshade]

I freakin LMAO...mostly because it is the true. The futility in all of this poll discussion is, Alabama is going to ape rape whoever the hell shows up this year.

They sure didn't last year.

 

[greyhammer90]

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2017-college-football-predictions/

Fun thing to play with. It has ND winning out with a 49% chance to get into the playoffs. Weirdly our odds actually go down if Alabama or OSU lose next week. On the other hand our odds go up if Georgia loses. Can't figure that out.

 

[GATTACA!]

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2017-college-football-predictions/

Fun thing to play with. It has ND winning out with a 49% chance to get into the playoffs. Weirdly our odds actually go down if Alabama or OSU lose next week. On the other hand our odds go up if Georgia loses. Can't figure that out.

Fake news

 

[phgreek]

They sure didn't last year.

...thats why I said "this year".

I thought Bama was 12 points better than Clemson the first time they went head to head. Last year I don't recall saying the same thing, because Bama didn't look like Bama. This year they look every bit the part as far as I can tell.

 

[Fbolt]

Like all the pollsters, everyone here has a bias for Bama. Their best win is against a decent 2 loss Tx A&M and FSU, who has a 2-3 record. They're good, and historically they've performed at a high level but who truly knows how good.

 

[NDdomer2]

Like all the pollsters, everyone here has a bias for Bama. Their best win is against a decent 2 loss Tx A&M and FSU, who has a 2-3 record. They're good, and historically they've performed at a high level but who truly knows how good.

This is a lot of the top 25 right now. From there what else do you have but returning roster and historical to go off ?

 

[STLDomer]

Their average margin of victory is 33 points.

They have a Top 5 scoring defense and Top 10 scoring offense.

They couldn’t do more than they have done if they tried. Curb stomped the SEC. Scheduled a Top 5 opponent out of conference.

 

[dwshade]

Outside of Bama and Georgia there isn't much to the SEC. Auburn decent. LSU, Texas A@M average at best. Rest of the league is below average.

 

[stlnd01]

We can sit here and talk shit about anybody, but Alabama has done nothing except win by large margins.

When teams like Clemson and Oklahoma are losing to teams like Syracuse and Iowa State, I'm not sure what more you can ask for than what 'Bama has done. Someone has to be ranked #1 and the only other team with even an argument right now is Georgia.

 

[NDRock]

We can sit here and talk shit about anybody, but Alabama has done nothing except win by large margins.

When teams like Clemson and Oklahoma are losing to teams like Syracuse and Iowa State, I'm not sure what more you can ask for than what 'Bama has done. Someone has to be ranked #1 and the only other team with even an argument right now is Georgia.

No kidding. I can’t believe anyone is trying to argue about Alabama’s resume. They are destroying people. They have the most talent and the best coach. They may get upset in the playoffs but they are clearly the best team at the halfway point of the season.

 

[dwshade]

We can sit here and talk shit about anybody, but Alabama has done nothing except win by large margins.

When teams like Clemson and Oklahoma are losing to teams like Syracuse and Iowa State, I'm not sure what more you can ask for than what 'Bama has done. Someone has to be ranked #1 and the only other team with even an argument right now is Georgia.

I agree that Bama is a clear #1 at this time but to think there aren't a few teams out there who could beat them in a single game isn't correct. Remember the Clemson team that beat them last year lost to Pitt at home and should have lost to NC State at home if not for a short missed FG at the end of the game. Without that miss Clemson doesn't even make the playoffs last year yet they went on the win the title.

 

[Irish YJ]

I do believe Bama is the clear number 1, and is a step above everyone else, but..... They haven't really played anyone either. Nobody in the current top 25. FSU were pretenders, and aren't even ranked now.

It will be interesting to see how PSU fares the next three games. If they go unscathed (I don't think they will), they will have the best resume IMO (not that they are the best). OSU is also turning it on and running over their opponents since the OK loss. I'd take them over OK if they played again right now. TCU IMO will drop 2 or 3 before the the year is over.

 

[STLDomer]

I do believe Bama is the clear number 1, and is a step above everyone else, but..... They haven't really played anyone either. Nobody in the current top 25. FSU were pretenders, and aren't even ranked now.

It will be interesting to see how PSU fares the next three games. If they go unscathed (I don't think they will), they will have the best resume IMO (not that they are the best). OSU is also turning it on and running over their opponents since the OK loss. I'd take them over OK if they played again right now. TCU IMO will drop 2 or 3 before the the year is over.

The rest of the country has played a Freshman QB FSU. Alabama played Deondre Francois FSU. I don’t believe that team were “pretenders”.

 

[Irish YJ]

The rest of the country has played a Freshman QB FSU. Alabama played Deondre Francois FSU. I don’t believe that team were “pretenders”.

DF was definitely a loss, but IMO his loss didn't break the team. The OL was hot trash last year. I don't watch many FSU games, but have two buds who follow them closely. They both pointed out to me that a team who has averaged pretty close to top 5 recruiting rankings the last 5 years, should have enough talent to overcome NC State, and not have close games regardless of QB with the likes of Wake and at home vs Duke. I especially got an earful about Duke last week.

Maybe pretenders is not the best word, but I will point out that Blackman has a better rating than BW... And ND is looking far better. He's thrown too many INTs, but his completion % is in the mid 60s I believe. And yes, Cook is gone, but they still have 4 or 5 top 10 (recruiting rankings) RBs on their team.

 

[Bishop2b5]

I agree that Bama is a clear #1 at this time but to think there aren't a few teams out there who could beat them in a single game isn't correct.

I'm a Bama alum and huge fan, but I agree with you 100% on this. I think we're the best team in the country, but we're not some unbeatable juggernaut by any means this year. I don't think we're as good this year as we were in '15 or '16. Definitely several teams - at least a dozen - who could beat us on any given day.

 

[ickythump1225]

I can't believe that anyone is arguing against Alabama. I have thought they were the clear #1 even before Clemson lost. Their schedule is their schedule, the kids on the team can't help who they play. They f**king beat Ole Miss by 63 points! They have been destroying everyone put before them. aTm held them closeish, that is what we have against Alabama. I'm certainly not a fan, but a spade is a spade.

 

[phgreek]

I'm a Bama alum and huge fan, but I agree with you 100% on this. I think we're the best team in the country, but we're not some unbeatable juggernaut by any means this year. I don't think we're as good this year as we were in '15 or '16. Definitely several teams - at least a dozen - who could beat us on any given day.

Your team, and it is only the midpoint, so maybe there are teams that can beat them...yea anybody can be upset...just having a hard time picturing a team I'd even think about picking straight up to beat 'Bama right now. I do disagree with this team < 2016. My 5000ft view is, this team is as strong in the trenches, maybe a little weaker in pass rush across the board, but better in the secondary, clearly more focused, and the QB/offense is more experienced. They don't seem to chuck it around a lot...shrug, but why would ya?

 

[ACamp1900]

Talk of, 'if we win out we are locks...' is pretty much theND version of The Ides of March..

 

[Irish#1]

Just beat USC and we'll climb to #9 or #10.

 

[stlnd01]

I agree that Bama is a clear #1 at this time but to think there aren't a few teams out there who could beat them in a single game isn't correct.

Of course. It's college football. Crazy shit happens every week. That's kind of the whole point. Alabama may well lose to someone, despite all their talent and Saban's remarkable job of grinding out the inconsistencies and unpredictability inherent in a team full of 20-year-olds. Nearly everybody loses to someone.
But is there anyone you would actually pick to beat Alabama head-to-head this Saturday on a neutral field?

 

[Blaise]

Just beat USC and we'll climb to #9 or #10.

thinking the same thing... We love to argue about this stuff, but historically, ND will lose this game and the pitch forks for Kelly will be back out... I want to see us win the next two weeks before I break down SOS and who other 1 loss teams best wins or losses are...

 

[BobbyMac]

I can't believe that anyone is arguing against Alabama. I have thought they were the clear #1 even before Clemson lost. Their schedule is their schedule, the kids on the team can't help who they play. They f**king beat Ole Miss by 63 points! They have been destroying everyone put before them. aTm held them closeish, that is what we have against Alabama. I'm certainly not a fan, but a spade is a spade.

There are 2 main factors in ranking teams.

1) eye test

2) current resume

Before Clemson lost, they had a much better resume and the game before the current resume started, they beat Bama which right or wrong gets tacked onto the current resume. How can you be shocked enough voters thought Clemson deserved to be #1 until they lost given their SOS or until Bama did something to vault them into #1... ex: beating a 10-1 Auburn on the road by 28?

 

[IrishLion]

Bama is a machine, and they probably won't lose a game this year.

I don't see any team that has a chance at beating them, with the exception of UGA (dat defense) and maybe Ohio State if the Buckeyes offense keeps rolling. And even then, I still think Bama would end up stomping those two.

As for ND, just win, baby.

The entirety of the national media is starting to latch on to the "if ND wins out against that second-half schedule..."

I don't think we're going to win out (ducks for cover). There is no breathing room. BUT if we do, we'll be in the playoff IMO. We would need a bit of help, but not a miracle.

Washington and Wazzu both losing clears the way to get in over a one-loss Pac12 champ. If ND wins out, even if one of those teams ends up at 12-1, ND's resume is far superior.

Ohio State is my bet to win the B1G at 12-1, and they would be in the playoff.

ACC champion Clemson would give 1-loss ND some issues with their resume if they can still end up at 12-1. ACC champion Miami would be wayyyyyy cooler.

I assume the eventual Big XII champ will have at least one loss, because it's the Big XII. Something dumb will happen to TCU at some point, and Oklahoma already has a loss. The problem is if Oklahoma and Ohio State win out, then Oklahoma's win is better than ND's best win, and their loss won't matter anymore.

Let's assume Bama wins the SEC over UGA... I think ND would be in over 12-1 UGA if UGA gets run out of the stadium. If UGA plays it to a one-score game, and loses on the last possession, then it's dicey.

1. Bama
2. Ohio State
3. ND/Clemson/Oklahoma/UGA
4. ND/Clemson/Oklahoma/UGA

An ND that wins out needs Clemson to lose another game and still win the ACC, or else they need Miami to beat Clemson in the ACC 'chip.

They then need Oklahoma to get beat again, or for UGA to get stomped in the SEC 'chip.


It's fun to speculate, even if there's a <10% chance that ND wins out.