BCS Rankings: 2012

[woolybug25]

You know who's been pissing me off lately? Matt Hinton. In this article, he basically writes the Irish off as unworthy based solely on the Pitt game and the eyeball test (while KSU gets a pass for playing Missouri State and North Texas, and needing a 4th and goal stop to squeek past ISU).

Then he had the gall to RT the following from Dodd:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The laziest term in sports is "eye test".</p>— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs/status/268801569481424896" data-datetime="2012-11-14T19:44:22+00:00">November 14, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The bigger question is who would win in a fight between these two momma's boys?

Matt "the lemming" Hinton

vs

Dennis "the bandwagon jumper" Dodd

Since any fight worth watching, is of course drawn on "prison rules", I give the edge to the shape-shifting Dodd. Hinton would follow along with all of the other guys telling him that he is the younger and more athletic fighter and completely buy into it. His confidence will not only be through the roof, but ultimately his demise. Dodd would play coy and agree with all of the onlookers. But at the last second, when timing is perfect... he will pull out his home-made shank and promptly stick into Hinton's weak and fragile spine.

Dodd for the win... and the glory.

 

[Black Irish]

I find it strange that Dodd, of all people, is on our side. This guy has been a consistent ND hater (as late as this preseason) for as long as I can remember.

My hope, besides Oregon and/or Kansas State losing in the next week or two, is that this "Notre Dame is getting hosed argument" will gain some steam. As much as the hate against the Irish is strong, equally strong is the cultural tendency to root for the underdog. Bizarre as it seems, one of the most storied programs in college football history is being perceived as the underdog. People generally believe in fairness, or some approximation of it. Also, people don't like forgone conclusions; they're boring. Just handing the BCS game to Oregon and KSU as long as they both win out is dullsville.

Plenty of ND fans didn't dare hope for better than 8-4 this season, and the haters had us not faring better than 6-6. A 12-0 Fighting Irish team is too big to ignore. Sure, they've struggled at times, but there are plenty of impressive stats on Notre Dame's side, extensively listed by previous posters. I think that as long as Kelly and company take care of business, the Irish will start to get a closer look from all the but the most dyed-in-the-wool Irish haters. America loves an underdog, and right now, Notre Dame is fitting that bill. It's a long Irish tradition to turn negatives into positives. My glass of green Kool-aid is half full. I give our boys a better-than-avergae shot to go undefeated and play for the crystal trophy.

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

Not sure how Dodd gets away with comparing WV and Stanford as equals in SOS...Stanford is the much better team. I might give him MSU/WV comparison, but wins over Stanford and Michigan are much better wins than WV, or Texas tech, or OK state...

 

[BurningRiver]

Rooting for undefeated Notre Dame - Grantland

I stopped reading that as soon as he called Notre Dame's defense "solid"

 

[ACamp1900]

This just in,...

If Notre dame were to play KSU or Oregon we already know they would get crushed.-per ESPN

Not really breaking news though since they have been screaming the same crap all week

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

This just in: ESPN found a way to get Bama back into the national title conversation...apparently we're required to wear these this weekend:

 

[MaynardVideo]

This just in,...

If Notre dame were to play KSU or Oregon we already know they would get crushed.-per ESPN

Not really breaking news though since they have been screaming the same crap all week

Surprisingly... Kirk Herbstreit, of all people, said today that we could go toe to toe against either team.

 

[woolybug25]

Surprisingly... Kirk Herbstreit, of all people, said today that we could go toe to toe against either team.

Kirk has actually been pretty consistent on giving us props since the OU game.

 

[Grahambo]

Not sure how Dodd gets away with comparing WV and Stanford as equals in SOS...Stanford is the much better team. I might give him MSU/WV comparison, but wins over Stanford and Michigan are much better wins than WV, or Texas tech, or OK state...

That's only if your being nice. haha

The difference between WVU and MSU big IMO. WVU has the offense and MSU has the defense. In the 5 combined losses for MSU, they have lost by a combined 27 points. WVU has lost by at least 27 twice while also losing by 21 once and losing to TCU in 2OT.

So to recap: In 5 losses MSU has lost by a combined 27 points. In 4 losses WVU has lost by a combined 98 points.

A recycled stat but still relevant: ND has played 5 Top 20 defenses this season.

 

[PraetorianND]

Surprisingly... Kirk Herbstreit, of all people, said today that we could go toe to toe against either team.

He's been saying that for the past half season or so. He's pretty high on ND actually.

 

[Grahambo]

Kirk has actually been pretty consistent on giving us props since the OU game.

The past few years Herbie has been pretty good about ND.

 

[woolybug25]

The past few years Herbie has been pretty good about ND.

He said that we had a "high school defense" just last season.

 

[PraetorianND]

That's only if your being nice. haha

The difference between WVU and MSU big IMO. WVU has the offense and MSU has the defense. In the 5 combined losses for MSU, they have lost by a combined 27 points. WVU has lost by at least 27 twice while also losing by 21 once and losing to TCU in 2OT.

So to recap: In 5 losses MSU has lost by a combined 27 points. In 4 losses WVU has lost by a combined 98 points.

A recycled stat but still relevant: ND has played 5 Top 20 defenses this season.

Clearly nobody around here cares about defense. It's all about how many points you put on the board.

Oh my bad, that's basketball....

 

[ACamp1900]

Carter is a massive hater... ND is basically a total joke and barely beat BC... But the second someone says anything about the SEC he whines about 'haters'... If he weren't so big I'd love to meet him in person... Lol

 

[PraetorianND]

So basically I'm reading that if we get left out of the NCG we're going to the Rose Bowl to play the Big 10 champion?

That would suck so many nutz. The Big10 is already getting crapped on for being weak so worse case scenario we lose and everyone writes us off again. Best case scenario we win and nobody cares because it's the Big10 and they're down this year(decade).

If we don't get to the NCG I'd much rather play Bama or LSU so we can get some street cred for beating an SEC team (not that there won't be a ton of excuses why we beat them if we do).

 

[PraetorianND]

.

 

[Grahambo]

He said that we had a "high school defense" just last season.

I don't recall. Maybe I just have selective listening ability.

 

[PraetorianND]

Worst case scenario at this point is probably Rose Bowl v. Nebraska or Fiesta Bowl v. Oklahoma. I'd rather go to the Rosebowl, because: (1) it's rare for the Pac-12's champ to end up in the NCG with none of its other teams being eligible; and (2) we'd crush Nebraska, which would be a nice final "F*ck you" to the B1G as we transition into the ACC and look forward to dropping Michigan.

Is there any way we could play either LSU or Bama? I'd rather play a 1 loss Bama or LSU than a 2 or 3 loss Big10 team.

 

[ACamp1900]

I would love to play Nebraska in the Rose... Thing is though, they aren't a gimmie, and they are also maybe the only fan base in the country that would without question out travel ND

 

[Emcee77]

My dream scenario, if we don't make it to the NCG, is that we play a one-loss SEC team and beat them. Nothing says you've arrived like beating an SEC team.

 

[STLDomer]

Whether we beat a Big 10 team (Nebraska/Wisconsin) or an SEC team (Alabama/UGA/Texas A&M), there will still be haters.

 

[woolybug25]

Whether we beat a Big 10 team (Nebraska/Wisconsin) or an SEC team (Alabama/UGA/Texas A&M), there will still be haters.

It will be very hard for a rational person of any level to "hate" on Notre Dame if we beat, say.... Alabama in the National Title game.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

BCS selection procedures

Scroll down to "Team selection procedures"... very informative.

 

[Emcee77]

Well, haters gonna hate, I guess. Even if we beat Alabama in a bowl game, people will say they were a two-loss team that was having an off year (for Alabama).

That's the the problem with winning games in college football ... after you win everyone just assumes that the team you beat wasn't that good to start with. Or at least that seems to happen to us. It's so frustrating.

 

[STLDomer]

It will be very hard for a rational person of any level to "hate" on Notre Dame if we beat, say.... Alabama in the National Title game.

Agreed but there are many irrational "analysts" in the media these days

 

[ACamp1900]

The hate, in terms of ND sucks kind of hate, will not be cured it a single season... But if ND does this say four out of the next five years... Then it'll just be hate.

 

[gkIrish]

My dream scenario, if we don't make it to the NCG, is that we play a one-loss SEC team and beat them. Nothing says you've arrived like beating an SEC team.

Didn't really help Michigan State

 

[ACamp1900]

Screw the south, they want to play ND they leave the south... That how I feel about it.

 

[PraetorianND]

Very unlikely, because the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl pick before the Sugar Bowl.

If the Rose and Fiesta selection committees inexplicably decide to pass on a 12-0 or 11-1 Irish team, we could face an SEC team in the Sugar Bowl. Or if both KSU and OU lose, we could meet 'Bama or UGA in the title game.

Could ND turn down the Rose Bowl/Fiesta in hopes of getting the Sugar Bowl? Would we even do that?

 

[DillonHall]

The Rose Bowl would be a special opportunity, regardless of the opposing team.