Bowl Predictions 2019

[NDMontana]

Is there any possibility that ND could end up in a bowl game against Michigan?

 

[stlnd01]

Is there any possibility that ND could end up in a bowl game against Michigan?

I guess it'd be possible if they beat Ohio State and Auburn beats Bama, enabling Michigan to jump ahead of both Bama and Florida and land in the Orange Bowl. Then we somehow persuade the ACC to abdicate the Orange Bowl tie-in for their No. 2. team and give it to us. And all involved overcome the aversion to bowl game rematches.

So, I wouldn't count on it.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

Is there any possibility that ND could end up in a bowl game against Michigan?

Theoretically we could meet in the Pinstripe Bowl if both teams tanked, but they try to avoid rematches.

 

[GATTACA!]

I'm still not all-in for Conference Champion AQ's. It does nothing to raise the stakes/competition to show off to the committee. They would still schedule FCS/cupcakes and their only goal is to win the conference so they can go to the CFP. The only thing they have to worry about with the committee is seeding but they are still in the dance.

It hasn't happened yet and I'm sure it will most likely never will but FCS team matchups need to be abolished. I'm more of a fan going with the best 8 overall regardless of conference rather than AQs.

I'm fine with conference auto bids as long as there are guidelines. You should have to be top 10 at the end of the year and no worse than 10-2.

#1 is possible, but I'll believe Stanford when I see it. Seems highly impossible #2 occurs. I also don't think Georgia loses to A&M in #3, but LSU should win. Alabama probably still beats Auburn for #4. #5 and #6 are probably rock solid givens, but #7 seems like a stretch again.

I think we're better off staying out of the NY6 this year, on the other hand it feels like the offense has turned a corner and is somewhat healthy (OL aside) for the first time all year. Maybe Book and company faces an LSU-lite team like the end of the 2017 season and gets some strong momentum heading into 2020. I'd be okay with that.

Looking at the scenarios that get us in I think this year is the year we want to be in because we might actually get a matchup we could win.

 

[Ndaccountant]

My point has nothing really to do with where they are or how it sits in relation to ND... My point is they are another prime example of a shit schedule taking a pretty average team in the SEC and making them look top ten... they are not anywhere near a top ten team imo but when over half your schedule is a guaranteed win then hey...

Okay, but then who between UF and ND do you think is more deserving?

Baylor? Wisky? Michigan?

Personally, their spot doesn't bother me. I really think that outside the top 5 teams, there is basically a bunch of good, not great teams. Some have better wins than others, some have better losses. But when push comes to shove, I don't think you can really say that anyone of those teams behind them should be immediately ahead.

Conversely, not sure there is one thing you can point to that says they should be ahead, other than they lost to 2 of the top 4 teams. Then you have the problem of circular arguments w/r/t Michigan and Wisky. You can't put Mich ahead of Wisky until Wisky loses again. Likewise, you can't put ND ahead of UM. But I don't think anyone would say that Wisky is more deserving than UF. Personally, that is the only reason why I think they are probably in the right spot.

The only ranking that bothers me is Auburn.

 

[SouthernIndianaNDFan]

Florida has basically the mirror record/resume that ND does. They played Georgia close, they have one win against a decent opponent (Auburn), and the rest were mediocre, at best. I feel like ND should be right where Florida is, I'm confident that ND would beat Florida on a neutral field, and I honestly think the margin would be 10-13 points.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Did y'all see that Belk will stop sponsoring the Belk Bowl in the future?

 

[beryirish]

Did y'all see that Belk will stop sponsoring the Belk Bowl in the future?

So it's just gonna be called The Bowl now?

 

[IrishLax]

So it's just gonna be called The Bowl now?

It's going to be called THE Bowl and only Ohio State can play in it.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Did y'all see that Belk will stop sponsoring the Belk Bowl in the future?

Been hoping TAMU would end up there soon so I could make a "Mike Belko" joke. Alas...

 

[zelezo vlk]

Been hoping TAMU would end up there soon so I could make a "Mike Belko" joke. Alas...

Yeah they were there in 2017, right before the Elko era

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

It's going to be called THE Bowl and only Ohio State can play in it.

Shouldn't it be spelled "Thee Ohio State University" instead of "The Ohio State University"? I mean, at least that's how those idiots pronounce it.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Florida has basically the mirror record/resume that ND does. They played Georgia close, they have one win against a decent opponent (Auburn), and the rest were mediocre, at best. I feel like ND should be right where Florida is, I'm confident that ND would beat Florida on a neutral field, and I honestly think the margin would be 10-13 points.

I disagree. I think we would have our hands full with Florida.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Florida has basically the mirror record/resume that ND does. They played Georgia close, they have one win against a decent opponent (Auburn), and the rest were mediocre, at best. I feel like ND should be right where Florida is, I'm confident that ND would beat Florida on a neutral field, and I honestly think the margin would be 10-13 points.

There is one massive difference.

UF 28
LSU 42

ND 14
UM 45


LSU > UM

Other than that, I agree with your comparison on the resume.

 

[ickythump1225]

I disagree. I think we would have our hands full with Florida.

I don't think ND would move the ball on their defense. Florida's offense is erratic so that would be why the game remained close. If Trask played like he did for 90% of the LSU game, when he subbed in against KY, or other stretches of the season I think Florida would roll ND. If he plays like he did against UGA or the first half of Missouri it would stay close. Florida had the lead in the second half against LSU and played them close the entire way through. It was only a 2 TD margin at the end after a turnover in the end zone.

 

[IrishLax]

This Oregon upset potentially has a major impact on ND’s situation. If Utah wins the PAC12 but doesn’t get in the playoffs that drastically increases ND’s chances of playing in a NY6 game.

Bottom line — both Oregon and Utah are comically overranked right now in the CFP standings. Utah has ZERO quality wins. Oregon has likewise done nothing. The committee was looking for an excuse to put a PAC12 team in but that’s very hard to justify now.

Meanwhile, VT will be ranked. Navy just beat #25 SMU. ND’s SOS is soaring. Will they get credit? I doubt it.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

This Oregon upset potentially has a major impact on ND’s situation. If Utah wins the PAC12 but doesn’t get in the playoffs that drastically increases ND’s chances of playing in a NY6 game.



Bottom line — both Oregon and Utah are comically overranked right now in the CFP standings. Utah has ZERO quality wins. Oregon has likewise done nothing. The committee was looking for an excuse to put a PAC12 team in but that’s very hard to justify now.



Meanwhile, VT will be ranked. Navy just beat #25 SMU. ND’s SOS is soaring. Will they get credit? I doubt it.

And don’t forget Louisville is now 7-4 with a legit shot to be 8-4 if they beat instate rival Kentucky next week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dad4aa]

This Oregon upset potentially has a major impact on ND’s situation. If Utah wins the PAC12 but doesn’t get in the playoffs that drastically increases ND’s chances of playing in a NY6 game.

Bottom line — both Oregon and Utah are comically overranked right now in the CFP standings. Utah has ZERO quality wins. Oregon has likewise done nothing. The committee was looking for an excuse to put a PAC12 team in but that’s very hard to justify now.

Meanwhile, VT will be ranked. Navy just beat #25 SMU. ND’s SOS is soaring. Will they get credit? I doubt it.

I agree with all of this Lax, but how do you put Bama in? They have an equally week schedule. If Utah wins out they have a better record, conference championship and a win over a top 10-15 Oregon.

 

[IrishLax]

I agree with all of this Lax, but how do you put Bama in? They have an equally week schedule. If Utah wins out they have a better record, conference championship and a win over a top 10-15 Oregon.

What about the edge case where Georgia beats LSU?

 

[ACamp1900]

Keeping bama out >>>>>>>>ND getting a NY6

 

[calvegas04]

Utah has ZERO quality wins.

And Bama has any quality wins? Utah is doing what needs to be done to get in.

 

[ickythump1225]

This Oregon upset potentially has a major impact on ND’s situation. If Utah wins the PAC12 but doesn’t get in the playoffs that drastically increases ND’s chances of playing in a NY6 game.

Bottom line — both Oregon and Utah are comically overranked right now in the CFP standings. Utah has ZERO quality wins. Oregon has likewise done nothing. The committee was looking for an excuse to put a PAC12 team in but that’s very hard to justify now.

Meanwhile, VT will be ranked. Navy just beat #25 SMU. ND’s SOS is soaring. Will they get credit? I doubt it.

But Bama is likewise comically overranked. Everyone said the same thing about PSU. Some say it about OK. I mean you have to draw the line somewhere. Utah has been playing some really great ball the past 6 weeks. Also their loss to USC doesn't look so bad anymore.

 

[IrishLax]

And Bama has any quality wins? Utah is doing what needs to be done to get in.

Utah has a loss to a mediocre team, Alabama does not. And Utah’s SOS is significantly worse than Bama’s.

 

[ickythump1225]

Keeping bama out >>>>>>>>ND getting a NY6

This x10000

 

[ACamp1900]

Utah has a loss to a mediocre team, Alabama does not. And Utah’s SOS is significantly worse than Bama’s.

Winging a P5 conference>>>> not winning your own P5 division within a conference.

 

[calvegas04]

And Utah’s SOS is significantly worse than Bama’s.

Not really

 

[Crazy Balki]

Winging a P5 conference>>>> not winning your own P5 division within a conference.

SEC West >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pac-12 in it's entirety.

 

[ickythump1225]

SEC West >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pac-12 in it's entirety.

Okay but out of all of that alleged greatness in the SECW Alabama will end up beating maybe 1 ranked team?

 

[Crazy Balki]

Okay but out of all of that alleged greatness in the SECW Alabama will end up beating maybe 1 ranked team?

As will Utah, and that one ranked win lost to Alabama's one ranked win.

Then you look at the rest of the resume, not much else, but two losses.

One to the current #1 team in the nation by 5.

The other a loss to 8-4 USC playing their 3rd string QB.

 

[Irishize]

Since it’s so tough to go undefeated, I think the bowl tie-ins are the reason that ultimately leads to ND joining the ACC.

Look at the landscape this season. ND would be the 2nd best team in the ACC and most of America would be rooting for the Irish to upset Clemson in the conf champ game.

ND would be one of the best teams, if not the best; in the P12 & the B12 this season. Even if they didn’t win those conferences outright, they’d be in line for a better bowl than what they’ll end up in this season.

I think that’s what will finally push ND to relent and join a conference. Everyone said, wait until an undefeated nd is left out of the CFP. What’s more likely is ND getting tired of being stuck in a “Camping World” level bowl despite a ten win season.