Championship Weekend Preview: Barking at Children

[texifornia 58749]

It's Championship Week! And once again we're in it to win it, with a Playoff bye on the line. Tons of good games all around, should be an excellent weekend of football.

CFP rankings, lines are from ESPN since Circa didn't have an easy graphic this time around.

Friday games

Conference USA Championship - Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State (-1.5)
7 / 6 CBSSN - Burgess - Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville, Alabama
RichRod hosts the Hilltoppers to win the conference we know and love from the football-adjacent product we half-watch on our grimmest Tuesday evenings.

American Athletic Conference Championship - Tulane (-3.5) vs. #24 Army
8 / 7 ABC - Michie Stadium, West Point, New York
This is going to be a great looking game of football. Great uniforms, beautiful campus, beautiful stadium, the cadets in in the stands. Just perfect. Fun clash of playing styles as well.

Mountain West Conference Championship - #20 UNLV vs. #10 Boise State (-4.5)
8 / 7 Fox - Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
It's a win-and-you're-in battle in Boise. Barry Odom's Rebels didn't miss a beat after their QB and RB threw an early-season NIL hissy fit, while Ashton Jeanty is a bad, bad man for the Broncos. He started his high school career in Naples, Italy - some poor Italian teenagers still probably have PTSD.

Saturday games

Big XII Championship - #16 Iowa State vs. #15 Arizona State (-1.5)
12 / 11 ABC - AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Arizona State has been the surprise package of college football, coming out of nowhere to be the Big XII favorite. Cam Skattebo is an angry human cube. Meanwhile, Matt Campbell finally got the 'clones over the 10 win hump (leaving Vandy as the only P5 team never to achieve it), but can he finally win the big one?

Mid-American Conference Championship - Miami (OH) (-1.5) vs. Ohio
12 / 11 ESPN - Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
In a conference known for gritty Midwesternness, it's Ohio's two country club party schools that will battle in Motown. The bar scene should be a good one.

Southeastern Conference Championship - #5 Georgia vs. #2 Texas (pick 'em)
4 / 3 ABC - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia convincingly beat Texas in Austin in pretty much their only complete performance of the year (Carson Beck tossing out free INTs aside). Beck has improved, the defense has backslid. Meanwhile, Texas brushed aside the rest of its "SEC gauntlet" and gave OU and our two little brothers a noogie on the way in. Still, this is essentially a Dawg home game. Should be a good one!

Sun Belt Championship - Marshall vs. Louisiana - Lafayette (-4)
7:30 / 6:30 ESPN - Cajun Field, Lafayette, Louisiana
Fun Belt time! The tailgate that will unquestionably have the best food of the weekend features about as stark of a cultural difference as it comes. Acadiana hosts a school from where the Midwest meets the Appalachians. It's Thundering Herd vs. Ragin' Cajuns!

Atlantic Coast Conference Championship - #17 Clemson (-2) vs. #8 Southern Methodist
8 / 7 ABC - Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
SMU should be in as long as they aren't blown out (as Rhett Lashlee said, if they all pretended to get COVID, they'd be in), and their program trajectory is pointed straight up. Clemson needs this one to get in, and their recruiting class of 15 players and general disdain for the Portal isn't getting it done for next season and beyond. It's the past against the future of college football!

Big Ten Championship - #3 Penn State vs. #1 Oregon (-3)
8 / 7 Fox - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
The biggest game of the day. Can Oregon flash and financial firepower finish blowing the doors off the staid old Big Ten in their first season? Or will James Franklin finally win a big game at Penn State? I know who my money would be on.

[Js1 86907]

3 minutes ago, texifornia said:

CFP rankings, lines are from ESPN since Circa didn't have an easy graphic this time around.

Aren’t we -2.5? If you listed ASU as -1 and Clemson -2, you should list it as the line is for us 

[89Horn 1735]

SEC championship game is the only game not at the same time or having an overlap with other games.  Well hot dog, I guess it does just mean more.

[texifornia 58749]

Just now, Js1 said:

Aren’t we -2.5? If you listed ASU as -1 and Clemson -2, you should list it as the line is for us 

I don't gamble, so I just went with the first site I found: https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/42736419/2024-college-football-conference-championship-games-betting-odds-lines

[Js1 86907]

Interesting. Their own app shows Texas -2.5

[RomaVicta 30491]

I wrote this on the Aggie thread, but I'll add it here.

I don't think a team that has already lost twice to a playoff team should be allowed in the playoff. 

I believe the SEC is in some sort of weird transition to its final form, but if we lose to Georgia, it seems that they've established the hierarchy. Should we both make the playoffs and if Texas were to beat Georgia, it would be very odd for the winner of 2 of 3 to come out on the shit end of the stick.

I'd take it, but it just doesn't seem right. 

FWIW, I believe we beat Georgia this time, so it won't be an issue. Still, somebody should give this a look. Hell, until six days ago, the fucking Texas Aggies were in the hunt at 8-3 including 2 SEC losses. Absurd.

[Dahobbs 18180]

I'd like to point out that Colorado State was 1 win or a different tie breaker method from playing for a potential playoff spot instead of UNLV. Both had the same record in conference and didn't play each other. Colorado State essentially lost out on the tie breaker because it lost to us and Colorado.

[Dahobbs 18180]

6 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

I wrote this on the Aggie thread, but I'll add it here.

I don't think a team that has already lost twice to a playoff team should be allowed in the playoff. 

I believe the SEC is in some sort of weird transition to its final form, but if we lose to Georgia, it seems that they've established the hierarchy. Should we both make the playoffs and if Texas were to beat Georgia, it would be very odd for the winner of 2 of 3 to come out on the shit end of the stick.

I'd take it, but it just doesn't seem right. 

FWIW, I believe we beat Georgia this time, so it won't be an issue. Still, somebody should give this a look. Hell, until six days ago, the fucking Texas Aggies were in the hunt at 8-3 including 2 SEC losses. Absurd.

The bold is stupid, and you're stupid for thinking it. 

Edited December 6 by Dahobbs

[RomaVicta 30491]

2 minutes ago, Dahobbs said:

The bold is stupid, and you're stupid for thinking it. 

I guess, you're right. Thanks, man.

[jimmyjazz 46952]

Yeah, losing to UGA twice (once in the SEC championship game) essentially says UGA is #1 and we're #2 in the conference.  You certainly couldn't "prove" we're lower than #2.  Your proposition would be tantamount to saying the SEC only deserves one team in the CFP.

[texifornia 58749]

Oh no we're going to lose because we took a recruit from them

[Dignan 381]

I think Penn State gets their doors blown off. They are always overrated and this year is no different. 

[TreatyOak 17189]

2 hours ago, RomaVicta said:

Hell, until six days ago, the fucking Texas Aggies were in the hunt at 8-3 including 2 SEC losses. Absurd.

What don't you understand? THE AGGIES HAD THE HIGHEST RATED RECRUITING CLASS OF ALL TIME!!

[Gidnik 3475]

 

[Wilcox Cummingtonite 3537]

3 hours ago, texifornia said:

Oh no we're going to lose because we took a recruit from them

Are they even capable of scoring 50 lmao

[RomaVicta 30491]

4 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

Yeah, losing to UGA twice (once in the SEC championship game) essentially says UGA is #1 and we're #2 in the conference.  You certainly couldn't "prove" we're lower than #2.  Your proposition would be tantamount to saying the SEC only deserves one team in the CFP.

The championship is about team qualification not conference numbers qualification. 

Apply your logic to the Aggies. If they're number two in the conference by virtue of losing to Georgia (should A&M have beaten us), does that really qualify an 8-4, unranked team getting into the playoff?

I'm just spitballing. The chance of the conditions that I mention being met are likely to be rare. 

I suppose a better analogy for what you're suggesting would be the NCAA BB Tournament. I'd argue that football is not the same, but I'm not that interested in defending this hill. I just thinks it's undeniably at least odd that Georgia could beat us twice (or the other way around had we won the first one, maybe) and then have to beat us three out of three to prove they're better.

I won't boycott the playoffs if we lose and still get in. I will recognize a championship should we win it because it would be by the rules of this year.

[Richard Kimball 1517]

4 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

The championship is about team qualification not conference numbers qualification. 

Apply your logic to the Aggies. If they're number two in the conference by virtue of losing to Georgia (should A&M have beaten us), does that really qualify an 8-4, unranked team getting into the playoff?

I'm just spitballing. The chance of the conditions that I mention being met are likely to be rare. 

I suppose a better analogy for what you're suggesting would be the NCAA BB Tournament. I'd argue that football is not the same, but I'm not that interested in defending this hill. I just thinks it's undeniably at least odd that Georgia could beat us twice (or the other way around had we won the first one, maybe) and then have to beat us three out of three to prove they're better.

I won't boycott the playoffs if we lose and still get in. I will recognize a championship should we win it because it would be by the rules of this year.

Understand what you're saying, but now that we're SECSECSEC, we get the benefit of the doubt, so no complaints. The SEC will get multiple teams in because they've got a ton of clout and the 12 team playoff is a short term contract. If they don't get multiple teams in, they'll throw a wrench into the playoffs on the contract renegotiation. 

Last year, the only reason Texas got in was because Alabama beat Georgia in the SEC championship. If Georgia had won, it would have been Michigan, Georgia, Washington and Florida State. When Alabama won, Sankey had a presser, and basically said, "There better not be a playoff without an SEC team." The committee couldn't put Alabama in over Texas cause Texas beat them at home by double digits. So, they had to get Texas in so they could get Alabama in. 

If the SEC and the B1G don't get their way, they'll poach the best of the remaining teams from the other conferences, and have their own playoffs, with blackjack and hookers. 

[NBHorn7 247]

5 hours ago, 89Horn said:

SEC championship game is the only game not at the same time or having an overlap with other games.  Well hot dog, I guess it does just mean more.

Why isn't the SEC Championship being played in prime time instead of the ACC title game? Game Day is in Atlanta, and ABC/ESPN/Disney is the network of the SEC. There would be no overlap with a start time that will be after 7 pm. Fox has their Big 10 Championship game in prime time, as expected. I can't imagine ABC is afraid of head-to-head competition with this game. There is no big ABC programming that they want to show in prime time, as the ACC game is being telecast at this time. Do Fox and ABC have some kind of deal worked out on this? I wouldn't think so.

[jimmyjazz 46952]

29 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

The championship is about team qualification not conference numbers qualification. 

Apply your logic to the Aggies. If they're number two in the conference by virtue of losing to Georgia (should A&M have beaten us), does that really qualify an 8-4, unranked team getting into the playoff?

Well, they'd be 9-3 in that case, and yes. as long as the SEC "deserves" two or more teams in the playoff, I would argue it should start with the two teams who played for the conference title.

Beyond that, conference strength is certainly a factor that could be considered.  Objective rankings like Sagarin put the SEC well above the other P4 conferences, especially the ACC, so I don't know why being second in the strongest conference should be wiped out by "lost to the best team in the conference twice".

[Hayduke 91]

Pretty simple, really. Anyone who's the last one standing deserves to be known as champ, because that will be a remarkable accomplishment.

Was that team "the best?" Its argument is going to be at least as good as anyone else's and likely better. Somebody is going to get at least four solid wins ... maybe some great ones.

Postseason grousing is just part of the fun.

[texifornia 58749]

1 hour ago, NBHorn7 said:

Why isn't the SEC Championship being played in prime time instead of the ACC title game? Game Day is in Atlanta, and ABC/ESPN/Disney is the network of the SEC. There would be no overlap with a start time that will be after 7 pm. Fox has their Big 10 Championship game in prime time, as expected. I can't imagine ABC is afraid of head-to-head competition with this game. There is no big ABC programming that they want to show in prime time, as the ACC game is being telecast at this time. Do Fox and ABC have some kind of deal worked out on this? I wouldn't think so.

Because they want to be all alone instead of being the undercard to #1 vs #3

[WBT 20877]

7 hours ago, RomaVicta said:

I believe the SEC is in some sort of weird transition to its final form, but if we lose to Georgia, it seems that they've established the hierarchy. Should we both make the playoffs and if Texas were to beat Georgia, it would be very odd for the winner of 2 of 3 to come out on the shit end of the stick.

I'd take it, but it just doesn't seem right. 

Completely agree.  Same logic as why the lsu-bama rematch was bullshit.  But everyone wants a huge playoff.

[Sgt Hulk 14329]

Listen we play an nfl schedule every week.  So we are in fuck em 

[texifornia 58749]

Good lord, the football stadium is like half of the JSU campus. There's no there there, to paraphrase Gertrude Stein.

 

[Sawbonz 28075]

Are CCG going to go away? Very little upside to playing in them if you’ve already got a playoff spot, and if your team is playoff bound, won’t you save your money for those games? Just looked at stub hub and SEC tickets start around $100. B1G are under 20 and B12 are under 10. Yeesh

[texifornia 58749]

2 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

Are CCG going to go away? Very little upside to playing in them if you’ve already got a playoff spot, and if your team is playoff bound, won’t you save your money for those games? Just looked at stub hub and SEC tickets start around $100. B1G are under 20 and B12 are under 10. Yeesh

They're still a huge money spinner with the TV rights. They'll stick around.

[ztejas 44114]

8 hours ago, texifornia said:

I don't gamble, so I just went with the first site I found: https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/42736419/2024-college-football-conference-championship-games-betting-odds-lines

Those are the opening lines. Texas is -2.5 as is SMU.

[Tex48 852]

3 hours ago, Sawbonz said:

Are CCG going to go away? Very little upside to playing in them if you’ve already got a playoff spot, and if your team is playoff bound, won’t you save your money for those games? Just looked at stub hub and SEC tickets start around $100. B1G are under 20 and B12 are under 10. Yeesh

I’m hoping they move them to be home games 

[TheBryMan81 2628]

16 hours ago, RomaVicta said:

I wrote this on the Aggie thread, but I'll add it here.

I don't think a team that has already lost twice to a playoff team should be allowed in the playoff. 

I believe the SEC is in some sort of weird transition to its final form, but if we lose to Georgia, it seems that they've established the hierarchy. Should we both make the playoffs and if Texas were to beat Georgia, it would be very odd for the winner of 2 of 3 to come out on the shit end of the stick.

I'd take it, but it just doesn't seem right. 

FWIW, I believe we beat Georgia this time, so it won't be an issue. Still, somebody should give this a look. Hell, until six days ago, the fucking Texas Aggies were in the hunt at 8-3 including 2 SEC losses. Absurd.

Happens in the NFL from time to time. Division opponents play twice and if they both make the playoffs, then they might play a third time. And guess what? Whoever wins the playoff game moves on and nobody questions it, even if they lost the first two.

Also, if Texas gets left out in your scenario for losing to a playoff team twice, who gets their spot? Miami, who has lost to 2 non playoff teams? Fuck that.

Edited December 7 by TheBryMan81

[texifornia 58749]

Last night was fun let's do it again

[Voluminous Banality 1160]

16 hours ago, Richard Kimball said:

If the SEC and the B1G don't get their way, they'll poach the best of the remaining teams from the other conferences, and have their own playoffs, with blackjack and hookers. 

People keep talking about the SEC and the B1G. There is no "SEC and B1G." In conference payout, sure. In competition level, there's the SEC and everyone else with the B1G above the rest. That isn't SEC SEC SEC bullshit; it's just reality. Maybe the B1G will close the gap, but right now there are more, better programs in the SEC than in the B1G and it's not debatable.

[texifornia 58749]

 

[royiv 9668]

1 hour ago, Voluminous Banality said:

People keep talking about the SEC and the B1G. There is no "SEC and B1G." In conference payout, sure. In competition level, there's the SEC and everyone else with the B1G above the rest. That isn't SEC SEC SEC bullshit; it's just reality. Maybe the B1G will close the gap, but right now there are more, better programs in the SEC than in the B1G and it's not debatable.