College Football Bowl Games/Playoffs discussion

[cartman]

The final four has been set, and the bowl participants determined. Here's the slate of games:

DATE	GAME			MATCHUP			
Jan. 12	Championship Game	Semifinal winners	
Jan. 1	Rose (Semifinal)	No. 2 Oregon (12-1) vs. No. 3 Florida State (13-0)	
Jan. 1	Sugar (Semifinal)	No. 1 Alabama (12-1) vs. No. 4 Ohio State (12-1)	

Jan. 4	GoDaddy			Toledo (8-4) vs. Arkansas State (7-5)	
Jan. 3	Birmingham		Florida (6-5) vs. East Carolina (8-4)	
Jan. 2	Cactus			Oklahoma State (6-6) vs. Washington (8-5)	
Jan. 2	Alamo			Kansas State (9-3) vs. UCLA (9-3)	
Jan. 2	TaxSlayer		Iowa (7-5) vs. Tennessee (6-6)	
Jan. 2	Armed Forces		Houston (7-5) vs. Pittsburgh (6-6)	
Jan. 1	Cotton			Baylor (11-1) vs. Michigan State (10-2)	
Jan. 1	Outback			Wisconsin (10-3) vs. Auburn (8-4)	
Jan. 1	Citrus			Minnesota (8-4) vs. Missouri (10-3)	
Dec. 31	Orange			Georgia Tech (10-3) vs. Mississippi State (10-2)	
Dec. 31	Fiesta			Arizona (10-3) vs. Boise State (11-2)	
Dec. 31	Peach			TCU (11-1) vs. Ole Miss (9-3)	
Dec. 30	Foster Farms		Maryland (7-5) vs. Stanford (7-5)	
Dec. 30	Belk			Louisville (9-3) vs. Georgia (9-3)	
Dec. 30	Music City		Notre Dame (7-5) vs. LSU (8-4)	
Dec. 29	Texas			Texas (6-6) vs. Arkansas (6-6)	
Dec. 29	Russell Athletic Bowl	Clemson (9-3) vs. Oklahoma (8-4)	
Dec. 29	Liberty			West Virginia (7-5) vs. Texas A&M (7-5)	
Dec. 27	Holiday			Nebraska (9-3) vs. USC (8-4)	
Dec. 27	Pinstripe		Boston College (7-5) vs. Penn State (6-6)	
Dec. 27	Independence		Miami (Fla.) (6-6) vs. South Carolina (6-6)	
Dec. 27	Sun			Duke (9-3) vs. Arizona State (9-3)	
Dec. 27	Military		Virginia Tech (6-6) vs. Cincinnati (9-3)	
Dec. 26	Bitcoin			NC State (7-5) vs. UCF (9-3)	
Dec. 26	Quick Lane		Rutgers (7-5) vs. North Carolina (6-6)	
Dec. 26	Heart of Dallas		Illinois (6-6) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-5)	
Dec. 24	Hawaii			Fresno State (6-7) vs. Rice (7-5)	
Dec. 24	Bahamas			Western Kentucky (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (7-5)	
Dec. 23	Poinsettia		San Diego State (7-5) vs. Navy (6-5)	
Dec. 23	Boca Raton		Marshall (12-1) vs. Northern Illinois (11-2)	
Dec. 22	Miami Beach		Memphis (9-3) vs. BYU (8-4)	
Dec. 20	Camellia		Bowling Green (7-6) vs. South Alabama (6-6)	
Dec. 20	Idaho Potato		Air Force (9-3) vs. Western Michigan (8-4)	
Dec. 20	Royal Purple		Colorado State (10-2) vs. Utah (8-4)	
Dec. 20	New Mexico		Utah State (9-4) vs. UTEP (7-5)	
Dec. 20	New Orleans		UL Lafayette (8-4) vs. Nevada (7-5)	

[BishopMVP]

LSU only -7.5/8 vs Notre Dame? Easy money.

[MrBug708]

Worried about K-State

[Suicane75]

Fresno State Vs Rice might be the shittiest present Santa has ever handed out.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Fresno State Vs Rice might be the shittiest present Santa has ever handed out.

[Breeze]

UGH...saw where Watson won't play for Clemson in the bowl game...That completely changes the dynamics. Sorry to hear that CU Tiger...

[BishopMVP]

I wish there was a little more Power 5/non Power 5 mingling. I don't think Marshall or Northern Illinois deserve to play in a big bowl, but I'd rather watch them play a Georgia, Texas, Nebraska than watch them play each other. Same goes for those middling Power 5 teams - there's no reason I want to watch BC/Penn State, or Texas/Arkansas, or the other 5-6 games between 6-7 win P5 teams, but if you matched them up against smaller teams I'd at least be interested in seeing how those games turned out.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

I wish there was a little more Power 5/non Power 5 mingling. I don't think Marshall or Northern Illinois deserve to play in a big bowl, but I'd rather watch them play a Georgia, Texas, Nebraska than watch them play each other. Same goes for those middling Power 5 teams - there's no reason I want to watch BC/Penn State, or Texas/Arkansas, or the other 5-6 games between 6-7 win P5 teams, but if you matched them up against smaller teams I'd at least be interested in seeing how those games turned out.

Funny, I'd generally agree with you about the middling Power 5 teams, but the ones you list are a couple I'm interested in. I'm old enough to remember Arkansas and Texas in the SWC and I remember that rivalry, which is probably why that intrigues me. Penn St. vs. BC just seems like a regional game that should be played regularly and isn't so I'm interested...

If you mixed and matched those 2 game though, I've got absolutely no interest.

[QuikSand]

Dec. 27 Military Virginia Tech (6-6) vs. Cincinnati (9-3)

Was hoping to get East Carolina here, but I think this matchup should prove interesting enough - Tech will draw fairly well in this area (Annapolis, Md).

The move of this game from a huge venue (RFK stadium near DC) to a smaller one (the Navy stadium in Annapolis, seating for about 34K) is exactly the right thing for this level of bowl game. The town gets all excited about it, locals like me buy tickets well in advance to see unnamed tie-in teams, and so forth. I think this is a great model for how the bowl setup could continue to work, even with the obvious and malicious drift toward the obligatory Highlander-style tournament.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by Breeze

UGH...saw where Watson won't play for Clemson in the bowl game...That completely changes the dynamics. Sorry to hear that CU Tiger...

I'm actually glad. He finishes exams today and is having surgery Friday.
That gives him more rehab time, etc.

Also Im hoping new QB coach can Horse Whisper something to Cole Stoudt and draw out the QB we have seen for 3 years not the ....whatever we have seen this year.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Breeze

Funny, I'd generally agree with you about the middling Power 5 teams, but the ones you list are a couple I'm interested in. I'm old enough to remember Arkansas and Texas in the SWC and I remember that rivalry, which is probably why that intrigues me. Penn St. vs. BC just seems like a regional game that should be played regularly and isn't so I'm interested...

If you mixed and matched those 2 game though, I've got absolutely no interest.

It is crazy to think that Texas and Arkansas are both 6-6 playing a 6-6 team in a meaningless bowl... and both fan bases are probably excited about that considering where they were even 6 weeks ago.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Good day for Mizzou on the SEC (Coaches) Awards.

Gary Pinkel was selected by his peers as SEC Coach of the Year.
Shane Ray wins yet another SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Marcus Murphy wins SEC Special Teams Player of the Year Award.

[PilotMan]

Everyone should know where Thomkal and I will be at noon this Saturday........watching ESPN.

Sat, Dec 13 12:00 PM ET ESPN/WatchESPN

NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - QUARTERFINAL

Coast Carolina


(12-1, 4-1 Big South)

North Dakota St


(12-1, 7-1 MVFC)

[Butter]

How is Fresno State in a bowl game at 6-7?

[Lathum]

Have I mentioned how excited I am about teh Cactus Bowl?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

How is Fresno State in a bowl game at 6-7?

This happened in the first year of the Pac 12 with their championship game (2011).

With USC ineligible to play in the champ game at the time, a really bad UCLA team (6-6) managed to win a weak Pac 12 South (Neuheisel's last year). They got obliterated by Oregon to fall to 6-7.

After the season, UCLA applied to the NCAA for a waiver of the .500 rule for records to be bowl-eligible, on the basis that they had been .500 in the regular season and had the requisite 6 wins. The NCAA granted the waiver.

So I would imagine Fresno did the same thing after losing to Boise State in the MWC champ game.

That UCLA team lost its bowl game, BTW, to end up 6-8. I think it is the worst record for a bowl team ever or something stupid like that.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I was attacked!

No, I was attacked!

J.T. Barrett of Ohio State Buckeyes, ex-girlfriend made 911 calls alleging domestic dispute - ESPN

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

I was attacked!

No, I was attacked!

J.T. Barrett of Ohio State Buckeyes, ex-girlfriend made 911 calls alleging domestic dispute - ESPN

Knowing Urban Meyer that probably put Barrett in the early lead ahead of Miller and Jones in the 2015 QB competition!

[digamma]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

The move of this game from a huge venue (RFK stadium near DC) to a smaller one (the Navy stadium in Annapolis, seating for about 34K) is exactly the right thing for this level of bowl game. The town gets all excited about it, locals like me buy tickets well in advance to see unnamed tie-in teams, and so forth. I think this is a great model for how the bowl setup could continue to work, even with the obvious and malicious drift toward the obligatory Highlander-style tournament.

I agree. I think El Paso does the same thing with the Sun Bowl. Locals love it, players routinely call it a great bowl trip and it's usually a halfway decent game.

I was interested this year in how the Rose Bowl would do being a semifinal, and the likelihood of one team traveling a great distance. It was clear they were pulling hard for Oregon.

My suspicions were confirmed though when I got a "Living Social" offer last night for discount Game and VIP tailgate tickets. They'll still manage to fill the place up--it's too great of a setting and event not to, but it will be interesting to see the crowd mix. Not the 65% Auburn and 35% Florida State like last year.

[Kodos]

Yep. Not hard to root against OSU.

[lungs]

Barry Alvarez will coach Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl. I wonder if he will pay himself another $100k for one game?

[Kodos]

He probably thinks he deserves a raise.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Everyone should know where Thomkal and I will be at noon this Saturday........watching ESPN.

Sat, Dec 13 12:00 PM ET ESPN/WatchESPN

NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - QUARTERFINAL

Coast Carolina


(12-1, 4-1 Big South)

North Dakota St


(12-1, 7-1 MVFC)

Yes I'll certainly be watching! Pretty excited to see if they can do better that last year when NDS completely dominated. With a new QB against then this time, who lost once and nearly lost last week, I think they will do better this time. How much better is the question. They were clearly affected by the crowds and playing in the Fargo Dome last year.

All Coastal's key players are healthy with the exception of their top WR, but he will play and is mostly recovered. Good luck to your team Pilot, but not too much

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Everyone should know where Thomkal and I will be at noon this Saturday........watching ESPN.

Sat, Dec 13 12:00 PM ET ESPN/WatchESPN

NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - QUARTERFINAL

Coast Carolina


(12-1, 4-1 Big South)

North Dakota St


(12-1, 7-1 MVFC)

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Yes I'll certainly be watching! Pretty excited to see if they can do better that last year when NDS completely dominated. With a new QB against then this time, who lost once and nearly lost last week, I think they will do better this time. How much better is the question. They were clearly affected by the crowds and playing in the Fargo Dome last year.

All Coastal's key players are healthy with the exception of their top WR, but he will play and is mostly recovered. Good luck to your team Pilot, but not too much

One of the kids that played for me at Westview (Jordan Champion) plays for NDSU want to see him get that ring again

[PilotMan]

Man, we do have a game though. I wish it wasn't this close but at least it looks like the offense is in 'unstoppable' mode.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Man, we do have a game though. I wish it wasn't this close but at least it looks like the offense is in 'unstoppable' mode.

That's what I thought about the NDSU offense all day, especially when they went ahead early in the 3rd-went off to take care of some things, and wow CCU in the lead-maybe I should go away until the game is over?

[Dutch]

Mississippi State is in the most relevant bowl game since 1940.

MSU vs GT in the Orange Bowl. I will be fascinated by MSU dline vs GT run option.

[PilotMan]

Way too close.

[PilotMan]

That was a helluva game Thomkal. Your team was seriously tough today. They have everything to be happy about except the ending. I think they did everything they could in that game.

[Thomkal]

well...crap. Have to say the Bison looked like the better team-especially when it came to running the ball, but man Coastal almost won that game. Better result than lat year, and the QB for Coastal will be back for another year-perhaps 3rd time's the charm next year? Congrats to NDSU.

[Thomkal]

Pretty wild that Coastal was trending on twitter in the second half

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Auburn Tigers freshman Jakell Mitchell killed in shooting - ESPN

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Auburn Tigers freshman Jakell Mitchell killed in shooting - ESPN

What a shame.

[cartman]

The Oregon secondary took a hit when it was announced that CB Ekpre-Olomu suffered a pretty bad knee injury in practice and will miss the playoffs.

[PilotMan]

Fri, Dec 19 8:00 PM ET ESPN2/WatchESPN

NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIFINAL

Sam Houston


(11-4, 7-1 Southland)

North Dakota St


(13-1, 7-1 MVFC)

Tonight on ESPN 2! Cheer on the Bison and they march toward the Finals. We've played the Bearkats in 2 of the previous finals. They already have plenty of motivation to win this game.

[PilotMan]

Then on Saturday the other semifinal game.

Sat, Dec 20 2:00 PM ET ESPNU/WatchESPN

NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIFINAL

Illinois State


(12-1, 7-1 MVFC)

New Hampshire


(12-1, 8-0 CAA)

Number 1 ranked New Hampshire will be tested playing against MVFC co-champ Illinois St. I still have my money on the MVFC. They knocked off both Northern Iowa (the only team to beat both NDSU and Illinois St. this year) and Eastern Washington (on the road). Both teams were my top picks to make it all the way, so I have no problem staying with them to get past New Hampshire.

[Thomkal]

Was reading in the local paper today that Coastal Carolina's QB, Alex Ross, played most of that playoff game with a separated shoulder. Had surgery yesterday on it.

[Thomkal]

Good luck to the Bison!

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Then on Saturday the other semifinal game.

Sat, Dec 20 2:00 PM ET ESPNU/WatchESPN

NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIFINAL

Illinois State


(12-1, 7-1 MVFC)

New Hampshire


(12-1, 8-0 CAA)

Number 1 ranked New Hampshire will be tested playing against MVFC co-champ Illinois St. I still have my money on the MVFC. They knocked off both Northern Iowa (the only team to beat both NDSU and Illinois St. this year) and Eastern Washington (on the road). Both teams were my top picks to make it all the way, so I have no problem staying with them to get past New Hampshire.

Heh. Illinois State's QB is Tre Roberson, who transferred from IU during the spring. If we'd had Roberson, our season might have gone a lot better after Nate Sudfeld went down with a separated shoulder. I guess I wish him luck...

[PilotMan]

Well they did it. It was close and low scoring at the half but NDSU came out and just took over the second half.

Fri Dec 19

NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIFINAL

Sam Houston


(11-5, 7-1 Southland)

North Dakota St


(14-1, 7-1 MVFC)

@

		1	2	3	4		T
SHSU		0	3	0	0		3
NDSU		7	0	14	14		35

So for the 4th straight year the Bison will be going to Frisco Texas. Last year I think we sold out our team tickets in something like 30 seconds.

It doesn't matter who we play. There is a long time between now and when that final game will be next year anything could happen.

Think how close we came to 5 in a row. The year before we won the first one we were knocked out in the quarter finals in Eastern Washington who ended up winning the whole thing.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Heh. Illinois State's QB is Tre Roberson, who transferred from IU during the spring. If we'd had Roberson, our season might have gone a lot better after Nate Sudfeld went down with a separated shoulder. I guess I wish him luck...

I know we were terrible at defense, but I remember Roberson would've torched us for 400+ yards before that ugly injury. I'm glad things worked out for him.

[Cap Ologist]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Well they did it. It was close and low scoring at the half but NDSU came out and just took over the second half.

Fri Dec 19

NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIFINAL

Sam Houston


(11-5, 7-1 Southland)

North Dakota St


(14-1, 7-1 MVFC)

@

So for the 4th straight year the Bison will be going to Frisco Texas. Last year I think we sold out our team tickets in something like 30 seconds.

It doesn't matter who we play. There is a long time between now and when that final game will be next year anything could happen.

Think how close we came to 5 in a row. The year before we won the first one we were knocked out in the quarter finals in Eastern Washington who ended up winning the whole thing.

Last year, there were so many people from North Dakota in Frisco, my friends and I joked about going to North Dakota on a crime spree. As soon as we figure out what to do with all those tractors, we're there.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Cap Ologist

Last year, there were so many people from North Dakota in Frisco, my friends and I joked about going to North Dakota on a crime spree. As soon as we figure out what to do with all those tractors, we're there.

Brace yourselves. This year there might be even more. The only time when the stadium was close to even was the Sam Houston St games. I don't see either Illinois St or New Hampshire traveling near as well to the final. It's gonna be all Green and Gold in the stadium on January 10th.

[cartman]

The QB for ULL is a big 'ol boy. He's in the Lorenzen mold.

[HerRealName]

We only live a couple of miles from Toyota Stadium and I have a couple of tickets for the FCS Championship game. I'm very happy to see Illinois State make the Championship game. I went to many ISU basketball games in the decade living in the greater Bloomington-Normal area but only 2 football games. I guess that makes me a semi-bandwagon fan for the game but it's cool to have a rooting interest.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

still have my money on the MVFC. .

NDSU v Illinois St.
January 10
Frisco TX

MVFC Strong!

[Lathum]

Ex-Clemson Tigers QB Chad Kelly arrested - ESPN

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

I know we were terrible at defense, but I remember Roberson would've torched us for 400+ yards before that ugly injury. I'm glad things worked out for him.

Yep. I was at that game. Roberson was tearing things up before he got hurt. Wish he'd stayed at IU.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Ex-Clemson Tigers QB Chad Kelly arrested - ESPN

So he is the nephew of Jim Kelly and just last week committed to Ole Miss.
But the headline is "Ex-Clemson QB"

Is my propaganda antenna too sensitive or is this ESPN protecting the SEC brand?

[cartman]

They do mention in the article that he signed with Ole Miss, but he hasn't even had a practice with them yet, so I'd say the Clemson tie is stronger.