Bowl Games/Playoffs - Open Thread | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)
college vs. pro football (none / 0)
I find it interesting that in the NFL that 6 of the 8 teams left (possibly 7 but counting the eagles might be a stretch as their defense has fallen off in recent years and use the screen instead of the run) are basically defense first, running, ball control teams...Baltimore, Pitt, Tenn, SD, Carolina and NYG (at least now that eli no longer has anyone to throw too). 

However in the college game the only two teams in the BCS games that fit that mold (Alabama and Ohio State) were both defeated by high flying offenses.  Is the game really that different between the pros and college or is this year just an outlier? 

by alphasigmookie on 01/06/2009 01:43:11 PM EST

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NFL is another game compared to college (none / 0)
Totally different game! Think of it this way. College is minor league for the NFL. There are 119 Division 1 college football teams, so by that logic there are 2618 D1 football players, of those 250-ish players make the NFL. Using that logic less than 10% of all college players are good enough to play pros, so that means that roughly 1 person on offense and defense for any given team is playing at a caliber that's even comparable to something you'd see on Sunday. This allows for teams to air it out and go crazy! Which is also why I don't understand why anyone watches college football! You don't watch minor-league baseball do you? If not then why bother watching scrubs play in a lesser league?

by morosus on 01/06/2009 02:34:43 PM EST

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AMEN (none / 0)
Thank you for speaking the truth. College Ball is like watching Minor League Baseball, that's exactly right.

The pros are bigger, faster, strong and smarter which means superior entertainment, period.

by Tom Hanc on 01/06/2009 03:03:44 PM EST

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I don't really watch basketball (none / 0)
Too much scoring, unlike hockey and soccer which don't have nearly enough scoring.

Besides, part of the reason the NBA isn't nearly as good as it used to be is that they allowed too many young players in which diluted the overall talent.

Because as you know young players are smaller, slower, dumber and less skilled overall (which means less entertainment).  The main reason most people seem to love college sports is gambling. Remove that aspect and I guarantee ratings drop through the floor.

by Tom Hanc on 01/06/2009 04:58:25 PM EST

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Bowl Games/Playoffs - Open Thread | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)