01/04/2009 03:11:16 PM EST

Bowl Games/Playoffs - Open Thread

posted by alphasigmookie

Haven't noticed much discussion about the NFL playoffs or bowl games so figured I'd start an open thread. 

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A few of my thoughts so far:

NFL:

AZ and SD...WOW

NCAA:

Hell of a game by Utah, they dominated Alabama, but I've always felt AL was a bit overrated all season

Just picked up tickets for fiesta bowl for $45 on stubhub...I'm not sure if its the economy or just that the buckeyes national reputation has been so tarnished that no one cares about this game. As a side note...Ohio state is 3-0 in non-national championship bcs games and 4-0 against everyone but the SEC in the BCS

On the topic of uncompelling games, is anyone really excited about the national championship game?  It seems like no one cares.  I think it'll actually be a good game even thought it should really be texas instead of OK playing for the big-12.

As for OK what is the chance that "sponge bob bowl flop" can end his 4 game BCS losing streak? 

Also since no discussion of college football can end without a discussion of a playoff I'll go on record with a vote for a bowl plus 1 system where all major bowl games are played on new years eve and day with another round of voting and the top two teams playing the next week.  There will still be a chance of controversey, but at least a lot of teams will be exposed.  It will also provide a much more realistic path towards a true playoff system (the traditional bowls still have a ton of power over college football)
< Cenk we have black people in Utah | Well it's the same old thing in a new picture >
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Bowl Games/Playoffs - Open Thread | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)
It's about time (none / 0)
A football thread is long overdue here.  At any rate, I too was surprised that the Cardinals won. But it wasn't THAT surprising that the Chargers won at home.

They were hot just like the Colts, but unlike the Colts SD didn't play all cupcakes in their final games.

I'm disappointed that the Ravens won, mostly just because it would've been more interesting to see the Dolphins go deeper. We've already seen the strong Ravens D/Running game flop out of the playoffs many times and I like to see other teams get a chance.

Besides, who wants to watch the Steelers win 6-3 over the Ravens?  ;)

I don't know what to think about Eagles/Vikings. Part of me resents the Vikings for taking the Bears rightful spot (and Adrian Peterson for having a mediocre PPR league fantasy season), but then again the Bears wouldn't have won more than one game in the playoffs anyway and this way they get a better draft pick.

by Tom Hanc on 01/04/2009 03:59:38 PM EST

Ravens losing to Pittsburgh...seriously? (none / 0)
The Raven losing to Pittsburgh! I'm sick of people riding the Steelers cock! They're a shadow of the team that didn't deserve to win the Super Bowl in 2006! The play in a garbage division that had 1 other team in it worthy of playing in the post season! They're going to get routed by the Chargers on Sunday! The Ravens will win the AFC championship game and go on to wax whoever the weak-sauce NFC puts up in the Super Bowl!

by morosus on 01/06/2009 01:15:13 PM EST

[ Parent ]
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

[ Parent ]
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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So (none / 0)
how's the weather down there in Baltimore?

;)

by Tom Hanc on 01/06/2009 03:05:35 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Not a Maryland man... (none / 0)

I'm not from Baltimore, I've never set foot in Maryland. I just have seen enough football to know when a team has fallen into the zone and are in the middle of a Super Bowl season. I mean Miami was no slouch this year and The Ravens derailed them!

For the record I'm from Denver and am a diehard Broncos fan! RIP Mike Shannahan!

by morosus on 01/06/2009 03:45:26 PM EST

[ Parent ]
It's going to be interesting (none / 0)
I could see any of the AFC teams winning it all. As for the NFC, I think the Panthers are a lock to play...(fill in the blank, I have no idea).

Go Bears! Oh wait...never mind. :(

by Tom Hanc on 01/06/2009 04:10:20 PM EST

[ Parent ]
NFC is second class... (none / 0)
I think you're right. Carolina will win the NFC which is like saying you were the king of the lesser teams! I love how at the start of the year all the pick-em guys were in love with Eli Manning, Tony Romo and all the other young NFC qb's. They talked a big game about how the power was shifting away from the AFC, then when Brady went down everyone started making out with the Giants and Cowboys talking about how the NFC championship game was going to be the Super Bowl...OOOOOOPPPPPSSS! I'd be willing to bet Eli has a "Manning moment" this weekend after Philly sends 80 different blitz packages at him and he gets knocked down one to many times! The best way to beat either Manning is to jam their receivers and hit them in the mouth! You can see them start to pout and it's over from there! God help Eli if he makes it to the Super Bowl against Baltimore, Tennesse, or Pittsburgh! They'll have him on a suicide watch by half time!

by morosus on 01/06/2009 04:28:51 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Not buying it (none / 0)
NFC was second class last year and which conference won the championship?

The Eastern Conference supposedly sucked last year but which team won it all (and is destroying teams left and right this year)?

The National League was brutal compared to the Powerhouses in the American League which is why the Phillies...oh wait, never mind.

I admit I'm biased in Chicago but the facts are the facts.
 
The NFC, Eastern Conference and National League consistently get shit on by the experts and fans on the other side, but the bottom line is who wins it all, not who looks impressive during the regular season.

:)

by Tom Hanc on 01/06/2009 04:46:44 PM EST

[ Parent ]
The Giants played the game of their lives (none / 0)
The only reason the Giants won last year is because the ball bounced their way. I guarantee that if you played that game with the 2008 Pats Vs the 2008 Giants again and 9 times out of 10 the Pats dismantle the Giants. The Giants had a few key calls go their way and just played at a level that was way above their heads. The thing with the NFC is that they've consistently get the higher ratings time slots. Every year we're subjected to an abysmally awful Thanksgiving game. Plus ESPN has a giant hard on for...well, the Giants. I also can't stand the Cowboys self applied moniker of America's team! They haven't been a playoff team since Aikman...win something, then you can talk big! I'm actually only ever interested in the AFC and the NFC North. Those teams consistently play smash mouth football! Plus my wife's dad is from Minnesota, so I catch a lot of Vicking's games at his place.

by morosus on 01/06/2009 06:55:46 PM EST

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Probably (none / 0)
But that's the beauty of the NFL, you only get ONE shot. And NO ONE picked the Giants to win outside of New York.

Besides, I loved it since I HATE the Patriots.

by Tom Hanc on 01/06/2009 07:03:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
NFC East (none / 0)
Actually the groupthink hardon is for the entire NFC east...its the greatest football division ever put together didn't you know?  Giants, Cowboys, Redskins and Eagles.  Whichever of these teams are having the best season will be the ones fawned over by the hasbins (or never were's in the case of Keyshawn)...I mean "analysts" at ESPN, Fox, CBS, etc. 

by alphasigmookie on 01/06/2009 09:52:50 PM EST

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Spot on! (none / 0)
Good point! Spot on! It's the entire NFC East that gives the networks sports anchors the nice big chubby!

by morosus on 01/06/2009 10:42:40 PM EST

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Dallas made Goatse look good (none / 0)

by Perry on 01/04/2009 06:30:28 PM EST

Let's talk about (none / 0)
My Irish's napalming of Hawaii on Christmas Eve.

I still can't get over that game.  We haven't been that good since before I became a student at ND in '05.

by jarett on 01/05/2009 03:54:53 PM EST

don't get too excited (none / 0)
It was Hawaii...but any win is a good win for ND these days. 

by alphasigmookie on 01/06/2009 01:45:45 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Tough Loss (none / 0)
Not that it wasn't expected...when we scored on that second and 2 from the 15 I was pissed.  We needed to milk the clock.  We could have run two more plays for 1st down then ran 3 more before kicking the game winning field goal 18-17.  Texas only had 2 TO's so they'd have had maybe 30 seconds to get a field goal.  Then again none of it would have mattered if our safety/linebacker (couldn't see from upper deck) made that last tackle. 

by alphasigmookie on 01/06/2009 01:43:55 AM EST

Agreed (none / 0)
I agree, although I'm not sure how you tell your freshman running back to down it on the goal line when he's got a wide open lane to the endzone.  I kindof hope Brown told them to let us score because it certainly was a terrible play by their safety.  Overall the drive took over 4:30 off the clock which isn't bad but not enough.

As for the defense on the last play honestly it was just a bad scheme.  Before they snapped the ball I noticed that they didn't have anyone beyond 5 yds of the line of scrimage and cringed.  I am no fan of the prevent and would much rather lose being too agressive than overly cautious, but they hadn't been getting serious pressure on McCoy all game and keeping just one safety back saves the game....Ok I just watched the replay for the 100th time and for the life of me can't figure out why he tried to jump the route instead of making the sure tackle? 

by alphasigmookie on 01/06/2009 10:16:43 PM EST

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