# NCAAF - The College Football Thread for 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 3, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685 "2018-09-03T13:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/402 "2018-12-27T12:37:11Z")
We’re on the eve of the CFB games themselves. I’m gonna say that Clemson and Alabama advance. Clemson - Notre Dame will probably be more competitive. Both teams can score, and the absence of Clemson’s defensive end might work to Notre Dame’s advantage. However, Clemson’s front lines are extremely talented on both sides. I think Clemson wins a competitive game, with both teams probably scoring in the 20s. So, Clemson over Notre Dame (28-24 if offenses can get loose, or 23-20 if it’s a tighter game). Oklahoma - Alabama could actually be an entertaining game to watch, especially in the first half, which is when OU might have their best chance to do some damage. Because OU’s offense is so explosive, I can’t write them off completely - they have a chance of beating Bama. The problem is, they’d really have to overwhelm Bama to do it. I think Oklahoma probably stuns Bama in the first half with some good offensive plays, but Bama starts to settle down, make in-game adjustments, and wear OU out, possibly pulling away late. I think OU will score against Bama’s vaunted defense. The problem is, they probably can’t stop Bama from scoring. I think Alabama wins a game that’s competitive for 2 or 3 quarters but breaks open late. Alabama probably scores in the high 30s or low to mid-40s and OU probably scores in the 30s or perhaps in the high 20s. If OU plays well, then maybe Alabama 42-35. If OU plays average or not so great, then Alabama 45-28. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/403 "2018-12-28T00:34:15Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The only real change that’s needed to address the cream puff concern is to force all conferences to have a championship game and play the same number of in-conference games. IIRC, SEC teams typically play 8 conference games whereas other majors usually play9 - we could change that. This isn’t quite true. Pac-12, Big-12 and BiG play 9 conference games and three non-conference games. But both the SEC and the ACC play 8 conference games. For the ones that play 9, that quirk is a legacy of them having each been 10-team conferences at one point, thus 9 conference games was a full round-robin. The SEC had 12 teams until the mid-60s, and then 10 teams until 1991. They never switched the number of conference games (if I’m not mistaken) to nine, despite the drop in numbers for the 25 years or so. The ACC never had just 10 teams, so a 9-game round-robin never made sense for them. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/404 "2018-12-28T02:10:12Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > I’d like to see an eight-team playoff, but remove the advantage for playing cream-puffs. The reason teams play cream-puffs is that the win-loss record is so important. Then let’s remove that. > > My proposal: only FBS conference champions are eligible for the eight-team FBS playoff. Period, non-negotiable, no exceptions, no wildcards, **sorry Notre Dame** and the second-place SEC team. Given the ten FBS conference champions, pick the eight that played the strongest strength of schedule. Seeding also based on SoS. I’d prefer SoS to be based on something like the sum of the final ELO ratings of opponents, but that’s negotiable. Three weekends of awesome football, where every team earned their place on the field. > > Note that win-loss record does not directly affect a team’s playoff chances. It does have some impact, since becoming a conference champion obviously requires winning, but out-of-conference losses aren’t disqualifying. Emphasis mine. Sorry, you can’t just write off Notre Dame like that. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/405 "2018-12-28T04:17:14Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Sorry, you can’t just write off Notre Dame like that. Notre Dame needs to get into a conference, just like everybody else. They try to create a tough schedule, and some years theirs is among the best in the country. But this year, if my math is correct, their opponents have a record of 76-70, and one site I looked at had their schedule as just the 25th toughest in the country. Not to mention that they always avoid a conference championship game. Actually, I think it would benefit Dame to join a conference. IIRC, there have been years that 1 loss has kept them out of the playoffs, and they have no opportunity to improve their lot via a conference championship. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/406 "2018-12-28T05:06:20Z")
And what are all the Notre Dame naysayers going to say when, shock of shocks, it actually knocks off Clemson? Hmmmm? “Oh, they got lucky.” Right. Not even Div I-AA\*, II or III require that a team be in a conference to be in the playoff system. \*I still call it this. It’s just as valid a designation as “FCS”. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/407 "2018-12-28T12:36:46Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > And what are all the Notre Dame naysayers going to say when, shock of shocks, it actually knocks off Clemson? Hmmmm? > > “Oh, they got lucky.” Right. > > Not even Div I-AA\*, II or III require that a team be in a conference to be in the playoff system. > > \*I still call it this. It’s just as valid a designation as “FCS”. Hey, you win. 😛 I’m actually going to back away from my statements earlier in the thread. I think Notre Dame has a chance – against Clemson anyway. I still think the Tigers will prevail but it’ll be closer than I initially thought. The Irish are good at making in-game adjustments (as are the Tigers). I think the Tigers are more athletic, especially on the lines. It’ll be interesting to see if Dexter Lawrence’s absence has any major impact. It might have an impact, particularly in terms of rotation of players, which is what Clemson likes to do. If Notre Dame can have a successful first half of ball control, Lawrence’s absence might be more noticeable late in the game. But I’ll give the Irish credit: they played a schedule of opponents that was consistently stronger than Clemson’s. It’ll be interesting to see what happens if Clemson’s trailing or tied going into the 4th quarter, as they’ve only been tested once or twice the entire season and by relatively mediocre teams (A&M and USC). ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/408 "2018-12-28T17:30:59Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > And what are all the Notre Dame naysayers going to say when, shock of shocks, it actually knocks off Clemson? Hmmmm? I think Dame has a great chance to win the game. And as of this morning, they were getting 12 1/2 points in Vegas. If I were to bet on that game, I’d take Notre Dame in a heartbeat. > [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Not even Div I-AA\*, II or III require that a team be in a conference to be in the playoff system. Not sure what your point is here. I just wish that Notre Dame would be in a conference, which would give them the same advantages and disadvantages as every other team. It is unarguable, however, that under the current system, if Notre Dame finishes undefeated, they are in the playoff. > [@asahi](#): > > But I’ll give the Irish credit: they played a schedule of opponents that was consistently stronger than Clemson’s. Um, not really this year, if one goes by the records of the opponents. Notre Dame and Clemson played four common opponents: Syracuse, Wake Forest, Florida State, and Pitt. The record of the other 8 opponents that Notre Dame played was 50-48, if my math is correct. The record of the other 8 opponents that Clemson played was 58-41. (I disregarded the Clemson/Furman game.) As I stated earlier, normally Notre Dame’s schedule is one of the toughest in the country. But this year, except for Michigan, their opponents didn’t hold up their end. USC, for example, finished the season 5-7. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/409 "2018-12-28T18:43:02Z")
Anyone see the Independence Bowl? > **[Temple vs. Duke, Independence Bowl score: Blue Devils QB Daniel Jones shines...](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/temple-vs-duke-independence-bowl-score-blue-devils-qb-daniel-jones-shines-in-big-win-over-owls/)** > > If this was Jones' last game in a Duke uniform, he went out in style How are either of the teams bowl eligible? Mediocre, at best. I was in the gym and saw a few minutes of the 4th quarter. I swear, If I was a Temple fan, I would think they took a payoff to lie down. Temple allowed 35 unanswered points in the 2nd half. I saw a Temple defensive back make an interception and actual slid rather than try to break a tackle. I saw 4 _consecutive_ dropped passes. Catchable balls, that hit the receivers _in the hands_ that could have went for big gains. I kept thinking ‘This is a bowl team???’ ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/410 "2018-12-28T19:29:07Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Anyone see the Independence Bowl? I was fortunate enough to miss that game, but I unfortunately watched most of the Pinstripe Bowl. Wisconsin spanked Miami 35-3. > **[Wisconsin 35-3 Miami (Dec 27, 2018) Final Score - ESPN](https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401032071)** > > Game summary of the Wisconsin Badgers vs. Miami Hurricanes NCAAF game, final score 35-3, from December 27, 2018 on ESPN. Of course, this was just a day after the riveting Cheez-It Bowl, won by TCU over Cal, 10-7 in overtime. I assumed that this was probably the lowest-scoring overtime college football game ever, until Google told me that this honor has been claimed by a 2014 Virginia Tech/Wake Forest game, which Wake won 6-3 in double OT. [https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/lowest-scoring-college-football-games-of-the-last-20-years.html/](https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/lowest-scoring-college-football-games-of-the-last-20-years.html/) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/411 "2018-12-28T19:36:09Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I assumed that this was probably the lowest-scoring overtime college football game ever, until Google told me that this honor has been claimed by a 2014 Virginia Tech/Wake Forest game, which Wake won 6-3 in double OT. > > [https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/lowest-scoring-college-football-games-of-the-last-20-years.html/](https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/lowest-scoring-college-football-games-of-the-last-20-years.html/) That must have been thrilling to watch. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/412 "2018-12-29T00:12:59Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > And what are all the Notre Dame naysayers going to say when, shock of shocks, it actually knocks off Clemson? Hmmmm? “I guess those [three suspended Clemson players](http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25627136/clemson-tigers-suspensions-upheld-b-samples-test-positive), including a starter, turned out to be important after all.” ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/413 "2018-12-29T15:42:13Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I was fortunate enough to miss that game, but I unfortunately watched most of the Pinstripe Bowl. Wisconsin spanked Miami 35-3. > > [Wisconsin 35-3 Miami (Dec 27, 2018) Final Score - ESPN](http://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401032071) > > Of course, this was just a day after the riveting Cheez-It Bowl, won by TCU over Cal, 10-7 in overtime. > > I assumed that this was probably the lowest-scoring overtime college football game ever, until Google told me that this honor has been claimed by a 2014 Virginia Tech/Wake Forest game, which Wake won 6-3 in double OT. > > [https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/lowest-scoring-college-football-games-of-the-last-20-years.html/](https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/lowest-scoring-college-football-games-of-the-last-20-years.html/) I like Mark Richt, but I get the feeling this is probably his last hurrah. I don’t keep up with Canes football: is he recruiting well? Because if not, might be time to just pull the plug on the Richt era. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/414 "2018-12-30T00:11:10Z")
Damn, Clemson is just manhandling the nation’s #2 defense. So, it’s looking like the predicted Clemson v Alabama championship unless OK pulls off some miracle. They won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/415 "2018-12-30T01:21:28Z")
Okay, so maybe there’s a reason Notre Dame wants to stay out of a conference… ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/416 "2018-12-30T01:40:31Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I think Dame has a great chance to win the game. And as of this morning, they were getting 12 1/2 points in Vegas. If I were to bet on that game, I’d take Notre Dame in a heartbeat. I obviously know nothing and will freely admit it. Clemson steamrolled the Irish today. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/417 "2018-12-30T01:40:55Z")
And then again, maybe y’all were right. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/418 "2018-12-30T01:52:48Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Damn, Clemson is just manhandling the nation’s #2 defense. So, it’s looking like the predicted Clemson v Alabama championship unless OK pulls off some miracle. They won’t. 21-0, AL, 1st quarter. OK now needs a bigger miracle. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/419 "2018-12-30T03:26:10Z")
I figured OU was eventually going to score. Question is, can they stop Alabama from scoring, especially in the 4th quarter when the game is on the line? Not sure that they can, but Alabama’s offensive line has been jittery tonight, so who knows? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/420 "2018-12-30T03:28:51Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > And then again, maybe y’all were right. :eek: This is the 2nd time I’ve let the Irish scam me into believing they could hang with the big boys on the national stage despite my initial gut feeling. Never again. From now on, Notre Dame is banned from the college playoff until they join - and win - a major conference. I’m not falling for anymore wins over has-been USC and overrated Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/421 "2018-12-30T09:01:53Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > We’re on the eve of the CFB games themselves. I’m gonna say that Clemson and Alabama advance. > > Clemson - Notre Dame will probably be more competitive. Both teams can score, and the absence of Clemson’s defensive end might work to Notre Dame’s advantage. However, Clemson’s front lines are extremely talented on both sides. I think Clemson wins a competitive game, with both teams probably scoring in the 20s. So, Clemson over Notre Dame (28-24 if offenses can get loose, or 23-20 if it’s a tighter game). > > Oklahoma - Alabama could actually be an entertaining game to watch, especially in the first half, which is when OU might have their best chance to do some damage. Because OU’s offense is so explosive, I can’t write them off completely - they have a chance of beating Bama. The problem is, they’d really have to overwhelm Bama to do it. I think Oklahoma probably stuns Bama in the first half with some good offensive plays, but Bama starts to settle down, make in-game adjustments, and wear OU out, possibly pulling away late. I think OU will score against Bama’s vaunted defense. The problem is, they probably can’t stop Bama from scoring. I think Alabama wins a game that’s competitive for 2 or 3 quarters but breaks open late. Alabama probably scores in the high 30s or low to mid-40s and OU probably scores in the 30s or perhaps in the high 20s. **If OU plays well, then maybe Alabama 42-35. If OU plays average or not so great, then Alabama 45-28.** I got scammed by Notre Dame, but looks like my Alabama-OU call was correct. Clemson will be a different sort of beast for Alabama to handle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685.md?page=22)