# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/442 "2019-01-02T17:23:29Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I’m guessing that Richt’s retirement means that the Canes problem is more than just not playing well - they probably have some recruiting to do. Good luck with that…in Florida. I mean, it’s not like the Canes have any competition down there. lol It’s a highly productive area for football talent, especially speed. A coach \*in \*Florida who can’t recruit well there has no excuse. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/443 "2019-01-02T17:29:30Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > To be honest, the most limiting factor for ND against Clemson was their QB play. And I hate to say it, but obviously Alabama and Clemson are just miles ahead of everyone else. The last two Big Ten playoff appearances resulted in shutout drubbings at the hands of 'Bama and Clemson. PAC 10 and Big 12 haven’t done anything. I think part of the reason that Bama and Clemson are miles ahead of everyone else is the fact that other programs in the region haven’t found their own formula - they will eventually. Texas may be on the verge of returning to the national title conversation. I’m obviously careful not to read too much into bowl game wins, which often coincide with draft-eligible players sitting out for precautionary reasons and coaches or assistant coaches moving on to greener pastures, and sometimes teams don’t have the same intensity that they do during the regular season. But all of those disclaimers and half-ass excuses for Georgia aside, Texas has been playing better football the past year. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/444 "2019-01-02T17:40:22Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It’s a highly productive area for football talent, especially speed. A coach \*in \*Florida who can’t recruit well there has no excuse. Can’t argue with that. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/445 "2019-01-02T17:58:43Z")
No excuse needed for the Dawgs, Asahi. This year we couldn’t buy a win against a top-20 team. We had no business being in the playoff much less bitching about being in the playoff. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/446 "2019-01-03T01:30:02Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > No excuse needed for the Dawgs, Asahi. This year we couldn’t buy a win against a top-20 team. We had no business being in the playoff much less bitching about being in the playoff. I’m an LSU guy myself. I’ll be honest. We had no business winning that game against y’all. We’re physical, but not skilled. UGA is physical and skilled. They just didn’t show up mentally for some games, and I guess we were lucky that they didn’t show up in Baton Rouge. They showed up against Bama in the first 3 quarters, but as Nick Saban so often does (and we’ve been on the receiving end of many of his masterpieces), he moved his chess pieces, leaving his opposition scratching their heads. Honestly, this year’s UGA reminds me a lot of Mark Richt’s teams. In 8 or 9 games, they look like they could beat the 2001 Miami Hurricanes…and then inexplicably lose games against mediocre or above average teams. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/447 "2019-01-04T19:46:15Z")
WV coach took the Houston job. He’s going from a power 5 conference to one that’s not power 5. WV hired the Troy coach to take his place. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/448 "2019-01-04T20:36:00Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > WV coach took the Houston job. He’s going from a power 5 conference to one that’s not power 5. WV hired the Troy coach to take his place. It makes sense. Houston and Southeast Texas alone has oceans of football talent. But he also knows that if he can succeed at Houston, produce 10 or 11 wins, then he can maybe go to a bigger program in the South. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/449 "2019-01-07T21:16:58Z")
The big match is tonight. I think Alabama is my favorite to win, but it’s definitely a winnable game for Clemson. The Tigers will be the most athletic team the Tide has faced all season - probably the fastest team they’ve faced all year. As for Clemson, Alabama will be the most talent-loaded team they’ve faced all year. They will be tested at every position. I’m guessing that Clemson makes it interesting but the Tide win it with a late score. The score will probably go into the high 20s or low 30s. I think a good metric for either team will be first down efficiency. I haven’t seen enough of Clemson, but I know that in Alabama’s case, they are lethal when they move the ball well on first down. It opens up so many options for them. They don’t necessarily just try to get the first down on 2nd and short. They’re just as likely to pass it down field. If Clemson can prevent 2nd and short, they’ve got a real shot. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/450 "2019-01-07T22:54:36Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The big match is tonight. > > I think Alabama is my favorite to win, but it’s definitely a winnable game for Clemson. The Tigers will be the most athletic team the Tide has faced all season - probably the fastest team they’ve faced all year. As for Clemson, Alabama will be the most talent-loaded team they’ve faced all year. They will be tested at every position. > > I’m guessing that Clemson makes it interesting but the Tide win it with a late score. The score will probably go into the high 20s or low 30s. I think a good metric for either team will be first down efficiency. I haven’t seen enough of Clemson, but I know that in Alabama’s case, they are lethal when they move the ball well on first down. It opens up so many options for them. They don’t necessarily just try to get the first down on 2nd and short. They’re just as likely to pass it down field. If Clemson can prevent 2nd and short, they’ve got a real shot. I don’t disagree with your analysis, but I do feel like you are playing it safe. My predictions: 1 - With 8 seconds to go in the first half, Alabama will have the ball somewhere near the Clemson 38 yard line. 2 - Third quarter: TV will focus on fans at one point, and a girl a few people to the right will be looking at her cell phone 3 - Alabama will shank one field goal to the left (at minimum) ---
**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:** [January 8, 2019, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/451 "2019-01-08T02:51:20Z")
Clemson dominating this first half. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/452 "2019-01-08T03:42:51Z")
Want this to be a 60-point beatdown. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/453 "2019-01-08T03:52:38Z")
'Bama not looking good here. No points so far the second half, two straight failures on fourth down. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/454 "2019-01-08T04:06:29Z")
They might Alabama worse than they beat ND… ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/455 "2019-01-08T04:10:16Z")
When’s the last time Alabama lost any game by over 20 points? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/456 "2019-01-08T04:14:58Z")
Well, Famine is stomping Pestilence thus far. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/457 "2019-01-08T04:16:46Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > When’s the last time Alabama lost any game by over 20 points? You can find _anything_ on the internet in 30 seconds…and your answer is 2003, LSU 27 Alabama 3 But yeah, Alabama has been known for comebacks in the 4th after wearing teams down, but I don’t see them getting 4 touchdowns back. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/458 "2019-01-08T04:28:49Z")
Nice punt. Nice game. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/459 "2019-01-08T04:40:22Z")
And a nice drive. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/460 "2019-01-08T04:45:18Z")
THAT was a comprehensive whoopin’. Kinda nice to see Nick Saban handed his ass on a platter. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2019, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685/461 "2019-01-08T04:57:26Z")
Never seen a Saban team get destroyed like that in a post-season game. Clemson’s speed and athleticism were a sight to behold. Going way back here, but this game reminded me of Redskins-Raiders in Super Bowl 18. The defending champ seemed en route to another championship, only to get manhandled on the biggest stage. Don’t forget, though, that the Joe Gibbs-coached Skins rebounded nicely from that defeat and went on to win another two championships. So be careful about writing Alabama off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaaf-the-college-football-thread-for-2018/820685.md?page=24)