Simply stated, both teams have a lot of talent. But the Hurricanes make it happen, and the Bengals don’t. Who would win if they played each other?
Moderator’s Note: I think this is more of an IMHO thread, so off it goes.
I can say, with a very high degree of confidence, that no college team, not even Miami, could beat an NFL team, even one as inept as Cincinatti.
College teams are drawing their talent from a very large pool into a less large pool–they are taking the best of the high school ranks. However, the NFL is drawing only the best of the best from those college teams–they are bigger, stronger, faster, and more experienced, which is why even Heisman Trophy winners do not always enter the NFL and become instant superstars.
In a best of three, the Bengals would win at least two games, although I won’t discount the 'Canes sneaking one on an especially good day.
Even the Bungles would demolish any college team, including Miami. In fact, I’d put my money on the Bengals’ second string having no problem handling the Hurricanes. I would even go as far as to say I doubt a team of college all-stars would be able to beat the Bengals.
The real question today is weather or not Miami can beat Virgina Tech. 'Canes are up 27-7 (pending xp) now so that looks like it will happen.
Cincinnati 31 Miami 6.
Corey Dillon would run for 180 yards and 3 td’s before being pulled at halftime, and Kitna throws for 250 yds and 1 td. Miami would get a couple field goals.
The speed, size, and talent level of even the worst NFL team (and the Bengals aren’t the worst overall) is still a ton better than the best college team (and Miami isn’t the best right now).
Of course the 'Canes will beat Virginia Tech. I was at the Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech game where we beat them in 3OT. Syracuse is terrible this year. It was the best game I have ever seen–in person OR on TV.
Most Miami players won’t play in the NFL, even when they get better in the future. Every Bengals player plays in the NFL right now. Not a contest.
Yes but the fact that Miami gets it done versus every team says something about their ability as a team. The Bengals don’t work well together as they stand. Sure, they have talent, but their talent is not coordinated so as to defeat other NFL teams. Maybe the power of the team unity of Miami could overcome the individual talent of the Bengals.
Doesn’t matter. The vastly superior talent and skills of the Bengals consign Miami to defeat.
And frankly, Miami is overrated. They’ve only played four ranked opponents. USC is 10-2 and has played 8 ranked opponents. I think USC could beat Miami, frankly.
The fact that only a couple of players on Miami will make the pros should be a good enough reason as to why any pro team would beat them.
I used to have these conversations with my friends all the time, about the best college vs. worst pro etc. In football, the pros would mangle the best college, but in basketball, I think it <might> be a bit closer. Say, a good Duke team from a few years ago against the Clippers when they were god awful bad, and I think it <might> be close.
I echo that USC is a great team, and Miami is overrated.
What if it were Cincinnati Bengals vs. The All-Time Miami Hurricane All-Star Team (best Hurricanes ever)? In that case, I would favor the latter.
Actually, basketball would be interesting. Especially as a lot of really crappy teams are employing fresh out of high school/1 year of college rookies. The pros still win, though.
Depends. Is it a team made up of Miami players with skill levels as they were when they were in college, or with skill levels they developed into later in their pro careers? If it’s the former, then Cincinatti still wins hands down.
Since the opinions seem to be pretty much unanimous, how about best Canadian Football team or best NFL Europe Team versus the Bengals?
I think you are right that the pros still win. Our theory was that with only five guys on the team, one or two superstar type players can make a bigger impact for the college team. With football teams as big as they are there is just no way that a college can match up against the pros.
re: NBA vs. most talented NCAA teams
I’ve always thought the 96 Kentucky team was the most talented college team ever. They had:
Antoine Walker
Ron Mercer
Derek Anderson
Walter McCarty
Tony Delk
Nazr Mohammed
who are all still in the NBA
Mark Pope
Wayne Turner
who had brief careers in the NBA
Allen Edwards
Jared Prickett
Jeff Sheppard (won the MOP in the NCAA tourney in 98)
who were all excellant college players.
I think that team may have been able to upset a couple of the very worst NBA teams.
Nope. Pros still win. Again, we are comparing their skill level when they were playing college to their skill level now.
I dunno. Some of those Hurricanes are pretty old …
Back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the reigning NFL champions would play a game against a team made up of college all-stars.
The college guys won pretty frequently, so that blows your little theory into teeny, tiny pieces.