On the topic of the day:
I am pro Mayo. Hellmans.
I tried Dukes. It was not bad but I didn't like the tang.
Cool Whip doesn't do it for me either. But I get where people get into whatever it was they had when they were kids and rarely cross over. Respect for all the condiment lovers out there.
That said, I am going to try and build a set of rails to get the train back on the main track. Where we might go bowling.
It looks very likely ND will make the 12 team playoff. That is good for all ACC teams in that they should not be taking an ACC bowl bid this year.
If you accept that Miami is going to beat Syracuse, and no other major upsets are happening, which seems very likely, Miami is going to play SMU in the ACC championship game. The winner is a given to make the playoffs. Could the loser make the playoffs as well? I think it would have to be Miami and right now I am thinking this is 50-50 at best. In this scenario, if Clemson were to beat South Carolina, they could stake a good claim to a playoff spot as well and maybe they get sneak in. But I see them projected to be 18th in the playoff ratings for this week and even with a win over South Carolina, I don't see them getting the benefit of the doubt. They need a bunch of upsets in the SEC to make it but their best bet is to root for Syracuse to beat Miami and then to beat SMU in the ACC championship game.
My best guess for how this all plays out is as follows...
Miami beats Syracuse. Miami beats SMU. Miami gets a playoff spot. Maybe even a bye in the first round.
SMU will be the 13th seed and not get in the playoff.
Clemson will beat South Carolina and be the 14th seed.
Duke beats VT at home and Wake on the road to finish 9-3.
Syracuse does beat UConn to finish 8-4.
Pitt loses to UL and beats BC to finish 8-4.
UL beats Pitt and loses to Kentucky to finish 7-5.
Georgia Tech beats NC State at home and loses to Georgia to finish 7-5.
UNC loses to BC on the road and wins at home against NC State to finish 7-5.
Miami gets a playoff bid.
SMU gets one of the Gator or Pop Tart.
Clemson gets the other. They went Gator last year so they probably get the Pop Tart.
Duke gets the Mayo. Duke's Mayo gets their dream team for the game.
Syracuse gets the Sun.
Pitt gets the Holiday.
I don't really care about the others.
I think a win over UConn gets us a Sun Bowl or Mayo Bowl bid at a minimum.
It is going to be interesting to see where SMU goes. They are a small school and I don't think they have a reputation for traveling. But I project they will beat Virginia on the road and Cal at home to finish the regular season at 11-1. Losing to a top ten program like Miami in the ACC championship game is no shame. They should be a top ten team based on what they have done and should easily make the playoffs (only loss to date was to BYU, which is probably going to win the B12 and also go to the playoffs) but they have played a weak schedule and with the B1G and SEC controlling the playoff committee, this will be punished severely.
Could they fall from the Gator to the Sun so the Gator could take Syracuse? The Gator hasn't had Syracuse in a long while and given the turnout SU fans had for the Pop Tart a few years ago, they might prefer them. But I don't think so. If we were a Clemson, with a huge fanbase that always travels, maybe. Plus while you might think the Sun would love to have SMU, a Texas school, in their bowl, it is 634 miles from Dallas to El Paso. Surely SMU would prefer the Gator and I think the Gator would love to have a team that is 11-2 and in the top 20. So SMU to the Gator.
I think the Holiday and the Sun come down to Pitt and Syracuse. I have Pitt in the Holiday because they have gone to the Sun a couple of times recently. Syracuse has not. I could see Syracuse in the Mayo but if Duke runs the table and goes 9-3, I think the good folks in Charlotte have to take the Blue Devils.
Now if Syracuse runs the table, things could get really interesting. But unless a second ACC school makes the playoff, it is hard to find a way for us to play in the Gator or Pop Tart.
