SWC75
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The last few years at this time in the college football season I’ve begun making weekly posts called “The Undefeated”, in which I gave detailed information about the remaining undefeated teams and they tried to stay in contention for first the BCS championships game and now the playoffs. Toward the end of the season, if it became apparent that we were going to have a one loss team in the playoff, I included information about them. The information was their record, their ranking, their points against ranked teams, (see that post), the remaining schedule, including the same information for each team.
I’ve decided to simply these posts by focusing on upcoming games against the teams most likely to knock them off and be contenders themselves. I won’t be providing all the stats about each team: just who they play and when that might be a big threat. I’m going to call it “The Contenders” instead of “The Undefeated”. I’m going to list each undefeated team ranked in the AP, (writer’s) top 25 and then each one loss team from any of the ‘power five’ conferences, (the ACC, The SEC, the Big 10, Big 12 and Pac 12)or that continues to be ranked. There is virtually a 100% chance that all four playoff teams will come from this group. We’ve had one two loss team play for the title since the BCS started, (LSU 2007) and they are the only two loss national champion we’ve ever had. Then I’ll list the teams also on that list that they will be playing, when and where. That way we’ll be able to look forward to the big match-ups to come on the same page.
Update: I’ve decided that beginning November, (the month they’ll remember, per Coach Mac), that I would supply the same sort of specifics I’ve presented in past years for each one: the full schedule, the record, the point differential, the various rankings and appoints accumulated against ranked teams, (see my “Against Ranked Teams” post.) The rankings are the highest ranking in any of the major polls.
Undefeated teams:
ALABAMA 10-0 (412-122) ranked #1 / 181 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 Chattanooga 8-2 (361-169) ranked #8 in FCS
11/26 Auburn 7-3 (320-157) ranked #15 / 93 points vs. ranked teams.
They most likely would play Florida (6-2, 216-113, ranked #18/ 2 points against ranked teams) in the conference title game.
Comments: Alabama will be favored to run the table. Florida hasn’t really beaten anybody good yet. The real threat is their old pals at Auburn, who seemed to be coming on strong again until they lost to Georgia.
One loss teams:
CLEMSON 9-1 (389-184) ranked #4 / 46 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 at Wake Forest 6-4 (204-210) 1 point vs. ranked teams
11/26 South Carolina 5-5 (180-211) 17 points vs. ranked teams
They most likely would play Virginia Tech (7-3, 334-212 40 points vs. ranked teams) in the conference title game.
LOUISVILLE 9-1 (496-203) ranked #3 / 82 points vs. ranked teams
11/17 at Houston 8-2 (376-213) 33 points vs. ranked teams
11/26 Kentucky 5-5 (282-323)
They most likely would play Virginia Tech (7-3, 334-212), 40 points vs. ranked teams) in the conference title game but they are lost to Clemson in their own division so they still need help to get to that game.
MICHIGAN 9-1 (445-110) ranked #3 / 25 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 Indiana 5-5 (275-284) 27 points vs. ranked teams
11/26 at Ohio State 9-1 (465-127) ranked #5 / 117 points vs. ranked teams
At this point Wisconsin (8-2, 262-127),ranked #7 122 points against ranked teams) would be the most likely team to play them in the Big Ten title game – Nebraska (8-2, 283-226), ranked #19, 16 points against ranked teams), has already lost to Wisconsin.
OHIO STATE 9-1 (465-127) ranked #2 / 117 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 at Michigan State 3-7 (261-271) 30 points vs. ranked teams
11/26 Michigan 9-1 (445-110) ranked #3 / 25 points vs. ranked teams
If they win these games it still would wrap up a spot in the Big Ten title game because Penn State beat them and both teams have a 6-1 conference record.
WASHINGTON 9-1(448-179) ranked #6 / 73 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 Arizona State 5-5 (347-378) 0 points vs. ranked teams
11/25 at Washington State 8-2 (443-243) ranked #20 / 37 points vs. ranked teams
Right now they would be facing Colorado (8-2, 352-179, ranked #10 / 4 points vs. ranked teams) in the conference title game.
WEST VIRGINIA 8-1 (290-185) ranked #9
11/19 Oklahoma 8-2 (442-308) ranked #8 / 14 points vs. ranked teams
11/26 Iowa State 2-8 (247-317) 12 points vs. ranked teams
12/3 Baylor 6-3 (342-245)
The Big 12 has no title game.
Power Five 2 Loss teams:
Colorado 8-2 (352-179) ranked #10 / 4 points against ranked teams
Florida 7-2 (236-120) ranked #18 / 2 points against ranked teams
Nebraska 8-2 (283-226) ranked #17 / 16 points against ranked teams
Oklahoma 8-2 (442-308) ranked #8 / 14 points against ranked teams
Oklahoma State 8-2 (413-293) ranked #11/ 55 points against ranked teams
Penn State 8-2 (355-261) ranked #8 / 27 points against ranked teams
Utah 8-2 (312-230) ranked #11 / 15 points against ranked teams
Washington State 8-2 (443-243) ranked #20 / 37 points against ranked teams
Wisconsin 8-2 (262-127) ranked #6 / 122 points against ranked teams
Comment: Going into last week we had a perfect situation for a four team playoff: four undefeated power conference teams. But nature abhors perfection and three of them went down, giving way to a week of scenarios for filling the other three positons. Four one loss teams could conceivably win out: Clemson, Louisville, Washington and West Virginia. Ohio State and Michigan will play each other, thus possibility giving us another one loss team, (and if it’s Ohio State they might not play in the Big Ten title game). There’s even the possibility that a two loss team, (probably Penn State or Wisconsin) could get in if they win their conference title. It’s the college football equivalent of a “smoothie”.
I’ve decided to simply these posts by focusing on upcoming games against the teams most likely to knock them off and be contenders themselves. I won’t be providing all the stats about each team: just who they play and when that might be a big threat. I’m going to call it “The Contenders” instead of “The Undefeated”. I’m going to list each undefeated team ranked in the AP, (writer’s) top 25 and then each one loss team from any of the ‘power five’ conferences, (the ACC, The SEC, the Big 10, Big 12 and Pac 12)or that continues to be ranked. There is virtually a 100% chance that all four playoff teams will come from this group. We’ve had one two loss team play for the title since the BCS started, (LSU 2007) and they are the only two loss national champion we’ve ever had. Then I’ll list the teams also on that list that they will be playing, when and where. That way we’ll be able to look forward to the big match-ups to come on the same page.
Update: I’ve decided that beginning November, (the month they’ll remember, per Coach Mac), that I would supply the same sort of specifics I’ve presented in past years for each one: the full schedule, the record, the point differential, the various rankings and appoints accumulated against ranked teams, (see my “Against Ranked Teams” post.) The rankings are the highest ranking in any of the major polls.
Undefeated teams:
ALABAMA 10-0 (412-122) ranked #1 / 181 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 Chattanooga 8-2 (361-169) ranked #8 in FCS
11/26 Auburn 7-3 (320-157) ranked #15 / 93 points vs. ranked teams.
They most likely would play Florida (6-2, 216-113, ranked #18/ 2 points against ranked teams) in the conference title game.
Comments: Alabama will be favored to run the table. Florida hasn’t really beaten anybody good yet. The real threat is their old pals at Auburn, who seemed to be coming on strong again until they lost to Georgia.
One loss teams:
CLEMSON 9-1 (389-184) ranked #4 / 46 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 at Wake Forest 6-4 (204-210) 1 point vs. ranked teams
11/26 South Carolina 5-5 (180-211) 17 points vs. ranked teams
They most likely would play Virginia Tech (7-3, 334-212 40 points vs. ranked teams) in the conference title game.
LOUISVILLE 9-1 (496-203) ranked #3 / 82 points vs. ranked teams
11/17 at Houston 8-2 (376-213) 33 points vs. ranked teams
11/26 Kentucky 5-5 (282-323)
They most likely would play Virginia Tech (7-3, 334-212), 40 points vs. ranked teams) in the conference title game but they are lost to Clemson in their own division so they still need help to get to that game.
MICHIGAN 9-1 (445-110) ranked #3 / 25 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 Indiana 5-5 (275-284) 27 points vs. ranked teams
11/26 at Ohio State 9-1 (465-127) ranked #5 / 117 points vs. ranked teams
At this point Wisconsin (8-2, 262-127),ranked #7 122 points against ranked teams) would be the most likely team to play them in the Big Ten title game – Nebraska (8-2, 283-226), ranked #19, 16 points against ranked teams), has already lost to Wisconsin.
OHIO STATE 9-1 (465-127) ranked #2 / 117 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 at Michigan State 3-7 (261-271) 30 points vs. ranked teams
11/26 Michigan 9-1 (445-110) ranked #3 / 25 points vs. ranked teams
If they win these games it still would wrap up a spot in the Big Ten title game because Penn State beat them and both teams have a 6-1 conference record.
WASHINGTON 9-1(448-179) ranked #6 / 73 points vs. ranked teams
11/19 Arizona State 5-5 (347-378) 0 points vs. ranked teams
11/25 at Washington State 8-2 (443-243) ranked #20 / 37 points vs. ranked teams
Right now they would be facing Colorado (8-2, 352-179, ranked #10 / 4 points vs. ranked teams) in the conference title game.
WEST VIRGINIA 8-1 (290-185) ranked #9
11/19 Oklahoma 8-2 (442-308) ranked #8 / 14 points vs. ranked teams
11/26 Iowa State 2-8 (247-317) 12 points vs. ranked teams
12/3 Baylor 6-3 (342-245)
The Big 12 has no title game.
Power Five 2 Loss teams:
Colorado 8-2 (352-179) ranked #10 / 4 points against ranked teams
Florida 7-2 (236-120) ranked #18 / 2 points against ranked teams
Nebraska 8-2 (283-226) ranked #17 / 16 points against ranked teams
Oklahoma 8-2 (442-308) ranked #8 / 14 points against ranked teams
Oklahoma State 8-2 (413-293) ranked #11/ 55 points against ranked teams
Penn State 8-2 (355-261) ranked #8 / 27 points against ranked teams
Utah 8-2 (312-230) ranked #11 / 15 points against ranked teams
Washington State 8-2 (443-243) ranked #20 / 37 points against ranked teams
Wisconsin 8-2 (262-127) ranked #6 / 122 points against ranked teams
Comment: Going into last week we had a perfect situation for a four team playoff: four undefeated power conference teams. But nature abhors perfection and three of them went down, giving way to a week of scenarios for filling the other three positons. Four one loss teams could conceivably win out: Clemson, Louisville, Washington and West Virginia. Ohio State and Michigan will play each other, thus possibility giving us another one loss team, (and if it’s Ohio State they might not play in the Big Ten title game). There’s even the possibility that a two loss team, (probably Penn State or Wisconsin) could get in if they win their conference title. It’s the college football equivalent of a “smoothie”.