SWC75
Bored Historian
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 32,521
- Like
- 62,716
Each fall for several years, I’ve been doing a series of posts I call “the Undefeated”, in which I keep track of the undefeated teams and their remaining schedules so we can assess the likelihood of their remaining undefeated and play in, at first the BCS championship game and now the 4 team playoff. When there were fewer undefeated teams than the 2 and then 4 teams that would get to compete for the national championship, I switched to one loss teams. Eventually I introduced two other competitions: the Pesci bowl, named after vertically challenged but feisty character actor Joe Pesci for the two best non-power conference BCS team and the Ty-Dee Bowl, named after a toilet cleaner, for the two worst BCS teams.
In 2020, I haven’t done The Undefeated because the Big 10 and Pac 12 had apparently cancelled their seasons and II wasn’t sure if there was even going to be a playoff. Apparently now there will be so I’m going todo a belated “Undefeated” post.
The situation among the ‘Group of Five’ is particularly interesting this year and the race for the Pesci Bowl is a hot one, with a big game between Coastal Carolina and Brigham Young today. And we might find ourselves in the Ty-Dee Bowl so I felt the need to scout the “opposition” to see the likelihood of our staying out of it.
POWER FIVE PLAYOFF
ALABAMA 10-0 (495-168) ranked #1
Comment: The Tide will roll into the SEC title game against FLORIDA 8-2 (412-263) ranked #6 with a 10-0 record.
NOTRE DAME 10-0 (377-171) ranked #2
Comment: With Wake Forest canceled, the next stop is a rematch with CLEMSON in the ACC title game. Can they do it again?
OHIO STATE 5-0 (233-116) ranked #4 (3rd by writers)
Comment: After the Michigan game was cancelled, the Big Ten relented and changed their rule that 6 wins were necessary to get into the Big 10 title game against NORTHWESTERN. Sorry, Indiana.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 5-0 (176-125) ranked #13
Comment: Are the Trojans really back or just really lucky? They’ve won three games in the final minute.
The one loss teams:
CLEMSON 9-1 (460-183) ranked #3 (4th by writers)
Comment: Rematch of the game of the year coming up vs. NOTRE DAME in the ACC title game.
COLORADO 4-1 (148-135) ranked #25 (#22 by coaches)
Comment: The Buffs blew whatever chance they had to get into the conference title game by losing to Utah while the Trojans pulled the UCLA game out of the fire.
INDIANA 6-1 (211-136) ranked #11 (7th by writers and coaches)
Comment: They won’t be in the Big 10 title game and their ranking will probably be too low to get them into the playoff. A lot teams would have to lose this weekend and the next.
NORTHWESTERN 6-1 (177-102) ranked #14 (15th by writers)
Comment: The Wildcats will be in the Big 10 title game against OHIO STATE. A Northwestern-Indian Big Ten Title game would have bene fun. The meek would have inherited the Big 10.
TEXAS A&M 7-1 (251-177) ranked #5
12/19 at Tennessee 3-6 (202-267)
Comment: The Aggies can’t make the SEC title game as they already lost to ‘Bama but they could finish 9-1.
WASHINGTON 3-1 (121-100) unranked
Comment: The Pac 12 decided after cancelling the Washington-Oregon game that OREGON (3-2, 171-140), should play in the conference title game because WASHINGTON is still having CoVid problems.
Overall: Everyone in the Big 12 has 2 losses but they will play a full schedule so they still might get some consideration. But it’s likely between Notre Dame, Clemson (if they beat Notre Dame), Alabama, Ohio State, or possibly USC if they are the Pac 12 champ.
PESCI BOWL
BUFFALO 5-0 (259-105) (ranked 23rd by writers)
Comment: They will face the BALL STATE in the MAC title game on 12/18.
CINCINNATI 8-0 (327-120) ranked #9 (6th by writers and 8th by coaches)
Comment: The AAC doesn’t have divisions but they do have a 1 vs. 2 conference title game scheduled for 12/19. That could also be against Tulsa or it could be against Memphis 6-2 (265-235) who hasn’t played Tulsa and who plays Tulane 5-5 (354-278) today. The Bearcats will be heavy favorites to go 10-0 in any case.
COASTAL CAROLINA 11-0 (412-206) ranked #12 (9th by writers)
Comment: The Chanticleers will play LOUISIANA in the Sun Belt title game on 12/19
SAN JOSE STATE 6-0 (182-105) ranked #24 (#25 by the writers and coaches)
Comment: The Mountain West championship game will be against BOISE STATE on 12/18.
I’ve got to add in:
BALL STATE 5-1 (202-165) unranked
Comment: Will play BUFFALO in the MAC title game on 12/18.
BOISE STATE 5-1 (217-156) unranked
Comment: The Broncos have had their last two games cancelled and move on to the Mountain West title game against SAN JOSE STATE.
BRIGHAM YOUNG 10-1 (473-161) ranked #17 (14th by writers, 16th by coaches)
Comment: The Cougars are an independent, (why did they leave the Mountain West?) so there is no conference championship game.
KENT STATE 3-1 (199-152) unranked
Comment: They got crushed by Buffalo, 41-70 and their remaining games have been canceled so their season is done.
LIBERTY 9-1 (383-192) (ranked 22nd by writers and 21st by coaches)
Comment: They have completed their schedule and are an independent with no conference title game. They lost on a missed field goal to NC State but beat us and Virginia Tech. they have too many teams to climb over but will be hiding in the bushes if there are a series of upsets.
LOUISIANA 9-1 (339-218) ranked #19 (17th by writers and 18th by coaches)
Comment: they have completed their regular season. They have a rematch with the only team to beat them, COASTAL CAROLINA, in the Sun belt title game on 12/19. CCU won the first game 30-27. The Ragin Cajuns could get a big step up by winning the rematch. They also beat Iowa State, 31-14 in Ames, Iowa.
MARSHALL 7-1 (262-91) unranked
Comment: It shows to go you: 7-0 Marshall lost to 1-2 Rice 0-20 thanks to 5 turnovers They will play Alabama-Birmingham, (5-3, 234-180) in the C-USA title game on 12/18.
TULSA 6-1 (194-139) ranked #23 (20th by writers and by coaches)
Comment: The Golden Hurricane could project themselves into the race with an upset of the CINCINNATI in the AAAC title game.
Overall: I think CINCINNATI and COASTAL CAROLINA have the inside track on the Pesci Bowl. But they need to beat TULSA and LOUISIANA to get there.
TY-DEE BOWL
Maybe there should be two Ty-Dee Bowls, one for the worst power conference teams and one for the rest of BCS. If there were:
ARIZONA 0-5 (87-199)
Comment: losing to an arch-rival 7-70 is not good for your job security.
KANSAS 0-9 (142-414)
Comment: The Jayhawks have no talons.
VANDERBILT 0-9 (133-336)
Comment: The Commodores sailed right into the Ty Dee Bowl.
By comparison:
SYRACUSE 1-10 (196-360)
Comment: We have more losses than any other BCS team but at least we have a win and I don’t think we are quite as bad as the Jayhawks or the Commodores. Still, let’s root not just for SU but also for Texas, Tennessee and Georgia to keep us out of Power 5 Ty-Dee Bowl. Also, mention Georgia Tech, who turned the ball over 5 times and committed 15 penalties in our game, in your prayers.
DECISION:
KANSAS 0-9 (142-414) vs. VANDERBILT 0-9 (133-336)
….is what the Ty-Dee Bowl is all about!
A Ty-Dee Bowl for the Group of Five and independents would likely be drawn from the following winless teams:
BOWLING GREEN 0-5 (57-225)
Comments: The Falcons lost to 0-4 Akron, 3-31. Eastern Illinois won’t be playing until the spring so Dino’s teams are 1-15 this year.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 0-5 (112-162)
Comment: They shocked the world.
LOUISIANA-MONROE 0-10 (163-420)
Comment: None of these teams will be able to match the Warhawk’s record of non-accomplishment.
MASSACHUSETTS 0-4 (12-161)
Comment: Their season is over, perfection thus achieved.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 0-6 (149-232)
Comments: see above.
NEVADA-LAS VEGAS 0-6 (104-228)
Comments: The Rebels came up craps.
DECISION:
Based on point differentials, it will be:
BOWLING GREEN 0-5 (57-225) vs. LOUISIANA-MONROE 0-10 (163-420)
In 2020, I haven’t done The Undefeated because the Big 10 and Pac 12 had apparently cancelled their seasons and II wasn’t sure if there was even going to be a playoff. Apparently now there will be so I’m going todo a belated “Undefeated” post.
The situation among the ‘Group of Five’ is particularly interesting this year and the race for the Pesci Bowl is a hot one, with a big game between Coastal Carolina and Brigham Young today. And we might find ourselves in the Ty-Dee Bowl so I felt the need to scout the “opposition” to see the likelihood of our staying out of it.
POWER FIVE PLAYOFF
ALABAMA 10-0 (495-168) ranked #1
Comment: The Tide will roll into the SEC title game against FLORIDA 8-2 (412-263) ranked #6 with a 10-0 record.
NOTRE DAME 10-0 (377-171) ranked #2
Comment: With Wake Forest canceled, the next stop is a rematch with CLEMSON in the ACC title game. Can they do it again?
OHIO STATE 5-0 (233-116) ranked #4 (3rd by writers)
Comment: After the Michigan game was cancelled, the Big Ten relented and changed their rule that 6 wins were necessary to get into the Big 10 title game against NORTHWESTERN. Sorry, Indiana.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 5-0 (176-125) ranked #13
Comment: Are the Trojans really back or just really lucky? They’ve won three games in the final minute.
The one loss teams:
CLEMSON 9-1 (460-183) ranked #3 (4th by writers)
Comment: Rematch of the game of the year coming up vs. NOTRE DAME in the ACC title game.
COLORADO 4-1 (148-135) ranked #25 (#22 by coaches)
Comment: The Buffs blew whatever chance they had to get into the conference title game by losing to Utah while the Trojans pulled the UCLA game out of the fire.
INDIANA 6-1 (211-136) ranked #11 (7th by writers and coaches)
Comment: They won’t be in the Big 10 title game and their ranking will probably be too low to get them into the playoff. A lot teams would have to lose this weekend and the next.
NORTHWESTERN 6-1 (177-102) ranked #14 (15th by writers)
Comment: The Wildcats will be in the Big 10 title game against OHIO STATE. A Northwestern-Indian Big Ten Title game would have bene fun. The meek would have inherited the Big 10.
TEXAS A&M 7-1 (251-177) ranked #5
12/19 at Tennessee 3-6 (202-267)
Comment: The Aggies can’t make the SEC title game as they already lost to ‘Bama but they could finish 9-1.
WASHINGTON 3-1 (121-100) unranked
Comment: The Pac 12 decided after cancelling the Washington-Oregon game that OREGON (3-2, 171-140), should play in the conference title game because WASHINGTON is still having CoVid problems.
Overall: Everyone in the Big 12 has 2 losses but they will play a full schedule so they still might get some consideration. But it’s likely between Notre Dame, Clemson (if they beat Notre Dame), Alabama, Ohio State, or possibly USC if they are the Pac 12 champ.
PESCI BOWL
BUFFALO 5-0 (259-105) (ranked 23rd by writers)
Comment: They will face the BALL STATE in the MAC title game on 12/18.
CINCINNATI 8-0 (327-120) ranked #9 (6th by writers and 8th by coaches)
Comment: The AAC doesn’t have divisions but they do have a 1 vs. 2 conference title game scheduled for 12/19. That could also be against Tulsa or it could be against Memphis 6-2 (265-235) who hasn’t played Tulsa and who plays Tulane 5-5 (354-278) today. The Bearcats will be heavy favorites to go 10-0 in any case.
COASTAL CAROLINA 11-0 (412-206) ranked #12 (9th by writers)
Comment: The Chanticleers will play LOUISIANA in the Sun Belt title game on 12/19
SAN JOSE STATE 6-0 (182-105) ranked #24 (#25 by the writers and coaches)
Comment: The Mountain West championship game will be against BOISE STATE on 12/18.
I’ve got to add in:
BALL STATE 5-1 (202-165) unranked
Comment: Will play BUFFALO in the MAC title game on 12/18.
BOISE STATE 5-1 (217-156) unranked
Comment: The Broncos have had their last two games cancelled and move on to the Mountain West title game against SAN JOSE STATE.
BRIGHAM YOUNG 10-1 (473-161) ranked #17 (14th by writers, 16th by coaches)
Comment: The Cougars are an independent, (why did they leave the Mountain West?) so there is no conference championship game.
KENT STATE 3-1 (199-152) unranked
Comment: They got crushed by Buffalo, 41-70 and their remaining games have been canceled so their season is done.
LIBERTY 9-1 (383-192) (ranked 22nd by writers and 21st by coaches)
Comment: They have completed their schedule and are an independent with no conference title game. They lost on a missed field goal to NC State but beat us and Virginia Tech. they have too many teams to climb over but will be hiding in the bushes if there are a series of upsets.
LOUISIANA 9-1 (339-218) ranked #19 (17th by writers and 18th by coaches)
Comment: they have completed their regular season. They have a rematch with the only team to beat them, COASTAL CAROLINA, in the Sun belt title game on 12/19. CCU won the first game 30-27. The Ragin Cajuns could get a big step up by winning the rematch. They also beat Iowa State, 31-14 in Ames, Iowa.
MARSHALL 7-1 (262-91) unranked
Comment: It shows to go you: 7-0 Marshall lost to 1-2 Rice 0-20 thanks to 5 turnovers They will play Alabama-Birmingham, (5-3, 234-180) in the C-USA title game on 12/18.
TULSA 6-1 (194-139) ranked #23 (20th by writers and by coaches)
Comment: The Golden Hurricane could project themselves into the race with an upset of the CINCINNATI in the AAAC title game.
Overall: I think CINCINNATI and COASTAL CAROLINA have the inside track on the Pesci Bowl. But they need to beat TULSA and LOUISIANA to get there.
TY-DEE BOWL
Maybe there should be two Ty-Dee Bowls, one for the worst power conference teams and one for the rest of BCS. If there were:
ARIZONA 0-5 (87-199)
Comment: losing to an arch-rival 7-70 is not good for your job security.
KANSAS 0-9 (142-414)
Comment: The Jayhawks have no talons.
VANDERBILT 0-9 (133-336)
Comment: The Commodores sailed right into the Ty Dee Bowl.
By comparison:
SYRACUSE 1-10 (196-360)
Comment: We have more losses than any other BCS team but at least we have a win and I don’t think we are quite as bad as the Jayhawks or the Commodores. Still, let’s root not just for SU but also for Texas, Tennessee and Georgia to keep us out of Power 5 Ty-Dee Bowl. Also, mention Georgia Tech, who turned the ball over 5 times and committed 15 penalties in our game, in your prayers.
DECISION:
KANSAS 0-9 (142-414) vs. VANDERBILT 0-9 (133-336)
….is what the Ty-Dee Bowl is all about!
A Ty-Dee Bowl for the Group of Five and independents would likely be drawn from the following winless teams:
BOWLING GREEN 0-5 (57-225)
Comments: The Falcons lost to 0-4 Akron, 3-31. Eastern Illinois won’t be playing until the spring so Dino’s teams are 1-15 this year.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 0-5 (112-162)
Comment: They shocked the world.
LOUISIANA-MONROE 0-10 (163-420)
Comment: None of these teams will be able to match the Warhawk’s record of non-accomplishment.
MASSACHUSETTS 0-4 (12-161)
Comment: Their season is over, perfection thus achieved.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 0-6 (149-232)
Comments: see above.
NEVADA-LAS VEGAS 0-6 (104-228)
Comments: The Rebels came up craps.
DECISION:
Based on point differentials, it will be:
BOWLING GREEN 0-5 (57-225) vs. LOUISIANA-MONROE 0-10 (163-420)
