CFP question of the day...
Will Cincinnati be at #4 tonight? I think they will be, though I don't think should be. How they've looked in a weak schedule hasn't done enough, to me, to have earned them a playoff spot. Ultimately, I think they will not be in the playoffs though.
I read an insider last night that thinks if Oklahoma St wins out they will be at #4 when all is said and done. He thinks the committee isn't convinced by Cincinnati's undefeated record as they have played a weak schedule. That would make sense to me as I think Cincinnati being ranked that high is a fraud just as I thought Iowa, Penn St, and Michigan St being ranked so high were frauds. Though I didn't think Penn St would fall completely out of the top 25.
One example of why I think Cincinnati being ranked high is a fraud, is they had a much closer game with Indiana than the score indicates, with Indy outgaining them. Iowa, Penn St, Ohio St, Michigan, and even Rutgers and Minnesota blew out Indiana. And all of them, (except Rutgers, but even Rutgers outgained them) completely dominated the games statistically, with Ohio St even getting 4X as many yards as Indiana. And Cincinnati belongs in the playoffs? No, just no.
Anyway, Where will Cincinnati be ranked tonight?
November 23rd, 2021 at 10:54 AM ^
Beat Ohio
November 23rd, 2021 at 10:56 AM ^
Who cares? Beat OSU, beat UW, win B1G Championship.
Ain't nobody keeping the B1G Champ out of the playoffs...
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:16 AM ^
Unless it's a three-loss team from the West
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:24 AM ^
I wonder where Wisconsin would be if they had beaten Penn St in the opener? I wonder if being 10-2 with the chance to knock off Michigan or OSU to get to 11-2 would have them possibly in the mix?
November 23rd, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
I think probably yes. It depends on the scope of the rest of the country, but Wisconsin has looked more cohesive as the season has gone on. Would they compete in the playoffs? I don't think so, but we aren't talking about that. I think they have looked a lot better of late tho, by comparison to the beginning of the season. Usually getting into CFP or a nice bowl game is reserved for teams without blemishes or without many blemishes, not teams that have put it all together over the course of the season, but a situation like this might be one where a 2-loss team gets in.
November 23rd, 2021 at 10:57 AM ^
#4. They were #5 last week and blew the doors off #23 SMU.
Their schedule really is a joke compared to anyone in the BIG. But Okla St plays in a pretty weak conference too, and Cincy did beat the overrated Irish - thank god.
#4 seems right..
November 23rd, 2021 at 1:02 PM ^
They will also likely play current #19 Houston in the American conference championship game, so that's another ranked team. Still not the strength of schedule of any P5 champion, but they did also beat current top 10 notre dame.
November 23rd, 2021 at 3:20 PM ^
Current top 10 Notre Dame looked like shit for most of this season. They very easily could have/should have lost 2-3 games in the first half of the season
November 23rd, 2021 at 10:57 AM ^
Cincinnati will be #4.
SMU == Maryland, so I doubt we jump them tonight. Only way Oklahoma St jumps Cincinnati is if they beat Oklahoma in back-to-back weeks.
November 23rd, 2021 at 1:06 PM ^
Correct, and Ok St. would jump them if they do that. BUT, I think you have to keep a potentially undefeated Cincinnati ahead of a two loss Alabama. So even if Ok. St. beats OU twice, good chance UGA beats Bama to end the season with the following rankings:
1. UGA
2. OSU/Michigan
3. Ok St.
4. Cinci
Tonight the only drama will be whether OSU moves ahead of Bama (I think they will). Tonight will be:
1. UGA
2. OSU (or Bama)
3. Bama (or OSU)
4. Cinci
5. Michigan
6. Notre Dame
7. Ok St.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:03 AM ^
No. It will be GA, OSU, AL and Michigan...and they would strongly prefer these four teams to be in the playoff. The committee likes Michigan. The committee's dilemma is "How do we get these four teams into the playoff?".
The committee does not want Cincinnati to be in the CFP.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:04 AM ^
Makes no difference. Win and you in its very simple. This season however is even more reason not to expand the playoff to 12 teams. There arent even 6 teams that really deserve a playoff berth.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:20 AM ^
Then that gives the clear cut best teams a nice warm up game! I will never see a compelling case not to expand the playoff. It would be so much fun!
November 23rd, 2021 at 3:27 PM ^
its going to be about money. The expansion is set and the only question is details.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:05 AM ^
Clutter-Filled Pontification question of the day?
(Only semi /s after all your bitchin a couple Saturdays ago)
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
Adam Sandler beat ND so I am ok with him.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
If OK state wins big over #13 OK, I think they jump ND, Cinc and the UM/OSU loser.
Cinc would get in only if Bama loses another or the UM/OSU winner loses to Wisc.
November 23rd, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
UM, OSU loser would have 2 losses, of course a 1 loss power 5 team would jump them. I guess I'm not sure why anyone cares with "The Game" being played Sat.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:14 AM ^
Whatever.....
What I WANT to happen is for Georgia to smoke Bama and knock them out. I obviously want us to win and knock OSU out. After that I am indifferent between Cincy and OkSt as long as Oklahoma stays out.
Basically I want a playoff with no blue bloods in it. OSU, Clemson, Bama, and Oklahoma.....enjoy a second tier bowl.
November 23rd, 2021 at 12:34 PM ^
Hell, if Michigan finds it's way into the Top 4, then I'd definitely want Cincy in the mix and hopefully as my opponent. That's about as easy a semi-final game as you're going to get. Otherwise, no, Cincinnati is not playoff worthy.
November 23rd, 2021 at 1:56 PM ^
Funny I consider Georgia a blue blood, and Michigan definitely is, so I think you're screwed.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:18 AM ^
What happens if UM or OSU lose in the B1G championship game? I think OSU still would make the playoff, not so sure if UM would in that situation.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:25 AM ^
Have we had a team lose their conference title game but still make the playoff?
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:52 AM ^
Bama (assuming a loss to Georgia) would get the nod. It would be Georgia, ND, Cincy, Bama.
November 23rd, 2021 at 12:07 PM ^
Notre Dame will not be ranked over an undefeated team that beat them.
November 23rd, 2021 at 12:31 PM ^
I don’t necessarily mean in that specific order. Just that they’ll get in the playoff if both OSU and UM are out.
November 23rd, 2021 at 12:49 PM ^
In that case, the B1G will go empty handed. I just can't see any 2-loss team get in unless chaos happens. In that case, a 2-loss Bama would be first in. After that, a 2-loss B1G team would make it in (winner of M-OSU).
So yeah, if you think that two 2-loss teams will get in, then Michigan still needs to beat OSU.
Just win the game and it will all sort itself out...
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:27 AM ^
I want this...Georgia beats Bama, Notre Dame wins out, Cincy wins out, we beat OSU ane Wisconsin.
1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Notre Dame
4 Cincinnati
That would be a fun 2 vs 3
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:29 AM ^
With a better record, similar crappy strength of schedule, and a head to head win, Cinci won't be behind ND. As much as they'd love that game for ratings purposes.
November 23rd, 2021 at 1:11 PM ^
For this add OK State beats OU then loses B12 CG to Baylor or vice versa.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:27 AM ^
I think the only things that still matter are:
1) Who wins the SEC? If Georgia wins they're #1 and Alabama is out. If Alabama wins, they're #1 and Georgia is #3.
2) Who wins Saturday and do they beat whoever comes out of the clusterfuck that is the West. That's the #2 seed.
3) Does Cincinnati beat Houston? If so they're in.
4) Does Oklahoma State lose?
General outline with chalk winning:
Georgia wins the SEC:
1) Georgia
2) M/OSU
3) Cinci
4) Oklahoma State
Alabama wins the SEC:
1) Alabama
2) M/OSU
3) Georgia
4) Cinci
What the committee obviously wants because it's all about ratings anyway:
1) Alabama
2) Ohio State
3) Georgia
4) Notre Dame
November 23rd, 2021 at 12:51 PM ^
Notre Dame is a ratings draw but they should be automatically disqualified every season where they take a loss. If they're going to continue to dodge the risks that comes with playing a conference championship game, then they should accept the consequences that go along with that.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:33 AM ^
Indiana was closer to full strength when Cincy played them but yeah that’s not a good win when 6 or 7 other teams can claim it.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^
I don't think that the rankings are supposed to be predictions. UC has one of the best wins of the season right now given their victory at ND. They may well not have one of the best for resumes at the end of the year, but there is a very good argument that they do now. We'll see how they do against Houston and how Ok. State does against OU.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:50 AM ^
Nah, Michigan will be #4. Adds more drama to this weekend. Cincy will end up in the top 4 with a win regardless.
November 23rd, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
^This.
Cincinnati hasn't done anything to merit a jump into the field of four. Putting Michigan there after a domination of Maryland on the road adds more to this weekend's B1G East championship Game. #2 vs #4.
Someone's going to lose and move Cincinnati up into #4 anyway.
November 23rd, 2021 at 11:51 AM ^
Cincinnati will be #5.
Behind Michigan.
November 23rd, 2021 at 12:54 PM ^
It doesn't matter who's ranked in the Top 4 this week, it only matters who's there on December 5th.
Beat Ohio
November 23rd, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
1. Georgia
2. OSU
3. Alabama
4. Cincinnati
5. ND
6. UM
November 23rd, 2021 at 1:12 PM ^
Cincinnati played Indiana when they were much healthier than the rest of those teams.
November 23rd, 2021 at 1:45 PM ^
They will be #4 tonight and we will be #5. We beat Ohio and we will jump them. Everything comes down to the game on Saturday
November 23rd, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
Probably #4, but it doesn’t matter. If we are lucky enough to win out, Michigan will be #2 and possibly playing them in Round 1. So in that case, yeah I hope they are crazily overrated and somehow wind up our first playoff opponent.
November 23rd, 2021 at 2:18 PM ^
Ahead of Sparty
November 23rd, 2021 at 2:46 PM ^
i have something to say too: UTSA is way underrated and should be in the top 10.
November 23rd, 2021 at 3:15 PM ^
It should be:
1. GA
2. OSU
3. AL
4. MI
5. UC
I think it will be:
1. GA
2. AL
3. OSU
4. UC
5. MI
November 23rd, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^
All I know is if ND makes it I will be upset.
November 23rd, 2021 at 3:22 PM ^
What happens if UGA loses to Bama in the SEC title game? Obviously they put 2 SEC teams into the playoffs, right? Isn't that what 2 of the 4 slots are reserved for anyway? And then the winner of the B1G and some other team