🏈 Interesting Take From Herbstreit

[bama alum]

http://247sports.com/Bolt/Herbstreit-Alabama-Has-Most-Upside-in-Playoff-Rankings-32518819

Herbstreit: Alabama Has Most Upside in Playoff Rankings
3 hours ago
ESPN College GameDay co-host Kirk Herbstreit was asked on Saturday which team had the most upside to potentially move up the College Football Playoff rankings.
“I think it would be Alabama,” Herbstreit said. “I think Alabama has a chance to by the end of the year be the top team in the country. I’m not saying that because of past years. I’m saying that because of Blake Sims’ understanding of Lane Kiffin’s offense and kind of the direction they’re going.”
Alabama was ranked No. 6 in the inaugural playoff committee rankings.
Then Herbstreit took aim at the committee failing to reward strength of schedule.
“This system, I think we all hoped that the committee would look at this and reward teams that were willing to go outside of their conference and play tough teams,” Herbstreit said. “Yet all we heard about was, and me included, ‘Well Mississippi State and Florida State are undefeated, they’re definitely going to be up there.’
“I kind of sense if I’m an AD, or I’m a head coach, why schedule a heavyweight powerhouse?” Herbstreit said. “Why not just do it the Baylor way? If the goal is to be undefeated (makes air quotes), why not just play anybody, play Eastern Michigan, play those easy opponents, get into conference play undefeated, and then get to Week Seven or Week Eight and say, ‘Hey, we’re undefeated?’ Because I think that’s going to be rewarded by this committee based on what we’re kind of sensing here early on.”

*****************
I saw this on GameDay today. While agree with him about Bama, I disagree with him about the cupcake schedule. If that were true, Notre Lame would be higher up. After they cream Navy later today, you'd think going on Herbie's idea that they'd be right outside the top 4.

 

[Rolltide24]

I've got something for you guys to considered. Heard a lot about FSU struggling to beat UL on the road and only beating one top 10 team, etc... My rhetorical question is, which team had the better performance in relatively similar game, Bama vs UT or FSU vs UL?

Bama came out like gangbusters, then struggled and it got pretty dang tight, then put together a long drive late in the 3rd that put it out of reach. Against an unranked, pretty terrible team at their house. Bama winning by 14.

FSU played bar early, 3 INTs, and a fumble (that they recovered). Went down 21-0. Again, on the road, like Bama. Against a (barely) ranked team, that had a stout defense coming in. They put up 35 2nd half points and dominated the 4th quarter, even with the QB limping noticeable from rolling his ankle. And winning by 11.

I've heard media and the like give us credit for a good solid win and others say FSU is overrated for struggling. Why the difference in perception for the 2 different teams? We arguably played the worse of the 2 teams (UT and UL). Granted, ours was a rivalry game, but still, how was our win so much better than FSU's? Just my thoughts over the past couple days..

I don't like FSU but they are the champs until they are dethroned. I wish it would come sooner than later, but they know how to win a game, especially when they are down. Aubie had them down big, NC State and UL had them down big on the road, and they found ways to win. Until
They lose, they have to be in the top 4, unfortunately.

 

[bamaledge]

I get what Herbie is saying, but I just don't get what you are trying to say. They find a way to win? Blah blah blah. Sounds like you are a Jameis Winston homer fan. I'm sorry but I can't stand that rapist thief and as long as Florida state has him, I can't stand them either. The committee's rankings barely make sense. When we win out we'll see what happens, but right now I agree with Herbie.

 

[Rolltide24]

I assure you, I'm far from a Winston fan. I can't stand him, the school and the coach. I like him as little as any of you. Not sure where you base your assumption that I like him?? Just saying that I thought it odd that they got criticized for that win when we got praise for ours. They were very similar wins for us and them. They actually beat a better team. I think the media doesn't give FSU the credit they give the SEC teams. Fairly or unfairly, at least based on this past week.

Just wanted to put it out there and see if you guys heard the same things or thought about it. I also agree with Herbie in this article, which my post doesn't really relate too, but I didn't want to start a new thread for my thought...

I get what Herbie is saying, but I just don't get what you are trying to say. They find a way to win? Blah blah blah. Sounds like you are a Jameis Winston homer fan. I'm sorry but I can't stand that rapist thief and as long as Florida state has him, I can't stand them either. The committee's rankings barely make sense. When we win out we'll see what happens, but right now I agree with Herbie.

 

[bcracker]

I agree @bamaledge And Herbie's point is emphasized in the committee's ranking Oregon over the Tide. They have played NO ONE, save MSU, and I'm not convinced that was a stellar win. If this is how the C is going to roll, what IS the point of stacking your schedule with tough opponents? The Notre Dame/Alabama championship game is a case in point, and this is exactly what I hoped the new system would avoid. Notre Lame was undefeated, yes, but the result of that game showed they were way out of their league.

 

[Rolltide24]

I agree. The result of the NC game against LSU was almost as bad as well. It's tough to predict who the best 2 teams are at the end of the regular season. LSU beat us in at-town that year, you'd have thought they would not have gotten beat so bad in the NC game.

Notre Lame was undefeated, yes, but the result of that game showed they were way out of their league.

 

[bcracker]

@Rolltide24 I here what your saying, 24, but the difference in the 1st Alabama LSU game of 2011 was three points. If we'd had a kicker, that game would have been, I believe, 6 points in our favor. Both teams were very good and each played a competitive schedule. The two best teams played in the NC game that year.

Notre Dame ran the table in 2012, but they played no one. It took them three overtimes to beat a mediocre Pitt. And they've been known to schedule weaklings for years. That's one of the reasons why they remain independent, in my opinion, and, consequently, they were exposed in the championship game to the tune of 30 points. Strength of schedule was meaningless as far as they were concerned that year.

Now we have Oregon in a similar situation. They have played no one too. MSU is arguably a quality win, but I'm still not convinced about them. Granted, it is better than Notre Dame's win over Pitt, but the rest of their schedule has been anemic, to say the least, yet the committee ranked them higher than Alabama. It may not mean anything come the end of the year, if Alabama wins out, but I fear the committee will "overlook" Alabama to insure no more than one SEC team gets to the playoffs.

It will be interesting to see if TCU jumps Alabama after our bye and their win over WVU. If that happens, I'll be even more concerned about the motives of the committee.

 

[MissingRing]

Thankfully, at this writing (11/2), after Auburn handed Ole Miss a second conference loss, we will get in to the playoff final 4 the unquestionably correct way - by winning the SEC championship - or not at all. Winning out will take care of everything and Alabama will not be dependent on "SEC charity" from the committee.

 

[rick4bama]

That what we need to do is take care of business.