NCAA Football 2012 - Week 13

[MJ5150]

The person we are staying with in Queens doesn't own a TV or have high speed internet (I didn't know people like this existed), so I had the pleasure of listening to the FSU broadcast on my Droid3 via the Sirius app. I listened to it in our car for a little while, but that was lonely out there by myself.

One of them made the comment that it had been a "long time" since Florida won this game, which I laughed off. The rest of the night, they were pissed when Florida was winning, excited and happy when FSU took the lead, then pissed when Florida went back ahead. I knew there would be an FSU slant to the broadcast, but wow.

-Mike

[Lonesomedave]

man....forgetting about everything else....Kiffin should be fired for sheer incompetence.

those USC possessions inside the Irish 5 yard line were unbelievable for their stupidity.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by Lonesomedave

man....forgetting about everything else....Kiffin should be fired for sheer incompetence.

those USC possessions inside the Irish 5 yard line were unbelievable for their stupidity.

+1. And a goal line stand that requires interfering on 2 consecutive plays to prevent a TD is not "one for the ages." But that's Musburger hyperbole for ya.

Having said that, ND was clearly the better team, and hats off to them for an undefeated season.

[Pilgrim]

It is truly a glorious weekend!

On Friday Washington State won the Apple Cup, beating the 25th-ranked Washington dawgz in OT, and getting a much needed win (after an awful season) to help set the tone for next season! Things are looking up for Mike Leach and the Cougs.

And today, Colorado State ended a terrible season by beating New Mexico, showing character and setting the right note for its second season under its new coach Jim McElwain.

It's happy times around here!!!

[Tractorr]

Originally Posted by GregC

Having said that, ND was clearly the better team, and hats off to them for an undefeated season.

Yes congrats to ND, but I don't see them beating Bama. If they barely beat a team with a QB starting his first game and seemingly no defense, I don't think they will be able to beat the well oiled machine that is Bama.

And Toaster save the history lesson. I know that this has been said in previous meetings of these teams but those games have no bearing on this game.

[MJ5150]

I like how people are assuming the NCG is now Alabama/Notre Dame. The only thing we know right now is Notre Dame is in that game. Alabama winning the SECCG is not a given.

-Mike

[Tractorr]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I like how people are assuming the NCG is now Alabama/Notre Dame. The only thing we know right now is Notre Dame is in that game. Alabama winning the SECCG is not a given.

-Mike

Bama only loses to hurry up spread offenses. Not exactly what UGA does.

[Lonesomedave]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I like how people are assuming the NCG is now Alabama/Notre Dame. The only thing we know right now is Notre Dame is in that game. Alabama winning the SECCG is not a given.

-Mike

well....if Bama DOES lose to Georgia, then it will be a GA/ND championship game.

i don't see ND beating any top tier SEC team....you name it....Bama, GA, FLA, LSU....i predict any one of those teams would handle ND. maybe not with ease, but handle them they would.

[Tractorr]

Originally Posted by Lonesomedave

well....if Bama DOES lose to Georgia, then it will be a GA/ND championship game.

i don't see ND beating any top tier SEC team....you name it....Bama, GA, FLA, LSU....i predict any one of those teams would handle ND. maybe not with ease, but handle them they would.

They would have a hard time against any of those defenses that is for sure. USC's defense was a sieve and look at how close that game was, and Pitt is not exactly a defensive powerhouse. UGA finds ways to lose games and that is why I don't think they would be a sure thing against ND, UF would be dependent on which offense showed up, and LSU would be which team showed up.

Bama on the other hand plays up to big games and with the break to prepare shouldn't have a problem with ND.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I like how people are assuming the NCG is now Alabama/Notre Dame. The only thing we know right now is Notre Dame is in that game. Alabama winning the SECCG is not a given.

-Mike

i admit it, I'm in the assumption camp Mike. The Gators had turned the ball over 5 times against Georgia and were still 5 yards and a 2- point play from overtime before #6. Uga was crushed by SCe and didn't play any of the other top SEC teams--no Bama, Lsu or A&M. And I'm pretty sure Aaron Murray still hasn't played well in a big game (have to check to be sure). I will be shocked if Bama loses to them.

[Tractorr]

Originally Posted by GregC

i admit it, I'm in the assumption camp Mike. The Gators had turned the ball over 5 times against Georgia and were still 5 yards and a 2- point play from overtime before #6. Uga was crushed by SCe and didn't play any of the other top SEC teams--no Bama, Lsu or A&M. And I'm pretty sure Aaron Murray still hasn't played well in a big game (have to check to be sure). I will be shocked if Bama loses to them.

There are two ways to beat Nick Saban teams.

1)Play Saban's game. This entails being a sledgehammer of team like LSU and hope that you have at least one more point at the end of the game.

2)Run a hurry up spread option like Auburn with Cam Newton and Texas A&M this year. This is the most effective way to beat Saban so much so that he has suggested that there need to be rules put in places to slow down hurry up offenses because "players could get injured." The truth is Saban personally calls the defense and subs players to match up with the offense. When the opposing team runs a hurry up he is not able to sub the players he wants and loses his biggest advantage.

UGA is a sledgehammer compared to many teams but not compared to Bama, and they don't run a hurry up spread.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Lonesomedave

.......i don't see ND beating any top tier SEC team....you name it....Bama, GA, FLA, LSU....

I'd pick Notre Dame over Florida and Georgia, maybe even LSU. Alabama would beat Notre Dame in my opinion.

Especially with Florida, they make enough of the stupid mistakes to lose a game.....turnovers, personal fouls, unnecessary penalties, etc. The Florida defense is good enough to win them a game, but I still see a good team like Notre Dame holding on.

-Mike

[SoonerMatt]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I'd pick Notre Dame over Florida and Georgia, maybe even LSU. Alabama would beat Notre Dame in my opinion.

Especially with Florida, they make enough of the stupid mistakes to lose a game.....turnovers, personal fouls, unnecessary penalties, etc. The Florida defense is good enough to win them a game, but I still see a good team like Notre Dame holding on.

-Mike

HUGE +1. While I admittedly would like to see a non-SEC team win the Natty I just don't think ND could beat Bama, should it come to that. Florida or Georgia, maybe; it would definitely make for a more exciting game than the Bama slaughter would.

ND-A&M, however, would be all kinds of entertaining

[Tractorr]

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

HUGE +1. While I admittedly would like to see a non-SEC team win the Natty I just don't think ND could beat Bama, should it come to that. Florida or Georgia, maybe; it would definitely make for a more exciting game than the Bama slaughter would.

ND-A&M, however, would be all kinds of entertaining

Did anyone watch the UF/FSU game?

When Florida is healthy they are definitely in the running for best team in the country.

I love that when other teams have a bunch of injuries there are phrases like "this team has been decimated by injuries" flung around, but when Florida loses there first two LTs, LG, C, QB, 2 WRS, and TE nobody says a thing. Then they say "Florida seems to be regressing on offense." They aren't regressing they just have tons of injuries.

[MJ5150]

I'd love to see the SEC bring home another BCS title. SEC fans around the world have to rest their hopes on Alabama this weekend.

Good to see Bill O'Brien guide Penn State to an 8-4 record. I sure didn't expect that, more like maybe 4-8. Bummer about the postgame f-bomb though.

-Mike

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Tractorr

Did anyone watch the UF/FSU game?

When Florida is healthy they are definitely in the running for best team in the country.

I love that when other teams have a bunch of injuries there are phrases like "this team has been decimated by injuries" flung around, but when Florida loses there first two LTs, LG, C, QB, 2 WRS, and TE nobody says a thing. Then they say "Florida seems to be regressing on offense." They aren't regressing they just have tons of injuries.

I listened to it on the radio. Same Florida team from all season....stupid penalties, playing out of control, disappearing for stretches. It's a wonder to me how they finished the season with one loss. It feels weird complaining about a one loss team, but those things are too important for me to ignore. We all agree it was a down year for the SEC, so that probably helped the Gators.

When Florida is playing well, they are a top five team. They've proved it with their current ranking. I don't think they would have won some of the games they did this year if it was against better teams. The A&M and FSU games come to mind immediately.

As for injuries, you won't hear me mentioning those as contributing to a team winning or losing. No team is immune to them. The good coaches recruit depth so if one four star player goes out, another one steps in.

-Mike

[Tractorr]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

As for injuries, you won't hear me mentioning those as contributing to a team winning or losing. No team is immune to them. The good coaches recruit depth so if one four star player goes out, another one steps in.

-Mike

I agree with this statement for the most part, but when it is as many injuries as Florida had it takes a toll especially those on the offensive line when you are attempting to be a power running team.

[MJ5150]

True. You make a good point.

-Mike

[basstotheface]

Just can't win with turnovers like that. Congrats UF.

[MJ5150]

Bad weekend for you eh? FSU and Texas lost their rivalry games.

-Mike