FUCK Notre Dame

[Ibanez]

Given the system they do. But though they've played a tough schedule in terms of average strength I don't know if they've played any true top 10 caliber team. Maybe Stanford. Stanford is ranked 8th in the BCS standings if I saw right just now. But I don't know if I think Stanford is really a top 10 caliber team in spite of them upsetting Oregon (which I do think is a top 10 caliber team). Close.

But we'll see. They'll definitely get a top 10 caliber team when they play in the BCS championship game.

In terms of average strength, which seems the best way to compare the teams based on their resume, ND's schedule was more difficult than both Alabama's and Georgia's--not that any SEC fan would admit such a thing.

This SEC fan agrees with you.

See, some of us are reasonable. You should meet my brother who swears the ACC is the best and Clemson is #1.

[89Hen]

In terms of average strength, which seems the best way to compare the teams based on their resume, ND's schedule was more difficult than both Alabama's and Georgia's

Not sure I agree with the Alabama part... UGA, probably. UGA really did have an easy schedule: GSU, Buffalo, FAU and GT OOC and ducked Bama, LSU and ATM. UGA only beat one ranked team all year.

[tribe_pride]

Hey I may be Irish, I may be Catholic but I've never liked Notre Dame. However, you have to give them credit this year, they played one of the best schedules in college football & ran the table, they deserve to be in the NC game.

Given the system they do. But though they've played a tough schedule in terms of average strength I don't know if they've played any true top 10 caliber team. Maybe Stanford. Stanford is ranked 8th in the BCS standings if I saw right just now. But I don't know if I think Stanford is really a top 10 caliber team in spite of them upsetting Oregon (which I do think is a top 10 caliber team). Close.

But we'll see. They'll definitely get a top 10 caliber team when they play in the BCS championship game.

Notre Dame played Stanford and Oklahoma as the 2 top 11 BCS teams (8 and 11). Also played 19 Michigan

Bama was against 7 and 9 (LSU and Texas A&M) and 19 Michigan

Georgia was against 4 and 10 (Florida and South Carolina) and no others in BCS top 25

Florida at #4 had by far the toughest of the top 5 BCS- Texas A&M (9), LSU (7), Georgia(3), South Carolina(10) and FSU (13) and only lost once

Oregon only had Stanford and Washington State at 8 and 15.

So with the exception of Florida, Notre Dame matched up as well on the top end as any other team and was the only team to win them all.

[ASUMountaineer]

In terms of average strength, which seems the best way to compare the teams based on their resume, ND's schedule was more difficult than both Alabama's and Georgia's--not that any SEC fan would admit such a thing.

This SEC fan agrees with you.

See, some of us are reasonable. You should meet my brother who swears the ACC is the best and Clemson is #1.

WTF?!?!?

[bluehenbillk]

Things would be so much better now if that Black Mamba guy from Oregon would've thrown a block or at leat just got in the way when Oregon's quarterback was on his long run against Stanford. That has got to be one of the most brain dead "non plays" I've ever seen.

True dat.

[ASUMountaineer]

In terms of average strength, which seems the best way to compare the teams based on their resume, ND's schedule was more difficult than both Alabama's and Georgia's

Not sure I agree with the Alabama part... UGA, probably. UGA really did have an easy schedule: GSU, Buffalo, FAU and GT OOC and ducked Bama, LSU and ATM. UGA only beat one ranked team all year.

Let's do a quick comparison--top-to-bottom:

Alabama

Michigan
WKU
Arkansas?
FAU?
Ole Miss
Mizzou?
Tennessee?
Mississippi State
LSU
aTm
Western Carolina?
Auburn?

Notre Dame

Navy
Purdue?
Michigan State
Michigan
Miami
Stanford
BYU
Oklahoma
Pitt?
BC?
WFU?
USC

? = unimpressive wins

Alabama played 3 non-BCS schools--one of which is a 1-win FCS school. The Crimson Tide played six teams with losing records, of which one is a Sun Belt school and the other is a SoCon school.

Notre Dame played 2 non-BCS schools--both are independents. The Fighting Irish played three teams with losing records, of which all were BCS schools.

I really don't see a comparison with strength of the entire schedule. In the toughest games (Mississippi State, LSU, and aTm) Alabama was 2-1--the one loss at home. In Notre Dame's toughest games (Stanford and Oklahoma) ND was 2-0. For people that say the SEC schedule would doom ND if they had to play it, of the six teams with losing records Alabama played four are from the SEC (Auburn didn't win a single conference game--neither did Western Carolina).

I do agree with you on Georgia's strength of schedule. Based on resume, Florida should be in UGA's spot, but they couldn't beat UGA.

[89Hen]

IMO (and keep in mind I like ND and hate the SEC) the only place I really see ND having a tougher go is at the very bottom:

LSU/ATM > Oklahoma/Stanford

MissSt = USC
Michigan = Michigan
Arkansas/Mizzou/Ole Miss/Tennessee = Purdue/Michigan State/Miami/BYU

Pitt/Navy/BC/WFU > Auburn/WKU/FAU/Western Carolina

I'm just not seeing a big advantage for either.

[ASUMountaineer]

IMO (and keep in mind I like ND and hate the SEC) the only place I really see ND having a tougher go is at the very bottom:

LSU/ATM > Oklahoma/Stanford

MissSt = USC
Michigan = Michigan
Arkansas/Mizzou/Ole Miss/Tennessee = Purdue/Michigan State/Miami/BYU

Pitt/Navy/BC/WFU > Auburn/WKU/FAU/Western Carolina

I'm just not seeing a big advantage for either.

Right, and that helps further the point that ND's schedule wasn't easier than Alabama's or UGA's--and overall could be viewed as the toughest of the three. Most people seem to think that ND couldn't cut it with an "SEC schedule," but the facts show that they cut it with a schedule as tough, if not tougher, than both teams playing for the SEC championship. I just find it hard for a SEC team to argue strength of schedule when they play Western.

Also, I don't like ND and don't mind the SEC (just mainly USuC's fans--Ibanez notwithstanding).

[89Hen]

IMO (and keep in mind I like ND and hate the SEC) the only place I really see ND having a tougher go is at the very bottom:

LSU/ATM > Oklahoma/Stanford

MissSt = USC
Michigan = Michigan
Arkansas/Mizzou/Ole Miss/Tennessee = Purdue/Michigan State/Miami/BYU

Pitt/Navy/BC/WFU > Auburn/WKU/FAU/Western Carolina

I'm just not seeing a big advantage for either.

Right, and that helps further the point that ND's schedule wasn't easier than Alabama's or UGA's--and overall could be viewed as the toughest of the three. Most people seem to think that ND couldn't cut it with an "SEC schedule," but the facts show that they cut it with a schedule as tough, if not tougher, than both teams playing for the SEC championship. I just find it hard for a SEC team to argue strength of schedule when they play Western.

Also, I don't like ND and don't mind the SEC (just mainly USuC's fans--Ibanez notwithstanding).

You claimed ND's was tougher than either Bama or UGA. I'm not sure I'd say it was tougher than Bama.

[bluehenbillk]

Not sure I agree with the Alabama part... UGA, probably. UGA really did have an easy schedule: GSU, Buffalo, FAU and GT OOC and ducked Bama, LSU and ATM. UGA only beat one ranked team all year.

Let's do a quick comparison--top-to-bottom:

Alabama

Michigan
WKU
Arkansas?
FAU?
Ole Miss
Mizzou?
Tennessee?
Mississippi State
LSU
aTm
Western Carolina?
Auburn?

Notre Dame

Navy
Purdue?
Michigan State
Michigan
Miami
Stanford
BYU
Oklahoma
Pitt?
BC?
WFU?
USC

? = unimpressive wins

Alabama played 3 non-BCS schools--one of which is a 1-win FCS school. The Crimson Tide played six teams with losing records, of which one is a Sun Belt school and the other is a SoCon school.

Notre Dame played 2 non-BCS schools--both are independents. The Fighting Irish played three teams with losing records, of which all were BCS schools.

I really don't see a comparison with strength of the entire schedule. In the toughest games (Mississippi State, LSU, and aTm) Alabama was 2-1--the one loss at home. In Notre Dame's toughest games (Stanford and Oklahoma) ND was 2-0. For people that say the SEC schedule would doom ND if they had to play it, of the six teams with losing records Alabama played four are from the SEC (Auburn didn't win a single conference game--neither did Western Carolina).

I do agree with you on Georgia's strength of schedule. Based on resume, Florida should be in UGA's spot, but they couldn't beat UGA.

Cmon, Pitt got a question mark but there are no question marks next to WKU!!!! and Ole Miss????

Pitt beats both those dog teams.

[rkwittem]

In terms of average strength, which seems the best way to compare the teams based on their resume, ND's schedule was more difficult than both Alabama's and Georgia's

Not sure I agree with the Alabama part... UGA, probably. UGA really did have an easy schedule: GSU, Buffalo, FAU and GT OOC and ducked Bama, LSU and ATM. UGA only beat one ranked team all year.

Yeah, Alabama had A&M and LSU. Then they had difficult games with 4-loss Michigan, Western Carolina, Western Kentucky, and FAU. Also, no meeting with South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida. Alabama's schedule was a gravy train. The only two good teams they played pushed them for all 60 minutes of each game. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the Tide.

[89Hen]

Not sure I agree with the Alabama part... UGA, probably. UGA really did have an easy schedule: GSU, Buffalo, FAU and GT OOC and ducked Bama, LSU and ATM. UGA only beat one ranked team all year.

Yeah, Alabama had A&M and LSU. Then they had difficult games with 4-loss Michigan, Western Carolina, Western Kentucky, and FAU. Also, no meeting with South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida. Alabama's schedule was a gravy train. The only two good teams they played pushed them for all 60 minutes of each game. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the Tide.

I compared them game for game. Refute what I posted.

BTW, I'm not sure where you are going with talking about how they performed. Didn't ND have a tough time with 4-loss Michigan? And 6 loss Pitt, and went to OT with one of the two tough teams they faced?

[ASUMountaineer]

Right, and that helps further the point that ND's schedule wasn't easier than Alabama's or UGA's--and overall could be viewed as the toughest of the three. Most people seem to think that ND couldn't cut it with an "SEC schedule," but the facts show that they cut it with a schedule as tough, if not tougher, than both teams playing for the SEC championship. I just find it hard for a SEC team to argue strength of schedule when they play Western.

Also, I don't like ND and don't mind the SEC (just mainly USuC's fans--Ibanez notwithstanding).

You claimed ND's was tougher than either Bama or UGA. I'm not sure I'd say it was tougher than Bama.

That's cool. Looking at their overall schedules, I believe ND's was tougher. Both schedules are fairly comparable until you get to the bottom--then it becomes clear to me that the overall SoS favors ND. Alabama played twice as many teams with losing records, including FCS Western Carolina and two Sun Belt teams. Notre Dame played all BCS teams with the exception of two independents.

[ASUMountaineer]

Let's do a quick comparison--top-to-bottom:

Alabama

Michigan
WKU
Arkansas?
FAU?
Ole Miss
Mizzou?
Tennessee?
Mississippi State
LSU
aTm
Western Carolina?
Auburn?

Notre Dame

Navy
Purdue?
Michigan State
Michigan
Miami
Stanford
BYU
Oklahoma
Pitt?
BC?
WFU?
USC

? = unimpressive wins

Alabama played 3 non-BCS schools--one of which is a 1-win FCS school. The Crimson Tide played six teams with losing records, of which one is a Sun Belt school and the other is a SoCon school.

Notre Dame played 2 non-BCS schools--both are independents. The Fighting Irish played three teams with losing records, of which all were BCS schools.

I really don't see a comparison with strength of the entire schedule. In the toughest games (Mississippi State, LSU, and aTm) Alabama was 2-1--the one loss at home. In Notre Dame's toughest games (Stanford and Oklahoma) ND was 2-0. For people that say the SEC schedule would doom ND if they had to play it, of the six teams with losing records Alabama played four are from the SEC (Auburn didn't win a single conference game--neither did Western Carolina).

I do agree with you on Georgia's strength of schedule. Based on resume, Florida should be in UGA's spot, but they couldn't beat UGA.

Cmon, Pitt got a question mark but there are no question marks next to WKU!!!! and Ole Miss????

Pitt beats both those dog teams.

I've already given ND the tougher SoS, didn't want to dog Bama too much.

[ASUMountaineer]

I compared them game for game. Refute what I posted.

I'm not sure I agree with LSU/aTm > Oklahoma/Stanford. I think it's more along the lines of LSU/aTm = Oklahoma/Stanford.

Current BCS Standings have:

7 - LSU
8 - Stanford
9 - aTm
11 - Oklahoma

Oklahoma lost to ND (1) and Kansas State (6)--both at home.

aTm lost to Florida (4) and LSU (7)--both at home.

Stanford is playing for its conference championship and LSU didn't win its division. I think those four teams are all pretty close and I call the top of each schedule a wash. I think it's a fair statement to say that ND's schedule--top-to-bottom--was tougher than Alabama's, especially with 1-win Western and SEC-winless Auburn on Alabama's schedule. It's probably splitting straws, but I think it's a reasonable opinion.

[89Hen]

I compared them game for game. Refute what I posted.

I'm not sure I agree with LSU/aTm > Oklahoma/Stanford. I think it's more along the lines of LSU/aTm = Oklahoma/Stanford.

Current BCS Standings have:

7 - LSU
8 - Stanford
9 - aTm
11 - Oklahoma

7 >8 and 9 > 11, thanks for clearing it up.

[rkwittem]

IMO (and keep in mind I like ND and hate the SEC) the only place I really see ND having a tougher go is at the very bottom:

LSU/ATM > Oklahoma/Stanford

MissSt = USC
Michigan = Michigan
Arkansas/Mizzou/Ole Miss/Tennessee = Purdue/Michigan State/Miami/BYU

Pitt/Navy/BC/WFU > Auburn/WKU/FAU/Western Carolina

I'm just not seeing a big advantage for either.

I disagree with the LSU/Texas A&M > OU and Stanford argument. Stanford and Texas A&M are, to me, the same school(ignoring obvious differences in scheme, style, location, and school colors). They're both Top 8/9 schools who are playing their best football right now and would be lethal combatants in a theoretical 8-team playoff. The hypothetical scenario of "how would they do in an 8-team playoff" is not my basis for my belief in Stanford and A&M being equals- this is solely rooted in my belief that both schools are very close, talent-wise and they just so happen to be playing better than almost anybody in the country right now.

Oklahoma being better-or-worse than LSU is an argument I would have a hard time making, but I could buy it. Oklahoma is similar to LSU in that they both lost to the best team on their schedule. The key LSU difference is that they won at Texas A&M, a win better than any of OU's. For me, this slight difference between Oklahoma not being as good as LSU (and how it applies to ND's schedule strength as it compares to Alabama's) is made up for by my belief that the mid-tier teams on Notre Dame's schedule are in fact better than those on Alabama's.
You would have a hard time convincing me that Tennessee, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Missouri are better than Purdue, Michigan State, BYU, and Miami. I know that Purdue and Michigan State are as interesting as mud and look like it when they play and that BYU is a 5-loss team (whose losses came against Utah, Boise State, Oregon State, Notre Dame and SJSU). Miami is also a 5-loss team with a strong SOS and the losses that they have back up the fact that they're probably a stronger team than their 7-5 record indicates.

Using your template, I would compare the schedules as follows:
LSU and Texas A&M > Stanford and Oklahoma (but by the slimmest of margins, like a 51-49 vote)

Mississippi State > USC
Michigan = Michigan
Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Ole Miss < Purdue, Michigan State, Miami, and BYU

Auburn, WKU, FAU, WCU < Pittsburgh, BC, Wake Forest, Navy

My apologies for the novel. I hope that made as much sense in typed word as it did in my head.

[Fresno St. Alum]

I'm going for ND, since I was 11 the last time they won it and I was 34 the last time Bama won. I use the same rule for NFL when the Packers aren't in the Super Bowl, I go for who hasn't been there the longest.