Early Vegas lines

[Dinsdale]

Speaks to Ohio State fans as being suckers... nothing more, nothing less.

The computer predictions have it right around a pick'em.

[Dinsdale]

That said, I'll take tOSU -8.5.

[L45B]

Deal killer = Purdue

Sorry, 88. Gotta go with OU @ #4.

Ok sure, that’s fine. But UGA ranked at #5 over Ohio State with one more loss and one less conference championship is a joke. This system is no less broken than the BCS.

Since it is evident (at least this year) that the committee emphasizes who you lost to versus who you beat, Delaney will likely cut back on conference games and allow B1G teams to schedule an additional cupcake instead. Basically, the SEC’s “The Citadel” model.

Should be great for the sport.

[Dinsdale]

Ohio State (-8.5) vs Washington

And it's down to 5.5, per your other thread.

If one was a gambler, that would have been a great game to hedge.

[Goober McTuber]

Conference champs should not be automatic unless all the conferences go to the Big 12's model and have the top two teams play. If Northwestern had upset Ohio State or Pitt had knocked off Clemson, that woulda been just great, wouldn't it?

There will come a day when a 4 or 5 loss division winner beats a one loss or undefeated team in a CCG and that simply will not work. No way.

Uh, that is exactly how it is supposed to work. It is what makes March Madness so great. Why do you want a beauty pageant when we can schedule a real live winner take all cage match?

Because it wouldn't favor Alabama. Duh.

[Goober McTuber]

Do you really believe that if Northwestern beat tOSU this year that they could then have taken out Bammer and Clemson in successive weeks? I know you're often delusional, but really...

[King Crimson]

Ohio State (-13.5) vs Oklahoma

OU's D sucks and may/may not belong in the playoff...but Buckeyes would have to score 70+ to cover that spread.....i'm also not buying OU would be an underdog to UW as the spreads in the first post suggest. and i know the lines are not predictions...it's just a tilting act to get action.

[Goober McTuber]

Do you really believe that if Northwestern beat tOSU this year that they could then have taken out Bammer and Clemson in successive weeks? I know you're often delusional, but really...

My point being that a 4 loss team should NEVER be in the playoff to begin with.

The 4 BEST teams, remember?

Neither should a team that didn't even win it's division, right?

[Shoalzie]

I think 4 teams works in most seasons...up to 8 would be nice but conference championship Saturday should matter in determining the playoff field...it shouldn't be an audition. I'm looking at you, Georgia. I'd have them in an 8-team playoff but not a 4.

The argument for Georgia getting in is silly. They just lost to Alabama so let's put them back in a tournament with Alabama because it was a good game? That's sound logic. And let's ignore that pesky 20-point loss to LSU also. Just like we're ignoring Ohio State's 29-point loss to Purdue, right? Then again, UCF has run the table two years in a row and they still sitting at the kids' table on New Years...but I digress.

If an 8-team playoff would still keep UCF out, then there's no reason to expand. You expand to allow more conference champs and not to allow more 2nd and 3rd place teams from power conferences.

I'm satisfied with the 4-team field but if we went to 8-teams...I'd include Ohio State, UCF and Washington and then I'd put Georgia in as the best team to not win their conference (a wild card if you will).

In most seasons, I'd take the all power 5 conference champs and 3 additional Notre Dame/second tier conference champs/wild card teams. This year would've worked great since Notre Dame went unbeaten and you had an unbeaten UCF (again). There'd only be one chair left for a non-conference champion. In other seasons, you might end up with 3 wild cards that would go to the best 2nd place teams in the power 5.

[Killian]

Bama is playing OU, not Notre Dame.

[Goober McTuber]

Killian's right. Clemson gets to beat Notre Dame.

[King Crimson]

OU fans - if ‘Bama plays their first half like they have the last few games, they might not be able to catch up with you in the second half. Just sayin’...

OU's defense isn't as good as The Citadel's. The Tide will score early and often.

yeah, but our guys don't get demoralized like Bama's other opponents. they are used to giving up scores every possession. ain't no thing....right in our wheelhouse. :wink:

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

OU fans - if ‘Bama plays their first half like they have the last few games, they might not be able to catch up with you in the second half. Just sayin’...

Clemson might be the most well-rounded team entering the playoff. I would probly be more surprised if they lose to ND than I would be if Bama loses to OU.

[L45B]

OU's D sucks and may/may not belong in the playoff...but Buckeyes would have to score 70+ to cover that spread.

Not sure if you saw, but tOSU put up nearly that many points on the board against the best defense in FBS. Now whether the Buckeyes’ defense could hold OU under fifty, hmmm, maybe.

[King Crimson]

OU's D sucks and may/may not belong in the playoff...but Buckeyes would have to score 70+ to cover that spread.

Not sure if you saw, but tOSU put up nearly that many points on the board against the best defense in FBS. Now whether the Buckeyes’ defense could hold OU under fifty, hmmm, maybe.

i saw OSU-UM. Michigan didn't look like they showed up much. credit to the Buckeyes and Urban turning it into a speed game.....but i don't think anyone was too impressed with UM on the big stage. record in the Game this century doesn't suggest otherwise, either.