2022 College Football Playoff Discussion Thread

[Volbound1700]

Meh, Miss St, Kentucky and Georgia Tech ain’t that tough of a stretch to end the season. Miss St and Kentucky would have been tougher earlier in the year.

Starkville has had a way of being a graveyard for top ranked SEC teams, especially ones from the SEC East who do not play there regularly. Not to mention the style of play is different versus other opponents on Georgia's schedule.

 

[Deep Creek]

I think you meant close win at Texas, right? Alabama beat Texas. The other two were close losses. I feel the 12 team playoff will be great football. We are dealing with kids here, and some coaches might not have the "mindset" that Kirby, Saban, Dabo (in previous seasons) have. When a highly ranked team plays #10, #11, or #12, the highly ranked team could have that "let's throw our uniforms on the field and get us a win".

Yeah, I was just referring to close games in general. Bama could have easily have been 2-1 in those games by beating Tenn and LSU and losing to Texas. Point was there really isn’t a lot of separation in those four teams. Just my opinion but I still think Bama is the best of those four. But they weren’t best on a couple of days.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

Tennessee would be the biggest favorite against them because TCU struggles in pass defense from what I've observed. But, Tennessee does too. That might turn into one of those "whoever has the ball last wins" type games.

Texas should be a 7 point favorite. Ewers may have one of his best days.

They struggle against

Don't get me wrong, Tennessee laid an egg.

However, there were plenty of mistakes. One total falsity was that our WRs didn't get open. We had two potential explosive plays that Hooker overthrew (no pressure) in the first half that would have been 2 TDs and changed complexity of the game.

The False starts on that first drive and the drive in the 4th quarter impacted our ability to score 7 (one ended up being a FG, the other ended up pushing us 20 yards back and forced a 4th and long that was not converted).

We made mistakes. I am not sure if Georgia made a lot of mistakes or not but they definitely played inspired. I would also say the Georgia crowd was a little more hostile for Tennessee than anyone else they played all year long. It was basically the reverse of what we had and did against Alabama. We landed those passes, Alabama made the false start errors, and Alabama had the hostile crowd.

This stuff may not happen a second time.

I am not sure about Oregon but I will say that blow-outs can be misleading sometimes. Momentum is a real thing in football and it highly impacts a teams performance. I called the Oregon game an "ambush" because Georgia had a lot of advantages going into that game that they would not have in other situations:

1. First time coach with Oregon
2. First time QB start with Oregon
3. Oregon traveling across the country

I agree crowd noise has an effect on the game and it definitely hurt Tennessee. But the reality of the game is -- the final score only ended up being 27-13 because Georgia shut down their passing game in the 2nd half and were fine with running the ball and keeping the clock moving. They only threw the ball like 4 times in the 2nd half, after Stetson Bennett threw 21 times for 225 yards and 2 tds in the 1st half. So the final score is misleading. Did Tennessee miss on one or two downfield throws -- yeah, but that goes with the territory on downfield throws. If Georgia doesn't shut down the passing game -- they could have scored much more, but Smart, as a disciple of Saban, did what the smart thing is -- run the ball, milk the clock and the 3 score lead and make Tennessee beat you. When Tennessee couldn't score until late in the 4th -- the game was over. It isn't like Tennessee shut down Georgia's offense in the 2nd half, as much as it was Georgia protecting a lead.

And I agree -- if they played a 2nd time -- some things could be different, but I simply think Georgia has no weaknesses on their team and have the athletes on defense to slow down the high powered offenses and the balance on offense to beat you on the ground or in the air.

 

[HammerDown]

I'm not sure Tennessee is better than Oregon currently.

 

[HammerDown]

It’s gonna suck when lsu wins it all

I have Ohio State at +13.5 against LSU.

 

[osubuckeye89]

They struggle against

I agree crowd noise has an effect on the game and it definitely hurt Tennessee. But the reality of the game is -- the final score only ended up being 27-13 because Georgia shut down their passing game in the 2nd half and were fine with running the ball and keeping the clock moving. They only threw the ball like 4 times in the 2nd half, after Stetson Bennett threw 21 times for 225 yards and 2 tds in the 1st half. So the final score is misleading. Did Tennessee miss on one or two downfield throws -- yeah, but that goes with the territory on downfield throws. If Georgia doesn't shut down the passing game -- they could have scored much more, but Smart, as a disciple of Saban, did what the smart thing is -- run the ball, milk the clock and the 3 score lead and make Tennessee beat you. When Tennessee couldn't score until late in the 4th -- the game was over. It isn't like Tennessee shut down Georgia's offense in the 2nd half, as much as it was Georgia protecting a lead.

And I agree -- if they played a 2nd time -- some things could be different, but I simply think Georgia has no weaknesses on their team and have the athletes on defense to slow down the high powered offenses and the balance on offense to beat you on the ground or in the air.

Yea I tend to agree with this. People had been shit talking UGA for looking "sloppy" against some lesser teams but I figured they'd turn it on and dominate when they have to.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

All true. But on a given day, where was that Georgia team when they played that 4-5 Mizzou? Georgia's capable of laying an egg as well. They just got by with a win when they laid one.

No doubt -- teams have games where they think they can just show up and the other team will lay down. I think it is safe to say -- Oregon and Tennessee weren't looking past Georgia.

I'm not saying if Oregon and Tennessee played Georgia again they'd dominate both teams the same, but I think I can safely say, Georgia would still beat both teams comfortably if they played again. Why? Oregon and Tennessee have top offenses -- Georgia has a top offense too, but they also have one of the best defenses, while Oregon and Tennessee do not.

 

[OlyDuck]

they actually match up with each other a lot closer than either do with UGA thats for sure

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

Tennessee would be the biggest favorite against them because TCU struggles in pass defense from what I've observed. But, Tennessee does too. That might turn into one of those "whoever has the ball last wins" type games.

Texas should be a 7 point favorite. Ewers may have one of his best days.

All of them would be at least 7 point favorites. TCU struggles against the run too. They give up almost 150 ypg on the ground. Each game would be entertaining to watch though, as TCU seems to be in shootouts every week.

 

[osubuckeye89]

All of them would be at least 7 point favorites. TCU struggles against the run too. They give up almost 150 ypg on the ground. Each game would be entertaining to watch though, as TCU seems to be in shootouts every week.

Tennessee and TCU both have very exploitable defenses. I'd probably trust Tennessee's more to get a stop against another high level team though.

(here comes someone to claim Tennessee has a better defense than Ohio State)

 

[Volbound1700]

Tennessee and TCU both have very exploitable defenses. I'd probably trust Tennessee's more to get a stop against another high level team though.

(here comes someone to claim Tennessee has a better defense than Ohio State)

Ohio State is the second most complete team after Georgia so Tennessee definitely doesn't have the defense that Ohio State has right now nor should Tennessee be favored if the two played each other on a neutral site.

However, I will say that Ohio State hasn't played anyone, nor will they, that has a strong vertical passing game in 2022. At least not until B1G champion. This could cause some issues when Ohio State plays someone from the Big12 (think TCU), Pac12 (Oregon or USC), or SEC (Georgia and Tennessee) because that unit hasn't been challenged.

Then again, Georgia's defense was mostly not challenged with the exception of maybe Florida until they played Tennessee and they totally rose to the occasion.

 

[Deep Creek]

Ohio State is the second most complete team after Georgia so Tennessee definitely doesn't have the defense that Ohio State has right now nor should Tennessee be favored if the two played each other on a neutral site.

However, I will say that Ohio State hasn't played anyone, nor will they, that has a strong vertical passing game in 2022. At least not until B1G champion. This could cause some issues when Ohio State plays someone from the Big12 (think TCU), Pac12 (Oregon or USC), or SEC (Georgia and Tennessee) because that unit hasn't been challenged.

Then again, Georgia's defense was mostly not challenged with the exception of maybe Florida until they played Tennessee and they totally rose to the occasion.

The only good passing team the Ohio State defense has faced is probably their own offense in practice. Which may be good enough to prepare them for such if/when they meet a team that can throw it.

 

[CorpRebel]

 

[osubuckeye89]

Ohio State is the second most complete team after Georgia so Tennessee definitely doesn't have the defense that Ohio State has right now nor should Tennessee be favored if the two played each other on a neutral site.

However, I will say that Ohio State hasn't played anyone, nor will they, that has a strong vertical passing game in 2022. At least not until B1G champion. This could cause some issues when Ohio State plays someone from the Big12 (think TCU), Pac12 (Oregon or USC), or SEC (Georgia and Tennessee) because that unit hasn't been challenged.

Then again, Georgia's defense was mostly not challenged with the exception of maybe Florida until they played Tennessee and they totally rose to the occasion.

I think too many people are way too willing to qualify Florida as a "quality" team still.

Their defense is horrendous (115th in total D) and their QB cannot throw the ball at all. They are 41st in total offense anyway so they are far from a high level offense all around.

 

[Volbound1700]

I think too many people are way too willing to qualify Florida as a "quality" team still.

Their defense is horrendous (115th in total D) and their QB cannot throw the ball at all. They are 41st in total offense anyway so they are far from a high level offense all around.

Let me put it to you this way, if Ohio State had to play @ Florida tomorrow, would you not be the least bit concerned?

They are not a great team or quality win like Oregon over UCLA, Ohio State over Penn State, Tennessee over Alabama or LSU, etc. but they are also not a pushover because they have players. They likely could finish 8-4.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Let me put it to you this way, if Ohio State had to play @ Florida tomorrow, would you not be the least bit concerned?

They are not a great team or quality win like Oregon over UCLA, Ohio State over Penn State, Tennessee over Alabama or LSU, etc. but they are also not a pushover because they have players. They likely could finish 8-4.

I mean the concern level wouldn't be too high. Yea they aren't a total pushover but they aren't much better than like a Purdue or Maryland type team at this point.

 

[Volbound1700]

I mean the concern level wouldn't be too high. Yea they aren't a total pushover but they aren't much better than like a Purdue or Maryland type team at this point.

Ugh... Florida has far more talent than either of those teams. Purdue has been on a free fall this year and Maryland lives and dies on Tua's brother.

Florida isn't a world beater, I agree, but they are a tough team. Ask Utah.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Ugh... Florida has far more talent than either of those teams. Purdue has been on a free fall this year and Maryland lives and dies on Tua's brother.

Florida isn't a world beater, I agree, but they are a tough team. Ask Utah.

Florida also was a couple of bad snaps away from losing to a 1-8 South Florida team......

You can throw the Utah game away at this point. I've explained this before. Utah is the type of team that loses games like that. They are like a NC State for example. They might win 9-10 games but they are liable to lose to any team that has any kind of upper end talent. Even if the team isnt particularly that good on the field.

Talent only gets you so far. Look at Texas A&M. Are we going to say they are better than most teams regardless of their record because of recruiting rankings?

Florida's defense is a wreck and their offense is just ok. It's just not there on paper or on the field. Regardless of what recruiting rankings would tell you.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

Ohio State is the second most complete team after Georgia so Tennessee definitely doesn't have the defense that Ohio State has right now nor should Tennessee be favored if the two played each other on a neutral site.

However, I will say that Ohio State hasn't played anyone, nor will they, that has a strong vertical passing game in 2022. At least not until B1G champion. This could cause some issues when Ohio State plays someone from the Big12 (think TCU), Pac12 (Oregon or USC), or SEC (Georgia and Tennessee) because that unit hasn't been challenged.

Then again, Georgia's defense was mostly not challenged with the exception of maybe Florida until they played Tennessee and they totally rose to the occasion.

We will find out who is the more complete team when UM and OSU play

Ohio State's offense averages 484 yards per game
Michigan's offense averages 465 yards per game

Ohio State's defense gives up 272 yards per game
Michigan's defense gives up 242 yards per game

Ohio State''s offense averages 45.8 points per game
Michigan's offense averages 42.2 points per game

Ohio State's defense gives up 15.8 points per game
Michigan's defense gives up 12.2 points per game

Going to be a fun game -- Can't wait for it. I thought we'd get murdered before the year started and we had all the question marks on defense, replacing all the starters and a new Defensive Coordinator, but they have been so good this year.

 

[WhosYourDawggy]

All true. But on a given day, where was that Georgia team when they played that 4-5 Mizzou? Georgia's capable of laying an egg as well. They just got by with a win when they laid one.

Here’s the difference … we played an uninspired game against an inferior opponent. That’s on us, and we were good enough to overcome our turnovers and poor play to win. That’s highly unlikely to happen in the CFP against a top opponent where in every game I can think of, the better team won. Laying eggs in that environment almost always is more about the other team simply being better and executing better, not some team that couldn’t get motivated.

Tennessee was soundly beaten by a superior team who dictated the game. I’m getting tired of what I am reading from Tenn fans who are saying their team had a bad day, didn’t show up, etc. There is no question our crowd helped, but UGA controlled that game in all phases from start to finish. It takes some serious fact twisting to argue otherwise. Anyone who watched that game and says “we only lost by 2 touchdowns” simply doesn’t understand what happened in the second half, and hasn’t followed UGA football under Kirby.

Now this doesn’t mean we win re-match. UTjr is a very good team. I would expect a good game should we get there. But the Mizzou game is not in any way representative of what might happen in a re-match, IMO.