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Link: Notre Dame Ranked 4th in Initial 2018 Playoff Rankings
“ND undefeated and beat #5
LSU has a LOSS and beat #6 ...... hmm”
In a strange twist, Leinert gives ND a push.
Then I don't know how the rankings will look. LSU certainly wouldn't drop, Clemson likely moves into the top spot, but I could see the committee keeping Bama ahead of ND. Then the SEC championship game would figure big in ND's final ranking, but I can't see us dropping out of the top 4 unless we lose.
...as having not played quality opponents all year, but having been very good at beating inferior talent? IF (it's such a huge if, b/c I see no chance LSU wins) LSU beats Alabama, the score is going to be like 20-10 or 20-17 on the high end. If Alabama can only put up 10 or 17 on LSU, after scoring 50+ every week against generally bad teams (A&M is not a bad team), then MAYBE the Committee actually says "Wait, Alabama hasn't beat a ranked team and couldn't score against a good D," and drops them down to 5 or lower. All of that said: this is fantasy: is Tua really going to wilt under LSU's D? I mean, that's possible, but even if he does, Bama can still score 30+ by running and occasionally passing, and their D will squash LSU's putrid O. Bama is going to win 30-10 (or more).
posted a 29-10 record in pre-November games. But in the closing month, the Irish were 9-12, including a 1-8 mark on the road against power-conference opponents.
but all this is based on ND winning out. If they don't, then it's still possible to make the playoff, but the odds go way down.
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...but if it's close, it does tell us that Alabama has literally played NO ONE, and that a good defense can legitimately slow them down. The problem with LSU is that their O sucks, so even if they can hold Alabama to a pedestrian 24/28 points, I don't see them scoring more than 10.
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that much of an opportunity to prove more to the committee. The Fighting Irish only have one remaining game against a current top 25 team, and it's against No. 22 Syracuse. Meanwhile, No. 5 Michigan, No. 6 Georgia and No. 7 Oklahoma will all get multiple shots against ranked teams and could leapfrog Notre Dame, regardless of whether it suffers a loss.”
Kerry Miller
@kerrancejames
National College Basketball and College Football Writer for Bleacher Report. Cigar aficionado. Numbers geek. Corgi lover. KerranceJames at Gmail
Charlotte, NC
And yes I know BR is full of shit but it’s just not them preaching this crap! He does predict them in the CFP semi’s against Clemson though...
Zero.
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I wouldnt say it is zero.....not by a long shot
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finish 12-0 and ND will be no lower than #3 when it's over.
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There hasn't been a Saban Alabama team so dependent for its position on one player.
The only reason you say that is because he’s the best QB they’ve had by a wide margin. They are still a great team overall without him.
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So LSU gets credit for beating Miami and Auburn because they were in the top 10 at the time, but ND doesn't with Stanford?
The committee put LSU ahead. So what? Win out--ideally with conviction--and we'll be ahead. Things will take care of themselves. Why get angry now on this record? When in recent memory have we been snubbed for something we earned?
I don't think anyone here believes ND's collection of wins are better than LSU's, but LSU does have a loss and two of the wins that everyone is treating as really impressive came against teams that are 5-3 and unranked. I know those are quality wins, but a week from now those teams could have the same record as Wake and Pitt, yet I don't think anyone will use the latter pair as proof of ND's excellent resume. Nobody is using a win over 5-3, unranked Stanford as an example of ND's excellence.
Either way, a week from now LSU will either be unquestionably worthy of a place in the playoffs or it'll have two losses and be toast.
Bingo!
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Not that it is determinative of who will make the Playoff, but because it gives insight into how the Committee is distinguishing between comparable teams. Eye test, margin of victory -- whatever you want to call it -- puts Alabama and Clemson ahead of ND. The ugly wins hurt and they will continue to hurt if ND doesn't stay undefeated. Strength of schedule (quality wins) puts LSU above ND absent conference championship, head-to-head and common opponents.
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Exactly....run the table...
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