What will the Florida St vs Ohio St National Championship game line be?

Quote Originally Posted by jimmydafreak:

This Alabama team is better than the 2012 team in almost every facet of the game except offensive line and pass coverage.  To say that they aren't nearly as good because they had a lot of close conference games is completely without merit.

In 2012 Mississippi, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Auburn were terrible.  Auburn was 3 & 9 on the season and 0 & 8 in the conference.  Now 3 out of 4 of those teams are top-10 caliber, and the remaining three 3 teams in the division are top 25-caliber teams.

To assert that Ohio State's schedule (who played in probably the weakest major conference in college football history) is on par with Alabama's schedule (who played in what many pundits described as the greatest division in college football history) is so patently absurd I can't believe I'm taking the time to type out a response.  Ohio State played one good team the entire season - Michigan State - and Michigan State would battle Arkansas for last place in the SEC West.  The only two teams Michigan State would have much of a shot of beating in the SEC West is Texas A&M and Arkansas.

I suppose we could really stretch credulity and call Cincinnati and Wisconsin "good teams," but neither team would beat anyone in the SEC West.

Despite Ohio State's completely laughable schedule, I do agree that they are better than the 2012 Notre Dame team, but because of the vast disparity in schedules, Ohio State will still experience the same culture shock that Notre Dame did in 2012.  Alabama has faced 3 or 4 teams that are as good or better than Ohio State.  Conversely, Ohio State hasn't faced a team this season that is even in the same universe as Alabama.  Ohio State has not played against it, and can't practice against it.  The first time they will experience it is when the game kicks off, and that will be way too late.

As I said two years ago about Notre Dame, and the same dynamic applies to Ohio State this season, unless they are scrimmaging the Chicago Bears in their practices leading up to the bowl game, they won't be prepared for Alabama's size, speed, athleticism and intensity.

So unless Alabama implodes, there really isn't much reason to believe this will be a very competitive game.

Quote Originally Posted by jimmydafreak:

This season's Big 10 might be the worst conference in college football history.  They were the butt of jokes all season until the media had to sell the public on Ohio State being the 4th best team in the country.

The Big 10 has two good teams in the entire conference: Ohio State and Michigan State.  The rest of the conference is abysmal.

 

Quote Originally Posted by URZ262:

OK now that I've actually looked at Big Ten out of conference I'm beginning to think the committee got it wrong. The Big Ten vs power conferences during the regular season.

TCU 30, Minnesota 7
Oregon 46, Michigan St 27
LSU 28, Wisconsin 24
Va Tech 35, Ohio State 21
Washington 44, Illinois 17
Rutgers 41, Wash St 38
Nebraska 41, Miami 31
WV 41, MD 38

I'm no math guy but that looks like 2-6 with only one win vs a bowl team.

Almost seems like they got the wrong team in the playoffs. TCU crushed Minnesota who was competitive vs Ohio State.

Quote Originally Posted by WISEGUY36:



You would think a team that powerful should have
been able to crush KU as well. I'd like to see TCU
and Minn. play again and see what happens.

Quote Originally Posted by Spartacus10:



Some people really need to realize the strength/weakness of their arguments before posting.

You do realize that if these teams were playing in a more competitive conference, that most likely only one or two of those teams would have a top 50 defense.

The ACC has some highly ranked defenses because the offenses are putrid. When you play in a conference with terrible offense, than it's going to make the defenses look much better than they are.

Put those teams in the Pac-12, and suddenly most of them fall out of the top 50.

Quote Originally Posted by URZ262:



You could be right but I'll withhold judgement until I see how the big ten fares in the bowl season. It's really hard to compare the conferences when they don't see each other during the regular season.

thanks for the opinion. I think Blake Sims is the best QB bama has ever had, light years better than McCarron. If they wax Ohio State I'll pound them in the National championship game but man, Ohio State looks good to me, you can drive a truck thru the holes they create

Quote Originally Posted by URZ262:

McCarron can't throw like Blake so whatever. Blake is the MOST TALENTED QB Alabama's ever had. People who want to make the pro's don't play for Bama. If you want to make the pros your best bet is NC State! (

McCarron will never see an NFL snap. Sims has a much better shot. He'll play in August somewhere in an NFL stadium at least.

Sims can THROW like a pro, so when I say BEST, I am actually saying most talented. Whether he's actually good or not is a bonus anyway with 'Bama.

Quote Originally Posted by jimmydafreak:

This Alabama team is better than the 2012 team in almost every facet of the game except offensive line and pass coverage.  To say that they aren't nearly as good because they had a lot of close conference games is completely without merit.

In 2012 Mississippi, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Auburn were terrible.  Auburn was 3 & 9 on the season and 0 & 8 in the conference.  Now 3 out of 4 of those teams are top-10 caliber, and the remaining three 3 teams in the division are top 25-caliber teams.

To assert that Ohio State's schedule (who played in probably the weakest major conference in college football history) is on par with Alabama's schedule (who played in what many pundits described as the greatest division in college football history) is so patently absurd I can't believe I'm taking the time to type out a response.  Ohio State played one good team the entire season - Michigan State - and Michigan State would battle Arkansas for last place in the SEC West.  The only two teams Michigan State would have much of a shot of beating in the SEC West is Texas A&M and Arkansas.

I suppose we could really stretch credulity and call Cincinnati and Wisconsin "good teams," but neither team would beat anyone in the SEC West.

Despite Ohio State's completely laughable schedule, I do agree that they are better than the 2012 Notre Dame team, but because of the vast disparity in schedules, Ohio State will still experience the same culture shock that Notre Dame did in 2012.  Alabama has faced 3 or 4 teams that are as good or better than Ohio State.  Conversely, Ohio State hasn't faced a team this season that is even in the same universe as Alabama.  Ohio State has not played against it, and can't practice against it.  The first time they will experience it is when the game kicks off, and that will be way too late.

As I said two years ago about Notre Dame, and the same dynamic applies to Ohio State this season, unless they are scrimmaging the Chicago Bears in their practices leading up to the bowl game, they won't be prepared for Alabama's size, speed, athleticism and intensity.

So unless Alabama implodes, there really isn't much reason to believe this will be a very competitive game.

Quote Originally Posted by hradekbr:

Huh? You cant be serious....  Sims better than McCarron....? The only thing this Bama team is better in is the fron 4 and thats it. Sunseri, Haha, Kirk, Miliner, Depriest, Mosley...... that Secondary/LB core was unreal. That O line as you said was also unreal. That team is way better than this years team and I dont even think its close

Quote Originally Posted by URZ262:



You could be right but I'll withhold judgement until I see how the big ten fares in the bowl season. It's really hard to compare the conferences when they don't see each other during the regular season.

thanks for the opinion. I think Blake Sims is the best QB bama has ever had, light years better than McCarron. If they wax Ohio State I'll pound them in the National championship game but man, Ohio State looks good to me, you can drive a truck thru the holes they create

Quote Originally Posted by WISEGUY36:






You would think a team that powerful should have
been able to crush KU as well. I'd like to see TCU
and Minn. play again and see what happens.

Quote Originally Posted by poppingbands17:



I can promise you I know the strengths and weaknesses of this particular post!!! Just look at what the ACC did when facing Pac 12 this year. BC handled USC and Virgina had UCLA beat easily and blew it. The Pac 12 is who they always have been!! They don't do will when facing bigger, stronger, more physical teams that can match up with them on speeed. I can promise you the Ducks do not have more team speed from top to bottom than FSU. PROMISE YOU!!! and I also promise you they are not as strong or physical as FSU or the majority of your south eastern teams. Now when your dealing with 18-22 year old kids anyone can win on any Saturday, but from a matchup standpoint I'll take FSU every day for all the reasons I mentioned and then some!! Just be sure to save this post lol

Quote Originally Posted by URZ262:

McCarron can't throw like Blake so whatever. Blake is the MOST TALENTED QB Alabama's ever had. People who want to make the pro's don't play for Bama. If you want to make the pros your best bet is NC State! (

McCarron will never see an NFL snap. Sims has a much better shot. He'll play in August somewhere in an NFL stadium at least.

Sims can THROW like a pro, so when I say BEST, I am actually saying most talented. Whether he's actually good or not is a bonus anyway with 'Bama.

Quote Originally Posted by URZ262:

OK I just spent the last 3 hours pouring through the games and it's retarded that Ohio State even made the field. TCU would be favored over Ohio State by close to a TD. My metrics have TCU between 6.5 and 7.5 over Ohio State, and only a 3 point dog to Bama.

No way no how should Ohio state even have made the playoffs. There are layers of reasons in the stats.

But I digress:

Big 12 out of conference was more than competitive vs top teams from the power 5

Ok 34, Tenn 10
Fla Sate 37, OK St 31
Bama 33, WV 23
Aub 20, KSt 14

Breaking down the games one by one within and without the conferences I think TCU was by far the 4th best team and could be rated anywhere from 2-4.

I'll have more this week as I break down the games further

good luck train

Quote Originally Posted by hradekbr:

His 6 foot self wont see a snap in NFL, you can guarantee that

Quote Originally Posted by jimmydafreak:

 DePriest is Alabama's 2014 starting Mike linebacker.

First of all I never said Sims is better than McCarron, but because you raise the issue, I'll address it.

This is really more of an offensive coordinator issue than a QB issue.  I have been saying for several years now that Alabama has some of the best and deepest offensive talent in the country and, accordingly, should be one of the best offenses in the nation.  Prior to last season I said that I expected Alabama's offense to be the best in school history.

At no time during the Saban era has Alabama's offense ever lived up to expectations which has led me to lament on more than one occasion that no one in the country gets less out of their talent than Alabama offensive coordinators (Jim McElwain & Doug Nussmeier).  I was ecstatic when both left the program.  Lane Kiffin is the first Alabama offensive coordinator under Nick Saban that has effectively utilized all the weapons at his disposal.

AJ McCarron is a better pure QB than Blake Sims.  He's taller, more experienced, and more accurate on intermediate throws.  He also had a much better ability to read defenses and go through his progressions.  The knocks on McCarron are he is arrogant so most of his teammates didn't care for him much, he doesn't know how to step up in the pocket, he's slow, he's un-athletic, and if you flush him out of the pocket, the play is dead because he has zero playmaking ability.

Sims is very athletic and is almost impossible to sack, but really struggles with the intermediate passing game.  He is also not very good at reading defenses and going through his progressions.  Kiffin has masked some of Sims' deficiencies by essentially reading defenses for him from the sideline.

So the question is which offense is better.  A Doug Nussmeier offense with AJ McCarron under center, or a Lane Kiffin offense with Blake Sims under center.  And the answer is it's really not very close.  The Kiffin/Sims offense is much better and far more explosive.  It is also much more multiple and much more difficult for defensive coordinators to prepare for.

The Kiffin offense is so much more difficult to prepare for because Kiffin is a formation genius.  For example, in the first 15 plays of  the Florida game, Kiffin used 13 different formations, and almost as many personnel packages.  That is an almost impossible task for a Mike linebacker who has to set the defense properly before the snap.

So yes, Kiffin/Sims > Nussmeier/McCarron

Here is how the position groups grade out:

Although they are really two different animals because one was a built for power and the other more for agility, the 2012 offensive line is still better than the 2014 offensive line.

Had Alabama not lost Kenyon Drake early in the Ole Miss game, I would rate the 2014 running backs ahead of the 2012 group.  Without Drake I would say they are essentially equal.

Wide receivers is not close.  The 2014 group is vastly superior to the 2012 group.

The 2014 defensive line is vastly superior to the 2012 group in every possible way.  There is not a player in the DL 3-deep that won't be playing on Sunday's, and there may be up to 3 first round selections in the group.

Linebackers is a split.  The 2014 linebacking crew is better against power running teams like Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State and Ohio State.  And although the 2012 group didn't really play against many pass-happy teams, I would still rate them as being better in pass-coverage.

Again the 2012 team did not face many pass-happy teams, but I would still have to rank the 2012 cornerbacks ahead of the 2014 unit because there is no Dee Milliner in the 2014 group.  Both are about equal against the run, but the 2012 unit was better at defending the pass.

Most of the safeties that were on the 2012 team are still on the 2014 team.  The 2014 unit is more experienced and has Landon Collins.  It's a close call, but I would definitely give the edge to the 2014 safeties

Overall, if I had to choose between going into the playoffs with the 2012 team or the 2014 team, I would definitely choose the 2014 team against Ohio State and Florida State.  I would have to think seriously about taking the 2012 team in matchup against Oregon however.

Quote Originally Posted by smarterthanyou:

"This Alabama team is better than the 2012 team in almost every facet of the game except offensive line and pass coverage"

the offensive line and pass coverage are half the game