Every game is important, but conference games were suppose to be more important. It's really hard to toss around the term 'National Champion" with credibility when you aren't the conference, or division champion. In the end, I don't mind it so much. Such things were the death of the BCS and if we wind up with silliness plaguing the 4 team playoff, we'll wind up with the 8 team playoff which is exactly what I want. Just gotta wait it out and enjoy the games in the meantime.
Oh as for the crowd... Colorado traveled 1,285.9 miles to go to Santa Clara. Washington traveled 939.6 miles to go to Santa Clara. It's Friday night, not Saturday. That's a pretty good crowd. Not great, but not bad either.
Washington made their case last night, I didn't watch the whole game but I thought UW played an impressive game. Esp impressed with their RB's. Even though they are the Pac12 Champs. Right now on a neutral field they'd be 2 TD underdogs to USC. USC is starting to remind me of that Carson Palmer lead team that had lost 3 games ( I think) and went to play powerful Iowa in the Orange Bowl and wiped the turf with them. Iowa had an AA QB, a kid who had a great season was a dual threat, but was totally contained by the USC defense. Brady Quinn pointed out how athletic their OL was with only 2 guys weighing 300 lbs. That will be an interesting match up if they get to play Alabama.
Yeah it wasn't even close, but not saying they would beat you now but this is a different USC team at the end of the year. They, IMHO, are the best team on the West Coast. They handled UW easily at their place. USC always has talent and if Helton is a good coach,they will be dangerous going forward.
Of course you get credit, but you have to admit sometimes the team that starts the season isn't the one that ends the season. Hell after the ND/TExas game I thought the Irish would be a 9 win team and so would Texas, with a little luck maybe more. But turns out that was the best either team was this year. USC is the opposite, you guy just gutted them in the 1st game, and they went on to lose to Stanford and another team to start 1-3 before they made some changes and they finished the season strong. They were the best team in the Pac12 at the end of the season, but of course you don't get to forget the 1-3 start so they didn't make it to the Champ game. BTW I think you guys would still beat them, maybe not quite as bad and I don't think Wash stands much of a chance if they draw you guys in the 1st round. Well I truly don't think anybody does!
Terry it just seems like we beat a top 10 team like Tennessee and then Tennessee falls apart so that win is diminished. We beat a top 20 team like USC and that win is diminished because they start weakly. At some point it seems like a win against a ranked team should get some credit. Sagarin says we have a top 10 strength of schedule but every win we have seems to have some kind asterisk according to some. :?
this is why I hate the polls. Even though USC wound up being a much different team after the QB switch, and a few other guys getting healthier, Alabama's ass whipping of them is something to hang their hat on. However, wins over teams like UT (which looked huge at one time) really wound up being sort of 'meh' in the end. We won't really know till the hay is in the barn.
How many of you Skyboxers would like to be on the CFP Committee? I really think Penn State does deserve a spot in the final 4 with that terrific win over Wisconsin. Problem is who is left out and that is where it gets dicey. PAC Ten Washington or Ohio State? This is almost as bad as the recent presidential election. :lol:
Don, I agree. Ohio State, Washington, Clemson, Penn. State??? There are 3 one loss teams (that means PSU out) however PSU beat OSU in regular season and wins Big 10 championship (that leaves OSU out). There are going to be a lot of people pissed off this afternoon. :shock:
I agree with Gipper ( or he agrees with me? ) in that Ohio State's recent body of work was not all that impressive. Penn State seems to be more on a roll and they just won the Big Ten Title. Do we need two teams from the Big Ten? If they both lose in the first round then how would you feel about excluding Washington?