Badgers Football 2019

[AKCheesehead]

I’m pretty pumped for when we have the Bama home and away. Assuming bama is still elite when that happens, beating them would make the whole “should the Badgers get in?” conversation a whole lot easier.

[OldHeidelberg]

I would have given it to them, but I can see what made them overturn it. I'll take that big play though!

 

Yeah I was surprised by the overturn but especially when from the camera behind the play it looked like the ball moved when he hit the ground. I was a little annoyed when Perreira came on and said "maybe it moved a little" and claimed it was a horrible call. The ball moving as it hits the ground like that has been the standard on both levels for a while now for an incompletion.

 

What an awesome ass kicking. These guys are for real. Sort of pissed about losing 2 starters for a half of NW when we were up 35-0 but hard not to be happy about all the Wisconsin teams in September so far.

[OldHeidelberg]

Knowing only what you know now, would you predict that the following gets us into the playoffs?

 

We lose at OSU, but win every game besides that one the rest of the season, including beating OSU in the conference championship.

 

With our schedule yeah I would say that is about a 95% certainty. OSU got burned the last couple of years because they got blown out by mediocre teams, just avoid stuff like that and only lose 1 and the Big Ten champ will get in most years.

[AKCheesehead]

Heilderberg- speaking in terms of ass kickings. Yes. I’ve never seen Wisconsin lines dominate Michigan lines like that. Both sides of the ball we owned them on the lines. I’m really enthusiastic that this Badgers team is legitimately good. I heard the overrated chants today. Maybe not though. Maybe Wisconsin is underrated. We’ll find out.

[young guns]

I had the same thought when I heard that chant. They aren't overrated, were underrated.

[young guns]

Anyone else see what happened at the end of the cal/ole miss game? About 15 seconds left, ole miss with 3rd and goal from the 3 down 8. Pass to the goal line caught weirdly so the receiver is falling down, untouched. Ruled down at the inch line, no time outs so the scramble and get a qb sneak off with 2 seconds on the clock that fails, cal wins. The officiating team was from the Pac 12. They seemed to get the call right(I have yet to see a "tv" replay that showed a good angle, but there's some decent fan video out there), but never buzzed for the replay.

 

Even though it's seems like the right call, I think they were wrong to not review it. I cant believe they saw enough in the short time they before the 4th down play to feel confident in the call.

[MrTPlush]

Personally I think Michigan is more overrated than us underrated. Top 15 is pretty lofty all things considered. However, after that horrible near loss at home to Army this tough loss may speak volumes about how not good Michigan is.

 

We will see, but Michigan looks very...unstellar.

[young guns]

Sure, but it's how you view the glass. If its half full then we are underrated. If its half empty they are overrated.

[adambr2]

I had the same thought when I heard that chant. They aren't overrated, were underrated.

 

I hate the overrated chant. All you're doing is downplaying your own win.

[wildcat83]

 

Next weeks game is going to be huge now that we're gonna be without two starters for the whole first half against a really talented QB. Plus, they just always play us tough.

 

Might be a very talented QB, but he’s looked awful to start the year. He threw for under 100 yards today and was benched in the 4th.

[wildcat83]

Knowing only what you know now, would you predict that the following gets us into the playoffs?

 

We lose at OSU, but win every game besides that one the rest of the season, including beating OSU in the conference championship.

 

I think the loss at OSU would have to be close, and they would need help. A team like ND has a pretty soft schedule, especially if Michigan isn’t a threat to them. If they run the table after today’s loss, they’re probably in given they had a shot to win tonight.

 

I really can’t believe they haven’t gone to an 8 team playoff with the Power 5 getting automatic bids and 3 at large. Any given year I would believe the #5 could win it. Usually can’t say the same for #9.

 

It even sounds stupid to have a “Power 5” but a 4 team playoff...

[OldHeidelberg]

I think the loss at OSU would have to be close, and they would need help. A team like ND has a pretty soft schedule, especially if Michigan isn’t a threat to them. If they run the table after today’s loss, they’re probably in given they had a shot to win tonight.

 

I really can’t believe they haven’t gone to an 8 team playoff with the Power 5 getting automatic bids and 3 at large. Any given year I would believe the #5 could win it. Usually can’t say the same for #9.

 

It even sounds stupid to have a “Power 5” but a 4 team playoff...

 

I don't think a one loss ND gets in over a 1 loss Big Ten champ unless the Badgers get blown out in Columbus. They were only #7 coming in this week and will drop a bit, their schedule just isn't tough enough the rest of the way for the committee to overlook the conference champion criteria no matter how much they want to. Of course there are other variables, maybe OSU loses 3 other times and Wisconsin's schedule ends up looking sort of weak as well.

 

I think 8 teams is the right number, seed the teams and give the top 4 home games the week after the conference championships and then have the same final 4 format as now. Then you also have the power 5 championships as play in games as well which should boost ratings there. Seems like a no brainer to me but it will be a few more years before they change it I am sure.

[HiAndTight]

I think the loss at OSU would have to be close, and they would need help. A team like ND has a pretty soft schedule, especially if Michigan isn’t a threat to them. If they run the table after today’s loss, they’re probably in given they had a shot to win tonight.

 

I really can’t believe they haven’t gone to an 8 team playoff with the Power 5 getting automatic bids and 3 at large. Any given year I would believe the #5 could win it. Usually can’t say the same for #9.

 

It even sounds stupid to have a “Power 5” but a 4 team playoff...

 

I don't think a one loss ND gets in over a 1 loss Big Ten champ unless the Badgers get blown out in Columbus. They were only #7 coming in this week and will drop a bit, their schedule just isn't tough enough the rest of the way for the committee to overlook the conference champion criteria no matter how much they want to. Of course there are other variables, maybe OSU loses 3 other times and Wisconsin's schedule ends up looking sort of weak as well.

 

I think 8 teams is the right number, seed the teams and give the top 4 home games the week after the conference championships and then have the same final 4 format as now. Then you also have the power 5 championships as play in games as well which should boost ratings there. Seems like a no brainer to me but it will be a few more years before they change it I am sure.

 

 

This probably depends on how talented you think UGA is. I happen to think they're an elite team that's on the same level as Clemson and Alabama. And if they manage to beat Alabama this year, then that one loss for ND really helps them.

 

I honestly didn't even really consider ND because they always seem to be wildly overrated, but the way they played Georgia last night was impressive.

[HiAndTight]

I had the same thought when I heard that chant. They aren't overrated, were underrated.

 

I hate the overrated chant. All you're doing is downplaying your own win.

 

 

 

Well...you're also taunting one of your biggest rivals.

 

 

It'd be best for us though if they went out and just played more aggressively on offense. They have a good QB. They have huge, extremely talented WR'ers. I was really kinda shocked when we were playing press man with just a single high safety vs that WR'er core. And I REALLY can't understand how Army was able to slow them down other than Michigan just isn't utilizing those guys well enough.

 

Taking the Badgers out of the equation, it looks like there are 6-7 elite teams as of now. Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and ND and LSU...if the Swamp Monster's offense is for real(and it looks like it is).

 

 

UFC actually had a chance to get in this year if they didn't lose that amazing game vs Pitt last night. Kudos to Pitt for taking a page out of the Eagles playbook(or at least a play out of it).

[MrTPlush]

A lot of elite teams, but some of those teams play each other that could cause some of those team to have two losses. If Georgia or Alabama picks up a loss in the regular season the loser of the SEC game would be very unlikely to get in. I see a lot of elite teams getting two losses causing them to get squeezed out. Very good chance teams beat up each other.

 

I think Ohio State or Wisconsin is an easy pick as a one loss team. But hard to know where other teams will end up.

[OldHeidelberg]

 

 

This probably depends on how talented you think UGA is. I happen to think they're an elite team that's on the same level as Clemson and Alabama. And if they manage to beat Alabama this year, then that one loss for ND really helps them.

 

I honestly didn't even really consider ND because they always seem to be wildly overrated, but the way they played Georgia last night was impressive.

 

It's a quality loss for sure and a flaw in the system is that it's better to lose early. I was commenting more about the idea that they would get in over a potential 1 loss Big Ten champ, they are certainly not eliminated but I don't see that as a likely path. Remember a few years ago when TCU and I think Baylor got jumped when they didn't have a title game and were declared co-champs, Notre Dame made their own bed by staying independent. My 95% comment earlier was probably a little high since we just had OSU miss out last season but I still think most years a 1 loss champ gets in.

 

That said if you have a ND with just the one loss to an undefeated and #1 Georgia and a 1 loss OSU who got trounced by Purdue the equation certainly changes.

[stalton]

Badgers up to the 8 spot. Just keep winning and that rank will be creeping up and up.

[wildcat83]

With the ND comment, I'm just looking at it as if they are 1 loss and that loss is a one score game vs Georgia, that looks pretty good. Now if Georgia loses twice or more this year, then not so much. That's also possible with the schedule Georgia has.

 

Just saw the Badgers opened as 23 point favorites over Northwestern for Saturday. Never would have guessed that line at the beginning of the season. Still seems crazy, even if they have had a slow start.

[Fear The Chorizo]

With the ND comment, I'm just looking at it as if they are 1 loss and that loss is a one score game vs Georgia, that looks pretty good. Now if Georgia loses twice or more this year, then not so much. That's also possible with the schedule Georgia has.

 

Just saw the Badgers opened as 23 point favorites over Northwestern for Saturday. Never would have guessed that line at the beginning of the season. Still seems crazy, even if they have had a slow start.

 

Really hoping the Badgers put a woodshed beating on the Wildcats this Saturday - too often these games are far too close for my liking, even if the Wildcats are grossly outmanned in the talent department. They got thumped last week by the Spartans and nothing about their body of work indicates they can make this Saturday a game, but the Badgers get to spend all week hearing about how great they are and they'll be without two defensive starters for a half due to those targeting penalties. It's a trap game no matter how hard the team prepares and states they are focused only on Northwestern. Call me nervously optimistic...frankly I'll be happy with any sort of win, but it wouldn't surprise me if a marginal win actually causes them to drop in the rankings and then find themselves ranked behind some 1-loss SEC team despite remaining undefeated a few weeks from now until they play at OSU.

[PinaMadness]

I think the loss at OSU would have to be close, and they would need help. A team like ND has a pretty soft schedule, especially if Michigan isn’t a threat to them. If they run the table after today’s loss, they’re probably in given they had a shot to win tonight.

 

I really can’t believe they haven’t gone to an 8 team playoff with the Power 5 getting automatic bids and 3 at large. Any given year I would believe the #5 could win it. Usually can’t say the same for #9.

 

It even sounds stupid to have a “Power 5” but a 4 team playoff...

 

I don't think a one loss ND gets in over a 1 loss Big Ten champ unless the Badgers get blown out in Columbus. They were only #7 coming in this week and will drop a bit, their schedule just isn't tough enough the rest of the way for the committee to overlook the conference champion criteria no matter how much they want to. Of course there are other variables, maybe OSU loses 3 other times and Wisconsin's schedule ends up looking sort of weak as well.

 

I think 8 teams is the right number, seed the teams and give the top 4 home games the week after the conference championships and then have the same final 4 format as now. Then you also have the power 5 championships as play in games as well which should boost ratings there. Seems like a no brainer to me but it will be a few more years before they change it I am sure.

I don't think a one loss ND gets in over a 1 loss Big Ten champ unless the Badgers get blown out in Columbus. They were only #7 coming in this week and will drop a bit, their schedule just isn't tough enough the rest of the way for the committee to overlook the conference champion criteria no matter how much they want to. Of course there are other variables, maybe OSU loses 3 other times and Wisconsin's schedule ends up looking sort of weak as well.

If ND suffers one loss there's no way they get in the playoff. It was pretty well known they were a fraud team last year as an undefeated team, and it showed in their semi final game. Which BTW is a perfect reason not to expand to a field of eight. The two semi final games were bloodbaths. What do you think quarterfinal games are going to look like?

[wildcat83]

Which BTW is a perfect reason not to expand to a field of eight. The two semi final games were bloodbaths. What do you think quarterfinal games are going to look like?

 

Well, two of the extra teams last year would have been Georgia and Ohio State. Georgia played Alabama to a one score game, and Ohio State was fresh off a baby seal type clubbing of Michigan. Honestly, if either of those teams made the playoffs and won the whole thing, I wouldn't have been shocked. Those two teams were good enough to beat anyone on a given day. Hindsight is 20/20, but those two teams were better than Oklahoma or Notre Dame.

 

To me the semi final bloodbaths aren't an indication not to go to 8. They were an indication that the committee got it wrong when selecting the final 4, and hence maybe even an argument to go to 8.

 

An undefeated UCF would have been in the mix multiple years with a field of 8. They may have gotten clubbed by Bama in the opening round, but at least we would know for sure. Last year without their QB probably not the best example for them though.

 

To me the Power 5 conference champs should all have a shot to advance.

[homer]

I think 6 is about perfect. Give the top two teams a bye in round one.

[adambr2]

I could get on board with 6, but I wouldn't want to potentially cram 3 games in for some teams over the holidays. Have the 3-6 play the week after conference championships, it's not a sacred rule that only Army and Navy can play a game that weekend.

 

Then the winners go to the CFP and the losers meet in a predetermined New Years 6 bowl.

[tmwiese55]

Well, you can't forget these kids are supposed to be going to school. The week after the championship games is Finals time for almost every school. Plus, after the physicality and grind of the season they really could use another bye week for the health and safety. Some teams will be playing 8-10 weeks straight at that point. If you needed a 3rd round give a break and play one in the just before christmas type area. Then there would be another longer break before the last two rounds.

 

For me, I'm fine with 4 but see the argument for 6. I'd stop there. Having the top 2 get a bye still keeps the big emphasis on going undefeated and the key that makes CFB great (beside the pageantry haha) is that essentially every week is an elimination game for teams other than Bama. You don't want to go too far and water down the regular season to make it irrelevant like in NCAA basketball, NBA and so on. I also don't want a bunch of 2 loss and possibly 3 loss teams in the tournament. Allowing 6 will eventually have some 2 loss teams in but it will be kinda rare. Going to 8 it will happen every year and scenarios could come up where 3 losses get in.

 

ETA: A factor (but not the most important one) in my keeping at 4 is that down the line with the financials, health, paying the players, type issues in CFB that I see more merging of conferences creating 4 mega conferences. Essentially each of their championship games would create a defacto 8 team playoff.

[owbc]

Just pay the players and give us the 8-game playoff that we deserve. Give each of them $50,000 to be in the playoff.