Mike Gillislee and the Florida Gators would come out victorious in our imaginary eight-team BCS playoff |
I know, I know, we can't wait for next year either. When we finally have a semblance of a playoff in college football, when we get an extra two games to further prove who rightly gets to play in the National Championship game. The prospects are still very exciting, even though we have to wait one whole year for the beautiful college game to become even more beautiful.
But I'm predicting that the success of the four-team playoff next year will eventually prompt the BCS and NCAA to expand to eight teams within the next five years. The question is, how will they go forward with an eight team playoff. Will it solely be based off the BCS or will it have four automatic bids from the big conferences, the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and Pac-12? Looking back at the NCAA's history of giving other teams chances in big games (cough, cough Northern Illinois this season) I think the latter will be the NCAA's move. So we've come up with a plan to create an eight-team playoff out of this season BCS rankings and automatic bids. An automatic bid team gets ranked one through eight based on the their BCS standings, in order for the high non-automatic bid teams to remain at the top of the rankings.
This year's eight-team playoff would go as this (Automatic Bids in parenthesis):
1. Notre Dame
2. Alabama (SEC)
3. Florida
4. Oregon
5. Kansas State (Big 12)
6. Stanford (Pac-12)
7. Georgia
8. Wisconsin (Big Ten)
Here go our predictions if the eight-team playoff played out.
BCS Quarterfinals
1. Notre Dame vs. 8. Wisconsin
Wisco may have absolutely embarrassed Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship game, but they come into this game 8-5 and unranked. They're a phenomenal matchup for Notre Dame who will eat their one-dimensional offense for dinner. As for the other side of the ball, I see ND having a relatively easy time putting up enough points to win this game. Blowouts aren't the name of the Dammies game, but this one could roll that way if they can force turnovers or completely shutdown the Badgers elite rushing game. This would not be a pretty game to watch, but the Irish advance quite easily.
Notre Dame 24, Wisconsin 7
2. Alabama vs. 7. Georgia
Nightmare matchup for the Tide here. You absolutely never want to face an opponent twice in a row. But, you especially don't want to face a great opponent twice in a row, after you almost lost to them and have given them plenty to be angry about. I'd predict a much uglier game on the scoreboard, but another last minute situation either for the Tide or Dawgs. As I said last week, I think Aaron Murray is a pretty good quarterback, but he and Richt usually come up a little short as they did on Saturday. This time they would get it done, just on the sheer fact that these two teams are far too close in talent for either to win back-to-back games. Not two games in an entire season, back-to-back games. Hide your eyes on this one until the fourth quarter.
Georgia 20, Alabama 14
3. Florida vs. 6. Stanford
The Gators would be stoked to get this Stanford matchup, because I think their defense matches up quite well with Stanford's wide-spread offense. Both of these teams have phenomenal defenses and solid offenses. Stanford's offense may be a little more dynamic because they have the better quarterback in Josh Nunes, but Florida has a boatload of athletes on offense and are used to the powerful defenses of the SEC. While this one might chalk up to be a defensive struggle on paper, I would think it would slowly develop into the opposite. This could be the most exciting matchup in the quarterfinals, as long as Kansas State and Oregon don't combine for a 100+ points. I'll go with Florida here just because they play in the SEC and are a tad bit more athletic, but damn it'd be close.
Florida 44, Stanford 38
4. Oregon vs. 5. Kansas State
Hey look it's this year's Fiesta Bowl! But, there is one factor missing. The quarterfinals would most likely be at the higher seeds home field and if so, this game would have to go in Oregon's favor. The Autzen Zoo is a nightmare for opposing teams and I think it'd be no different for the old-school smashmouth Wildcats. Collin Klein is a bonafide leader, but K-State wouldn't have the athletes to compete with Oregon, especially with a raucous crowd behind them. If Oregon jumps out to an early 14-0 lead, this game could get ugly fast. I wouldn't expect Kansas State to fold, but I don't know how you catch up to the nation's best offense down two scores. I'll give Collin Klein the benefit of the doubt to keep this close enough.
Oregon 40, Kansas State 31
BCS Semifinals
1. Notre Dame vs. 4. Oregon
Speed vs. strength in this game. I'm thinking this could be a nightmare game for the Irish, but if their dominant front seven can manhandle the quicker Oregon o-line, as well as reading and reacting to Oregon's zone rushing attack, then they might be alright. Again, as I said with that Oregon, K-State matchup, I don't see the Irish recovering from any two-possession deficit. It's hard to say which team's style of play will influence this game, but I'm leaning towards the Ducks. Their offense is so just so unbelievably prolific that they would run circles around the Irish. I was never sold on Notre Dame's cupcake schedule from the git-go and even though they shut down a injured USC offense, Oregon is a different beast. The Irish are good enough up front to stop Oregon from going for 50, but Golson and co. can't keep up.
Oregon 31, Notre Dame 13
3. Florida vs. 7. Georgia
Another fantastic SEC rematch here, one in which Georgia originally got the upper hand in. Florida's season has unfortunately been defined by that loss, yet they are still a quality ball team. Georgia will be emotionally drained after that big win vs. the Crimson tide and I think the Gators will take advantage. Big rushing days from the two-headed monster of Gillislee and Driskel slice and dice the Dawgs D en route to a tough win. It's just too much to ask of a team to beat Alabama and Florida in back-to-back weeks in as pressurized of a situation as the National Semifinals would be. Aaron Murray and Georgia will come back real strong next year.
Florida 24, Georgia 16
BCS National Championship Game
3. Florida vs. 4. Oregon
Get ready to see some of the most dynamic running backs in all of college football in this game. This matchup sort of reminds of the Auburn, Oregon National Championship of a few years back. It won't be that high scoring, but it'll remain exciting all the way to the end. I think Florida's athletic defense will be able to quell the overwhelming nature of Oregon's offense and will be the reason they win the championship. There will be a lot of big running plays, a lot of field goals and one exciting finish. Florida will be the last team to ever be duped by the BCS this season and there's not much we can do about it.
Florida 23, Oregon 19
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