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Topic: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?

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OrangeAfroMan

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1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« on: December 15, 2018, 02:44:12 AM »
Vote as if it is December 5th, 1988.  The bowls have not been played yet.  
1 ND vs 4 FSU
2 Miami vs 3 WV


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1.  Notre Dame 11-0, independent
Beat all 3 ranked opponents, with close wins over 9 Michigan and 1 Miami, then in the season finale a 17 point win over 2 USC.  The Irish relied on a strong defense, holding 7 opponents to under two TDs.  Option offense, led by QB Tony Rice has as many INT as TD, but the ground game was strong.  WRs Ismail and Watters were also great return men (4 return TD combined).  The defense intercepted 18 passes.




2.  Miami 10-1, independent
Canes had nations #2 scoring defense.  Difficult schedule included five ranked opponents.  Blasted 1 FSU 31-0 to start season, also beat 15 Michigan, 11 LSU, and 8 Arkansas.  Only loss by 1 point @ ND.  Defense held seven opponents to a TD or less.  Teams only completed 46% of their passes against Miami, and only ran for 83 yards per game.  Offense led by QB Steve Walsh, who had many weapons to throw to, leading the country in passing TD.  Running game was very pedestrian, though.  




3.  West Virginia 11-0, independent
Big offense, #2 in scoring, nationally.  Only played 2 ranked teams, beating both by 20+ points (16 Pitt, 14 Syracuse).  Dual-threat QB Major Harris led the country in pass rating.  WR Phillips led the country in yards per catch.  RB by committee plus Harris' 610 yards on the ground.  Pass defense was elite, with 24 INT and teams only completing 43% of their passes.  




4.  Florida State 10-1, independent
Preseason #1, lost opener 31-0 to Miami, then reeled off 10 straight wins, including over #3 Clemson and a 59-0 shellacking of #15 South Carolina.  Scoring offense and defense both top 10 nationally.  Played multiple QBs, but had an effective passing game.  Ran the ball for 200 yards a game as well for a balanced offense and used a RB by committee.  The real story was the pass D, led by CB Deion Sanders.  Teams completed only 40% of their passes for only 131 yards per game.  The defense returned 6 INTs for TDs, led by Sanders' two.  Deion also had a punt return for a TD.  The FG kicking was a weakness, however, making only 11 of 22 kicks.  

--------------------------------------------------



*All 4 teams had a RB by committee (and/or option offense w/ carries spread out)
*None of the top 4 belonged to any conference
*WV QB Major Harris was hurt in the bowl game, so for this exercise, he's perfectly healthy




Award Winners involved:
Thorpe - Deion Sanders, FSU
Baugh - Steve Walsh, Miami
Coach of the Year - Lou Holtz, ND & Don Nehlan, WV
----------------------------------------
All-Americans invovled:
QB Steve Walsh, Miami
DL Bill Hawkins, Miami
DL Frank Stams, ND
LB Michael Stonebreaker, ND
CB Deion Sanders, FSU

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ELA

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2018, 07:10:38 AM »
I think ND and Miami we're easily the two best teams and would have held serve for a 1-2 national title game.

Irish did beat the Canes that year, but in South Bend and close.  Neutral field, I think Miami beats them for the title.
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847badgerfan

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2018, 09:22:42 AM »
Quote from: ELA on December 15, 2018, 07:10:38 AM
I think ND and Miami we're easily the two best teams and would have held serve for a 1-2 national title game.

Irish did beat the Canes that year, but in South Bend and close.  Neutral field, I think Miami beats them for the title.
This.
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Brutus Buckeye

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2018, 09:44:57 AM »

1988 was the year that I discovered that a lot of people are passionate about College Football. 

In an entirely unrelated event, it also happens to be the year that I moved to Columbus. 
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2018, 10:05:50 AM »
I picked WV.  I think Miami was used to facing option offenses that couldn't pass very well (OU).  WV would surprise them because Harris was a good passer and they had more than 1 target (a la K.Jackson, OU).  Both WRs averaged over 22 yards a catch.  WV had a great pass D and would pick off a couple Walsh passes.



FSU was trashing people after their opening loss, but ND was really good.  It would've been my favorite game of the playoff, seeing Deion cover Rocket, plus every punt and kickoff would be must-see.  If FSU got out to any sort of lead, they'd win, but ND's defense and ball-control offense wouldn't let it happen.




WV played ND in the bowl game in reality, but Harris was hurt on like the 3rd play.  With a healthy Harris, the game would be close and entertaining.  ND would probably still win, but again, if WV got a lead, ND was not built to come back.  
« Last Edit: December 15, 2018, 10:14:54 AM by OrangeAfroMan »
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MarqHusker

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2018, 10:08:54 AM »
That 88 Canes at ND game one of the many famous games that would have been altered significantly by replay review.   I remember that season very well.
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FearlessF

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2018, 02:00:53 PM »
Miami team was very good, probably beat the irish in a rematch

I voted the Irish
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Brutus Buckeye

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2018, 02:05:17 PM »
I get the logic of hiding the votes until you have cast one, but what is the point of withholding them beyond that? 
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2018, 10:25:36 PM »
The same reason the stripper keeps her bottoms on until the last song?  I don't know.
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2018, 04:52:34 PM »
grrrr
I post the 1989 playoff poll and there's an error, losing the whole post....
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2018, 05:04:54 PM »
There is an interesting question here, if I haven't asked it already - if this season's top 4 was during a playoff season, with the rematch potentials what they are, do you think the committee would prefer making the rematch in the semifinals (with the potential for another rematch in the finals) or would they avoid it in the semifinal, guaranteeing a rematch in the final?  
1 ND
2 Miami - already played 1 and 4
3 WV
4 FSU
Seeded this way, Miami plays WV and we're guaranteed a rematch in the NCG.  If they changed it around to this:
1 ND
2 WV
3 FSU
4 Miami
We would have a rematch in one semifinal and possibly in the final as well.  Could you imagine that???  Ick.
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SFBadger96

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2018, 06:31:28 PM »
I went with the Irish, an I agree that the most likely outcome is either ND or Miami. In a close game with FSU, ND would have the special teams edge (particularly on field goals), so if the Seminoles kept it close, the Irish still probably win. WVU was good, but I would still give the nod to Miami. Yes, WVU played an option--as did ND--and could throw the ball--as could ND. And just like ND could have put on a strong pass rush, but that Miami team was really, really good.

So a rematch for the national championship?

In the first match-up, both sides benefited from missed calls. Miami probably really did score a touchdown (not fumble the ball away), which would have brought the Canes to within three, late in the 4th quarter. Had that happened, ND wouldn't have been nearly as conservative on offense for the remaining 5 minutes (ND's offense played the entire 4th quarter conservative, nursing a 10-point, then a 7-point lead). But...Miami probably also didn't really score the touchdown at the end that allowed the (failed) 2-pt conversion try. Particularly because, had they been down three (with the earlier touchdown), they probably kick a field goal on 4th and 7, rather than throw for the end zone.

Rematches are funny things. Miami was an explosive team (see the 21 points scored in the 2nd quarter against ND. The Irish weren't that kind of explosive, but did hit big plays against Miami. And while Miami turned the ball over a lot in the first game, ND's defense put more pressure on the Canes than anyone else did all year, and earned most of those turnovers. Miami also went for it on 4th down I think three times (they scored on two of those), so they were working hard to get points throughout that game against a good defense. Playing a second time--after the fight in the first game--those two teams really would have been amped to hit each other hard.

Probably would have been another classic.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2018, 06:45:09 PM by SFBadger96 »
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Cincydawg

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2018, 07:48:25 PM »
Reality, I think, is that these are all top level teams, duh, and able to compete.  Given a few breaks, the games could be blow outs.

But play them 100 times, the favorite would win 60-70 times.  Play them once and it's nearly a coin flip.
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FearlessF

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Re: 1988 - Who would have won the CFP?
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2018, 02:46:37 PM »
the rematch thing doesn't bother me much in this type of playoff

the regular season is over - doesn't count any longer, so the first game between teams doesn't matter a tall

some games such as Miami/FSU and Nebraska/Oklahoma and Ohio St/Michigan I can't get enough of........ rematch would be better than the alternative
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