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Topic: Best Team from Playoff Era

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OrangeAfroMan

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Best Team from Playoff Era
« on: December 13, 2022, 05:44:17 AM »
ESPN has a silly "ranking all playoff teams" article.  It is what it is, but I found their top 3 interesting.  Each was great and had a crazy-impressive pair of wins in the playoff.

So while worrying about 36 teams is a bit much, I figure we could pick a "best" from those 3 (or some other team, if you feel passionate about them).  I'll try to check in and specify what your "other" team was ranked in the article.

The teams/resumes:
2020 Alabama - a unique case, due to covid...played 10 conference foes, a CCG, then 2 playoff teams...no OOC cupcakes.  Won them all by an average score of 49-19.  Went 13-0 with playoff wins over ND (31-14) and OSU (52-24). 
They had 3 players in the top 5 of Heisman voting (QB Jones, RB Harris), including the winner (WR Smith).  Only 1 win was by fewer than 14 points.  Scored 50+ points 7 times.  And their kicker didn't miss a FG.
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2019 LSU - the offense is legendary....15-0 record, avg score of 48-22.  Defense wasn't great for a NC winner, but it didn't matter.  Averaged 402 yds passing per game.  Heisman winner QB Burrow threw 60 TD passes with only 6 INTs.  Oh, also had a 1,400 yard rusher (Edwards Helaire). 
Beat five top-10 teams BEFORE the playoff.  Scored 105 pts in their two playoff games vs OU (63-28) and Clemson (42-25).  Did have 3 close wins, though.
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2018 Clemson - 15-0 record, beat the hell out of both playoff opp:  30-3 vs ND, 44-16 vs Bama.  QB was #1 overall draft pick (Lawrence) AND they ran for 250 yds per game @ 6.6 ypc (Etienne & Co.).
Held 9 opp to ten points or less.  Had one of the best defensive lines ever.  Weak regular season schedule made people wary, but dominated #3 ND and #1 Bama in playoff.  Two close games early. 
“The Swamp is where Gators live.  We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." - Steve Spurrier

bayareabadger

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2022, 07:34:08 AM »
I picked Alabama, as I thought they were a little more dominant.

Also, since it was Bill‘s list, does LSU beating five top-10 teams mean top 10 teams in a computer ranking? Or in the traditional sense of poll ranking when they played? 

847badgerfan

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2022, 07:39:06 AM »
I went with Clemson.
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Cincydawg

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2022, 07:39:32 AM »
Michigan State?

FearlessF

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2022, 08:54:08 AM »
Joe Burrow and those stud receivers 
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TyphonInc

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2022, 09:20:53 AM »
I'll throw a bone out to the 2014 Buckeyes.

I've never seen a 3 game stretch so amazing. They were underdogs for all three games and pretty much dominated. 
Has there ever been a 63 point cover? (4 point dogs to Wisconsin, won 59-0)

Kris60

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2022, 09:36:39 AM »
I picked Alabama, as I thought they were a little more dominant.

Also, since it was Bill‘s list, does LSU beating five top-10 teams mean top 10 teams in a computer ranking? Or in the traditional sense of poll ranking when they played?
Probably either/or.  LSU beat 5 teams that FINISHED (not game ranked) in the AP top 10 and 2 more that finished in the top 25.  That’s why they got my vote.  Seven wins over teams that finished ranked is just dumb.

Mdot21

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2022, 10:21:13 AM »
'19 LSU for me. Look at what Burrow, Jefferson, and Chase did that year- look at what they are doing in the NFL right now as we speak. I don't know how anyone of those playoff teams in CFB is stopping that. Hint: they are not. 

OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2022, 11:54:32 PM »
I picked Alabama, as I thought they were a little more dominant.

Also, since it was Bill‘s list, does LSU beating five top-10 teams mean top 10 teams in a computer ranking? Or in the traditional sense of poll ranking when they played?
I added in the resume stuff myself, so it was their actual human rankings.
“The Swamp is where Gators live.  We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." - Steve Spurrier

OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2022, 12:03:18 AM »
My only issue with LSU was the 3 close wins.  If they were the best playoff-era team overall, why the 3 close wins? 
Sept 7 - 7 point win @ 9 Texas
Oct 26 - 3 point win vs 9 Auburn
Nov 9 - 5 point win @ 2 Alabama
All of them were top-10 teams, and one of them was early, but still.  Kudos on winning the games, but would such a great team have THREE of these games? 
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I went with 2020 Alabama, mostly due to no regular season games closer than 14 points and even bigger - possibly the toughest schedule for a NC ever.  Zero gimmies.  No layups.  No directional schools or MAC-tion or any of that.  10 conference games (even missed Vandy), a CCG, then 2 playoff games.  No breathers. 
I think it's the most impressive thing on any team's resume.  Maybe ever.
“The Swamp is where Gators live.  We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." - Steve Spurrier

LittlePig

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2022, 06:18:10 AM »
I look at 2020 Bama and wonder if they got everybody's best effort that year because of COVID.  Yes, Bama had to endure the same issues as everybody else and should get credit for overcoming all that and dominating like they did. 

But ultimately there will always be an asterisk next to anything accomplished in 2020, and it should not be considered the equivalent of a championship in a normal season.  Bama never had to play in front of hostile crowds.  The playoff teams they faced may possibly have been over-rated.  Who knows if Notre Dame and OSU make the playoffs if they play their normal schedules. And even if OSU was one of the 4 best teams, I mean really how could have Ohio State been at its best with the limited  number of games they played that year.  

 How many teams did Bama play that had players sitting out due to COVID?  I honestly don't know,  but it makes me have doubts that I should trust Bama's resume.  So I am sorry, I would have trouble voting any team from 2020 as the best overall.

TyphonInc

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #11 on: December 15, 2022, 08:16:39 AM »
I look at 2020 Bama and wonder if they got everybody's best effort that year because of COVID.  Yes, Bama had to endure the same issues as everybody else and should get credit for overcoming all that and dominating like they did. 

But ultimately there will always be an asterisk next to anything accomplished in 2020, and it should not be considered the equivalent of a championship in a normal season.  Bama never had to play in front of hostile crowds.  The playoff teams they faced may possibly have been over-rated.  Who knows if Notre Dame and OSU make the playoffs if they play their normal schedules. And even if OSU was one of the 4 best teams, I mean really how could have Ohio State been at its best with the limited  number of games they played that year. 

 How many teams did Bama play that had players sitting out due to COVID?  I honestly don't know,  but it makes me have doubts that I should trust Bama's resume.  So I am sorry, I would have trouble voting any team from 2020 as the best overall.

OSU only suited up 55 players for that championship game. They were still following covid protocols the SEC didn't. No way 'bama faced the best version of OSU in the title game.

Muck Kevin Warren.

Brutus Buckeye

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #12 on: December 15, 2022, 08:24:03 AM »
I'll throw a bone out to the 2014 Buckeyes.

I've never seen a 3 game stretch so amazing. They were underdogs for all three games and pretty much dominated.
Has there ever been a 63 point cover? (4 point dogs to Wisconsin, won 59-0)
Yeah, no one else has been deep enough to win one with their 3rd string QB.

It's 2014 OSU, then everyone else. 
1919, 20, 21, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 44
WWH: 1952, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75
1979, 81, 82, 84, 87, 94, 98
2001, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

LittlePig

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Re: Best Team from Playoff Era
« Reply #13 on: December 15, 2022, 08:29:42 AM »
I guess you could maybe argue that 2014 Ohio St had the greatest post-season run of any team in the playoffs,  but it's hard to argue they had the greatest season ever from start to finish.

 

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