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The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: Cincydawg on April 08, 2020, 07:17:50 AM

Title: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Cincydawg on April 08, 2020, 07:17:50 AM
Moved from the ELA preview thread.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on April 08, 2020, 07:25:10 AM
Depends on the previous few years of your program.  If you've been strong, it's getting into the playoff.  If you've improved from being mediocre, it's getting close and ending on a high note (perceived momentum).
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on April 08, 2020, 07:34:24 AM
Reminds me of 2015, where OSU got to blow out Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, while MSU was getting pantsed by Bama in a National semifinal. 
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Cincydawg on April 08, 2020, 07:39:16 AM
Yeah, this happened to UGA the last two years in effect, though they forgot to win the bowl game the first time around.

They were blown out in the CFP for the first half, but it was nice to have made the CFP for a change, so I agree with OAM here.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: MaximumSam on April 08, 2020, 07:43:55 AM
Having watched both of these scenarios, they both kind of suck. I chose getting blown out because at least you have meaningful football to look forward to. I don't really get invested in the bowl games.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: ELA on April 08, 2020, 08:41:30 AM
Depends on the program.  Helmet schools, probably the bowl win, give yourself some momentum into next year, and inflated ranking to help you, and you'll probably have another great season shortly.

For other schools, where everything has to line up perfectly to even be in position, probably the CFP blowout loss.  With MSU's the caveat is that we had just won the Rose and Cotton Bowls the previous two years.  And no matter what I'd take a CFP blowout over a Cotton Bowl win.  But if it had been 25 years since MSU had been in the Rose Bowl, I don't think I'd trade that for a CFP loss.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on April 08, 2020, 08:44:49 AM
Ranking OSU post seasons by enjoyment, since the implementation of the playoffs 

1 2014 NC (Beat Bama/Oregon)
**big gap**
2 2015 Blow out win over ND in the Fiesta Bowl
3 2018 Rose Bowl win over UDub
4 2017 Beating USC in Jerry World (de facto Rose Bowl)
5 2019 down to the wire loss to Clemson in a National Semifinal
**big gap**
6 2016 blowout loss to Clemson in a National Semifinal

all of this "imo" obviously
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: 847badgerfan on April 08, 2020, 09:03:14 AM
I know my school has little to no chance of beating 3 elite teams in a row (OSU in Indy, plus the CFP). 

I'll take a bowl win. It's nice have 9 months sitting on a win. This is the first time since 2014 that UW lost its last game and it still sucks.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: rolltidefan on April 08, 2020, 12:12:21 PM
i'd rather have 2014 alabama again over 2019 alabama. for a couple of reasons...

1st, missing out on the cfp means you definitely lost the seccg (either by losing or not being in it). i'd rather have an sec champ than not. obviously.

2nd, i'd always rather have had the chance for the title than not had the chance. jmo.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: FearlessF on April 08, 2020, 12:16:56 PM
I voted Meh

but, I'd rather win a bowl game and finish with 12 wins and a good feeling

not by a lot, but...
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Cincydawg on April 08, 2020, 12:56:23 PM
I think I feel better this off season than last, even though we beat Baylor, arguably not a great team, while last year we lost to Texas A&T.

Getting smoked in a CFP game hasn't happened yet, and in fact, losing on a miracle play probably feel worse than anything.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: CWSooner on April 08, 2020, 02:14:35 PM
I voted Meh

but, I'd rather win a bowl game and finish with 12 wins and a good feeling

not by a lot, but...
I did the same thing and feel the same way.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Cincydawg on April 09, 2020, 09:11:48 AM
When you look back 10 years from now at the decade, will you count how many times your team made the CFP or consider your bowl record, or whichever is better?

Obviously for a few programs you would count how many times you won the CFP, but that will only be maybe 5 programs.  That is an interesting question, over a decade how many teams will win the CFP?  And how many will qualify for the CFP?

So far, in six years we have four winners, which is not bad in terms of diversity, that suggests 6 or 7 different winners per decade.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: SFBadger96 on April 09, 2020, 12:39:26 PM
Blowouts in highly watched games suck, and they stick with a program for a long time (unless the Program is Alabama and is enjoying one of the most dominant decades of college football ever). Wins against good teams give warm fuzzies that get you through the winter and all the way to the season opener. 

So, unless the program is the current version of Alabama, I'd much prefer the high quality win.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on April 09, 2020, 01:12:07 PM
Yeah, if you are giving me the outcome, I'll take a win over a blowout loss any day. But in the real world you don't know the outcome, so I'd always take the at bat in the CFP as an extreme underdog over being heavily favored in a NY6 game.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Cincydawg on April 09, 2020, 07:07:36 PM
Yeah, if you are giving me the outcome, I'll take a win over a blowout loss any day. But in the real world you don't know the outcome, so I'd always take the at bat in the CFP as an extreme underdog over being heavily favored in a NY6 game.

That sounds right, before the fact.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: MrNubbz on April 09, 2020, 07:29:57 PM
Reminds me of 2015, where OSU got to blow out Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, while MSU was getting pantsed by Bama in a National semifinal.
Bama would have pansed anyone that season
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: ELA on April 09, 2020, 07:33:54 PM
Considering how MSU pansed OSUs offense, the Bucks might have scored negative points against Bama.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on April 09, 2020, 07:42:36 PM
Please... Like blowing out Notre Dame is an accomplishment? 

(https://i.imgur.com/flWz54a.png)
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on April 09, 2020, 07:47:31 PM
It might not be all that difficult, but it's still fun. Sorta like defeating the Wolverines.

Especially when the only alternative is getting blown out by an SEC team in a National semifinal.

I mean, come on. The choice is obvious.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on April 09, 2020, 07:59:48 PM
Notre Dame has done a great job of being blown out in both BCS finals (by the SEC) and CFP Semifinals (by the ACC). 
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on April 09, 2020, 10:30:16 PM
Notre Dame's last 19 bowl games, since going 11-1 under Lou Holtz in 1993:
(be sure to look at the names of the bowls they won)
L  Camping World Bowl by 24 points
L  Cotton Bowl by 27 points (playoff)
W  Citrus Bowl
L  Fiesta Bowl by 16 points
W  Music City Bowl
W  Pinstripe Bowl
L  BCS Championship Game by 28 points
L  Champs Sports Bowl by 4 points
W  Sun Bowl
W  Hawai'i Bowl
L  Sugar Bowl by 27 points
L  Fiesta Bowl by 14 points
L  Insight Bowl by 17 points
L  Gator Bowl by 22 points
L  Fiesta Bowl by 30 points
L  Gator Bowl by 7 points
L  Independence Bowl by 18 points
L  Orange Bowl by 5 points
L  Fiesta Bowl by 17 points
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on April 09, 2020, 10:31:10 PM
5-14 record, with wins in the Citrus, Sun, Hawai'i, Music City, and Pinstripe Bowls only.  9 of the 14 losses were blowouts (by more than 2 possessions), including twice to Oregon State.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on April 09, 2020, 10:50:34 PM
Plus they refused to play in a bowl game after firing Weis or Willingham or whoever it was.
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: bayareabadger on April 09, 2020, 10:58:59 PM
Blowouts in highly watched games suck, and they stick with a program for a long time (unless the Program is Alabama and is enjoying one of the most dominant decades of college football ever). Wins against good teams give warm fuzzies that get you through the winter and all the way to the season opener.

So, unless the program is the current version of Alabama, I'd much prefer the high quality win.
I feel like I'd take a playoff trip or two, even if it was a bad outcome. But I also haven't had any playoff trips. 

I think as a UW fan, any playoff trip would be seen as an outlier. Like even if UW took OSU's 31-0, Badger fans who aren't stupid would say them's the breaks. I dunno if I'd rather beat 10-3 Washington, though I suppose I'd rather win in the Rose Bowl most of the time. 
Title: Re: Season Ending Options - Which is better?
Post by: FearlessF on April 09, 2020, 11:10:21 PM
Notre Dame's last 19 bowl games, since going 11-1 under Lou Holtz in 1993:
(be sure to look at the names of the bowls they won)
L  Camping World Bowl by 24 points
L  Cotton Bowl by 27 points (playoff)

L  Champs Sports Bowl by 4 points

L  Insight Bowl by 17 points
L  Gator Bowl by 22 points

L  Gator Bowl by 7 points
L  Independence Bowl by 18 points

hah, look at some of the bowls they lost!