Game Thread 2015 Sugar Bowl: (1) Alabama vs. (4) Ohio State, Jan 1st @ 8:30p ET, ESPN (civilized thread)

[Coqui]

I think y'all missed an attempt at a "wink" at the end of that statement.

Anywho. The difference in SOS from Bama to Ohio State according to that rank is the same as the difference from Ohio State to Indiana.

Extrapolate from that what you will.

Good enough to win the SEC east easily?

 

[Bill Lucas]

It was week 13, and I wouldn't call Navy, Kent St, Cincinnati, and Va Tech an overwhelming OOC schedule...

Three bowl teams in there including a conference champion.

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

Not that it matters to this conversation, but I think Georgia is better than both of those teams.

I would agree, or right in that same group. I also think if michigan state were in the sec they would be the 2nd best team. After Bama it wasn't a very strong sec this year.

 

[SloopyHangOn]

Also, look objectively at what Bama has done away from home this year WVU (Georgia Dome), @Ole Miss, @Ark, @LSU, @ UT and then Mizzou in the Georgia Dome again. No powerhouses on that list, several close games and a loss.

None of this is predictive, just saying if the roles were switched I don't think I'd be as cocky as some (not all) of our visitors.

I mean, if we want to play the stats game, that site has us ranked #1 in Neutral Site Games & #1 vs Quality Conference Opponents.

If we're looking at those rankings trying to extrapolate trends that matter, those would be some of the ones to look at... but they really don't mean anything.

 

[DiamondBuck]

Below was stolen from another board. It's probabl the biggest reason most of us down here don't hold OSU in high regard.


One thing to consider when analyzing stats from OSU and Bama-

Strength of schedule http://www.teamrankings.com/college-...hedule-by-team

Alabama- 5th
OSU- 38th

Also, Alabama played 6 of the top 10 teams in strength of schedule.
OSU played Minnesota with a 22nd ranking in SOS, the only team they faced in the top 25 in SOS rankings.

May not mean anything on game day, because anything can happen in a big game like this.
But you have to wonder what Alabama's offensive and defensive stats would be if they played OSU's schedule, and what OSU's would look like if they played Alabama's schedule.

The linked website has current SOS rankings of 2nd and 26th, for Bama and the Buckeyes, respectively. It also has Ohio State at #5 in predictive ranking vs. Alabama at #2. Ohio State is higher-ranked than any SEC team but 'Bama. I'm sure the SEC fans must hold some other SEC teams in high regard despite the website indicating they're not as good as Ohio State...

 

[buckeyeintn]

Well, hell then. Might as well just stay at home since you've already crowned your tide as the champions. Thank God the games are played on the field and not based on your keen, expert analysis. Perhaps you might remember the invincible Miami Hurricanes of 2002. All the "experts" like you said The Buckeyes weren't worthy of being on the same field as the vaunted and supreme Hurricanes. We all know how that turned out.

Hard for him to "remember" what happened before he was born. And he could read about it, but he's probably never read anything about football that didn't feature Bama.

 

[Jaxbuck]

For those who like stats and such. Football Outsiders rankings of the top 5.



I am surprised by the FPA rankings quite honestly, given that Bama has an exceptional punter.

 

[Coqui]

The linked website has current SOS rankings of 2nd and 26th, for Bama and the Buckeyes, respectively. It also has Ohio State at #5 in predictive ranking vs. Alabama at #2. Ohio State is higher-ranked than any SEC team but 'Bama. I'm sure the SEC fans must hold some other SEC teams in high regard despite the website indicating they're not as good as Ohio State...

Also on that link, look at the overall power rating

http://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/overall-power-ranking-by-team

Ohio State #2
Alabama #3

 

[AlabamaPaul]

The linked website has current SOS rankings of 2nd and 26th, for Bama and the Buckeyes, respectively. It also has Ohio State at #5 in predictive ranking vs. Alabama at #2. Ohio State is higher-ranked than any SEC team but 'Bama. I'm sure the SEC fans must hold some other SEC teams in high regard despite the website indicating they're not as good as Ohio State...

Let's just let it play out on the field. All the conjecture about who played what team means very little at this point. We'll have great match up issues, both coaches and players, and those are more relevant than anything.

 

[Coqui]

Neutral site rankings:
Ohio State #1

http://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/neutral-by-other

 

[Jaxbuck]

Let's just let it play out on the field. All the conjecture about who played what team means very little at this point. We'll have great match up issues both coaches and players, and those are more relevant than anything.

agreed

gotta talk about something for the next 3 weeks I guess don't we?

 

[SloopyHangOn]

Three bowl teams in there including a conference champion.

I'm not quite sure how that site does non-conference SOS, because:

Alabama's WVU (7-5), FAU (3-9), SMiss (3-9) , W.Carolina (FCS) is ranked 19th

while Ohio State's Navy (6-5), Va Tech (6-6), Kent State (2-9), Cinci (9-3) is ranked 37th

 

[SloopyHangOn]

For those who like stats and such. Football Outsiders rankings of the top 5.

View attachment 10055

I am surprised by the FPA rankings quite honestly, given that Bama has an exceptional punter.

If we're talking about Mean Wins, both of these teams have some brutal ones.

 

[AlabamaPaul]

agreed

gotta talk about something for the next 3 weeks I guess don't we?

Yes, but stats and bobblehead rankings have little to do with the outcome. I see the game as a battle of the coaching staffs and how they utilize their players to create mismatches...

 

[HorseshoeFetish]

It was week 13, and I wouldn't call Navy, Kent St, Cincinnati, and Va Tech an overwhelming OOC schedule...

No we call it Division 1.