Orange Bowl Open Thread
December 29th, 2018 at 8:52 PM ^
It's all over in the first quarter.
Alabama and Clemson in the National Championship game, just like we all thought.
We will have played an entire season of college football with all the ups and downs and upsets and big wins . . . only to end up exactly where everybody thought we would be before the season even started.
It never even mattered.
You could have had the National Championship game as the first and last game of the year in August, and then just sent everybody home. Season over.
Save everyone a lot of time.
December 29th, 2018 at 8:52 PM ^
In basketball news, Wisconsin lost to Western Kentucky and Arizona State lost to Princeton
December 29th, 2018 at 9:06 PM ^
It doesn't make me sad at all to see Wisconsin lose to WKU. They benefited from a bullshit call at the end of last year's matchup with the Hilltoppers that allowed Aaron Craft wannabe Brad Davison to make a FT and secure victory.
Also, talk about an up-and-down week for ASU. Beat #1 Kansas last Saturday and today they lose to Princeton (KenPom had them 92% likely to win).
December 29th, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
ASU is such an enigma. Fought tooth and nail with Nevada, then got blown out vs Vandy. Came storming back for an upset win over Kansas and then lost at home to Princeton in the next game? I guess they're the favorite to win the Pac 12, but idk if that's saying much
December 29th, 2018 at 8:52 PM ^
I can’t create a thread so I’ll drop this here.
Based on the trajectory this game has already taken on, it leads me to question the NCAA.
Are we going to see Bama in every national championship? The talent disparity is so drastic in college football. Even the Oklahoma’s, Michigans, Notre Dames can’t compete. This Bama game is already a total blowout. The NFL took measures to control the talent disparity and create some measure of parity. The Patriots have been an anomaly, but at least there have been other champions. Bama is winning something like 7 of the past10 national championships if they take it this year? This is truly disappointing in any sport. Recruiting is out of control and the NCAA has no actual measure of accountability.
December 29th, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
December 29th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
Couldn’t agree more. College football would be so much better if Alabama would just move to the NFL. It’s not even close and it’s ruining the sport.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
What can be done? If teams are paying players, they will continue to pay players extra even if compenaation for football players is increased beyond today's tuition/ room/ board / stipend.
Have a draft of high school players? obviously not...
Michigan could pull back on athletic scholarships and try to join the ivy league or Patriot league or whatever.
Bama now even has slick TV ads that make it look like a real University with classes and stuff, it's a strange world.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
Like I posted elsewhere in this thread, I wonder if people in power do worry about this.
If the same teams -- Alabama, Clemson, Georgia -- are in the hunt year after year, then what's the point? For everyone else it has to be the glory of their conference championships, but with no expectation of anything more.
December 29th, 2018 at 8:54 PM ^
All of the games today have been depressing. Michigan is so far behind.
I'm looking forward to the basketball game at noon tomorrow and the rest after that.
December 29th, 2018 at 8:54 PM ^
Only thing left to see is if Tua plays the 2nd half
December 29th, 2018 at 8:55 PM ^
When are they gonna catch Alabama players using steroids ?? These guys are just bigger and faster than everyone
December 29th, 2018 at 8:56 PM ^
Alabama...Most talented team money can buy.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^
I wonder how much buying of talent Alabama really has to do.
I've heard it said: "Alabama doesn't recruit; they select."
It could be they pay for the top few recruits, but the rest come voluntarily just to be part of that juggernaut.
December 29th, 2018 at 8:57 PM ^
It's nice watching Alabama - you see all these names that were oh so close to signing with Michigan.
December 29th, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
You can't say they made the wrong decision.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
Maybe they could’ve helped us turn the corner (especially missed OLine and RBs).
We’ll never know.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
If a few would have come to Ann Arbor surely things would have been different.
Najee Harris would totally get 2 yards on 3rd and 3 instead of just 1.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
Please. Karan would be just as lethal behind that Bama line.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
LOL, no
December 29th, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
Yeah. D. Hill is thinking WTF did I do?
December 29th, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
Thank goodness for the early signing period.
December 29th, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
Clemson might hang with Bama for a half.
We are so far away from the level off football that Bama plays it’s crazy. There is no position group on our team close to any position group on theirs.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^
A half ?? This game is over
December 29th, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
Lol but he said Clemson, not Oklahoma
December 29th, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
O that he did ...
December 29th, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
Misery Love Company
ND and Oklahoma are joining us today.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:01 PM ^
Yeah, the good news is that nobody is going to remember our game at all. Nobody is going to even talk about it tomorrow. Not even us.
It never even happened.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
Kudos to Saban for keeping a straight face and not breaking into an absolute uncontrollable laugh.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
College football sucks.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
A few years ago I would have laughed at you for saying that. I can see the cash flow slowing down. People are losing interest.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^
Alabama has ruined the game. I hope the NC ratings tank.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
The 3 best teams in college football are Bama Clemson and Georgia... The rest don’t even matter
December 29th, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
All the Georgia fans are collectively sighing. They could have put up a better fight that this
December 29th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
It's their own fault. They stepped on their own dicks with a 4th quarter lead against Alabama. They could have been here instead.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
Hey Oklakoma, nice defense.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^
He blatantly led with his helmet. He should be ejected.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
I wondered about that ... so targeting applies to offensive players with the ball as well? I would think it would, but I've not thought about that before. Usually it's defensive players that get flagged for it.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:08 PM ^
Yes, targeting is targeting. I'm surprised as hell they did not call it.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
NFL has it and Ezekiel Elliot was called for it and fined two weeks ago.
In this case both Barnes and the RB lowered their helmet
December 29th, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^
Thankfully OU and Notre Dame will take some of the heat off Harbaugh’s lackluster day.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
Clemson and Alabama are so far ahead of everyone else in college football it's unreal. Notre dame and now Oklahoma look like they don't deserve to be there at all and I don't think any other team could compete with these two killers.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
Lol so true. We really don't need an expanded playoff at all, just Clemson and bama
December 29th, 2018 at 9:19 PM ^
I'm not even sure Clemson is going to keep it close. No parity in the sport is sucking the life out of it.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
If we’re all for player safety then these trucks need to be outlawed too. Full speed helmet to helmet in the open field
December 29th, 2018 at 9:06 PM ^
That could not be a more clear case of targeting. He put his head down and blatantly led with his helmet
December 29th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
I have an idea to spice up the playoffs AND bowl games all while bringing more balance to college football... I’m tired of Clemson/Bama for the title yet again.
make the Bowl game matchup also be the first game of the following season.
Bama/Clemson to start the year would force a loss to one of the two, Michigan would have more to play for when facing Florida as it would carry into week 1 of 2019, smaller bowl games would matter.
I know it’s a little crazy but how boring are these playoff games? Thoughts?
December 29th, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
Figures OSU lucks out by not playing Bama. Instead, they'll probably win the Rose and send Urban off into the sunset.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
Both teams winning pay players and have low academic standards. I can see why so many people are getting sick of college football. The money has corrupted the sport. No point in watching these games.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:08 PM ^
Two blowouts on college footballs biggest stage. Lol. Any good movies to watch?