The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

College GameDay analysts - Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit in particular - have been none too kind to the Cincinnati Bearcats this season. UC, of the American Athletic Conference, finished the season 13-0 and became the first group-of-5 team to get invited to the college football playoff.  What was Herbstreit's initial reaction? On ESPN's selection special, he said this: "But I'm confused. What about that narrative that the Group of Five wasn't allowed to get in? I heard there was a lot of buzz out there that the committee would never put a Group of Five (team) in. It's weird. They must not have gotten that rule." After receiving backlash for his comment, he doubled-down on Twitter with this post: "After SEVEN years of b*tching and complaining from a vocal minority that the CFP system is rigged and the 'small guy' will NEVER GET A CHANCE-haven't heard much from ya last couple days. Everything okay? What's the next conspiracy theory?? Can...

As I'm tired of the bias which comes along with being a sports analyst and "the eye-test," I decided to create a computerized ranking system, which takes bias out of the equation. It combines the three most integral parts of grading a team's quality, in my opinion, and in descending order of importance: record, strength of schedule, and level of domination. The formula is: win % x 100 x 1.75 + opponent win % x 100 x 1.50 + average margin of victory x 1.25. For example, if a team went 6-6, the win % is .500. Multiply that by 100 and you get 50.0. Multiply that by 1.75 and the product is 87.5. The same goes for opponent win %, except you'd multiply 50.0 by 1.5 and get 75.0. Lastly, if this team averages to win each game by 5.5, after multiplying that number by 1.25, you'd wind up with 6.875. Add 87.5, 50.0, and 6.875, and the final power number for this hypothetical team would be 169.375. I should note, for every FCS opponent a team played, their record formula ...

Between the tradition and progression, youth and experience, strategy and randomness, skill and luck, excitement and deafening silence, and pageantry, college football is arguably the greatest sport in America, quite possibly the world. The coverage of it, however, may be the worst of any sport. In every major professional sport, the best teams reach the playoffs; play in a tournament; and at the end of the day, only one team remains. There's never any talk about polls, where the coaches or media ranked the New Orleans Saints or Chicago Bulls, etc. It's all settled on the field (or court or rink or whatever). Even in college basketball and baseball, while some politicking goes on, large tournaments tend to leave little question of who the best team was at season's end. That's not the case with college football. While the product on the field itself is arguably the best in the world, there's so much politicking going on, one could swear they were in the middle of an ...

I found it utterly hilarious to listen to the ESPN talking heads discussing the college football national championship game from last night. It's as if they were all involved in a you-got-it-more-wrong-than-I-did shouting match. "You picked Alabama!" "Oh yeah?!? Well, you picked them by 50!" "At least I knew who Trevor Lawrence was!" "I said Lawrence was a better quarterback than Tua!" "Oh, no you didn't! You never even uttered his name!" Then there were "experts" who went the denial route, saying, "I still can't believe it happened. I'm stunned. I woke up today and thought, 'Was I dreaming?'" Just admit it, you drank the Nick Saban/Alabama Kool-Aid and were wrong, as Donald Trump would say, "bigly!" I admit, before bowl season began, I thought Alabama was going to win the title. After watching the semifinal games between the Tide and Oklahoma, as well as Notre Dame a...

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What is with all the hate and trolling on #8 Central Florida (UCF) after their 40-32 loss to #11 LSU in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day? I can't tell you how many times I've heard supposedly nonpartisan announcers/commentators say, "Well, that just goes to show you Central Florida didn't deserve any consideration to be part of the four-team playoff." Uh, no it didn't. Central Florida won 25 straight games leading up to their 8-point defeat at the hands of SEC-power LSU. They defeated another SEC-power, Auburn, in the same game a year ago to finish the season 13-0. It's not like they lost to a nobody or got dominated. The Golden Knights were an inch or two away from recovering an onside kick toward the end of the 4th quarter, which would have given them a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime. Not only that, but they were starting their back-up quarterback in place of their all-conference starter. So you're going to tell me an 8-point l...

The College Football Playoff Committee's job was easier than normal this year. The top three selections were easy ones to make: Undefeated SEC Champion Alabama, undefeated ACC Champion Clemson, and undefeated Notre Dame. I haven't heard anyone complain about Alabama or Clemson making the field of four. There have been occasional gripes made about Notre Dame making the field, but come on. As one of only four undefeated teams in all of college football, a team who defeated the likes of Michigan, Northwestern, and Syracuse, among others, deserves to be in the playoff. So the real debate centers around the #4 spot between Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State, and Central Florida. It seems as though the college football world is divided on what the main criteria for being playoff-selected should be. Roughly 50% think it should be based on which four teams have most earned a spot and the other 50% think, regardless of whether or not they earned it, the four best teams should be selected....

From Nebraska, to Michigan, to Ohio, I seem to always be in Big Ten country. Similar to other parts of the country with regard to their respective conferences, there are a lot of Big Ten homers in the area. I don't know how that can be the case after this past weekend's results. - Then unbeaten Illinois allowed 18 4th quarter points to blow a lead against South Florida, losing to the Bulls 25-19. - Unbeaten Maryland got pounded by winless Temple, 35-14. - Nebraska fell to Troy in Lincoln, 24-19. - Akron came back on the road to defeat Northwestern by the final of 39-34. - Purdue lost to Missouri at home, 40-37. - Rutgers got blown out by Kansas, yes, Kansas, 55-14. - The fighting Mormons, BYU, beat playoff sleeper Wisconsin 24-21. - Michigan State was off a week after dropping one in Temple against Arizona State (who lost to San Diego State this past Saturday night). - Michigan struggled in a win against SMU; Ohio State came THIS close to losing to TCU; Iowa d...

Growing up in Nebraska and now residing near Columbus, Ohio, I've been around my fair share of homers. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, a homer is basically an individual who regularly showcases blind loyalty to a particular team or organization, ignoring their flaws along the way. In Nebraska, there's really only one team in the state and that's the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. Due to that, it seemed as though 95% of the state bled red and white (Nebraska's team colors) 365 days a year. While this significant level of homerism got aggravating after a while, I don't think it was nearly as annoying as the homerism I've witnessed here in central Ohio. I find that odd, for there are many more teams to root for in the state, such as the: Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Bengals, Columbus Blue Jackets, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Browns, just to name a few. Yet, for 365 days a year, it seems as though 95% of Ohio bleeds scarlet ...

ACC Bowl eligible teams: 10 of 14 (71.4%) Bowl record: 4-6 (.400) Record vs. Power 5 (and Notre Dame): 11-18 (.379) 11 wins ACC teams: 97-48 (.669) ACC opponents: 79-62 (.560) Difference: +0.109 Combined score: 419-235 (average of 38.1 - 21.4 = +16.7) 18 losses ACC teams: 122-104 (.540) ACC opponents: 172-64 (.729) Difference: -0.189 Combined score: 370-646 (average of 20.6 - 35.9 = -15.3) Overall ACC teams: 219-152 (.590) ACC opponents: 251-126 (.666) Difference: -0.076 Combined score: 789-881 (average of 27.2 - 30.4 = -3.2) Big XII Bowl eligible teams: 8 of 10 (80.0%) Bowl record: 5-3 (.625) Record vs. Power 5 (and Notre Dame): 8-8 (.500) 8 wins Big XII teams: 75-32 (.701) Big XII opponents: 59-45 (.567) Difference: +0.134 Combined score: 307-180 (average of 38.4 - 22.5 = +15.9) 8 losses Big XII teams: 57-47 (.548) Big XII opponents: 64-41 (.609) Difference: -0.061 Combined score: 219-285 (average of 27.4 - 35.6 = -8.2) Over...

Did the best team win the college football playoff this year? That's debatable. Did the Alabama Crimson Tide deserve to win the title, though? Without question, no. According to the playoff selection committee's own guidelines, conference championships are a critical component to a team's resumé. While I've never been a huge fan of conference championship games, given the current format, this is how things are. Having said that, Alabama didn't win their conference championship game this year. Not only that, they didn't even compete in the SEC title game. Due to their in-conference loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide finished the regular season 3rd in the Southeastern Conference, behind Georgia and Auburn, respectively. While the winner of the SEC title game was a shoe-in (and deservedly so) for the four-team playoff, how does it make any lick of sense to select the 3rd seed from the conference as the #4 team in the playoff? Let's delve into t...

Many in the sports media, ESPN in particular, have an odd, almost abusive relationship with Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Saban treats them like crap day in and day out for many years, these sports commentators start to believe they deserve such treatment, and wind up spending most of their time defending their abuser - in this case, Nick Saban. At no time was this any more prevalent than last night and this morning, after Alabama dominated Clemson 24-6 to win the Sugar Bowl and advance to the national championship game to face in-conference rival Georgia. To paraphrase, here are what 99% of ESPN's college football analysts said following the Tide's big victory:  - "Well, that just goes to show you the committee got it right." - "This game proves Alabama's one of the best four teams and deserved to get in over Ohio State." - "Alabama's loss to Auburn was obviously due to injuries." - "Alabama's just the better team....

ACC Bowl eligible teams: 10 of 14 (71.4%) Record vs. Power 5 (and Notre Dame): 9-13 (.409) 9 wins ACC teams: 77-33 (.700) ACC opponents: 61-47 (.565) Difference: +0.135 Combined score: 312-152 (average of 34.7 - 16.9 = +17.8) 13 losses ACC teams: 72-81 (.471) ACC opponents: 109-48 (.694) Difference: -0.223 Combined score: 272-500 (average of 20.9 - 38.5 = -17.6) Overall ACC teams: 149-114 (.567) ACC opponents: 170-95 (.642) Difference: -0.075 Combined score: 584-652 (average of 26.5 - 29.6 = -3.1) Big XII Bowl eligible teams: 8 of 10 (80.0%) Record vs. Power 5 (and Notre Dame): 4-6 (.400) 4 wins Big XII teams: 37-13 (.740) Big XII opponents: 26-23 (.531) Difference: +0.209 Combined score: 170-89 (average of 42.5 - 22.3 = +20.2) 6 losses Big XII teams: 34-38 (.472) Big XII opponents: 42-31 (.575) Difference: -0.103 Combined score: 157-201 (average of  26.2 - 33.5 = -7.3) Overall Big XII teams: 71-51 (.582) Big XII opponent...

It seems that every year I have a gripe with one of the college football playoff committee's four selections. This year it's Alabama. I don't know anyone who has any problem with the committee's three other picks: The ACC and defending national champion 1-loss Clemson Tigers; the Big XII champion 1-loss Oklahoma Sooners; and the SEC champion 1-loss Georgia Bulldogs. That leaves one spot to be filled. While ESPN and other media outlets seemed to make the debate a black-and-white argument between Alabama and Ohio State, I'm going to add two teams to the mix: Central Florida and USC. Let's first look at the committee's documented protocol for selecting the four playoff teams. Here's what they allegedly look at when comparing teams: "1) Championships won 2) Strength of schedule 3) Head-to-head competition (if it occurred) 4) Comparative outcomes of common opponents" Based on that criteria, let's compare the four teams, starting with...

Being born and raised in the Cornhusker state that is Nebraska, I know all about college football teams' rampant fans hollering for head coaching changes when their team doesn't reach their typically unrealistic expectations. After the Cornhuskers finished their 2017 campaign at a disappointing 4-8, it was all but inevitable a change would again be made. This will be their 5th different head coach over the past 14 years. Oddly enough, Nebraska's head coaching version of musical chairs started in 2003, after Frank Solich led the team to a 9-3 season, the best record the team's had in the past 14 years. So, in hindsight, perhaps Nebraska pulled the trigger a bit too quickly on firing Solich. That got me to thinking about other such institutions who haven't been as successful in recent years as they had been under a particular coach previously. Here's how those numbers pan out. I'll start with the program which has experienced the lowest drop-off in terms of wi...

I don't care how big of a football fan you are, college or pro, the playoffs this year have reeked more than a freshly sprayed skunk going on a shower strike. Let me run down the scores of these 13 games: NCAA Alabama 24 Washington 7 Clemson 31 Ohio State 0 Clemson 35 Alabama 31 Total score: 90 - 38 = 52 (averages of 30.0 -  12.7 = 17.3) NFL Houston 27 Oakland 14 Pittsburgh 30 Miami 12 Seattle 26 Detroit 6 Green Bay 38 NY Giants 13 Atlanta 36 Seattle 20 New England 34 Houston 16 Green Bay 34 Dallas 31 Pittsburgh 18 Kansas City 16 Atlanta 44 Green Bay 21 New England 36 Pittsburgh 17 Total score: 323 - 175 = 148 (averages of 32.3 - 17.5 = 14.8) Combined scores: 413 - 213 = 200 (averages of 31.8 - 16.4 = 15.4) Of the 13 playoff games that have been played thus far, only 3 have been decided by one possession (23.1%), while 8 have been decided by three possessions or more (61.5%). If we exclude the three one-possession games, the combined score of these 10 playoff ...

ACC Bowl eligible teams: 11 of 14 (78.6%) Bowl record: 8-3 (.727) Record vs. Power 5: 15-9 (.625) 15 wins 4 home, 3 away, 8 neutral ACC teams: 143-56 (.719) ACC opponents: 111-83 (.572) Difference: +0.147 Combined score: 552-299 (average of 36.8 - 19.9 = +16.9) 9 losses 2 home, 3 away, 4 neutral ACC teams: 66-50 (.569) ACC opponents: 70-45 (.609) Difference: -0.040 Combined score: 219-317 (average of 24.3 - 35.2 = -10.9) Overall 6 home, 6 away, 12 neutral ACC teams: 209-106 (.663) ACC opponents: 181-128 (.586) Difference: +0.077 Combined score: 771-616 (average of 32.1 - 25.7 = +6.4) Big XII Bowl eligible teams: 6 of 10 (60.0%) Bowl record: 4-2 (.667) Record vs. Power 5: 5-8 (.385) 5 wins 2 home, 0 away, 3 neutral Big XII teams: 50-15 (.769) Big XII opponents: 38-27 (.585) Difference: +0.184 Combined score: 177-104 (average of 35.4 - 20.8 = +14.6) 8 losses 2 home, 4 away, 2 neutral Big XII teams: 55-46 (.545) Big XI...

We're rapidly closing in on bowl season in the world of college football, so as we ask around this time every year, "How do the Power 5 conferences compare to one another? Is one superior to the other four?" While the SEC has been seen in the eyes of many as the best conference in recent years, with the Pac-12 being the runner-up, these same individuals have claimed that the SEC has played second fiddle to the Big Ten this year. So is that the case? Let's look at the numbers... ACC Bowl eligible teams: 11 of 14 (78.6%) Record vs. Power 5 (and Notre Dame): 12-8 (.600) 12 wins 6 home and 6 away games ACC teams: 97-47 (.653) ACC opponents: 71-72 (.497) Difference: +0.156 Combined score: 432-260 (average of 36.0 - 21.7 = +14.3) 8 losses 4 home and 4 away games ACC teams: 48-36 (.571) ACC opponents: 49-46 (.516) Difference: +0.055 Combined score: 223-312 (average of 27.9 - 39.0 = -11.9) Overall 10 home and 10 away games ACC teams: 145-83 (.636) ACC ...

As long-time readers should know by now, I love sports. Unfortunately, with how crazy election season has been, I haven't had much time to write about the world of sports in recent months. So I thought I'd touch on the subject with a few comments and observations: - Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians on reaching the World Series. It's honestly hard for me to choose the side, for as I was growing up, both "Major League" (Cleveland Indians) and "Rookie of the Year" (Chicago Cubs) were showing in theaters. In the end, I think I'm leaning toward the Cubs, but if Willie Mays Hayes and Pedro Cerrano suit up for Cleveland, I may have to pull for the Indians. - People need to calm down about the Golden State Warriors' opening night dud against the San Antonio Spurs. The Warriors this year remind me of the Miami Heat in their first season with the trifecta Dwanye Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. While Miami finished the s...

- While Saturday night provided two highly exciting games, perhaps the two best of the bowl season (TCU/Oregon and West Virginia/Arizona State), overall it's been a highly disappointing bowl season. Among the eight New Year's Eve and New Year's Day bowl games, zero were of the one-possession variety. The only two-possession games came courtesy of Houston/Florida State (38-24) and Ohio State/Notre Dame (44-28). The combined score of the two semifinals was 75-17 (average of 37.5 - 8.5). The combined score of all eight contests was 336-118 (average of 42.0 - 14.8). Let's hope the national championship game provides for a bit more excitement than these eight games did. - Outside of the SEC and their 8-2 record, the other four Power 5 conferences had a mixed bag as far as bowl results go. The Pac-12 finished 6-4, the Big Ten 5-5, the ACC 4-5, and the Big XII 3-4. If Alabama loses to Clemson, even though the SEC would finish the bowl season a Power 5 best 8-3, many would st...