Whether it is deserved or not the SEC (west) is getting mucho respect. It is crazy to think about all the different scenarios. What if 3 teams tie for first in the West, then in the SEC title game that team loses to a one loss Georgia team? UGA gets in to the dance, but how many schools from the west? 1 team, 2 team, 3 teams?

 

FSU winning out obviously puts them in the Final Four. Every other conference has teams that have lost at least 1 game, so I can't envision a scenario of an Oregon, Michigan State, tOSU, etc. getting the nod over a one loss Auburn. Or would they?

Two. No way they allow three and I guarantee they are looking for ways to keep it at one or praying teams help them out. I wouldn't even be surprised if they threw in Michigan State if they stay at one win just for the balance.

 

 

The people who say "you have to win a conference championship to win a national championship" may be happy with the playoff system if that is the case.

 

 

 

I'm intrigued by the playoffs and look forward to them but the BCS worked and never should have been shelved. I can see the picking of only 4 teams for the playoffs being a disaster.

All of this goes with out saying I have not looked at all of the schedules. For example, UGA/Auburn have their annual battle at some point, so that takes one of them to 2 losses. Can a 2 loss team from the SEC make the final four over a 1 loss Michigan State?

Two. No way they allow three and I guarantee they are looking for ways to keep it at one or praying teams help them out. I wouldn't even be surprised if they threw in Michigan State if they stay at one win just for the balance.

 

 

The people who say "you have to win a conference championship to win a national championship" may be happy with the playoff system if that is the case.

 

 

 

I'm intrigued by the playoffs and look forward to them but the BCS worked and never should have been shelved. I can see the picking of only 4 teams for the playoffs being a disaster.

The potential monkey wrench comes if UGA wins the SEC title game over an undefeated Miss. State or Ole Miss and you have another team or two in the west sitting with 1 loss.

^Exactly....Ole Miss or Mississippi State runs the table and loses to Georgia in the title game and all 3 make it.

^Exactly....Ole Miss or Mississippi State runs the table and loses to Georgia in the title game and all 3 make it.

 

What if UGA has two losses?

^Exactly....Ole Miss or Mississippi State runs the table and loses to Georgia in the title game and all 3 make it.

 

I strongly, STRONGLY doubt 3 teams from the same conference get in. I simply don't believe that the committee will do it, even if it's perceived that 3 of the best 4 teams are from the same conference. I think it would take something unbelievably bad to happen in every other major conference.

Two. No way they allow three and I guarantee they are looking for ways to keep it at one or praying teams help them out. I wouldn't even be surprised if they threw in Michigan State if they stay at one win just for the balance.

 

 

The people who say "you have to win a conference championship to win a national championship" may be happy with the playoff system if that is the case.

 

 

 

I'm intrigued by the playoffs and look forward to them but the BCS worked and never should have been shelved. I can see the picking of only 4 teams for the playoffs being a disaster.

 

I like the playoff system but I wish they would have just used the top 4 in the BCS to decide on the playoff teams. I don't like the committee picking the teams.

Playoffs will and always should have been 8 teams. After the top 8 you leave a lot less room for error. I'd say auto bids to all of the power 5 conference champs and one at large reserved for a non power 5 conference champ with 2 at large bids.

Playoffs will and always should have been 8 teams. After the top 8 you leave a lot less room for error. I'd say auto bids to all of the power 5 conference champs and one at large reserved for a non power 5 conference champ with 2 at large bids.

 

 

This makes way too much sense. It's as close to perfect as the answer could be.

The thing to remember is that the committee is stand alone from any rankings. I think they release their top 4 on Tuesday and they can rank them any way they want to. I wouldn't be shocked to see

 

FSU, Mississippi St, Michigan State and Mississippi as the top 4 on Tuesday. Alabama and Notre Dame being the next 2 teams in.

In the 8 team scenario, why does everyone deserve an automatic spot in to the tournament if you win a power conference? I am cool if there are more teams involved, but 8 is not enough to allow 5 automatic qualifiers. I do not want to see Pittsburgh somehow screw up and win the ACC title game with four losses and get in over a 1 loss SEC team. It sounds fine in theory, but most feel the conferences are so unevenly weighted it's not fair.

In the 8 team scenario, why does everyone deserve an automatic spot in to the tournament if you win a power conference? I am cool if there are more teams involved, but 8 is not enough to allow 5 automatic qualifiers. I do not want to see Pittsburgh somehow screw up and win the ACC title game with four losses and get in over a 1 loss SEC team. It sounds fine in theory, but most feel the conferences are so unevenly weighted it's not fair.

 

 

Good point but if we are going to acknowledge the Power Conferences then there has to be some incentive for their conference champions. Otherwise the "Power Conferences" will lose a conference or two and become less powerful.

I don't like the Auto Bids either, Power Conferences get teams in by putting a good product on the field...not just by existing.

 

If there were 16 or more teams I'd be OK with auto picks for Power Conf Champs...but if a Power Conf team can't make the top 6-10 they don't deserve to be in.

 

8 Teams seems to be universally agreed upon number of teams, I think that is a good number also.

Playoffs will and always should have been 8 teams. After the top 8 you leave a lot less room for error. I'd say auto bids to all of the power 5 conference champs and one at large reserved for a non power 5 conference champ with 2 at large bids.

 

I have never liked the idea of taking the Conference champs from the "Power" Conferences unless you take champs from all conferences.

 

That being said, the system that you have outlined may be the best compromise for the folks that want 16 (like me) and the folks that like the BCS or think 4 is a good number.