Experts say Tech has about hit the ceiling in BCS
The Jackets have had a lot to celebrate this season, including Josh Nesbitt's (9) winning touchdown in overtime against Wake Forest. (Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com)
When the first BCS standings were released about three weeks ago, I put together a checklist of what I thought it would take for Georgia Tech to climb from No. 12 to No. 2 and, therefore, make it into the national championship game.
You can click the above link, but I’ll boil it down for you here: 1) Don’t lose another game; 2) Hope a lot of other teams lose games. Simple.
Some of that has happened. It’s why the Jackets now rank seventh. But according to the nation’s two foremost BCS experts, Brad Edwards and Jerry Palm, seventh is about as high as they’re going to go.
When I spoke to both in separate interviews, each also said they could foresee a scenario in which either No. 1 Florida or No. 2 Alabama lost a game to fall back in the rankings, then won the SEC championship to leapfrog Tech again. The reason: The strength of the SEC — perceived and actual — carries a lot more weight with the voters and in computer rankings than the strength of the ACC (and therefore Tech’s schedule).
“I can’t say there’s no way it could happen,” ESPN’s Edwards said of Tech working its way up. “Obviously, I can’t foresee how voters would treat them. But my gut feeling at this point is even a one-loss SEC team finishes ahead of them. What really hurts Tech is their biggest games were played in the first five or six games of the season. They’ve had nothing in the last half of the season to pay close attention to. I’m not sure even winning out would put them ahead of TCU, Cincinnati or Boise State.”
Palm, who operates CollegeBCS.com, said, “Tech’s problem is there’s a general lack of respect for the ACC. Is it better than the Mountain West [which includes TCU]? Yeah, it probably is. But I’m not sure what the voters think of Georgia Tech, compared to those schools ahead of them.”
Do you agree with the comments, or do you think the ACC in general and the Yellow Jackets in particular are being disrespected?
Also, here’s another look at the BCS standings.
| BCS | Harris Poll | USA Today | Computer Rankings | ||||||||||||||
| RK | TEAM | AVG | PVS | RK | PTS | % | RK | PTS | % | AVG | A&H | RB | CM | KM | JS | PW | % |
| 1 | Florida | .9842 | 1 | 1 | 2801 | .9828 | 1 | 1460 | .9898 | 1 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | .980 |
| 2 | Alabama | .9516 | 3 | 3 | 2688 | .9432 | 3 | 1389 | .9417 | 2 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | .970 |
| 3 | Texas | .9234 | 2 | 2 | 2712 | .9516 | 2 | 1399 | .9485 | 5 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 21 | .870 |
| 4 | TCU | .8620 | 6 | 4 | 2424 | .8505 | 4 | 1262 | .8556 | 4 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | .880 |
| 5 | Cincinnati | .8580 | 5 | 5 | 2377 | .8340 | 5 | 1224 | .8298 | 3 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | .910 |
| 6 | Boise State | .8126 | 7 | 6 | 2349 | .8242 | 6 | 1200 | .8136 | 6 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 20 | .800 |
| 7 | Georgia Tech | .7552 | 10 | 7 | 2131 | .7477 | 7 | 1118 | .7580 | 7 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | .760 |
| 8 | LSU | .6138 | 9 | 11 | 1634 | .8733 | 11 | 838 | .5681 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 17 | .700 |
| 9 | USC | .5922 | 12 | 10 | 1660 | .5825 | 10 | 847 | .5742 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | .620 |
| 10 | Iowa | .5745 | 4 | 12 | 1540 | .5404 | 13 | 757 | .5132 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 18 | .670 |
| 11 | Ohio State | .5733 | 16 | 8 | 1795 | .6298 | 8 | 944 | .6400 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 9 | .450 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | .5628 | 13 | 9 | 1713 | .6011 | 9 | 940 | .6373 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 14 | .450 |
| 13 | Oregon | .5318 | 8 | 14 | 1381 | .4846 | 16 | 665 | .4508 | 10 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | .660 |
| 14 | Miami (FL) | .4712 | 17 | 15 | 1366 | .4793 | 15 | 685 | .4644 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | .470 |
| 15 | Houston | .4691 | 15 | 13 | 1476 | .5179 | 12 | 766 | .5193 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 13 | .370 |
| 16 | Utah | .4003 | 14 | 16 | 1352 | .4744 | 14 | 688 | .4664 | 20 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 10 | .260 |
| 17 | Arizona | .3363 | 18 | 19 | 880 | .3088 | 19 | 472 | .3200 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 11 | .380 |
| 18 | Penn State | .3350 | 11 | 17 | 1057 | .3709 | 17 | 552 | .3742 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 3 | .260 |
| 19 | Oklahoma State | .2909 | 19 | 18 | 979 | .435 | 18 | 530 | .3593 | 22 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | .170 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | .2334 | 21 | 20 | 567 | .1989 | 20 | 341 | .2312 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | .270 |
| 21 | Virginia Tech | .2331 | 23 | 21 | 478 | .1677 | 21 | 268 | .1817 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 7 | .350 |
| 22 | Brigham Young | .1236 | NR | 22 | 468 | .1642 | 22 | 216 | .1464 | 25 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .060 |
| 23 | Oregon State | .1231 | NR | 28 | 94 | .0330 | 28 | 39 | .0264 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 8 | .310 |
| 24 | South Florida | .1084 | 25 | 23 | 266 | .0933 | 24 | 106 | .0719 | 23 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 6 | .160 |
| 25 | West Virginia | .0653 | NR | 24 | 182 | .0639 | 23 | 121 | .0820 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .050 |
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453 comments Add your comment
MattyB
November 9th, 2009
2:36 pm
Can’t control computers or voters. Just keep winning.
reebok
November 9th, 2009
2:37 pm
you mention alabama twice above…probably meant to say florida one of those 2 times.
SWFLJacket
November 9th, 2009
2:37 pm
Beat DOOK!!!!
and first, maybe
EW
November 9th, 2009
2:38 pm
First?
SWFLJacket
November 9th, 2009
2:39 pm
Beat DOOK!
and shatter the ceiling
reebok
November 9th, 2009
2:40 pm
i just wish there was a scenario where you could have, say, cincy & boise state play for the mythical BCS championship…that would presumably put a stake through the heart of this monster once & for all…
ooohhh…is mike silve going to fine me for being negative?
Jamaaliver
November 9th, 2009
2:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Phillip
November 9th, 2009
2:41 pm
If Cincinnati loses to West Virginia which is highly possible and TCU loses to Utah and Texas loses to Texas Tech or A&M, then I think it’s highly possible that we’ll jump Boise State and play the winner of the SEC Championship game. If Florida or Alabama loses before then then everything is up in the air. We just have to take care of Duke and Georgia and see how the cards fall in place.
Innocent Bystander
November 9th, 2009
2:42 pm
Hm… Someone should check out Sagarin’s Strength of Schedule rankings. More interesting than you’d think.
@wbarker
November 9th, 2009
2:43 pm
I did notice there’s a bigger gap of separation between 7 and 8 than there is between 4 and 7. That has to give some hope to GT for moving up in the BCS.
wesleywhatwhat
November 9th, 2009
2:44 pm
just beat duke and think about bcs implications later.
(btw, can we get an article on the evolution of paul johnson’s system before any more articles on bcs rankings, please?)
Hal
November 9th, 2009
2:49 pm
Tech now has a bull eye on it back and it will have all it can handle with Duke, UGA and most likly Clemson in the near future. What they do and how they do it will go a long way. Just concentrate on what “you” have to do Techies and you’ll be just fine.
StraightJacket
November 9th, 2009
2:52 pm
Jeff, with Brad Edwards’ logic, why not just extrapolate to his “logical” conclusion? Which is:
Just shut down College Football after the SEC Championship Game? I mean, that’s what he’s saying here. Texas? Nah,… forget about ‘em! They play in the Big 12, where Baylor and Iowa State roam.
Extrapolating just a LITTLE farther, since it has now become obvious that the SEC is really no more than 4 teams, we should just have a short season every year where UF & ‘Bama get top seeds, and if Tenn or LSU can beat them … twice … in the same year (with SEC refs), then they can be champs.
All OTHER 116 teams in FBS will NOW join the FCS, … along with ALL bowl games, and have a playoff champion for the “little” teams that don’t matter.
That really IS what he’s saying here.
In summary, GT doesn’t deserve to be above any of the unbeatens; including TCU, Boise, and Cincy. But HISTORY has proven that “teams that lose LATE have lost their Championship chance” , and if somebody wants to write new history with modern smoke-filled room politics, they should not bother with the charade that objectivity is involved. LOSING LATE in the season IMPLIES that your team is NOT improving … I don’t care WHO you’re playing!!!
So, let’s declare a Champion on December 5 in Atlanta, and move on to basketball season.
-SJ
wiley
November 9th, 2009
2:52 pm
BEAT DUKE!!! A BCS bowl and ACC championship is a huge accomplishment…there is no sense in whining about the BCS…everyone gets screwed except the SEC, Ohio State, and USC. Play to win!
Scott
November 9th, 2009
2:54 pm
What idiots. First, GT’s schedule strength is 12th in the nation from Sagarin. The premise of tech getting to the top is based on this fact. There CANNOT and WILL NOT be two sec teams in the title game. Since the sec refs have almost assured two undefeated sec teams to the champ game, there is no way a rematch will happen. So if texas cincy and tcu were to lose, the voters and idiots in the media will have no choice but to put tech in the game assuming gt wins out. Saying they can’t go above 7 is just stupid. If cincy loses and we win, uh hello we move to at least 6th. If tcu loses too, we jump them. The only team they would potentially keep above us for losing is texas and it would HAVE to be a reg season game. If texas lost the big 12 title game, they aren’t playing in the nat champ game. What other teams are out there if texas, cincy and tcu lose? Boise has no shot. They should be ranked 20th anyway. Watch lsu dismantle la tech this week. Boise struggled against the same team.
GA Tech Insider
November 9th, 2009
2:56 pm
Can’t worry about anything else other than beating Duke; I can assure you that’s what Paul Johnson and the team is doing. The only thing GA Tech’s football team has control over is their own games, and that’s what they’re concentrating on, one game at a time.
DawginLex
November 9th, 2009
2:56 pm
Tech will lose to UGA or Clemson, maybe both but not likely. Clemson has a good defense and the QB has tons of confidence that he didn’t have in meeting 1. Tech’s defense is not good enough to shut down UGA even with Joe cox playing QB.
Anyone that thinks it’s going to be a blowout hasn’t been paying attention. It will be a shootout. So will the game in Tampa.
GA Tech Insider
November 9th, 2009
2:59 pm
DawginLex; maybe you should be concentrating on finding a way to help your puppies win a meaningful game rather than prognosticate (pray) that GA Tech will lose another game.
ArkyTech
November 9th, 2009
2:59 pm
What a stupid column. Basically, what you’re saying is that if everyone ahead of Tech wins the rest of their games that Tech won’t pass any of them? DDDDDUUUUUUUUHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Stat Man
November 9th, 2009
2:59 pm
Certainly can’t complain being the highest rated 1-loss team in the nation. Doesn’t sound like a whole lot of disrespect to me.
Additionally, anybody looked up and down the top 25? What do you notice about the ACC & SEC? Appears there are more ACC teams in there than SEC (yes, I know Florida & Alabama are 1-2).
Interestingly, Tech needs Georgia to win it’s next couple so their strength of schedule gets a little boost. Imagine that – Tech benefitting from UGA trying to get bowl eligible.
Could this be the change Obama was talking about (cause I haven’t seen much change anywhere else!)?
Cosmo
November 9th, 2009
2:59 pm
TO BORROW FROM ERK: “Just one more time.”
Alan
November 9th, 2009
3:04 pm
Arkytech
Exactly. Stupid column.
Steve
November 9th, 2009
3:05 pm
Tech has the best rushing game in College Football today . . .
Yeah, I think they need to be ranked above TCU, Cincinnati & Boise Sate . . .
Jeff Schultz
November 9th, 2009
3:06 pm
Arky and Alan — basically what I’m saying that even a 1-loss ACC champion doesn’t merit top status this year. But you can put it any way you like. Double duh.
Brent Cunningham
November 9th, 2009
3:06 pm
DawginLex is right. We’ve played well enough on offense to win, but we have hardly put anyone away and we aren’t likely to stop Clemson or even a poor Georgia team from scoring at least 20. We are gonna have to score on almost every time we have the ball. PJ will be going for it on more fourth downs until the defense improves.
GT JJ
November 9th, 2009
3:08 pm
DawginLex, gotta disagree with you on shutting down Cox. Cox is no Skinner, Ponder, Harris, or Lewis. I think UGA will score 14-21 unless they get a defensive or return TD. Tech will double that point total.
Clemson, on the other hand, I am more worried about. Duke too with their passing attack playing at home with bowl hopes alive. Never thought i’d be more worried about the dookies than the dawgs.
mtraininjax
November 9th, 2009
3:08 pm
Miami is what, 14? OSU, Iowa, Cincy/Pitt, Utah/TCU they could move up to top 10, if they win out. Could have 2 ACC schools in top 10. I can’t see the Orange wanting Cincy back, after the OB loss last year.
BankerDawg
November 9th, 2009
3:08 pm
“What really hurts Tech is their biggest games were played in the first five or six games of the season.”
There you go. One of the two foremost BCS experts just made the case for no poll to exist the first month of the season. When you play your tough games should mean nothing…
This whole system is flawed, flawed, flawed.
TCU is legit.
Boise and Cincy are frauds.
Who knows about Florida and Bama, or Texas for that matter. None of them have particularly jumped out at me this year.
In fact, for my money, I think TCU could take anyone in the top 10.
For the record, looking at the BCS, I personally would have Tech at #5.
I'm with DawginLex...
November 9th, 2009
3:08 pm
…Tech has the ability to run the table, but both UGA and Clemson, especially Clemson, have the ability to win against them(that is providing Dabo does not pull another Bowden – i.e. lose another game like the MD game – and lose to NC State or UVA). Other than the MD debacle Clemson has lost to # 7 Techby 3, and to # 6, and rising, TCU, by 7.
Clemson beat UM at Miami; Tech lost at Miami. Clemson beat Wake Forest 38 – 3; Tech beat Wake in overtime. Plus, Clemson came all the way back, on the road, against GT, only to give out of gas at the end – I would never bet against Tech if they get the ball last and it comes down to a final drive to win!
So, it should make for an interesting last 3 weeks – again provided Clemson does not go in the tank at NC State or against UVA! But, that is why they play the games.
Hayseed Dixie
November 9th, 2009
3:09 pm
It’s a Catch-22, chicken-and-egg thing for the ACC.
In order for the ACC to get respect, at least two teams have to consistently be in the NC conversation, and win 2 or 3 over ten years.
In order for *that* to happen, the average quality of football teams in the conference would have to nosedive.
It’s the SEC’s dirty little not-so-secret secret: they’re top heavy.
Futhermore: anyone think being part of the Big Least made Miami’s run of dominance a little easier?
Until Div I football has a playoff it’ll be a beauty pagent crossed with a cruel joke. Anyone looking for the evidence that cash trumps logic need look no further.
Alan
November 9th, 2009
3:09 pm
No schlitz sherlock. But that’s as of right now. If Texas Cincy and tcu all lose, and GT wins out, please tell me who they are going to put in the Nat Champ game oh wise one????
Duber1958
November 9th, 2009
3:10 pm
What difference does it make? All Tech needs to concentrate on is their next game, then the next, and then hopefully the ACC championship. That is the only thing in their control and if they take care of this then the rest will either happen or it won’t. How many Tech fans were really expecting us to be at this point in the season, in the second year under Paul Johnson. Tech is having a wonderful run this year and the Tech fans need to just appreciate what is happening and make sure they continue to support the team in the coming weeks, especially in Tampa, if we beat Duke as we should.
BankerDawg
November 9th, 2009
3:12 pm
I’m with DawginLex-
Cannot argue the transitive property in college football.
Also, as you mention, Clemson lost to Maryland…perhaps the worst team in the ACC, if not the entire east coast…
Lastly, Dabo versus Paul Johnson for all the marbles….is there any doubt who wins that one?
CW
November 9th, 2009
3:13 pm
I completely disagree.
Let’s assume that Tech beats Duke, GA and wins the ACC championship game (which is going to be much more difficult than everyone thinks, btw).
TCU, Boise and Cincinnati all have games ahead of them that they may lose. If all three lose one game along the way, they will drop below Tech. Texas has looked unbeatable before and then lost inexplicably in the Big 12 Championship. If it has happened before, it can happen again.
If Bama and Florida win out (and both could also still trip up) only one of them will move on to the NC game. No way will the voters, computer or human, put together an all SEC re-match.
The only question is, would Tech get the nod over a Texas team that had just lost to someone like Nebraska or Kansas State? Because the Big 12 North is so weak this year, I think Texas losing their conference championship would knock them out of the big game.
The point is, all these teams still have a shot because finishing out the rest of these games with wins is going to very difficult for all of them – even Florida, Alabama and Texas.
F-105 Thunderchief
November 9th, 2009
3:14 pm
35th!
Whew! OK, now I’ll go back and read the post.
John Peters
November 9th, 2009
3:18 pm
boise has no chance. especially considering the only decent team they beat just lost to stanford. oh that team we just beat beat stanford too. this column reads like there is one game left in the season and the teams above gt all have cupcakes left.
StraightJacket
November 9th, 2009
3:18 pm
Jeff, from your column:
“The reason: The strength of the SEC — perceived and actual — carries a lot more weight with the voters and in computer rankings than the strength of the ACC (and therefore Tech’s schedule).”
Counter-Point:
Florida International (not to be confused with Florida Domestic!)
Charleston Southern (not to be confused with Charleston Western!)
Troy (not to be confused with Sparta!)
North Texas (not to be confused East Texas!)
U.T. – Chattanooga (not to be confused with U.T. – Martin!)
and … Florida International … AGAIN!!!! (’Bama & UF BOTH played this “powerhouse” out-of-conference team)
With a truly awesome schedule of “bye weeks” like this, I think Georgia Tech could probably handle the rigors of playing the “powerhouse” SEC teams UF and ‘Bama play like Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, etc….
Oh. Wait. Tech DID play those “powerhouse” SEC teams … just without the “bye weeks” that UF and ‘Bama had.
The only “right” thing to happen is for the OLD standard to hold true, and that is this:
IF YOU LOSE LATE, you’re toast.
Anything less is unethical politics.
-SJ
F-105 Thunderchief
November 9th, 2009
3:19 pm
I hope the best for Tech. All they can do is win. The rankings are so subjective. For instance, why is Pitt five spots lower than Tech? They probably don’t deserve to be.
Metal Jacket
November 9th, 2009
3:20 pm
Win out, this sets us up great for next year. Tech could start the season in top 5.
Cuttysark
November 9th, 2009
3:20 pm
Thanks for the information Jeff. With the teams up in front, and the bias in the human voting, it is already a done deal that GT will not make the NC game. The only outside team with a chance if somebody stumbles is TCU. Frankly they are the team that none of the big boys want to play.
Go to http://isportsweb.com for a review of the Yellow Jackets win in OT against Wake and Paul Johnson’s decision to end the game. As well as other GT articles. Go Jackets!
Mike
November 9th, 2009
3:21 pm
Now the insects can work on geting the correct number on there seating amount in Bobby dump stadium.
Alan
November 9th, 2009
3:21 pm
Straight
How contradictory is that considering GT will have played 3 teams from said conference. And lets do some comparative score analysis.
GT beats Miss st by 11. Fla does by 10. Bama is a 13 point fav. I don’t think they cover.
Gt beats vandy by 25. Fla does by 24.
Based on what I have seen so far, we beat Ga something like 48-31.
Brad
November 9th, 2009
3:22 pm
A team that has lost the BIG 12 title game has advanced to the BCS title game before so it could happen again
Alan
November 9th, 2009
3:23 pm
Jeff I am waiting for your answer. If texas, cincy and Tcu all lose, gt wins out, who will play fla/bama in the title game?
Alan
November 9th, 2009
3:24 pm
Brad
Who was that?
Alan
November 9th, 2009
3:27 pm
I seem to remember a team from the big 12 years ago not even playing in the big 12 champ game and either making it to the title game OR almost making it. But crazy upsets like usc losing to ucla that year and 2-3 other upsets had to happen. There has NEVER been a team that made it to the Nat champ game that lost their last game of the reg season or conf champ game.
jacket3
November 9th, 2009
3:28 pm
Being in the top 10 nationally…..wow. Tech at No. 7 wow. Maybe in 2010 but in 2009, wow. People will soon see the light. Just keep plugin’ away Jackets..
GT Que
November 9th, 2009
3:29 pm
DawginLex
&
I’m with DawginLex…
Tech’s defense (save for Miami) has stepped up and made plays when they needed. Have they given up big plays, absolutely.
For the record Florida State has a FAR better total offense than UGA and Clemson (FSU ranked 20, Clem 73, and UGA 88) There is no reason to think that GT won’t be able to make any necessary second half adjustments and pull out a close win.
UNC’s rush defense is FAR better than UGA’s and Clem (UNC #8, UGA #41, Clem #51) and we were still able to put up 317 yards on the ground. (not to mention we already put 301yds on the ground on Clem and outgained them 418 to 386 in total offense)
Finally….Dabo and Richt don’t have the fire breathing, intestinal fortitude, and c.ohunes to hang with Paul Johnson in a close game. Richt’s record speaks for it’s self, but he got out coached/schemed last year and he will again this year
god and greyhound
November 9th, 2009
3:31 pm
Tech has definitely peaked, assuming all the teams ahead of them win out. In that scenario, even the SECCG loser probably wouldn’t fall past Tech.
Of course things don’t always work out the way you plan. I guess upsets don’t happen in the world of the BCS “experts.”
Cincy has two challenging top 25 games left against WVU and Pitt. They also play an Illinois team which has found life the last two weeks. They could easily lose one of these three.
TCU has Utah. I don’t think it’s likely they lose this game, but stranger things have happened.
Boise plays a surging Nevada team, also undefeated in the WAC, which has given them fits the past two years. Nevada took them to the fourth overtime in Boise two years ago, before losing on a missed two point conversion.
Texas plays Kansas, A&M, and hopefully Nebraska in the Big 12 championship. Unlikely they lose any of those, but none of those teams is a cupcake.
And who’s to say Alabama or Florida doesn’t pick up a loss? Florida at South Carolina could be dangerous. If by some miracle Christian Ponder heals up, FSU could give them a scare in a shootout.
Alabama still plays at Miss State, who gave LSU all they could handle and made a good run at Florida. Then there’s the rivalry game with Auburn.
What if both Florida and Alabama lose before the SEC Championship game, and are ranked #6 and #7? Will winning such a game be enough for the SEC Champ to jump to #2?
A lot of things have to go right, but there’s still a lot of football to be played.
JB
November 9th, 2009
3:33 pm
Taking Wake into OT dulls a little shine off the Apple. I think Tech has a good team, But a top 3 or 4 with that D, I don’t think so. Now, I understand Tech folks will holler BS, But, they have no vote. Case closed.
tech can't hang
November 9th, 2009
3:34 pm
Tech would lose the championship game. Look at the losers that they play with in ACC. They haven’t blown away anyone this year. The ACC is weak and no one will vote a one-loss ACC team when a one-loss SEC team is available. Besides, I think Tech is going to lose to UGA anyway so the point is moot.
Styles
November 9th, 2009
3:36 pm
Oh, how sweet it will be shattering your hopes and dreams on November 28th!
GT
November 9th, 2009
3:37 pm
When all this discussion was going on about non BCS conference representatives getting a shot at the NC ,Tech was being coached by Gailey and that athletic director who both decided we were closer to Rice or Duke than to a national championship team. Most colleges would take the compliment and run, but like a woman being told she can’t run with the boys Tech felt you could educate its young and have winning football in the same sandwich. Somehow during that era we didn’t think we were part of that conversation and we probably gave it a weak reply since our administration was totally convinced we would never be in the mix anyway. Well now we are in the mix and so is TCU, Boise State,not to mention a Cincinnati team I think we could beat too. And their is some expert sitting somewhere already painting the another picture of how Tech can’t do something. We will see my friend ,we will see.
NVAJacketsfan
November 9th, 2009
3:38 pm
Tech has come close to their ceiling, but I don’t think they are there yet. If Tech and Boise State both win out I don’t think Tech would be behind the Broncos. It is even MORE of a percieved lack of SOS. I think no matter what happens to the rest of CFB, if the Jackets win out 5th is probably as high as they can reach in the BCS standings. A loss to UF or Bama in the SEC CCG isn’t going to drop the other one below Tech, Cincy losing to Pitt may not either. The fact is Boise state’s schedule is a joke and because of that it is extremely unlikely they will lose. TCU is helped just as much as Tech with Clemson winning.
So even if Tech does jump Boise and Cincy I don’t think we will move in front of Texas and the SEC head dogs. TCU isn’t going to get passed by us. Just like Tech has owned the SEC that we have played, TCU has owned the ACC that they played so they will get the benefit of the doubt over Tech if they win out.
Alan
November 9th, 2009
3:39 pm
JB
Yeah jb it’s all about the d. Who cares about an offense. Defense wins it all. Just ask all the teams that won scoring 35+ points in the Nat champ game over the past years.
1999 Florida State 12-0 Sugar: Beat Va. Tech 46-29 Bobby Bowden
2000 Oklahoma 13-0 Orange: Beat Florida St. 13-2 Bob Stoops
2001 Miami, Fla. 12-0 Rose: Beat Nebraska 37-14 Larry Coker
2002 Ohio State 14-0 Fiesta: Beat Miami, Fla. 31-24 (2 ot) Jim Tressel
2003 LSU (National Champs)
USC (#1 in AP Poll) 13-1
12-1 Sugar: Beat Oklahoma 21-14
Rose: Beat Michigan 28-14 Nick Saban
Pete Carroll
2004 USC 13-0 Orange: Beat Oklahoma 55-19 Pete Carroll
2005 Texas 13-0 Rose: Beat USC 41-38 Mack Brown
2006 Florida 13-1 BCS Championship Game:
Beat Ohio State 41-14 Urban Meyer
2007 LSU 12-2 BCS Championship Game:
Beat Ohio State 38-24 Les Miles
2008 Florida 13-1 BCS Championship Game:
Beat Oklahoma 24-14
EW
November 9th, 2009
3:42 pm
If Tech really wants to play for a BCS title then it needs to worry about NEXT year. The one consistent thing in the BCS is that teams benefit from the initial poll rankings. If GT wins out this year they will play in a BCS bowl and have the opportunity to be a top 10 preseason team. If they can do that, they set themselves up for a title run, but it won’t be this year.
GT Que
November 9th, 2009
3:42 pm
tech can’t hang
Facts:
CPJ @ GT vs SEC 4-1
CPJ @ GT vs St Richt 1-0
2008 Reg Season, SEC vs ACC 4-6
Opinions:
Everyone in the SEC except for LSU, Bama, and UF would go .500 against the big X, big XII, ACC, big east, mountain west, and WAC
GTville
November 9th, 2009
3:42 pm
If Florida loses to FSU, then GT and UF will have 4 teams to compare. GT will be 4-0 and UF will be 3-1. How could you put UF above GT in such a case? UF has scheduled all cupcakes on its nonconference schedule, except FSU.
If Alabama loses to either UF or Auburn, GT/AL have 2 teams to compare and both are 2-0. Alabama could be ranked higher simply be being Alabama and being in the SEC.
To compare the SEC vs ACC look at the combined record during the year and put most stock in the final week matchups: GT/UGA, FSU/UF, and Clemson/SC. If ACC wins out in the last week, I would put GT ahead.
Boise’s schedule is a joke. North Gwinett could win out in that schedule. TCU played and beat Clemson and UVA, so they have a strong case if they make it. Cincinati has a tougher schedule than Florida and Texas, so they should jump to top 2 with Alabama if all win out.
god and greyhound
November 9th, 2009
3:43 pm
What’s so bad about taking Wake to OT? They’re not a bad team.
5 of their losses are by a total of 13 points. They beat Stanford earlier this year, lost to BC on a freak play in overtime, and were clobbering Miami until they muffed a punt and Skinner got hurt. They would probably beat uog by 2 TDs.
Paul H
November 9th, 2009
3:44 pm
The Mountain West gets more respect than the ACC. Wow.
Justin
November 9th, 2009
3:46 pm
DawginLex,
I’m glad to see that all Dawg fans haven’t giving up yet. All I hear from my Dawg friends are georgia sucks and doesn’t have a chance. But, I do hope your wrong. GO JACKETS!!!
Jackets fan
November 9th, 2009
3:48 pm
I do not see how anyone can rank Boise state so high. They play no one and I mean no one other than Oregan. Lets see how good Boise State is when they actually play someone worth a damn
GT Que
November 9th, 2009
3:49 pm
Paul H
the ACC is .500 against the SEC with atleast 2 more wins coming for the ACC.
GT JJ
November 9th, 2009
3:49 pm
my bold predictions –
Tech wins out, including the ACCCG and Orange
clemson slips up in one of its last two, sending BC to the ACCCG
Pitt and WVU both beat Cinci
Boise and TCU both finish the regular season undefeated
Boise gets rolled in their BCS bowl, TCU proves they’re the real deal in theirs
Texas rolls into NCG against Bama, who knocked the gators off in the SECCG
Tech finishes the season #4 by beating Pitt in the Orange.
Texas wins the NC.
Rico
November 9th, 2009
3:50 pm
Who cares! Just proves the current system is crazy. Just keep winning baby. The only way Tech wins a National Championship is to finish this year 12-1 and then run the table next year.
By the way, I really do think CPJ will move on to a “powerhouse” conference once he wins a couple of BCS Bowls and/or a National Championship. He is motivated by all the “this offense will not work here” talk. He won at Georgia Southern, he won at Navy, he is winning at Georgia Tech AND someday he will want to prove he can win at somewhere like Nebraska, Auburn, Michigan or even the evil Notre Dame.
Tie him down now!!!!
GT For You And Me
November 9th, 2009
3:50 pm
Our entire season is this Sat. Nov.28 and Dec.5 that’s all. Period!
gdawginkalamazoo
November 9th, 2009
3:50 pm
Looking at Cincy’s defense the other night they will probably lose to Pitt. How can you have 600+ yards of offense and still have it come down to the wire. Hell of a back up QB Cincy has though.
Bobby Y
November 9th, 2009
3:51 pm
I know a way that could get rid of the BCS system by next year, it requires a vast majority of teams, players and coaches to be on board against the BCS system. But all that would have to happen is for the players to boycott the bowl games, essentially refuse to play, but every team would have to agree to do it, like a grass roots campaign. Word would spread and come bowl season if every team refused to play, millions would be lost and chaos would ensue. The BCS would be dumped for a playoff system.
Paul H
November 9th, 2009
3:53 pm
GT Que – who are those SEC teams the ACC is .500 against? Exactly. And by the way, nothing commands respect than having a female announce your game.
tech can't hang
November 9th, 2009
3:55 pm
StraightJacket: which “powerhouses” did tech play? Vandy? MSU? the cupcakes Tech played were ACC GAMES. You have to go out of your conference to play anybody worth playing. You played and beat the worst of our conference. We’ll see how you do against a mid-level SEC team when you play UGA. Everybody knows the ACC is weak. Texas won’t lose and UF or BAMA will play in the title game. Even if by some miracle Tech made it to the title game to play UF or BAMA, their defense would suffocate your running game and expose your weak passing game. It’s hard to win with one good receiver and a mediocre passing quarterback.
Tucker T
November 9th, 2009
3:56 pm
I think it’s ironic that Tech would be much better off if UGA had a better record this season. If UGA was a one or two loss team coming into the last game of the season, it would look much better for Tech to beat that team than the very mediocre UGA team that we have. In that way, UGA screws Tech again. This is a small victory but I will take it.
Stat Man
November 9th, 2009
3:57 pm
I repeat:
1) Tech (ACC) is the highest rated 1-loss team in the nation
2) There are more ACC teams in the top 25 than SEC teams
Time for the ACC to quit apologizing for anything, there’s nothing to apoligize for!!!
GT Que
November 9th, 2009
3:59 pm
Paul H
If you are going to Cherry Pick which teams in the SEC warrants respect when you beat them, then let’s just tell it like it is…
The SEC as a whole is not great. Without LSU, Bama, and UF, the SEC is a moderately stronger Big East
Doug
November 9th, 2009
4:00 pm
tech cant hang
Man are you an idiot.
Miss st lost to lsu by 4. They turned the ball over 4 times. Lsu had o to’s and still barrely won. Gt rolls over miss st and wins by 11. Fla gets a bogus non td called a td and wins by 10. Who have you beaten in the sec? Oh that would be vandy and ark. Ark is in last place you dolt. Not miss st. And sc with it’s 4 conf losses. And you barely beat these teams. You are no better than miss st.
Buzz
November 9th, 2009
4:01 pm
Just win baby! Everything else will sort itself out in the way it is supposed to be.
GT Que
November 9th, 2009
4:02 pm
tech can’t hang
Stop being a hater. The acc went 6-4 against the SEC last year in the regular season and the acc is .500 right now against the SEC this year.
GT will beat UGA, Clemson will DESTROY Carolina, and FSU will lose to UF and the ACC will finish 4-3 against the SEC in the regular season this year. Deal with it
Akhil
November 9th, 2009
4:02 pm
Forget about reaching the NC game this yr.
Focus on whipping the rest of our opponents this yr, and winning the bowl game convincingly (no matter who its against..hopefully, someone from the SEC). Then Georgia Tech will get the respect they deserve. GT will start off with a high ranking next yr, and if most or all of our playmakers return, then we have a legitimate chance at the NC next yr.
All Liquored Up
November 9th, 2009
4:03 pm
I think he hit the nail on the head. The ACC is GARBAGE!
Bobby Y
November 9th, 2009
4:04 pm
CPJ will not leave GT for another college football team, at least not for a long time. Switching conferences is like changing lanes in heavy traffic trying to pick the one that is moving the best, once you change lanes the one you were in blows by you. I think that the “best conference” title is always shifting, maybe not year to year but certainly decade to decade. Currently the SEC is the perceived best conference but who’s to say the ACC won’t be the best in five more years. Everything evolves. Paul Johnson will stay at GT and make them an elite team. Many people forget that Georgia Tech football was considered among the best in the country for many decades under coaches like John Heisman, William Alexander and Bobby Dodd. While GT may not be perceived as a powerhouse today Paul Johnson has brought hope to Atlanta that they can become one AGAIN (not for the first time but AGAIN, do your due diligence and wikipedia GT football, there is a lot of history, sucess and tradition that most people are to ignorant to realize)
GT For You And Me
November 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
Booger Man will show up before long with his all CAPS!
tech can't hang
November 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
doug: bottom line. There’s not a chance for Tech to play in the title game. Just watch it play out. Is there any expect that would pick the ACC as a stronger conference (even though this year is down year for the bottom of the SEC) than the SEC? No way. Tech will narrowly beat UGA if they win and it’ll all be over. Just watch.
dobearsbare
November 9th, 2009
4:06 pm
To me, Tech’s hopes, assuming the Jackets win the rest of their games, hinge on Texas. I’m sorry, but the Longhorns aren’t losing. They have an axe to grind with Texas Tech, which isn’t as good as it was last year, and while A&M has a history of causing problems for the Horns, it’s hard to imagine that happening this time around. Which is good for Georgia fans, whose worst nightmare might be having Florida play GT for the national championship.
Old Gold '71
November 9th, 2009
4:08 pm
Here’s my thinking: First, Georgia Tech must just keep winning. Period. That’s the only think that it can control, and if the Jackets continue to win, a few ahead of them will fall. Win out in the regular season, win the ACC CG, and win the Orange Bowl (which will be against a credible opponent, and I would expect Georgia Tech to finish in the final BCS poll’s Top Five teams.
It is about earned respect, and this is a year when Tech can begin to establish itself among the nation’s better programs, for the first time in a long time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and there’s nothing wrong at all with going 13-1 and finishing in the Top Five. I believe Paul Johnson’s teams will be Top Ten squads year-in and year-out, and the Jackets’ day will come. It’s all about producing a reputation built on consistent winning, and hopefully it starts this year.
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 9th, 2009
4:09 pm
I don’t really follow college football but this Tech team has sort of grown on me.
GT Que
November 9th, 2009
4:11 pm
Doug
“tech can’t hang” is just a pusillanimous UGA fan that cannot stand the thought of GT competing for its FIFTH national title while UGA is barely above .500 (maybe 5-5 after Sat).
Paul Johnson will rattle off atleast 2 more victories in a row against UGA and he will compete for a BCS National Title WAY before Richt does because whether GT is 11-0 going into the UGA game or 0-11, FLORIDA is UGA’s daddy and as long as UGA is in the SEC east with florida, they will never be more than 3rd in the SEC
Remember1990
November 9th, 2009
4:11 pm
GT was ranked 7th in the November 6th poll and was given no chance of moving up, yet we were #2 by the first week in December. Stranger things have happened and will again.
Jaded Jacket
November 9th, 2009
4:12 pm
The ACC as a whole sticks. No doubt about it. But when the PAC10 sucked the voters didn’t treat USC with disrespect. It’s clear that the SEC teams play considerably more cupcakes than the SEC. Seems like the SEC schools have played cupcakes for the last two weeks. What’s up with that?
Jaded Jacket
November 9th, 2009
4:14 pm
The ACC as a whole stinks. No doubt about it. But when the PAC10 sucked the voters didn’t treat USC with disrespect. It’s clear that the SEC teams play considerably more cupcakes than the ACC, but no one seems to notice. The SEC schools have played cupcakes for the last two weeks. That’s not very interesting football this late in the year. What’s up with that?
Left Handed Complement
November 9th, 2009
4:14 pm
I think there is a feeling that GT’s team is a kind of a fluke b/c they use an offense that is not widely used and that is why teams lose to them. Not true, but some people just don’t like CPJ’s offense.
Josten
November 9th, 2009
4:15 pm
Attention GT athletic department:
Please contact us as soon as possible regarding your “We Beat WF” rings. We are having trouble getting the “Whew” to fit on the side with Paul Johnson’s sweaty face.
Alabama Jack
November 9th, 2009
4:17 pm
Beat Duke. We’ll talk about everything else next Sunday.
m
November 9th, 2009
4:18 pm
Enter your comments here
gcs
November 9th, 2009
4:18 pm
You can compare conferences all you want but what Techsters need to realize is that they have something TCU, Cincy and Boise do not: a loss. And it wasn’t a close FG-at-the-end-of-regulation loss. It wasn’t a blown call by the refs that made them lose. The Jackets lost 33-17 to Miami.
.
Joe Fan
November 9th, 2009
4:19 pm
The SEC is simply a mediocre conference that just happens to have two undefeated teams because of very questionable officiating. You puppies need to quit whinning. You were lucky to win more than 2 games this year and next year want be any better. If either of the redshirt qbs were better than cox, they would have been playing long before now. So just keep getting those top ten recruiting classes.
Brad
November 9th, 2009
4:19 pm
The key problem in college football is mentioned in your article …”not sure what the voters think of them”. They should just eliminate the polls altogether. Even if they institute an 8 team playoff to a certain degree your still dependent on subjective assessments. People are ranked before season starts which is the baseline…and that’s wrong.
When it boils down to it forget strength of schedule..the voters will go for the marquee matchup to get the best ratings on Television and sell the most tickets. It’s a farce. There is too much money and college football is too big to be deciding their champs this way.
JacketFan
November 9th, 2009
4:20 pm
We just need to keep doing what we are doing. I remember this same conversation about the 07 UGAg team. We can’t control the BCS rankings, only our performance on Saturday. Winning championships takes time and this is only season 2 under PJ. We win an ACC championship and I will be over the moon. We win ACCCG and beat Georgia, I think this will go down as one of the great Tech moments in history and leave us sitting pretty for a real run at it next season. Let’s celebrate what we have accomplished before talking about playing for the NC. If it’s meant to be, then it will work out. Stay focused! Beat Duke!
Go Jackets!
To Hell With Georgia!
m
November 9th, 2009
4:20 pm
Enter your comments here
WE NEED A PLAYOFF!!
The BS-bcs stinks worse than any system ever developed by man. It is so ridiculous that it is insane that it is allowed to stay in existence.
This year is a perfect example. If we had a16 team playoff…not only would it be the most exciting sporting event in the history of the world…but also every team would be treated fairly and the results ON THE FIELD would stand for itself. No one’s idiotic opinion would count…expecially not these stupid and biased poll voters.
Get rid of the BS-bcs NOW.
Tide Rising
November 9th, 2009
4:21 pm
Jeff,
The ACC’s losses to the Colonial Conference really hurt them in the computer polls. Losses to other conferences such as the sec didn’t help either. But on a % basis how much did the colonial conference losses hurt the ACC in the computer rankings? Any idea or is there any way to tell?
m
November 9th, 2009
4:22 pm
Jeff…can’t you see?
WE NEED A PLAYOFF!!
The BS-bcs stinks worse than any system ever developed by man. It is so ridiculous that it is insane that it is allowed to stay in existence.
This year is a perfect example. If we had a 16 team playoff…not only would it be the most exciting sporting event in the history of the world…but also every team would be treated fairly and the results ON THE FIELD would stand for itself. No one’s idiotic opinion would count…expecially not these stupid and biased poll voters.
Get rid of the BS-bcs NOW.
bull-dykes
November 9th, 2009
4:23 pm
hey tech can’t hang –
You should be talking since the only thing you’re hanging is your bright red strap-on that rosie o’donnell gave to the entire bull-dyke nation!
let’s face it – you are a bull dyke. the bull dawgs are done.