msduncan wrote:I don't buy that Alabama should be out of the playoffs because of their schedule.
Their only loss is versus probably the country's hottest team right now, a rival, on the road in one of college football's toughest environments to play. The committee does take injuries into consideration, and so they should consider that Alabama's injured players will be back to close to 100% by the time the playoff games start. Still one of the best 4 teams in the country in my opinion, biased as that may be.
There are other top 7 teams that have ugly losses against unranked terrible opponents. Not fluke trick-play losses -- BAD losses with wide point spreads. How on earth do you even consider putting an Ohio State team with such a terrible blowout loss to an unranked opponent in over Alabama?
I don't, but Alabama needs help next weekend to get in. Specifically, they need Ohio state to win. 1 loss TCU avenging their loss to Oklahoma could easily jump them, as could 1 loss Miami with a win over Clemson, as they would both be conference Champs with better wins than Alabama.
Ohio State, as much as ESPN wants to push them, ain't getting in.
Think of it this way, what's Alabama's signature win? LSU or Mississippi St. Both good teams, but not anywhere near Oklahoma/Clemson/Auburn on a neutral field (the last, in case Georgia wins the SEC championship). And if Wisconsin wins, unbeaten plus a win over tOSU for a conference championship probably does the trick.