Well THAT didn't go as planned. The less said about that GA game the better, but I suppose at least I should say a few words. While I would have preferred to see Kirby Smart make a change at QB in the second half, I'm not certain that Stetson Bennett cost us the game. The loss was entirely on what had been the best defense in the country suddenly not showing up. When you give an all world QB like Young what seemed minutes in the pocket, he's going to find his receivers and make a play. It is disappointing, to say the least, but the good part is that everything remains in front of the Dawgs. A loss in the SEC championship game was not going to keep them out of the playoffs. However, we are likely to face Alabama again. Maybe. First, let's look at my final oh so very scientific and accurate rankings:
- Alabama (12-1)
- Michigan (12-1)
- Georgia (12-1)
- Cincinnati (13-0)
- Notre Dame (11-1)
- Baylor (11-2)
- Ole Miss (10-2)
- Ohio State (10-2)
- Utah (10-3)
- Oklahoma State (11-2)
Bama beating the number one team automatically puts them now at #1. An argument could be made that Georgia shouldn't fall any further than 2 but I'll give Michigan credit for winning their conference. As I'm sure you've read or consider it, #2 and #3 don't really matter at this stage. I do not think Georgia can fall any further than 3 which leaves unbeaten Cincinnati in the 4th position. There is your playoff field.
The rest of the rankings are just window dressing. I'll give Notre Dame credit for their schedule and certainly Baylor credit for winning the Big 12. Of the rest, I'll merely say that this is how I see it. You could include BYU (10-2) or ACC winner Pittsburgh (11-2) in there if you wanted. It doesn't really matter because now we are focused on those top four. Shoot, I imagine some might place Ohio State higher. It may possibly still be one of the top four teams in the country. But they won't be there when the official rankings come out.
So now it will be:
#1 Alabama vs. #4 Cincinnati
#2 Michigan vs. #3 Georgia
I see no scenario in which Cincy is bumped up to #2. Especially not after Michigan was already ranked 2 and then just won their conference against a good Iowa team (even if they did not look it last night.) It is possible that Cincy could jump to #3, but I don't see how. First of all (and while the committee is not supposed to do such) that would set up an immediate rematch between Bama and Georgia. Second, just look at the schedules. All props to Cincinnati going undefeated, but their schedule outside of Notre Dame and Houston at the end was not what was played by the others. On the losses, Georgia actually has the best record. Bama lost to a good Texas A&M team and Michigan lost to a good Michigan State team. Georgia just lost to one of the top four teams in the country.
On the wins, Alabama has the best record (regardless of how close some might have been.) They have five wins against then ranked teams. Georgia has four. And while Michigan only has two, they came at just the right time leading to their Big 10 conference title. They also beat Washington, Wisconsin and Penn State who were all considered good at the time. Cincy still just has only the two wins against Notre Dame and Houston. That is not to knock them in any way, it is just a fact.
So what happens now?
Since my predictions have been so very accurate thus far (thank you Ohio State and Oklahoma State for keeping me perfect...Oy!), I will venture out there once again. Bama beats Cincy and Georgia beats Michigan setting up the rematch that no one outside of the state of Alabama wants. And on that score, the Bama luck (or whatever one wants to call it) has to run out at some point. Kirby's Dawgs have faced Alabama four times and lost each and every time. Most notably in the National Championship game in 2018 for the 2017 season. I thought for sure that would have ended yesterday, but instead we'll have to wait a month. It ends in January. Until then...that is all.
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