Did Georgia Get in the Playoffs on a Technicality?

[30Duck]

We all remember the big story last year. FSU was going great, until their quarterback went down. The argument wasn't whether it affected the team or not, everybody agreed it would. The argument was did that make any difference.

 

The answer ultimately was that FSU without their quarterback was not the team that had played so well all season, so they were out.

 

This year, Georgia lost their quarterback before the Playoffs started. Not only was Georgia not dropped from the Playoffs, they moved up to No.2, that was mainly due to Oregon beating previous No,2, Penn State, but still, the biggest discussion was whether Alabama or SMU should get the last spot. There was no thought that Georgia, who had not had nearly as dominant a season as FSU had, should still be in, without their quarterback. 

 

Why was there no questioning about Georgia's viability?

 

[Cacker Guy]

Backup QB Gunnar Stockton is very very good.  UGA might be even better with him playing... 

[JDuck]

They were automatic the won they SEC

Edited Wednesday at 04:57 AM by JDuck

[QuackyQuack]

On 12/17/2024 at 8:56 PM, JDuck said:

They were automatic the won they SEC

Bingo.
 

Different year, different playoff rules. They had an automatic bid. Even if their entire team was injured they would have still got in. 

[Nevada Dawg]

On 12/17/2024 at 8:54 PM, Cacker Guy said:

Backup QB Gunnar Stockton is very very good.  UGA might be even better with him playing... 

I wouldn't necessarily say Georgia is better with Gunner playing, but they are far from appreciably worse. A bit of background on Gunner. as a 5-star recruit in his junior year, Gunner was penalized by the rating agencies for focusing on his team in the off season rather than attending all those ratings camps out there that have so much with 'seeding' high school QBs.
 

He didn't care about that nonsense--he knew he would be playing at a high caliber program. Then he proceeded to break all the passing records of in-state National Championship QBS DeShawn Watson and Trevor Lawrence, both of Clemson University. Gunner had the reputation of a cool customer who seemed to play with ice water in his veins. And he certainly played that way when thrust into the limelight during the second half of the SEC Championship game.

 

I'd never seen Gunner in a game at Georgia that really mattered. Why? Because he hadn't been in one. Yet, he gave a darn good account of himself, and his teammates certainly had confidence in him. It is impossible to know exactly how Gunner will perform in these playoffs, but it certainly doesn't seem that the stage is likely to be too big for him.

 

And having this month to practice and to be the guy taking first-team reps. I'd expect that he is likely to be even more in command of the situation than he had been at the SEC game. Unless Gunner were to be injured, I am not worried about the QB position going forward. Now if only the WRs will hold on to the damn ball when it is thrown to them! (Insider note: this group led the nation in drops this season).

 

[Jon Joseph]

I think Georgia will advance to the champ game. I do not see Notre Dame or Indiana defeating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Penn State, SMU, or Boise State in the next round? 

 

Georgia could have easily won the game at Bama. The bad loss to Ole Miss happened in Oxford, with Georgia forced to do O-line shuffling like OBD and Ohio State have had to do this season. Urban Meyer, among others, has noted that the O-line is the toughest position to recruit in today's game.

 

Georgia does not have field-stretching players on O like McConkey and Bowers, and its best RB, Etienne, has been injured. Beck tried to do too much and was error-prone. 

 

Georgia shut down Texas twice. Texas D stats may be better than Georgia but this is due to Texas playing a lightweight SEC schedule. For FPI to have Texas as the favorite to win it all, is computer nonsense.

 

Georgia will play in New Orleans, probably Miami, and then in Atlanta, and be favored at least up to the champ game in Atlanta where it could be favored over OBD and any other opponent. Gerogia's road to the title is an easier path than OBD's. Kirby Smart has won two PO championships

 

The Dawgs are better coached than Texas and any other team in the PO until hopefully, Danno proves otherwise. 

 

In this format, the SEC champion was not going to be kicked out of the field. Fortunately, the wizards on the Committee did not seed Georgia behind Boise State and ASU. Lots wrong with this PO but Georgia as the 2nd seed is righteous. 

 

Trash Tennessee! Wreck Ryan!

 

[Grandpa Duck]

With due respect, Jon, the Committee did not seed Georgia, they ranked them as #2 of the five conference champions.  Seeding was determined by the conference’s representatives before the season began.  If the Committee had ranked Georgia at #5, or #6, they would still have been the #2 seed as the second highest conference champion.

[30Duck]

Wow. I completely forgot about the automatic conference champion getting in. Excluding Georgia in that case because of Beck getting injured would have resulted in chaos, ESPN definitely wouldn't want, especially because Georgia is SEC.

 

But, if Georgia wasn't guaranteed the slot by winning the conference, did they still deserve to get in? If so, was FSU really treated unfairly?

[Jon Joseph]

On 12/18/2024 at 9:13 AM, Grandpa Duck said:

With due respect, Jon, the Committee did not seed Georgia, they ranked them as #2 of the five conference champions.  Seeding was determined by the conference’s representatives before the season began.  If the Committee had ranked Georgia at #5, or #6, they would still have been the #2 seed as the second highest conference champion.

 The only thing I know with moral certainty when it comes to this hodge-podge, OBD should be playing the winner of No. 9 Boise State at No. 8 Indiana.

 

Any suggestion that UGA should be out is comparing 2023 rotten apples to 2024 rotten peaches. In 2023, FSU should have been in any sensible form of playoff. (BTW, with two losses the Committee could have ranked Georgia behind 1 loss Boise State and also seeded Georgia behind 1-loss Boise State. It would have been counter-intuitive, but in theory, conference champs Oregon and Georgia could have been ranked anywhere within the top 4 the Committee so desired. Blow this abomination up ASAP!)

 

Georgia IMO is the favorite to win the title even with a backup QB. 

 

Round 1 - BYE

 

Round 2 - Notre Dame or Indiana in New Orleans.

 

Round 3 -SMU/Penn State/Boise State in Miami or Dallas.

 

Champ Game - Home away from home in Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

 

The thought that UGA should not be in the field because Beck is banged up is absurd. Georgia is in this position because of its DEFENSE and coaching.

 

Ruin Ryan! Chip Kelly! Humble Heupel!

 

 

 

 

[Jon Joseph]

FWIW. I'm Just Happy that Gus Won't Be There!

 

 

Joel Klatt predicts Oregon Ducks as national championship winners

DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

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Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks are officially Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt’s pick to win the national championship this season.

 

 

 

[30Duck]

On 12/18/2024 at 8:40 AM, Jon Joseph said:

Georgia IMO is the favorite to win the title even with a backup QB. 

 

Going with Kirby is Smart. But I'll argue that Oregon's defense is closer to Georgia's D, than Georgia's offense, with Beck or the back-up, is to Oregon's, and I don't think playing in Atlanta will be that much of an advantage for the Dawgs. 

[Jon Joseph]

Oregon inches into the lead ahead of consistently overrated Texas.

 

 

A new favorite to win the college football national championship emerges

SATURDAYBLITZ.COM

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The race for the college football national championship has taken a slight but significant turn. After being tied with Texas at +360 odds, the Oregon Ducks hav

 

30, Georgia won't have an advantage playing in its home away from home Mercedes Benz Stadium? WHY NOT? 

 

It's a game-day drive for many Georgia fans. It's an overpriced flight and an overpriced hotel room for OBD fans. The game is on a Monday evening which complicates travel with work. I expect that decent hotels will require at least a two-night stay. 

 

I don't believe Penn State would have hung in the conference champ game until the end in Las Vegas where it would have been without a majority of the "home" fans that it had in Indianapolis. 

[Jon Joseph]

OREGON Rose Bowl History in a Nutshell.

 

 

Oregon Ducks' Rose Bowl Game history: Appearances, wins, and records

AUTZENZOO.COM

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No. 1 Oregon is headed to the Rose Bowl Game for its first matchup in the 12-team College Football Playoffs. Here's a bit about the Ducks' history in the game.

 

Bash the Buckeyes! Total Tennessee! Give Me 5! Move to the Winning Side of the Mendoza Line.

[30Duck]

On 12/18/2024 at 9:19 AM, Jon Joseph said:

30, Georgia won't have an advantage playing in its home away from home Mercedes Benz Stadium? WHY NOT? 

 

It will be an advantage, for them. But, with Gabriel at QB, and just the overall experience, confidence, OBD have, it won't destabilize them that much.

[Nevada Dawg]

On 12/18/2024 at 6:55 AM, 30Duck said:

Wow. I completely forgot about the automatic conference champion getting in. Excluding Georgia in that case because of Beck getting injured would have resulted in chaos, ESPN definitely wouldn't want, especially because Georgia is SEC.

 

But, if Georgia wasn't guaranteed the slot by winning the conference, did they still deserve to get in? If so, was FSU really treated unfairly?

Let me just say this: If Georgia didn't get in with a 10-2 record after playing the toughest darn schedule in the country, there is no justice. Moreover, they did it playing 4 of their five toughest games away from Sanford Stadium (Tennessee was the exception). No one in any other conference played anywhere near as challenging a schedule. Now I love OBD and will be happy if they are lifting the trophy when all is said and done, but (and meaning no disrespect) their schedule paled in comparison to Georgia's. 

 

I do feel that the Ducks are positioned to win it all, their tough playoff draw not withstanding. My only remaining question is how will they handle repeated challenges on the road. It could b argued (as I have before) that the first time they faced aversity with a really good team away from the friendly confines of Autzen was the B1G Championship game, and that one was a bit tense at times. It was a great sign that they won a game like that--now they may have to do it again, three more times.

 

Go Ducks!!

 

[David Marsh]

In a 12 team field there is far more wiggle room. SMU would not have gotten into the playoff at all in a 4 team field but were given the nod in a 12 team field. Last year's FSU team would have gotten in in a 12 team field. 

 

Also the automatic bid system would have given FSU a spot regardless. 

 

If we were to judge Georgia getting in on a technicality then so did ASU and Clemson as both were clearly outside of the playoff field in terms of rankings but got in via autobids. 

 

Georgia deserves a spot.