re: Is Nick Saban the luckiest coach ever?

Overall saban is the greatest coach ever, no question, but as stated before he has had lots of luck where he got the benefit because he is at bama, but he also has had some of the best players of all time have all time games against him keep him out.

Also, him going to the NFL cost him. Not sure if he wins in 05 at LSU but LSU goes undefeated in 06 and 07 with him there.

Now...Paterno and Bowden are grossly underrated, along with Spurrier. Bowden would prolly have 3 more NCs of they had playoffs back in the 90s.

But the coach most hurt by there not being a playoff is Pete Carrol. Carrol is the best big game coach ever and would have won 4 ncs in the 2000s if there was a playoff system, maybe more.

If you look at records of the great coaches of all time in games vs teams with equal or greater talent, nobody comes close to Pete. Take out Pete's first season where he had to rebuild the program, he proceeded to go 15-3 against teams with and .75 winning percentage or greater. Then 27-4 vs teams with .5-.75 winning percentage.

Saban has been good against teams ranked higher going 30-24 and 15-4 at Alabama. Particularly against LSU he has been 2-2 when LSU is ranked higher. Carroll also had a much better bowl record in the bcs era.

Craziest stat.....if there was the current format in the 80s and 90s, FSU under Bowden would have made the playoffs more than likely...14 years in a row. That is fricking mind blowing.