re: Clay Travis "CFP rig job" against LSU

Let's talk about Clay's ACTUAL position:

He is arguing that the CFP Committee is deliberately rigging the rankings of teams not in contention for the playoffs in an effort to make the Committee's ultimate decision (that Ohio State is #1 over LSU) look more justifiable.

Clay is not arguing that Ohio State should not be #1. Ohio State fans read through his point and assume that a media guy associated with the SEC is trying to argue that Ohio State shouldn't be #1. So they immediately shut down any rational thought.

But even if you take as a given that Ohio State SHOULD be #1, Clay has a point and it truly is worth discussing. Is the Committee deliberately inflating the ranking of Ohio State opponents and/or deliberately deflating the ranking of LSU opponents to avoid criticism of their decision to put Ohio State #1.

Here are the facts:

8. Wisconsin (10-2) (AP #10, Coaches #10)
Top 5 Wins: Michigan by 28, Minnesota by 21, Iowa by 2, Michigan State by 38, Purdue by 21
Losses: Ohio State by 31 and Illinois by 1 (6-6)
Top 25 Wins: 3
Power 5 Wins: 7
Wins Against Teams with a Winning Record: 6
Wins Against Power 5 Teams with a Winning Record: 4

9. Florida (10-2) (AP #7, Coaches #7)
Top 5 Wins: Auburn by 11, Tennessee by 31, Miami by 4, Florida State by 23, Kentucky by 8
Losses: LSU by 14, Georgia by 7
Top 25 Wins: 1
Power 5 Wins: 8
Wins Against Teams with a Winning Record: 8
Wins Against Power 5 Teams with a Winning Record: 6

10. Penn State (10-2) (AP #12, Coaches #11)
Top 5 Wins: Michigan by 7, Iowa by 5, Indiana by 7, Pitt by 7, Michigan State by 21
Losses: Minnesota by 5, Ohio State by 11
Top 25 Wins: 2
Power 5 Wins: 8
Wins Against Teams with a Winning Record: 6
Wins Against Power 5 Teams with a Winning Record: 5

11. Auburn (AP #11, Coaches #12)
Top 5 Wins: Alabama by 3, Oregon by 6, Texas A&M by 8, Mississippi State by 33, Tulane by 18
Losses: LSU by 3, Georgia by 7, Florida by 11
Top 25 Wins: 2
Power 5 Wins: 6
Wins Against Teams with a Winning Record: 6
Wins Against Power 5 Teams with a Winning Record: 4

12. Alabama (10-2) (AP #9, Coaches #9)
Top 5 Wins: Texas A&M by 19, Tennessee by 22, Mississippi State by 31, Southern Miss by 42, Duke by 39
Losses: LSU by 5, Auburn by 3
Top 25 Wins: 0
Power 5 Wins: 7
Wins Against Teams with a Winning Record: 4
Wins Against Power 5 Teams with a Winning Record: 3

14. Michigan (9-3) (AP #17, Coaches #18)
Top 5 Wins: Notre Dame by 31, Iowa by 7, Indiana by 25, Michigan State by 34, Illinois by 17
Losses: Ohio State by 29, Wisconsin by 28, Penn State by 7
Top 25 Wins: 2
Power 5 Wins: 7
Wins Against Teams with a Winning Record: 5
Wins Against Power 5 Teams with a Winning Record: 3

16. Iowa (9-3) (AP #18, Coaches #19)
Top 5 Wins: Minnesota by 4, Iowa State by 1, Illinois by 9, Nebraska by 3, Miami Ohio by 24
Losses: Wisconsin by 2, Penn State by 5, Michigan by 7
Top 25 Wins: 1
Power 5 Wins: 7
Wins Against Teams with a Winning Record: 4
Wins Against Power 5 Teams with a Winning Record: 3

18. Minnesota (10-2) (AP #15, Coaches #15)
Top 5 Wins: Penn State by 5, Georgia Southern by 3, Illinois by 23, Nebraska by 27, Purdue by 7
Losses: Wisconsin by 21, Iowa by 4
Top 25 Wins: 1
Power 5 Wins: 7
Wins Against Teams with a Winning Record: 4
Wins Against Power 5 Teams with a Winning Record: 2

20. Cincinnati (AP #21, Coaches #21)
Top 5 Wins: UCF by 3, Temple by 2, Marshall by 38, Miami of Ohio by 22, UCLA by 10
Losses: Ohio State by 42, Memphis by 10
Top 25 Wins: 0
Power 5 Wins: 1
Wins Against Teams with a Winning Record: 4
Wins Against Power 5 Teams with a Winning Record: 0

If you want to buy the Committee's rank, here's what you believe:
Unlike the AP, which has both Florida and Bama ahead of Wisconsin, Wisconsin should be the highest ranked of this group because they have 3 top 25 wins, two in dominating fashion, versus only 1 for Florida and none for Alabama.

Alabama was correctly dropped to 12 because they have no quality wins, played a soft schedule and, without Tua they would not beat Penn State or Wisconsin.

Minnesota should be way lower than Penn State despite having the same record and despite having beaten Penn State because (1) the game was at Minnesota and (2) outside of that one game, Minnesota has not beaten anyone whereas PSU beat both Michigan and Iowa and played Ohio State very respectably.

It was fair to drop Michigan only one spot despite getting boat-raced by Ohio State because it was close in the third quarter and Michigan had one of the more impressive wins of the season beating Notre Dame by 31. Moreover, a 1 point drop for Michigan in contrast to a 7 point drop for Bama is justified because Bama doesn't have their QB for the rest of the year.

Penn State is better than Auburn.

Cincinnati is a top 20 team in the country

If you don't like the Committee's rank, here's what you believe:
The AP is correct to have both Florida and Alabama above Wisconsin. Wisconsin lost to a 6-6 Illinois team and was destroyed by Ohio State. Florida's only losses were to #2 and #4 overall and both were respectable games. Alabama's only losses were also much more respectable, losing to #2 by 5 and #11 on some flukey juju. Alabama otherwise dominated everyone they played.

According to Sagarin's predictor, Alabama would be a 6 point favorite over Wisconsin and an 8 point favorite over Penn State.

Minnesota was tossed to the bottom of the heap because they are one of the few teams who don't help Ohio State's resume.

Michigan is trash and played one strong game. They also went to overtime versus a 5-7 Army team and they have been blown out twice.

Auburn is better than Penn State. Neither has a great offense but Auburn's defense is elite.

Cincinnati's trash and would be 6-6, 7-5 in a real conference. In the SEC West, they might beat Arkansas and that's it. Their existence in this poll is solely due to winning 10 games (all meaningless) and to inflate Ohio State

It is about the matchups that generate more money i.e. ratings. They have, for example, focus groups across the country that are polled about what they would want to see in the championships. Do you just not get this?

damn this is hopefully troll bullshite by a weak person trying to rile up from the anonymity of a keyboard!

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without Tua they would not beat Penn State or Wisconsin.

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Lol wut

Bama would crucify either of these teams with Jones.

After seeing a True Freshman QB who barely completes 50% of his passes beat Alabama, I wouldn't automatically say Alabama would beat those teams. Especially if they were in Happy Valley or Camp Randall. Alabama would be favored no doubt, but if Auburn can beat Alabama, I think it would be foolish to rule out Wisconsin and Penn State.

You are right. Wisconsin is essentially Auburn, or previous LSU. The two games Wisconsin/LSU played a couple years back proved that. Two great games.

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Same if tOSU loses. That'd make me chuckle.

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LSU - out if they lose.
tOSU - in at #4 if they lose.

We’ve moaned and groaned about this all week. What can we DO about it? We need some type of action.

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Clay Travis "CFP rig job" against LSU by EKirbySmithHe's an idiot

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Have you stopped to consider you may be making yourself look like an IDIOT ?