The Louisville "Bandwagon"

[bucknut4life]

OK...ill admit it..Most of the season i have not been a believer that an undefeated Big East team should play in the NC before a one loss SEC team..

I am now a 100% believer..

Ive taken the last week and just done some reading, compared stats and scores, and finally I have given Louisville the nod..

Win out, i think you all should play in the NC..

Am i crazy?

Should i switch to decaf?

Whats everyones take on Louisville as of late

[LordJeffBuck]

Originally Posted by bucknut4life

Whats everyones take on Louisville as of late

I'll tell you tomorrow - they play Rutgers tonight, in New Jersey. That should be an interesting game.

The SEC is no powerhouse conference this year, so an undefeated BCS team should get the nod over a one-loss SEC squad.

[scooter1369]

My take is that after tonight, all of this is moot. Rutgers takes 'em down.

[bucknut4life]

Originally Posted by LordJeffBuck

I'll tell you tomorrow - they play Rutgers tonight, in New Jersey. That should be an interesting game.

The SEC is no powerhouse conference this year, so an undefeated BCS team should get the nod over a one-loss SEC squad.

agreed, im anxious for toKNIGHTS game as well..

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by scooter1369

My take is that after tonight, all of this is moot. Rutgers takes 'em down.

I agree with Scooter here.

While Rutgers defense hasn't played a decent offense yet, the are better than any defense that Louisville has faced. Statistical analysis of this game actually suggests that Rutgers is a very slight favorite (I posted the details in the game's thread). And Rutgers is at home and has had 10 days to prepare for this game.

EDIT:

In fairness I should point out ahead of time that if the red birds rout the red kniggts (sic - Monty Python reference) that I still won't be entirely sold on them. But it is hard to point to a team that would deserve a shot more than them.

• USC - If they finish with one loss, it will have been to the wrong OSU
• Texas - They lost at home. Granted it was to #1, but they would either be stepping up to a neutral field vs. #1, or to a neutral field vs. the team that beat #1 on the road (God Forbid literally).
• SEC - Every team in that league has significant flaws. More significant than Louisville? Questionable, but not enough that they shouldn't be held to the same standard as Louisville (unbeaten).
• Notre Dame - Blown Out -- next question
• Any ACC team -
• 11/18 loser - ?????

The argument against the 11/18 loser, and the argument against Texas for that matter, is the old "They had their shot" argument. But the rules as they are set up say that it should be #1 vs. #2. Back to the other other hand, there are no rules or guidelines for the pollsters. Are #1 and #2 the two best teams at the time? Or are they the best teams based on the whole body of work (the whole season)? Or are they simply the teams that have been moved into those positions based on the weekly adjustments made by each pollster? Or are they just the teams that the pollsters want to see in the NC game?

If it is supposed to be the two best teams, the loser of the OSU-Mich game and Texas need to be in the discussion. If USC improves over the next weeks, they should be in the discussion. If Florida improves offensively over the next weeks, they should be in the discussion.

I'm not really sure that Louisville can do anything to convince me that they are truly among the two best teams.

But is that really the criterion by which this debate is decided?

[scooter1369]

Originally Posted by DaddyBigBucks

I agree with Scooter here.

While Rutgers defense hasn't played a decent offense yet, the are better than any defense that Louisville has faced. Statistical analysis of this game actually suggests that Rutgers is a very slight favorite (I posted the details in the game's thread). And Rutgers is at home and has had 10 days to prepare for this game.

10 DAYS???? Thank God it isn't Saint Charlie and Notre Dame!!!!!