Rutgers vs. Louisville

[Mekkalayakay]

This is one of the best matchups of the season. Who do you think will pull it off? And could somebody enlighten me as to why the rankings of the two teams are so far apart, both being in the same conference and undefeated? Was Louisville's schedule just a lot more difficult or what?

[TAND]

I say Rutgers. I was going to go to the game today. So I looked at their website, and it said sold out. So I went onto ebay... madddd crazy prices.

[Mekkalayakay]

I'd like Rutgers to win, but I live in Boise and it's better for us if Rutgers loses. :(

[TAND]

haha... well i live 45 minutes from Rutgers... although I'm a Penn State fan.

[Red Stripe]

There are a few alumni playing on Rutgers from my high school, so I'm pulling for them, I think Rutgers has a real good chance though.

[Mekkalayakay]

I'd really like to see both Boise State and Rutgers get into a top BCS bowl. This game is huge though. It would make such a big statement if Rutgers won. I really don't think Louisville is good enough to be in the championship bowl game, so it's probably for the best that they get knocked out, and this game would boost Rutgers an assload if they pulled it off.


But again, bad for my team.

[YDload]

but Louisville beat WVU, so if they win this then they're pretty much the Big East champs

go Pitt :(

[Let's Chop Cats!]

I go to Rutgers and I know we'll lose.

[Brewer14]

Both teams are overrated. Louisville will win

[Mekkalayakay]

I don't know how anybody can possibly claim any team to be overrated or underrated in College football, just in the way it's set up. BCS is really quite ghey imo =(

[Brewer14]

I don't know how anybody can possibly claim any team to be overrated or underrated in College football, just in the way it's set up. BCS is really quite ghey imo =(

Rutgers hasn't beaten anybody, and Louisville's only solid win was against an overrated WVU team who also does not have a marquee win. None of these teams would be undefeated (or in WVU's case, have one loss) in the SEC or the Big Ten.

[Red Stripe]

IT'S TIED UP. This is a great game.

[Red Stripe]

RUTGERS WON 28-25, because of an offsides on a missed FG.

RUTGERS WON.

[YDload]

Great game! i didnt expect them to come back like that but they were great (especially the defense)

[TAND]

Wow... holy ****.. what a game.

[Mekkalayakay]

And nicely done.

Except now Rutgers is ahead of BSU in BCS.


:upset:

Rutgers hasn't beaten anybody, and Louisville's only solid win was against an overrated WVU team who also does not have a marquee win. None of these teams would be undefeated (or in WVU's case, have one loss) in the SEC or the Big Ten.

And that is exactly my point, they haven't played any bigger teams so who is to judge them? You can't tell me they couldn't keep up with SEC or Big Ten teams. Statistics can only go so far. What happens on the field happens on the field. Oregon State, a back to back bottom Pac 10 team beats USC? And also almost beats them the previous season when USC was an even better team?

The fact of the matter is that you can't determine which team is better than which just because of ratings. (Keep in mind I'm only talking about top 25 teams) It's like determining which movie is going to get more stars than which before either of them even go to theaters yet.


All I mean is that underdogs can keep up with any team because they are just that, underdogs. Big teams have to deal with pressure. Rutgers, Louisville, and Boise State can all keep up with just about any top ten team this year because these three teams have more drive than anybody. Does that mean they are better? No. They aren't. But drive > ability.

[Brewer14]

Awesome game. Especially since Louisville lost :thumb:

And nicely done.

Except now Rutgers is ahead of BSU in BCS.


:upset:



And that is exactly my point, they haven't played any bigger teams so who is to judge them? You can't tell me they couldn't keep up with SEC or Big Ten teams. Statistics can only go so far. What happens on the field happens on the field. Oregon State, a back to back bottom Pac 10 team beats USC? And also almost beats them the previous season when USC was an even better team?

The fact of the matter is that you can't determine which team is better than which just because of ratings. (Keep in mind I'm only talking about top 25 teams) It's like determining which movie is going to get more stars than which before either of them even go to theaters yet.


All I mean is that underdogs can keep up with any team because they are just that, underdogs. Big teams have to deal with pressure. Rutgers, Louisville, and Boise State can all keep up with just about any top ten team this year because these three teams have more drive than anybody. Does that mean they are better? No. They aren't. But drive > ability.

Exactly. They haven't beaten a big team. They really haven't proven anything. So why rank them ahead of teams that have proven something?

Louisville just lost at Rutgers. No offense to Rutgers, they're a good team, but do you really think Louisville could win at The Swamp or at LSU? No way in hell. Like you said, there's always the chance, anyone can beat anyone, etc, but most of the time Louisville would not beat Florida, LSU, or Auburn, nor would they be a 1-loss team in the SEC.

[Mekkalayakay]

Awesome game. Especially since Louisville lost :thumb:



Exactly. They haven't beaten a big team. They really haven't proven anything. So why rank them ahead of teams that have proven something?

Louisville just lost at Rutgers. No offense to Rutgers, they're a good team, but do you really think Louisville could win at The Swamp or at LSU? No way in hell. Like you said, there's always the chance, anyone can beat anyone, etc, but most of the time Louisville would not beat Florida, LSU, or Auburn, nor would they be a 1-loss team in the SEC.

I think they could beat LSU, yes.

[Let's Chop Cats!]

S'hit has exploded here. I'mma get back out.

[silicon71]

what a game, my dad was in the middle of that crowd somewhere

[:amaze:]

woohoo. now Michigan can lose to OSU next weekend (not that we really will...) and still be in the championship game :)




:amaze:

[moosepirate]

And that is exactly my point, they haven't played any bigger teams so who is to judge them? You can't tell me they couldn't keep up with SEC or Big Ten teams. Statistics can only go so far. What happens on the field happens on the field. Oregon State, a back to back bottom Pac 10 team beats USC? And also almost beats them the previous season when USC was an even better team?

The fact of the matter is that you can't determine which team is better than which just because of ratings. (Keep in mind I'm only talking about top 25 teams) It's like determining which movie is going to get more stars than which before either of them even go to theaters yet.


All I mean is that underdogs can keep up with any team because they are just that, underdogs. Big teams have to deal with pressure. Rutgers, Louisville, and Boise State can all keep up with just about any top ten team this year because these three teams have more drive than anybody. Does that mean they are better? No. They aren't. But drive > ability.

You can say that Rutgers would likely lose at least 1 game in the SEC or Big Ten, to an extent that, for all intents and purposes, they would. Rutgers could be the best team in the country, but probably aren't. You've got to rely on probable scenarios, and realize its an imperfect system. Its also important to consider common opponents, without falling into a transitive matchup trap (ie. A beats C, C beats B, D beats B, therefore A>C>B>D etc.)
Look at last year, in week 1 when Boise State was massacred by Georgia, an upper tier SEC team. So if Boise faced 4 opponents of this strength, plus a Conference Championship Game, what would be the likely result? They could go undefeated, but probably wouldn't.
Rutgers is affected by having a terrible history, a bad out-of-conference schedule, and only one impressive victory.

[TAND]

S'hit has exploded here. I'mma get back out.

THROW A PARTY!

[Let's Chop Cats!]

There was a party out on the street. Saw some stupid drunk girl take her top off. Wasn't that great looking, but hey, it's boobs.

[Mekkalayakay]

Look at last year, in week 1 when Boise State was massacred by Georgia, an upper tier SEC team. So if Boise faced 4 opponents of this strength, plus a Conference Championship Game, what would be the likely result?

I'm aware of all your points and I totally agree. It's just that I hate people that blast teams without actually watching any of that team's games. (ie Boise state gets a lot of this so I'm quite defensive) It's nothing personal.

And that Georgia game is what everybody seems to go back to. Last season was not a typical one for us, we weren't even close to the team we are this year, which is why I have a hard time understanding why people go back to it in the first place. Jared Zabransky was freaking out so bad that game they put him on an IV at halftime and he didn't return. He never really did recover for the rest of the season, and he also costed everybody the Boston College game with one simple play. =/

[infinitestrain]

woohoo. now Michigan can lose to OSU next weekend (not that we really will...) and still be in the championship game :)




:amaze:

No, no, no Michigan will defeat OSU

[moosepirate]

I'm aware of all your points and I totally agree. It's just that I hate people that blast teams without actually watching any of that team's games. (ie Boise state gets a lot of this so I'm quite defensive) It's nothing personal.

And that Georgia game is what everybody seems to go back to. Last season was not a typical one for us, we weren't even close to the team we are this year, which is why I have a hard time understanding why people go back to it in the first place. Jared Zabransky was freaking out so bad that game they put him on an IV at halftime and he didn't return. He never really did recover for the rest of the season, and he also costed everybody the Boston College game with one simple play. =/

That was the best defense Zabransky had seen in college. I'd expect him to get a little rattled. Regardless of how unlucky Boise may've been, that was a "statement game" or benchmark, and Georgia easily wins 9/10. Voters and fans can't closely follow all D-1 programs, and that confirmed the team's m.o. : score a lot, get scored upon slightly less, beat-up the WAC. Its unfortunate to have your team pidgeonholed, but that's how they play 95% of the time.
Without that game, the team would've continued to amass victories, and it would be near impossible to gauge their ability.
Boise's current ranking is about right. 9-0 isn't anything to feel bad about. They're obviously well coached and win the games they should, but they're not an elite team, and they couldn't compete in the nations better conferences. There is a difference between having 1 quality opponent and 4 or 5. A grudgematch is more draining than coasting to victory over Northwestern Southeastean South Dakota Valley A & M.

[Red Stripe]

That guy who jumped offsides, man I bet his day was fun.

[Zmev]

No, no, no Michigan will defeat OSU

Keep dreaming.

[Mekkalayakay]

That was the best defense Zabransky had seen in college. I'd expect him to get a little rattled. Regardless of how unlucky Boise may've been, that was a "statement game" or benchmark, and Georgia easily wins 9/10. Voters and fans can't closely follow all D-1 programs, and that confirmed the team's m.o. : score a lot, get scored upon slightly less, beat-up the WAC. Its unfortunate to have your team pidgeonholed, but that's how they play 95% of the time.
Without that game, the team would've continued to amass victories, and it would be near impossible to gauge their ability.
Boise's current ranking is about right. 9-0 isn't anything to feel bad about. They're obviously well coached and win the games they should, but they're not an elite team, and they couldn't compete in the nations better conferences. There is a difference between having 1 quality opponent and 4 or 5. A grudgematch is more draining than coasting to victory over Northwestern Southeastean South Dakota Valley A & M.

Next season is going to be different hopefully as far as our schedule goes if BSU stays undefeated. Although after watching the game tonight, they played like a Division II team and barely won the game. But better teams will be incorporated into the schedule. But I agree with just about everything you said which is why I'm not trying to counter-argue or anything.

As far as bowl game predictions, the local newspaper said Rutgers and BSU in the Fiesta Bowl, which would be an amazing match.