The college football play off committee announced the final four teams that will play for the national championship. LSU was rated #1, Ohio State #2, Clemson #3 and Oklahoma #4. Some LSU sports writers and fans wish came true of LSU not having to play Clemson in the first game match up. This writer has been an LSU follower for over a half century and that logic seems to come from those who may not feel LSU is the best team in the country. This writer believes the selection process is flawed and should be revised.
Sports writer for the Advocate Scott Rabalais in an article dated 11/9 gave the following reasons the CFP selection committee chairman ranked LSU first over previous #1 Ohio State. (a) LSU beat Georgia and Alabama on the road and both were rated in the top four at the time along with LSU's offense that pounded Georgia's defense. (b) The LSU defense rebounded smartly and beat Texas A&M and Georgia. This writer believes that thinking is flawed and lacking. In reference to (a) above, the committee is eager to insert two teams LSU played, Texas A&M and Georgia into the mix, but only cites one team Ohio State played twice, Wisconsin. Yet Ohio State mauled Michigan in Michigan's own stadium the same day LSU played Texas A&M but gives no credit to Ohio State for that game.The committee was also silent the way Ohio State came back from being two touchdowns behind Wisconsin and then won the game by 11 points. That certainly was an accomplishment in any ones book.
In (b) above, the fact is LSU's defense faced an average quarterback and average offensive team in Texas A&M and Georgia so school is still out on LSU's defensive capabilities in this writers opinion. Any one who watched both games observed two quarterbacks no one could call a threat.
The real flaw in the CFP ratings is the micromanagement of stats they consider. The won-loss record should be the determining factor. The four teams with the best record should make the CFP and lots should be drawn as to who plays who. Seeding should not take place for the playoffs. The playoffs themselves will determine the number one team. The idea of micromanaging a formula using stats the way they were used this year makes no sense. How in the world can Clemson be rated #3? They have not been defeated in the last two and half years, won the national championship two of the last three years and are penalized because they won one game by only a point. Perhaps those who wanted LSU to play someone other than Clemson first feels Clemson is underrated but won't admit it.
As for weak schedules, it is all relative. Every one knows Alabama plays a weak schedule year in and year out, but under Saban they won 5 national championships in a 10 year period so they beat some of the best teams in the process. With a silly play off selection formula trying to pick seeds is unjustified. The only formula should be a teams won-loss record. The 4 with the best record goes to the play offs. The SEC recognized long ago the way their conference championship game is set up the winners of each division play for the SEC title. If there is a tie it is settled by a tie breaker. No micromanagement of stats or who played who or who had the toughest schedule and etc.
To the readers of PolitiDose who may think this writers comments are anti LSU that is not the case. If the CFO continues their present formula into the future it could one day affect the LSU football team in a negative way.
Note: Has any one noticed that the Ohio State - Clemson game will be played in prime time at night and not the #1 rated team LSU? What does that tell the football world?
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
