Official BCS National Championship Thread

Does Auburn keep it close?

 

I think FSU will take it probably win by a couple TDs.

I kind of want Auburn to win, just to compound the misery of Nick Saban and all Alabama fans.

Updated w/ Poll

I know its kinda null to pick at this point, but I was picking Auburn. I think their run game is going to be really hard to handle and their D will show up. That said, i think they will falter a bit in the second, but hold on to win.

Winston is going to have to prove himself in the second half.  Whether through sheer talent or weak competition, blowing everyone out by 30 points can be a detriment in times like this.

I don't even think Auburn has the most talent in the SEC, but they have a hell of a coach and their players are far more battle tested.  They're performing far better than I had anticipated.

Well, it was a great game.  The better team did win, but in my mind, neither team did much to prove to me that they were truly the best team in the country.  FSU coasted to 12-0 with one of the easiest schedules in division 1 and looked decided average against Auburn's middle-of-the-road defense.  FSU wouldn't have run the table in the SEC or Pac 12.

Auburn was a team that benefited from riding a hotstreak to end the season.  The problem with that is the 30-day layoff.  "Hot" teams aren't so hot after they sit on the couch for 30 days, and in the end, it comes down to the talent of the players.  Auburn simply lacked the talent to compete for 4 quarters with a team that had a month to prepare for their style of offense.

I'll go ahead and say it, I don't care about the Sugar Bowl.  Alabama beats FSU.  

A lot of good games this year. Of course we were all looking for the playoffs, but this year certainly demonstrated that there is too much parody for the current system. I think that is going to be a trend. We will see great seasons again, but there is just too much money floating around to avoid this kind of competition and parody.

Great game last night, I was really impressed with how badly both teams tackled. Kind of like Notre Dame last year. But Jameis really showed the world something out there.

SBR wrote:Great game last night, I was really impressed with how badly both teams tackled. Kind of like Notre Dame last year. But Jameis really showed the world something out there.

I'm not sure what you mean there, but I think this is what I was afraid of with an FSU victory.

Winston plays like crap nearly the entire game, takes advantage of a gassed defense, wins the game, and it's all about his tremendous comeback.

It was far more a team effort for Florida State than Winston doing anything Heisman worthy.  I would go so far as to say he's only the third or fourth best QB Auburn faced all season, behind Manziel and Murray.

I mean if he didn't lead the comeback I feel like people would be chastising him so I feel like he earned his just deserts. He's a national champion, man! Bad QBs don't win that game, it's not like he isn't good.

Xero wrote:
Winston plays like crap nearly the entire game, takes advantage of a gassed defense, wins the game, and it's all about his tremendous comeback.

Great QB's have bad games. But history shows us how a QB finishes is how they are remembered. Winston came through.

Both defenses disappeared late in the 4th. Auburn's defense was gassed, but as the #1 player in the country... You are supposed to take advantage of that.

And he did.

We can't really deny the kid's talent off of a bad half.. or a bad game, even.

Indy wrote:

Xero wrote:
Winston plays like crap nearly the entire game, takes advantage of a gassed defense, wins the game, and it's all about his tremendous comeback.

Great QB's have bad games.  But history shows us how a QB finishes is how they are remembered. Winston came through.

Both defenses disappeared late in the 4th.  Auburn's defense was gassed, but as the #1 player in the country...  You are supposed to take advantage of that.

And he did.

We can't really deny the kid's talent off of a bad half.. or a bad game, even.

The reason so many "great" college QBs flounder in the NFL is because they were "great" at taking advantage of the level of competition.  It's not that I'm saying he sucks.  Rather, I'm saying he's overrated.  I'm not willing to crown the kid as one of the greatest of all time (Heisman Trophy) after playing one season at Florida State with the 63rd ranked schedule in the country.  That's why I say he's probably the third or fourth best QB Auburn has faced. Florida State just had more talent all-around than most of those teams.

Their defense is for real and that RB isn't too shabby either.  

Likewise, it doesn't matter how QBs are remembered.  How they are remembered doesn't make them objectively great.  That's the problem.  Florida State scores 4 less points, and no one is talking about Winston.  Does 4 less points make him that much worse a QB?  Not at all. Florida State wins by 3 and suddenly Winston is a star even though taking advantage of a defense who couldn't get off the field. Mizzou's James Franklin passed for 300 yards and 3 TDs against this defense.  Scorign 21 points in the fourth quarter against a defense who