Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Jeff Long: “Marshall body of work, strength of schedule, committee does not feel they warrant being in Top 25. Very close”

Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Jeff Long: “We spend considerable amount of time on Group of 5 teams against each other"

after they lose to either UAB or LaTech, it will be a non discussion.

(11-18-2014 10:11 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  after they lose to either UAB or LaTech, it will be a non discussion.

Brave prediction --- especially since to date they've blown out all opponents.

I just think that LA tech is playing their best ball now and Marshall has played all cupcakes. At present of their 10 wins only ONE team has a winning record and that is Rice.

LA Tech has only 1 real loss and it was BAD. Their other two losses were to Oklahoma and Auburn. If LA tech had pulled a Marshall and scheduled cupcake games from the MAC, they would be 9-1 and not many would be questioning my prediction.

Once Marshall Plays UAB it will let us know alot. LA Tech beat UAB on their field 40-24. Well see what Marshall does this weekend.

(11-18-2014 10:29 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  I just think that LA tech is playing their best ball now and Marshall has played all cupcakes. At present of their 10 wins only ONE team has a winning record and that is Rice.

That may be why they've "blown out all their opponents"...

Geez, I'm amazed that some people act impressed by squashes in jobber matchups.

CUSA is full of Sunbelt schools and call-ups now.

News flash, this is for a "Bowl Game", not for a chance at the Playoffs. So honestly, I don't care. I'm just tired of hearing about who's in the mythical top 25 and who may or may not be "Close". By the way, USF is "Close" to being in the top 25. {Remember that close, is an undetermined/undefined measurement.}

Rooting for La Tech in CUSA Championship

If ECU was still in CUSA my glass half empty side would think UAB beats Marshall to keep CUSA from huge pay day and then gets pushed out of Football by the Alabama Board of Trustees. That just seems to be the luck of UAB and CUSA.

The common sense side of me says Marshall crushes UAB and does not fall into the trap that is an empty Legion Field that has ruined more than a few seasons including ECU's chances of our first CUSA Championship after beating Duke, South Carolina, WVU and #9 Miami only to get thumped in Legion Field by UAB. If Marshall gets by UAB then they will play LT at home for the CUSA Championship. I just don't see Marshall losing at home. If they are 13-0 the Committee will have a hard time denying them the Access Bowl slot but my guess is they would prefer Boise St or CSU if they could make it happen. If they want fan support and it is the Peach Bowl then Marshall is the obvious choice as they will take a bunch of fans to that game. Boise St and CSU would be a better fit out west.

CSU would take just as many to the Fiesta bowl, as Marshall would to the Peach bowl.

CSU likely does not win the MWC so they are a moot point. A 13-0 Marshall will get access bowl over a 11-2 Boise. Question is which is better for AAC Boise and Mwc getting the $$ or CUSA. I tend to think the latter.

Marshall has a really good team this year, although I like what the committee is doing that will force teams to schedule up instead of down.

I feel it's the other way around. I think the committee has no plans to pick Marshall unless the bottom falls out from under bsu or csu and whoever finishes up 9-3 in the American. If marshall's record meant anything they would already be in their top 25 and the peach bowl would be theirs to lose and that's not the case

The G5 has done the committee no favors this year either. They do not want to rewards a schedule such as Marshall's but with Boise blocking CSU and having two loses they are almost forced. The problem then becomes what G5s are going to schedule the Marshall way and take their chances that other G5s schedule up and don't make the run. I don't understand though why CSU isn't ranked unless they figure why bother until BSU loses

(11-19-2014 07:09 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  A 13-0 Marshall will get access bowl over a 11-2 Boise.

I wouldn't count on it.

Boise State has losses to Ole Miss (8-2) and Air Force (8-2).

Boise State has wins over Colorado State (9-1), BYU (6-4), Nevada (6-4), and if they win out would also have a win over Utah State (8-3) and their opponent in the MW Championship game...

...Factor in Boise State's reputation and BCS bowl history and I think a committee may give them the edge over Marshall just because of who they beat.

(11-19-2014 09:33 AM)Chappy Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 07:09 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  A 13-0 Marshall will get access bowl over a 11-2 Boise.

I wouldn't count on it.

Boise State has losses to Ole Miss (8-2) and Air Force (8-2).

Boise State has wins over Colorado State (9-1), BYU (6-4), Nevada (6-4), and if they win out would also have a win over Utah State (8-3) and their opponent in the MW Championship game...

...Factor in Boise State's reputation and BCS bowl history and I think a committee may give them the edge over Marshall just because of who they beat.

I tend to agree.

Just for the sake of comparison:

Rankings from the Massey Composite ( http://www.masseyratings.com/cf/compare.htm )

#18 Marshall

#121 Miami (OH) (2-9)
#FCS Rhode Island (0-11)
#98 Ohio (5-6)
#109 Akron (5-6)
#107 Old Dominion (4-6)
#86 MTSU (5-5)
#103 FIU (4-7)
#106 FAU (3-7)
#112 Southern Miss (3-8)
#73 Rice (6-4)
---
#87 UAB (5-5)
#85 WKU (5-5)
TBA C-USA Championship Game

#29 Boise State

#3 Ole Miss (8-2) L
#30 Colorado State (9-1)
#117 UConn (2-7)
#60 ULL (7-3)
#50 Air Force (8-2) L
#54 Nevada (6-4)
#95 Freson State (4-6)
#51 BYU (6-4)
#102 New Mexico (3-7)
#88 SDSU (5-5)
---
#91 Wyoming (4-6)
#42 Utah State (8-3)
TBA MWC Championship Game

Boise has already beaten 4 teams ranked higher than anyone Marshall has played, and still has a shot at Utah State (who could very well beat Boise and out Colorado State back into the argument.

Boise trailled Ole Miss just 7-6 entering the 4th quarter.

Remember, human committees will be swayed by the name "Boise State" as well.

Since Marshall is just outside the top 25 (below is another quote from the committee's director) neither Boise nor Colorado State can be ranked that much higher than them - at best, for both Boise and Colorado State, they're in a group w/ Marshall. At worst, Marshall is a clear leader.

Heather Dinich ‏@CFBHeather I asked @jefflongUA "Why not Marshall" He cited body of work and SOS doesn't warrant top 25 ranking. Said Marshall "just outside" top 25.

(11-19-2014 10:02 AM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  Since Marshall is just outside the top 25 (below is another quote from the committee's director) neither Boise nor Colorado State can be ranked that much higher than them - at best, for both Boise and Colorado State, they're in a group w/ Marshall. At worst, Marshall is a clear leader.

Heather Dinich ‏@CFBHeather I asked @jefflongUA "Why not Marshall" He cited body of work and SOS doesn't warrant top 25 ranking. Said Marshall "just outside" top 25.

Dude has been saying that about Marshall since the first committee poll. He doesn't have the heart to just come out and say that the MAC and CUSA suck so bad that you can not get ranked by just playing them.

I have no love for the Blundering Turd, but anyone who looks at them with an unbiased eye has to admit that they are the best of the non-entitled 5 this season. If (when?) they win out they will deserve the Access Bowl slot.

(11-19-2014 11:22 AM)coogrfan Wrote:  I have no love for the Blundering Turd, but anyone who looks at them with an unbiased eye has to admit that they are the best of the non-entitled 5 this season. If (when?) they win out they will deserve the Access Bowl slot.

Are they? If Boise State had played an 0-11 FCS team instead of Ole Miss and #121 Miami (OH) instead of Air Force, would they not compare favorably to Marshall considering they would still have played and beaten four teams ranked higher than Marshall's toughest opponent?

Marshall very well may be better than Boise or Colorado State, but there's just no way to know for sure when 8 of the 10 teams they've played are ranked 98th or worse.