(12-04-2019 06:06 PM)ericsaid Wrote: (12-04-2019 11:05 AM)Nameless Wrote: Sorry if this has been posted somewhere and I didn't see it (if it was mods please delete the thread.) It's nothing overly analytical but it examines the MWC vs AAC records against P5 teams this year and shows how the records are misleading. Basically says without saying Cincy deserves the Cotton Bowl if they beat Memphis, which is reflected in the latest CFP rankings. Also counters the App State fan narrative that "they had the 2 best wins of any G5 this year."
Just thought it was worth posting here to counter some narratives I've seen from fans of teams from opposing conferences.
https://www.downthedrive.com/platform/am...-a-mistake
Most App Sate fans believe that Louisiana was their best win of the year.
But what is the best win for Memphis? What is the best win for Cincinnati? Cincinnati avoided both SMU and Navy while losing to the only real contender in the conference.
Sure, they beat UCF who is in a "rebuild" (a stretch to say but not untruthful).
The point was that Memphis beat Ole Miss 15-10 and Cincinnati beat a 4-8 Pac 12 team. Yet, each of them seem to get more credit for those wins as it pertains to their SoS than does App. It's also more of an irritation because App has future games against Wisconsin, Texas A&M, & Clemson. Next year the games are at Wake Forest and at Wisconsin, both teams ranked in the CFP at one point or another.
What AAC team has an out of conference schedule like that? I give kudos to Cincinnati for scheduling Ohio State but they shouldn't get a pass for losing 41-0 despite OSU going to the CFP. Last time App played CFP bound UGA the final was 31-10. Last time App played CFP bound Clemson (Desean Watson) the score was 41-10. Those games were played with some FCS recruits starting. Yet no pass was given to App for those games.
App lost to Georgia Southern by 3 on a night with 35 mph sustained winds, a 20 degree temperature drop during the game, rain, sleet, and snow. A GS team that should've beaten what is now known as a pretty good Minnesota team if not for a few miracles on 3rd and 4th down.
Memphis lost to Temple, who lost to SMU by 24 and UCF by 42, yet they get a pass for that, and rightfully so. I believe Memphis is head and shoulders better than Cincinnati but nothing I've seen from Cincinnati leads me to believe that they are better than Boise State or App State. Their resume isn't impressive as it includes close calls against ECU, Tulsa, and Temple.
You're right - Louisiana-Lafayette IS App State's best win. #33 in the Massey Composite Rankings, well ahead of North Carolina (#49) and South Carolina #66.
If Cincinnati beats Memphis and is the AAC champ, here is a comparison of the wins, beaten teams' rankings in the Massey Composite of 108 Rankings:
Cincinnati: #16,26,44,60,73,80,82,85,95,117,125
App State: #33,49,66,88,89,94,106,107,120,122,FCS
Top to bottom, better wins Cincinnati. That's the biggest problem here, is that App State fans have somehow convinced themselves they have good wins. You don't. Your best win, ULL, loses out to two of Cincy's wins if they win the CCG. Cincy has FOUR wins better than South Carolina that you want to hang your hat on. And Temple is better than UNC. UConn and ECU at the bottom of Cincy's resume beat out your SBC dregs and your FCS opponent.
Losses?
Georgia Southern is #61. Compared to losing to the #1 team, and losing to #16, which would be avenged if Cincinnati is the AAC champ.
You actually DON'T have the better resume.
Nice season, congrats.
But this "we have better wins" is a false narrative. You don't.