Lyndy's: Can South Florida overcome schedule, crash 2018 CFP?

[Brad]

Can South Florida overcome schedule, crash 2018 CFP?

August 13, 2017 at 9:58 am.

All the ingredients seem to be there for the USF Bulls to have a big season — the biggest of the program’s 21-year history.

With 18 returning starters from a team that won a school-record 11 games in 2016.

Among returnees are a senior quarterback who ranked in the Top 10 of the American Athletic Conference in both rushing and passing yardage, a deep receiving corps that is made for the up-tempo approach the Bulls are seeking on offense, and a veteran offensive line that in 2016 powered the Bulls to school records in total offense (6,650 yards), rushing (3,714), and touchdowns (77).

Defensively, the Bulls welcome back nine starters plus a 10th player who logged five starts among his 13 appearances. Yes, they gave up too many points (nearly 32 a game) and yards (482) in 2016, but they are anxious to make up for shortcomings under new coordinator Brian Jean-Mary. Plus new head coach Charlie Strong is known for putting out strong defensive teams.

Rest of story

[The Great 8]

I hope we got a large payout and some value from Michigan State and Wisconsin, because they're certainly "costing" us a lot this season.

[SANJAY]

With this schedule? If we went undefeated with a margin of victory of 30 ppg and everyone in the "P5" had 2 losses then I put our odds at 5%. So no chance.

[NewEnglandBull]

22 minutes ago, SANJAY said:

With this schedule? If we went undefeated with a margin of victory of 30 ppg and everyone in the "P5" had 2 losses then I put our odds at 5%. So no chance.

Same. Total pipe dream to think we can make the playoffs in almost any condition. 

[jasonb56]

Realistic goals...

Top 10 finish

AAC Champs

Peach Bowl winner

7-2 against UCF

Playoff chances are more like Powerball odds... it COULD happen... but probably not. 

[E.T.]

Don't think anyone can seriously imagine a PlayOff game.

Peach or Cotton . . . prefer Peach.

Top 10; NYD Game with Victory!

[Gismo]

If Strong is a great coach then there is a chance. 

[Flowers4Heisman]

The odds are against us, of course. Basically, letting a G5 get a money bowl is their bone to the poor. But letting one get into the playoffs, that's nearly impossible.

That said, we could have some things in combination that could help us.

(1) Going undefeated and win by stomping margins.

(2) Our ranking at time of selection. With top-25 teams ahead of us losing, we could rise pretty high.

(3) Flowers winning the Heisman. He needs to win it and get us the attention to propel the argument.

 

But this is like, "This is what I'm going to do with my PowerBall money..."

[NewEnglandBull]

20 minutes ago, FarEastBull said:

The odds are against us, of course. Basically, letting a G5 get a money bowl is their bone to the poor. But letting one get into the playoffs, that's nearly impossible.

That said, we could have some things in combination that could help us.

(1) Going undefeated and win by stomping margins.

(2) Our ranking at time of selection. With top-25 teams ahead of us losing, we could rise pretty high.

(3) Flowers winning the Heisman. He needs to win it and get us the attention to propel the argument.

 

But this is like, "This is what I'm going to do with my PowerBall money..."

#2 would be key but this where I see the problem. The committee will not give a G5 any credit here. Take a look who is on this committee...no way they would allow a #4 G5 to happen regardless of going undefeated and regardless of how many games the top teams lose. This **** was set up to fail as soon as we dropped computers in the rankings and went with this star chamber committee. 

Edited August 14, 2017 by NewEnglandBull

[Thebullsfan]

The chances are we will finish ranked higher than any other Florida team!