The Blue Board

Maybe. Maybe not. I know the reasons I would give why Alabama could, but why would UGA?

Look at their offensive production against ranked teams this year and against defenses that are even comparable to ND's.

Murray is 23-55 (41.8%) 129.5 ypg with 1 TD and 4 Ints

They average 119 ypg on the ground and 3.3 ypc with 2 TDs.

Gurley averaged 7.1 ypc against everyone else, but only 3.9 ypc in those games.

UGA averages 43.3 ppg in other games, but only 12.0 ppg games against teams that re ranked. They average 520.9 ypg in others, but only 248.5 in those games as well.

I don't think there is any question that Notre Dame could handle UGA based on what they have shown this year. Personally, I am not counting UGA out, but the argument could easily be made that UGA is the team that is more likely to get destroyed, IMO against both Bama and Notre Dame.

Congrats on the eventual victory. :'(

are you really throwing out schedules?

More Stats-

Scoring offense
Alabama.....19th
Notre Dame. ....71st

Scoring defense....both allow 10.1 ppg
Alabama. ...1st
Notre Dame.. . 1st

Red zone conversions
Alabama.......3rd
Notre Dame...83rd (yikes)
This is the stat that's really gonna come into play.

Turnover Margin

Alabama......14th
Notre Dame.. ... 26th

What's all this mean? Literally nothing when toe meets leather.

Of course. Alabama has been awesome at it for 5 years. The've been in these big games and excelled. Looking forward to seeing if Notre Dame can.

The pure comedic gold in all these Alabama/ND threads is that both teams could lose and never play each other. Both fanbases are acting like it's a forgone conclusion.

And the stats couldn't be possibly skewed because Bama played that horrendous schedule? The reason ND had starters in late is because, well, they actually played teams with a pulse and also had players with D1 scholarship offers. I can't believe you are bringing up schedule strength in this. Pure gold.

Take a good look at the schedules again please. Both are ranked pretty equally by all the computer polls. I wouldn't brag about Pitt, Navy, BC, Purdue, or BYU anymore than WKU, FAU, Arkansas, Mizzou, or Tennessee.

There is a common opponent if you want to draw that comparison.

Not sure why it matters though. The point anyone that posted stats on here was making is that there are strengths and weaknesses among all of them that can be skewed anyway one wants to make them look.

FWIW, BYU is ranked #3 in total defense

The eye test can be misleading, because usually the masses are dumb. I thought ND would beat OU. I also thought aTm would be a tougher matchup for Bama than LSU. Same with Baylor/Texas vs K St. I felt K St was made to beat a Texas team, but that a team like Baylor that could spread them out and force Klein to continually make plays and not just make a play or 2 would be tough for them. I still think a team like WVU regardless of what happened is more dangerous for K St than a Texas.

FWIW, I think both Alabama and Notre Dame would rather play each other than Oregon. Both could shut down Oregon up front and dominate the lines against them, but there are also so many dangerous parts that can still beat you at times even if you accomplish that. Against each other, it comes down to who can whip the other. Could be tough for either, but it is an easier feeling as well, IMO.

Western Kentucky
Western Carolina
Florida Atlantic

It does not get much worse than that. All those teams you mentioned would beat these 3.

Vegas isn't the end all and I really don't care what they say. 6th best team? I realize that you Southern fans don't think good football exists above the Mason Dixon line. I realize the only way anyone outside of ND fans will respect them is if they win the MNC. I hope it's against Bama. I really do. The arrogance of SEC fans is stunning. Has the conference earned it? Sure because they have won the last 6. But they are put into position every year to get there. What is their conference record in all bowl games? Take a look at those stats and then come back. Again, 6th best is comical.

They are also 6-5 with a loss to San Jose St. They have beaten no one of worth either. I don't get all into where teams are ranked, but how they play. Personally, I still believe and think Oregon has a much better defense than them.

BYU has also played 5 teams in the bottom 40 in offense while Notre Dame has played 4 and Alabama, 2. I would also point out that BYU's 5 are probably playing much easier schedules as well, as are most of their opponents also.