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Post being replied to

I agree to a point.... by Catdog2

as a tie-breaker, the eye test seems fine. For example, if you have two 11-1 teams, and one of them lost the second game of the season because their starting qb got concussed and they just dominated everyone else, that would be reason to give them the nod- all else equal.

But I don't think the eye test really makes sense as a primary criteria. For example, if - in some crazy world- Alabama loses to Tennessee and drops another game, there is no way they should make the playoff. Even if they "look great" and would be favored by 2 touchdowns against everyone they play. At the end of it, all that should matter is who you beat and if you won.

Just because the Russians "looked better" than the US Ice Hockey team, doesn't mean they should get a chance to play for gold.