Do you prefer college or professional football (American)?

[nbs2]

There always has to be at least one of you fools.

It's ok. Don't worry about it. Just let it go.

College, they play to win instead of for a paycheck so the action is ususally alot more raw.

I have to disagree there. Most of the majors are playing because they want that paycheck at the end of the rainbow. And most of the mid-majors and minors aren't as skilled.

At least in the pros, you have a semblance of parity and the chance a team can get hot at the right time (see Giants last year in the playoffs).

College football: Same dominate teams year in and year out. Spend early season beating up weak opponents looking for a payday. One loss and out.

Even worse, only the teams that were highly ranked (and in the BCS) to begin the season can recover from one loss. A team like Boise State, BYU, Utah, etc. loses one and they are toast.

Also, coaches in the college rank seem to be higher on the dick/smarmy level (Spurrier, Saban, Nutt, et al).

I think that is more a function of opportunity than anything wrong with the college game. Remember that in the pros, these are highly paid gentlemen, not unpaid workers. The power that a coach wields over his charges in the pros is minimal - the greatest incentive to owners is to keep highly paid players happy - not coaches. In college, the players have no such leverage. The only control over the coaches are the highly donating boosters, who put pressure to obtain the illusion of success. Which is why you have those who have attained some success looking out only for themselves rather than the school and students.

Coaches in the college level struggle to maintain that level of success when they need to manage their egos, which is why Saban, Petrino, Superior, etc all ran back to the college game after getting dismantled in the pros.

And finally, the BCS is screwed and the bowl games are a joke except for like 1 year.

It is.

And yet, I still love the college game more than the pro. This is made all the more difficult having gone to a mid-major that should be treated like a major. But, I still love it.

 

[baby duck monge]

College ball 100%. They play for love of the game, not for money. That makes it more enjoyable for them, and more enjoyable to watch. Pro ball is boring.

 

[twoodcc]

i prefer NFL, mainly b/c you don't have so many blowouts like in college. and, college refs are not pros, and they miss more calls. the rules are easier in college as well.

 

[LethalWolfe]

College ball 100%. They play for love of the game, not for money.

Sure they play for the money (or the potential to make a ton of money). That's why there are rules against NCAA players taking money, scandals because of players taking money, and rookie contracts spiraling out of control. College ball being more 'pure' is just a marketing/fan myth that people want to believe. The prima donnas in the NFL most likely started out as prima donnas in college.


Lethal

 

[wordmunger]

I prefer pro football mainly because it's more about the players and less about the coaches. In college, coaches are around longer than players, so you're always hearing about what the coach is going to do next, not what the players will do.

In the pros, players stay around longer than coaches. Coaches come and go, and so it's about what's happening on the field.

Plus pro football has real playoffs instead of a manufactured "national championship," where the winner is decided based partly on -- you guessed it -- a vote among coaches.

 

[MacNut]

College kids are really exploited by the NCAA. They are the ones people go to see yet they don't see any of the money. The NCAA pockets everything. A majority of the kids playing will never have a pro career so why not give them a slice of the pie.

The problem with the college game is that you have 300 division 1 teams and only the top 25 gets recognized.
At least in college basketball a mid major can pull an upset in the tournament. How any mid major upsets have there been in college football during the playoffs.

 

[RamblinWreck]

College, no questions asked.

IMO, the NFL lacks the excitement level college ball does. The whole gameday experience is much richer and the atmosphere going into a huge game knowing that you have to win or your season is toast is incredible. Sure I'd like to see a playoff system in college. But if so, I believe it will take away from the must win every game mentality. Look at the Giants record before the playoffs last year.

Though they changed the clock this year to match the pro clock, I still feel like the college game moves much faster. Plus seeing spread offenses is a whole lot more entertaining than pounding the ball up the middle every other play.

 

[Tilpots]

How any mid major upsets have there been in college football during the playoffs.

P-P-P-Playoffs?!

If college football implemented a playoff system, it might compete with the Pros... might. Look at March Madness. Greatest sporting tournament ever. Ever.

One loss in the regular season doesn't mean your team isn't worthy of a title chance. Most times, an undefeated team plays a cake schedule. Maybe they play two good teams all year. In a playoff, you play all good teams. If you beat ALL the best teams, then you are the champion. Like in the NFL.

 

[brn2ski00]

Pro - NFL by far.

The college scene just isn't that big in the Northeast, so I never grew up watching it.


GO PATRIOTS!

 

[Lancetx]

I watch both, but I would have to say college football. The unpredictability is the main thing. Perfect example was just over a week ago when USC was upset by Oregon State. There is no way I'm sitting up until midnight to watch a random NFL game when I have to get up at 6am the next morning for work, yet I couldn't turn that game off knowing that the #1 team in college football was about to get knocked off by a four TD underdog. You never get that kind of drama in the NFL.

 

[gonyr]

I voted pro, although I will watch either. I love SEC games on Saturday, or almost any AFC game on Sunday.