The top two teams in the BCS, Missouri and West Virginia, both fell yesterday, opening up a huge opportunity for someone. A quick assessment of the various candidates:
Ohio State
Pro: Only have one loss. Left a positive impression by beating Michigan their last game. Were the #1 team at one point during the season.
Con: Play in the Big 10, which ain't what it used to be. Got knocked off at home by Illinois, a ranked team, but still.
The Verdict: For strictly aesthetic reasons, I don't want Ohio State in the title game again. But they will almost certainly be in the top 2 when the new rankings are announced.
Georgia
Pro: Went on a 6-game tear to close out the season, including wins over Florida, Auburn and Kentucky. Only losses were to quality opponents. Play in the fiercely competitive SEC.
Con: Didn't even make the SEC title game. Their loss to South Carolina was at home.
The Verdict: There should be a rule - don't win your conference, can't be in the National Championship game. Sorry Bulldogs. You should've taken care of Tennessee when you played them.
Kansas
Pro: Only have one loss. They're a scrappy club. The Big 12 is a tough conference.
Con: Didn't make it to their conference title game either. When they finally played a good team, Missouri, they lost.
The Verdict: The Jayhawks are just hoping they stay ahead of Mizzou and Oklahoma in the final rankings, otherwise there will be no BCS bowl for them. They have no shot at moving up.
Virginia Tech
Pro: Won their conference title game in fairly convincing fashion over a strong BC team. Two losses were to teams that were in the top 5 at the time. Finished the season with 5 straight wins.
Con: Is the ACC really any good?
The Verdict: They have a better argument than Georgia - at least they won their conference. They feel like a dark-horse right now. If they manage to beat out some teams from stronger conferences, there will be a bit of a stink.
LSU
Pro: Have been perceived as the best team in the country for much of the season. Won the SEC title game. As their coach Les Miles pointed out, no one beat them in regulation.
Con: Miles's argument cuts both ways. Yes, it took two opponents a total of six overtimes to hand them their losses, but that also means they had six chances to take those teams by the neck and stop them. And they didn't.
The Verdict: Had their losses come early in the season like Georgia's, they would probably be in without question. I think they should be in the title game.
USC
Pro: Won the Pac 10. Mauled Arizona State in the deciding game. Won their last 4 in a row.
Con: Got beat by fricking Stanford. Lost to Oregon who were ranked at the time but fell flat on their faces late in the year. Pete Carroll has an annoying face.
The Verdict: They never lived up to the hype and now they seem like yesterday's news. They lost to fricking Stanford.
Oklahoma
Pro: Won the Big 12, a strong conference, in dominating fashion over a #1 team. Both losses were on the road.
Con: Got beat by Texas Tech late in the year.
The Verdict: Their wins were almost all routs. They beat Mizzou twice, proving they were the best in the Big 12. Oklahoma vs. LSU would be a great title game, but it ain't gonna happen.
Hawaii
Pro: Only undefeated team in the nation. Won their conference. Scored 28 points or more in every game.
Con: One win over a ranked team (Boise St.). Didn't exactly dominate Washington, a second-tier big conference team.
The Verdict: They're adorable. Colt Brennan is a fabulous college QB much like David Klingler was. They would probably give Ohio State a hell of a game. If they played a real team like LSU or Georgia they would get stomped like bugs.
Missouri and West Virginia
Pro: They were 1 and 2 going into the last weekend.
Con: They lost at the wrong time.
The Verdict: Thanks for playin'. Enjoy your parting gift.
The Final Verdict: How about this - the weekend after all the big conference title games, you seed the top 4 teams in the BCS and have two games, 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3. The winners play for the National Championship on the regular date. The losers play for third in a really good bowl. The other BCS teams get their bowls as usual. We get a couple more awesome games, and there's something like a playoff system without having to give up any bowls, or shorten anyone's regular season schedule. And yes, I know - then the #5 team would just gripe about being left out. Tough. If you can't make the top 4 you don't deserve a shot anyway.
Permalink | Send To A Friend | Linking Blogs | Digg this!
Filed under:
College Football
Tags: bcs
Comments (6)
Hawaii would give OSU a hel... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Tom Blogical | December 2, 2007 1:06 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hawaii would give OSU a hell of a game? LOL!! Ohio State pounded Washington in Seattle. Hawaii is no better than Purdue.
1. Posted by Tom Blogical | December 2, 2007 1:06 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 2, 2007 13:06
2. Posted by Rovin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangsports.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| December 2, 2007 2:04 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Right Tom------Just like there was no way Appalachian State could never beat Michigan?
2. Posted by Rovin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangsports.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| December 2, 2007 2:04 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on December 2, 2007 14:04
3. Posted by Tom Blogical | December 2, 2007 3:40 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Ronin:
You make a good point, but my main point of contention with Dan's statement is this:
"They (Hawaii) would probably give Ohio State a hell of a game. If they played a real team like LSU or Georgia they would get stomped like bugs."
So I guess you guys buy into the bullcorn that Ohio State somehow isn't a real team even though they play in a BCS conference? Meanwhile, LSU or Georgia are "real teams" that would stomp Hawaii like bugs? I've watched nearly every game you could possibly watch, and the SEC is proving to be AVERAGE AT BEST--as are the rest of the conferences in CFB. I find it ironic and hilarious that SEC fans use the same BS argument some Big 10 fans used to use--"the SEC is so good they beat each other up each week." Hogwash. Everybody though the Big 10 was down last year, too, and the Big 10 was 2-1 against the SEC "juggernaut" in the bowls last season.
LSU got beat by an unranked Arkansas team at home, and a Kentucky team that's unranked now. Georgia got beat by Tennessee and by South Carolina. Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina. That's the definition of mediocrity. Yet, somehow, LSU and Georgia are "real teams".
Let's get down to the brass tacks here. Hawaii squeaked by the Huskies at home--the same team that Ohio State brushed aside in Seattle. Washington is the toughest opponent on Hawaii's schedule, and with all due respect to Washington, they're a below average team. Not to mention the fact that Hawaii struggled with other "powerhouses" like Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, Fresno St., and Nevada. Not so impressive. Meanwhile, Ohio State pretty much dominated everybody on their schedule except Illinois.
A lot has been made of OSU's "weak" schedule, and the fact of the matter is, all the powerhouses had OOC schedules that are a JOKE. Hawaii's schedule is the biggest one of all--the very worst in Div. IA and is worse than some Division II schools.
I'll grant you Ohio State's schedule wasn't as strong this year as it should have been, but there is NO COMPARISON between OSU's schedule and Hawaii's. Ohio State played 9 BCS conference schools this year, 4 of which were ranked. If Hawaii were in the Big 10 they'd be a middle of the pack team. Their defense is just not that good. After watching Hawaii play 3 times this year, I know they'd struggle against a BCS team with a good defense.
I agree with you that with anything we should have learned this year, any one team can beat another at any given time. That's why I don't buy into the national myth that the SEC is so much better than all the rest.
3. Posted by Tom Blogical | December 2, 2007 3:40 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on December 2, 2007 15:40
4. Posted by Rovin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangsports.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| December 2, 2007 7:24 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Tom,
I had to spend the day putting up lights and stuff before the rains come, so I just put that little snippet in there.
#1 The SEC is totally over-rated----period.
#2 OSU, by BCS standards belongs right where they are at #1
I have been exchanging direct and forum emails with Stewart Mandell at SI for two years now and he's still a putz. Mandell has been lobbying for LSU to be the #2 team, (and thinks the SEC is Gods conference)to which I say bull shit. OU just beat the number one ranked team in the nation (for the second time this year) LSU has not played or beaten a team ranked higher than a #9 (VT and Florida) and Florida still plays a pussie schedule and is over-rated year after year.
OSU and OU belong in the NC game under BCS criteria, (although IMHO, the two best teams in the nation right now is OU and USC) NO one's going to be happy this year----which is why a four-team play-off would settle a lot when you have scenero's like this.
The one thing no (real) college football fan can say about this season----"it hasn't been wild and fun"
(disclaimer: I am a longtime Pac-10 fan after living in Nor-Cal for my entire life)
4. Posted by Rovin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangsports.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| December 2, 2007 7:24 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on December 2, 2007 19:24
5. Posted by Tom Blogical | December 2, 2007 7:45 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Rovin:
I have to apologize for calling you RoNin before. And--I've been helping my family put up our Christmas trees! Fun stuff! (:-D)
I understand your putting the snippet in there--my first comment wasn't very well written. I'll tell you what though--I'm tremendously happy this year with Ohio State's record and trip to the National Championship game. Nobody (including me) expected the Bucks to be anything more than 8-4 or 9-3. I've been watching college football for (I can't believe I'm going to say this) 30 years, and this is the wildest ride I can ever remember.
Nothing wrong with being a PAC 10 fan. SEC fans that I've dealt with seem to have a superiority complex, in spite of reality. Although--OSU's record against SEC teams is abysmal, especially in bowl games. I hope they can reverse that this year.
Rovin, I've enjoyed debating with you. If we don't debate or chat any further, Merry Christmas!
5. Posted by Tom Blogical | December 2, 2007 7:45 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 2, 2007 19:45
6. Posted by Rovin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangsports.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| December 2, 2007 8:24 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"SEC fans that I've dealt with seem to have a superiority complex, in spite of reality."
Tom,
It got really bad (deservedly) when an undefeated Auburn team a few years ago was left out of the championship game.
Just in.....OSU and LSU in the big one.....hope OSU kicks their butts.
Happy Holidays 2u2
6. Posted by Rovin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangsports.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| December 2, 2007 8:24 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 2, 2007 20:24