Inside the BCS
And so, the chaos begins. Ah, the world of BCS football. Every week I get an email from them telling me how great their system is while watching other normal sports decide the best team on the field in some kind of playoff. As week speak, the Rangers and Cardinals are engaged in a compelling back and forth World Series. The NFL are beginning to see where teams rank as they head toward their playoffs, and the Football Championship Sub division (I-AA) are starting to see conference leaders emerge as they get ready to decide their champion. . . . wait for it. . . . get this. . . . . on the field with a playoff!
So now, we are headed to the end of October where contenders are starting to lose games and the BCS digs itself in as the best we have to decide a champion. Sometimes, they get the two best (or top two) teams in their “mythical” national championship game, but sometimes several teams finish with a legitimate argument to play for that title.
Here is a scenario for you. LSU beats Alabama and then loses to Arkansas where the BCS will probably decide who plays the SEC East winner for the SEC title. Let’s say they win the SEC title with one loss. Who will it be? Add to that, Stanford goes undefeated as does Clemson and Boise State. Further, Oklahoma State emerges with the Big XII title and undefeated. You would then have a one loss SEC team, undefeated Stanford, Boise State, Clemson and Oklahoma State as they do not play each other. Whom do you pick to play for the national championship?
Now, the madness and chaos is part of the appeal of college football, but even the most hardcore fan would have to agree that would be too much. Much of that scenario depends on several teams winning 13 games and against some pretty good football teams. Most likely this will not be the scenario. We probably will have to pick amongst a handful of one-loss teams to play an undefeated SEC Champion. Time will tell. At least, at this point, college football is not boring anymore!
1. Alabama — After yawning in the first half against Tennessee, the Tide Rolled. No really! They get the week off for the “Game of the Century.”
1.5 LSU – The Tigers look scary good. I can’t wait until November 5th! I might make a trip to our new Buffalo Wild Wings to watch it!
3. Oklahoma State – This offense is unbelievable. Can their defense hold up?
4. Stanford — All the Cardinal can do is when the games they have to play. They go to USC this week, and then, circle November 12th as that will be their showdown with Oregon.
5. Boise State — The Broncos are good. Unfortunately, they don’t get a chance to prove it every week, and if they have a slight let down and don’t play as well against a conference team, it doesn’t look good. Win out and they go to a BCS bowl, but they will have to hope to land in a BCS conference when the game of musical chairs are finished to get the chance to play for a national title.
6. Clemson — Who is this team and what did they do with the Tigers? They are having a magical run which should end in a BCS bowl, but they don’t get enough strength from the ACC to play for a national title.
7. Arkansas — The Hogs gave their fans severe heartburn Saturday as they started slow, again, in Oxford against Ole Miss. The game wasn’t as close as the score in the second half, but Houston Nutt will always be ready for the Razorbacks. The Hogs still have problems with their defense not getting it done. They usually improve in the second half, but it is after the Hogs start slow. The Razorbacks need to correct if they don’t want to be BBQ pork against LSU.
8. Kansas State — What can I say about the job Bill Snyder has done? They have gotten better every week. Much is being made about Oklahoma or Oklahoma State winning the South division and the Big XII title, but I think the Wildcats will have something to say about that.
9. Oregon — Don’t look now folks, but the Ducks have waddled their way back in to the national picture. If they knock off Stanford, there will be a BCS trip in store.
10. Wisconsin — The Badgers are good and poor scheduling didn’t allow them to play an away game until this past week. They played a pretty good Michigan State team on the road and was sound asleep until the second half. Once they woke up, they came roaring back only to see one of the weirdest, strangest, craziest “hail Mary” passes to be completed against them by the Spartans. If that game had gone in to overtime we might be talking differently about them. I still wouldn’t want to play the Badgers.
