BCS Selections

[Cyclonepride]

At this point, I am just hoping for the Ohio St/ LSU game to be very close and ugly, while one of the other close teams laying the wood to their opponent, so that the vote is split. However, since the NCAA basically revamped their voting system to look like Russia's, it still probably won't change anything.

 

[mj4cy]

I'll watch every game but probably own't catch all of the title game although I hope LSU crushes OSU.

 

[Tweedt4Cy]

Ohio state makes me so mad because they sit around the last two weeks when other teams r out fighting for their lives. They just squeek bye because the dont play!

 

[cycloneworld]

Re: Mizzou VS KU BCS

Say it's an 8 game playoff: I'd be much happier with the team that's getting left out for the 8th spot than the team that gets left out of the BCS title game simply because in most years, there's a big difference between the 1st and 8th teams, and the 8th seed doesn't normally stand a shot against the top team. This year may be the exception, because there is no team far and away better than everyone else.

The sad thing is that if there was an 8-game playoff, Hawaii wouldn't even be in it as they are ranked #10. This system is about the dumbest one anyone could think of.

What other sport lets sportswriters "seed" its teams?

 

[tim_redd]

OSU's best nonconference win - Washington. Otherwise, they only beat D1AA Youngstown State, Akron (4-8) and Kent (3-9).

I just thought it was horrible to see Kent St.'s final record.

 

[cyclonenum1]

It's interesting how the computers ended up ranking the teams:
1. Virginia Tech (.960)
2. LSU (.950)
3. Ohio State (.910)
4. Missouri (.850)
5. Kansas (.810)
6(t). Oklahoma (.800)
6(t). Georgia (.800)
8. Arizona State (.690)
9. USC (.650)
10. West Virginia (.640)
11. Florida (.620)
12. Hawaii (.610)
13. Boston College (.570)
14. South Florida (.430)
15. Clemson (.410)
16. Illinois (.390)
17. Tennessee (.350)
18. Virginia (.290)
19. BYU (.280)
20(t). Connecticut (.190)
20(t). Cincinnati (.190)

They pretty clearly had VA Tech and LSU, with Ohio State a somewhat distant 3rd. In case you don't know how it works, the BCS uses 6 computer polls, each with a different, but reasonable methodology and formula for ranking teams. Each poll assigns teams a score from 1-25, with 25 being the highest ranking team, and 1 being the lowest ranking team. They then throw out the highest and lowest ranking, add the 4 remaining polls together, divide by 4 and then again by 25 to arrive at the .xxx number. The higher the .xxx number, the better.

Apparently the computers didn't see LSU destroy Va Tech by over 40 points!

 

[cyclonenum1]

Right.

But anyone that would've been in the title game at this point basically backed in.

A person could say Georgia finished better than anyone else as they won their last 6 games, but didn't even play for their conference title.

Virginia Tech won their last 5 games in a row but were pounded by LSU earlier this year.

OU won the Big 12 over a then ranked #1 team (and beat them twice) but lost to the likes of Colorado and Texas Tech.

Missouri beat everyone on their schedule except one team, who got 'em twice and basically embarrassed them the last time.

USC finished with 4 straight wins but owns a loss to Standford, who isn't even going to a bowl game.

Kansas looked good all year except in the one game that mattered and against by far the best team they faced - not even playing in their conference title game.

West Virginia closes the season with a loss to a team that will be staying home over the holidays - Pitt. Their two losses did come when they were missing their best player for a fair amount of the game.

Arizona State is a stretch, but the do have just two losses. However, one of them came to USC, ranked ahead of them and rightfully so.

Hawaii is the only team in the nation that could win every game on their schedule - a lineup that was rather pathetic. They did defeat 3 bowl teams - Boise State, Nevada and Fresno State. Eh, not too impressive though.


I think all of these teams have a case to be in the title game. Each of them failed to capitalize on opportunities aside from Hawaii, who just doesn't have a schedule that matches up with anyone else's.

"Penalizing" them for that? Well, it's an entirely different discussion.

Good post...every team (including Ohio State) has some blemishes on their resume'.

 

[cycloneworld]

Apparently the computers didn't see LSU destroy Va Tech by over 40 points!

You can't define someone's season by 1 game. Va Tech didn't lose TWICE as the #1 ranked team and still somehow manage to get into the title game. Using your logic, Kentucky and Arkansas should be in the title game because they both beat LSU.

 

[cyclonenum1]

You can't define someone's season by 1 game. Va Tech didn't lose TWICE as the #1 ranked team and still somehow manage to get into the title game. Using your logic, Kentucky and Arkansas should be in the title game because they both beat LSU.

The problem is that the LSU beat down against Va Tech really couldn't be called a "game" because LSU beat them so soundly. It was really not as close as the 48-7 score indicated (I was there)...LSU had 28 first downs...Va Tech 11, LSU had 297 yards rushing...Va Tech 71, and LSU had 301 yards passing...Va Tech 78.

By the way, Va Tech didn't lose twice as the #1 team because they were NEVER the #1 team! At least both of LSU's losses were in triple OT (not unadulterated blowouts) to stronger teams with winning records!

 

[Wesley]

Mangino had it figured out all the way. Lose your way to the BCS.

 

[ISUFan22]

Good post...every team (including Ohio State) has some blemishes on their resume'.

Yup.

I do think the BCS got the 2 "better" resumes in the title game.

LSU plays in the toughest conference and loses 2 overtime games. I'd feel better if those losses had come to a little better teams than Kentucky and Arkansas - but - it's not like they lost to sub-par teams.

Ohio State, while playing in an average conference at best and having a cake non-conference schedule - they do just have the one loss. Hard to put someone in that has 2 losses ahead of them (I know you're undefeated Hawaii, but you play so late at night that no one sees you. Do you even exist? :skeptical.

That doesn't go to say the BCS got it right. Teams rewarded for not losing their conference title games - because they didn't play in them. Conversely, teams penalizes for being the 2nd best in their conference. Going undefeated, even with a poor schedule, is virtually meaningless.

This year the title legitimately could go to anyone in the top 10 if allowed to be played out. I can't recall ever saying that before.

With the way CFB is headed though, I do think we could be saying that more often.

Get us a playoff dammit and "end" this controversy!

 

[ISUFan22]

For those of us that want a playoff, the best scenario would be...

LSU beats OSU
Hawaii beats Georgia
USC beats Illinois
OU beats WVU
VT beats KU (or vice versa)

This would basically eliminate the one-loss "powerhouse" that is OSU from the conversation. Hawaii would be able to say they went undefeated and beat a very good SEC team. USC would be able to claim redemption for their season. OU a similar stance. And VT and KU could both make claims should they win, albeit VT's a little stronger.

 

[cyclonenum1]

Yup.

I do think the BCS got the 2 "better" resumes in the title game.

LSU plays in the toughest conference and loses 2 overtime games. I'd feel better if those losses had come to a little better teams than Kentucky and Arkansas - but - it's not like they lost to sub-par teams.

Ohio State, while playing in an average conference at best and having a cake non-conference schedule - they do just have the one loss. Hard to put someone in that has 2 losses ahead of them (I know you're undefeated Hawaii, but you play so late at night that no one sees you. Do you even exist? :skeptical.

That doesn't go to say the BCS got it right. Teams rewarded for not losing their conference title games - because they didn't play in them. Conversely, teams penalizes for being the 2nd best in their conference. Going undefeated, even with a poor schedule, is virtually meaningless.

This year the title legitimately could go to anyone in the top 10 if allowed to be played out. I can't recall ever saying that before.

With the way CFB is headed though, I do think we could be saying that more often.

Get us a playoff dammit and "end" this controversy!

I think the messages are clear:

1) play a tougher non-conference schedule (at least one of the games)

2) win your conference

3) if you lose...don't get blown out or lose to pathetic teams

 

[BvK1126]

The problem is that the LSU beat down against Va Tech really couldn't be called a "game" because LSU beat them so soundly. It was really not as close as the 48-7 score indicated (I was there)...LSU had 28 first downs...Va Tech 11, LSU had 297 yards rushing...Va Tech 71, and LSU had 301 yards passing...Va Tech 78.

By the way, Va Tech didn't lose twice as the #1 team because they were NEVER the #1 team! At least both of LSU's losses were in triple OT (not unadulterated blowouts) to stronger teams with winning records!

Stronger teams than what? Than the teams that Virginia Tech lost to? Virginia Tech lost to LSU and Boston College, a team that was ranked #2 in the country at the time of the game and is still ranked in the top 15. Virgina Tech then avenged that loss in the ACC title game. LSU, meanwhile, lost to two team that have a combined 7-9 record in SEC play. Tell me again how LSU's losses are "better" than Virgina Tech's? LSU is in the title game because they are media darlings, plain and simple. The poll voters WANTED them in the title game, and jumped at the chance to put them in there. Few if any other teams in the country (other than a couple of other media darlings) could have choked away so many chances to lock up a spot in BCS title game and still been given second and third chances to play for the title. Score one for the BCS popularity contest.

 

[ISUFan22]

Stronger teams than what? Than the teams that Virginia Tech lost to? Virginia Tech lost to LSU and Boston College, a team that was ranked #2 in the country at the time of the game and is still ranked in the top 15. Virgina Tech then avenged that loss in the ACC title game. LSU, meanwhile, lost to two team that have a combined 7-9 record in SEC play. Tell me again how LSU's losses are "better" than Virgina Tech's? LSU is in the title game because they are media darlings, plain and simple. The poll voters WANTED them in the title game, and jumped at the chance to put them in there. Few if any other teams in the country (other than a couple of other media darlings) could have choked away so many chances to lock up a spot in BCS title game and still been given second and third chances to play for the title. Score one for the BCS popularity contest.

Some very valid, strong points made here. Mostly factual data.

 

[wonkadog]

You are dead on BvK, great post on LSU. It's also making me sick to see some of you on here "ok" with Illinois being in the Rose Bowl just because it's "good" that a Big 10 team gets to play there. With the current structure of the BCS, the good ol' boy system of traditional conference matchups should have nothing to do with who gets to play in the BCS Bowls...maybe once some of the old fogies who still hold onto their traditional ways die off, then we'll see a legit system for all of this. Until then they will sit in their luxury suites sipping Chardonnay and toasting to the great Pac 10/Big 10 battles of years past and gloating about how they're standing in the way of a playoff.

 

[cyclonenum1]

Stronger teams than what? Than the teams that Virginia Tech lost to? Virginia Tech lost to LSU and Boston College, a team that was ranked #2 in the country at the time of the game and is still ranked in the top 15. Virgina Tech then avenged that loss in the ACC title game. LSU, meanwhile, lost to two team that have a combined 7-9 record in SEC play. Tell me again how LSU's losses are "better" than Virgina Tech's? LSU is in the title game because they are media darlings, plain and simple. The poll voters WANTED them in the title game, and jumped at the chance to put them in there. Few if any other teams in the country (other than a couple of other media darlings) could have choked away so many chances to lock up a spot in BCS title game and still been given second and third chances to play for the title. Score one for the BCS popularity contest.

Media darlings my ***! The only team I see with a legit claim to the Championship game slot other than LSU is OU. VT is not even in the discussion for good reason:

-LSU 11-2, VT 11-2
-LSU Conference Champs - SEC, VT Conference Champs - ACC
-LSU beat VT 48-7, VT lost to LSU 7-48
-LSU has two triple OT losses, VT has two losses in regulation (one a blowout)
-LSU beat 6 ranked teams, VT beat 3 ranked teams (one of which they also lost to)
-LSU played 4 teams with losing records, VT played 4 teams with losing records
-LSU played 8 bowl teams, VT played 7 bowl teams

 

[CTAClone]

They decided their fate when they made their schedule. You can't get into the national championship when you literally beat no one.

They tried beefing up their schedule but no one wanted to play them. They tried playing USC but they turned them down, Michigan State payed them 250K so they wouldn't have to play them, so they had to add a IAA team to their schedule. And they played in the WAC, so you can't fault them for that.

 

[CTTB78]

While Mizzou clearly did get hosed, does anyone else think that if they went to the championship game they would had to do surgery to relieve the pressure in Chase Daniel's head. I know you have to be a little cocky to win big time, but he looks like his is pretty impressed with himself.

IMHO, Hawaii deserves to be in the BCS and will give Geo all they handle in their bowl game. I just feel bad for Oregon, who I thought was the best team in the country before the injury.

 

[ISUFan22]

I just feel bad for Oregon, who I thought was the best team in the country before the injury.

I agree with this 100%. The entire team crumbled after that.