Bowl Bids and Rankings = BullSh*t

[greggspacho]

Yes folks, its that time of year again. So. Cal and Texas are going to the National Championship game. Sports writers are saying that unless these schools get beat by 70 points in their final game they still would not drop below the #1 & #2 rankings. This is a big stinking pile of Sh*t. One of the biggest arguments of the BCS is that “every game counts,” obviously this is not true. Every game counts if you are not the preseason media favorite to play for the NC. Don’t get me wrong, assuming So. Cal. and Texas win this weekend; I do believe they should be playing for the title. I would without doubt put LSU in the mix if they didn’t blow that game against the Volz, but they did and its done.

The #3 position I think should go to Penn St. However this does not change the distaste I hold for old man Joe Pa and the all white school from the Big 11 that I have not missed at all. On the field the lions have proved themselves to be worthy competitors. They have wins against quality teams #6 Ohio St., #21 Wisconsin, S. Florida, Northwestern, Minnesota and a last second loss to #20 Michigan.

Unfortunately, this leaves LSU @ # 4 behind PSU. LSU has more wins against ranked teams in # 9 Auburn, #14 Alabama, and #17 Florida. The only other team that the Tigers played with a winning record is (6-5) Arizona St. and the loss to a (5-6) Tennessee really hurts their cause. Now with a win versus #13 Georgia in the SEC title match should, but will not catapult them over PSU.

# 5 has to go to Virginia Tech as long as they beat FSU in the ACC title match. Virginia Tech might be the team with the most to gripe about. VT has wins over #12 West Virginia, #19 Boston College, #24 Georgia Tech and a crucial loss to #10 Miami. VT suffered a loss to a higher ranked team then LSU and PSU but was hurt more by the loss. I believe that #3-#5 spots are very interchangeable, but I would give the nod to VT and LSU over PSU for winning their Con. Champ.

West Virginia gets to hold down the #6 spot because of contractual agreements that still allow the Big Least to get an automatic bid. WV is a very good team but its only win vs. a ranked team is # 16 Louisville.

At last that leaves us with the at large bids, which in my opinion is the biggest flaw in the system. Notre Dame and Oregon are the two schools vying for invitations to the BCS. Notre Dame will get this bid I believe but it will be at the hands of more deserving schools. Notre Dame does annually have the hardest schedule in the country but they should not be rewarded for good intentions. The Irish have only ONE win over #20 Michigan. Everyone else on their schedule ended up with a losing record besides BYU and Navy who both managed to squeak out 6 wins. Oregon has not done much better. While Oregon has donned an impressive 10-1 record, only ONE win has come over a ranked opponent in #23 Fresno St. who showed there true colors in a loss to Nevada. Oregon also had only had 3 other foes to support winning records (Houston, Arizona St., & Cal.).

Ohio St. is another team with BCS aspiration. They most likely will receive a bid. Ohio St. had key losses to #2 Texas and #4 PSU. Michigan is the only ranked team they defeated but they did beat a pretty good Iowa and Northwestern teams.

So who’s getting left out? That’s right it’s us again. Auburn is one of the hottest teams in the country right now. They stumbled at the beginning against GT and lost and over time game to LSU, but managed wins against #13 Georgia, #14 Alabama, and destroyed (7-4) South Carolina. This is much better than what Oregon and Notre Dame have to offer. Also Georgia should at least be mentioned in the conversation. Losses to Florida and Auburn hurt but they beat #24 Georgia Tech, South Carolina, and pummeled Boise State. Right now this isn’t enough, but if the Dawgs are able to take down LSU I think the SEC should have a legitimate shot at 3 teams in the BCS.

Any way it will be difficult to get this done when the entire country is against us but I will keep my fingers crossed. Good luck to all 6 teams we will be sending to the post season.

[uscrebel]

Yes folks, its that time of year again. So. Cal and Texas are going to the National Championship game. Sports writers are saying that unless these schools get beat by 70 points in their final game they still would not drop below the #1 & #2 rankings. This is a big stinking pile of Sh*t. Any way it will be difficult to get this done when the entire country is against us but I will keep my fingers crossed. Good luck to all 6 teams we will be sending to the post season.

Geeze Spachie...don't hold back...tell us how you really feel. ;) ;)

[1000x]

It would be very difficult to say USC and Texas are not the two best teams in the country. No one else this year even comes close. If these two were to win this Saturday and end up in the Rose Bowl, it would be the correct pick.

If one or both of those teams were to lose, they would simply be a one-loss team just like Penn State, Virginia Tech and LSU. If USC or Texas were to lose Saturday, would either not be better than the other teams that have already suffered a loss? I'm not quite sure about the answer, but a one-loss USC or Texas team can make a case for the Rose Bowl, seeing as how the other one-loss teams are not in any better shape.

Also, a team is eligible for a BCS bowl either if it is a champion of one of the six conference champions or ranked in the BCS top 12 with no less than nine wins. However, just because you are eligible for one of these bowls does not mean you will be invited to one. Within the guidelines, these bowls can invite anyone they want and have the right to be selective, just like we are selective of who we invite into our homes. Just because you are qualified, eligible or deserving of something does not mean you will get it. I learned that lesson the hard way many times over when I was younger.

I feel bad for Auburn that a missed field goal in the 4th quarter against LSU caused overtime and an eventual loss that cost Auburn the tiebreaker. Then again, those are the rules. Auburn fans can point at all the different opponents their team has beaten, but LSU could argue similarly and point to that win over Auburn. Whether we have playoffs, bowls, human voters, computers, overtimes, the BCS or ties in college football, we'll have lots of diverse opinions and arguments.

[Noah.Dreams]

Whenever you run the gauntlet as the 1st and 2nd ranked team for the entire season, you are a marked team. As much as we'd like to complain about the polls, USC and Texas both finished undefeated and deserve to play for the national championship. This year no one can say the polls are not fair.

The SEC will rise again, but in 2005 we have no right to bitch.

[grapenuts]

I just find it funny that almost every sports writer in America seems to think (openly I might add) that we would have had little trouble beating Florida with Shockley, yet we've been getting screwed in the polls for the last several weeks now. How in the hell does a team like Miami deserve to be ranked ahead of Georgia? Riddle me that... I mean, we have the same record so what happened to 'it's better to lose early...' and blah blah blah. Were they not just beaten at home by the same Georgia Tech team we just beat on the road? Do they not play in a much weaker conference, as evidence by FSU playing in their CG? What a joke.

As for bowls, it's always been a crapshoot and always will as long as these bowl presidents and other politicians care more about making the most amount of money possible instead of still making an assload of cash AND GIVING THE FANS WHAT THEY WANT. We could even keep the bowl format system for the most part, as part of that mythical playoff system, but they're far too greedy and stubborn for that... what good is 'tradition' if 99% of the people have come to loathe it?!

[Jay Bee]

Another weird thing is that I keep hearing that the loser of the SEC championship game will be destined to the mighty Peach Bowl. Wow! I bet the dawg nation is fired up about that possibility. However, I think uga will beat lsu Saturday and get to go to ...... Atlanta for the Sugar Bowl... So it's Atlanta if you win and Atlanta if you lose...


WDE!

jb

[TigerFanatic]

sadly, i think LSU will lose saturday, not because Jaw-jaa is a better team, but everyone is picking LSU to win, and its gonna get to their heads. the dawgs are a good team, and were gonna overlook them

[volimhtown]

I'm still trying to figure out what you are so pi$$ed about. Keeping in mind that the BCS was born to accomplish only one goal....to pit #1 vs #2 in the NC game. Should Texas and USC win this weekend, mission accomplished for without the BCS, we would not be seeing a true NC game once again. As to the possibility of one of the aforementioned teams losing this weekend, then sure, you have controversy, but I would submit that there's no way to avoid that. Hell, even with an 8 team playoff this season, you're going to have plenty of controversy over those that get left out. For instance, this thread would be about the alleged bias against the SEC because not all of the 3 aforementioned SEC teams (GA, LSU, & Aub) would be in the playoffs (more than likely, anyways). So, there is no way of avoiding the controversy and there is no simple answer to keep the masses happy.
As to the assertion that those 3 SEC teams deserve BCS bowl bids this year, my question would be why and for what reason. I mean, without a chance for the NT, what difference does it make?? Is glory and prestige not attainable by winning any bowl?? It CERTAINLY can not be about the money, could it??? :rolleyes: I mean, us fans routinely vilify the NCAA as being all about the money....there's not a double standard in your argument is there, Gregg??
Bottom line is that what difference does it make in the whole scheme of things between being ranked #4 and/or #7?? The fact remains that you did not achieve the ultimate prize...so everyone needs to take their parting gifts with a smile and just be happy that you were even invited to the party!! JMHO!!

[grapenuts]

...As to the assertion that those 3 SEC teams deserve BCS bowl bids this year, my question would be why and for what reason. I mean, without a chance for the NT, what difference does it make?? Is glory and prestige not attainable by winning any bowl?? ... Bottom line is that what difference does it make in the whole scheme of things between being ranked #4 and/or #7?? The fact remains that you did not achieve the ultimate prize...so everyone needs to take their parting gifts with a smile and just be happy that you were even invited to the party...


Vol, I think perhaps your own team's miserable season has skewed your perception here just a wee bit. But that's just my opinion... maybe you HONESTLY think Notre Dame deserves a BCS bid more than a team like Auburn, or that Miami deserves to be ranked ahead of Georgia right now. What a silly argument you come with... who doesn't want their team to finish with the highest ranking possible, or go to the better bowls? I mean, BCS BOWL / Fiesta, Orange, Rose & Sugar vs Peach, Outback or even Music City, Liberty, etc. Wow, I guess you're right, that really IS a tough call! :rolleyes:

Just because you gave up this year doesn't mean the rest of us have to. I have a sneaking suspicion that if UT was STILL ranked #3 right now and undefeated like Auburn was last year, you'd be singing a different tune... or even if UT was sitting at 9 or 10 in the polls right now.

[BAMA NATE]

An argument simply can't be made here until one of these teams lose. I honestly believe that somewhere amid all of those one-loss teams that there is a better team than USCal. They have played very close games against teams from one of the weakest conferences in college football along with the fact that they have almost no defense and you can't forget that Notre Dame practically beat them. I will only start shouting if they lose Saturday but still fall no farther than #2. It seems to me that the BCS feels it owes something to USCal. When LSU won the title in 2003 USCal also got awarded a share of it. Why wasn't the same done for Auburn last year? There is obviously bias in the system but my point is that there are two undefeated teams at the #1 and #2 spots right now so we simply can't make much of an argument this year no matter how bad we may want to.

[BigSpur]

Whenever you run the gauntlet as the 1st and 2nd ranked team for the entire season, you are a marked team. As much as we'd like to complain about the polls, USC and Texas both finished undefeated and deserve to play for the national championship. This year no one can say the polls are not fair.

The SEC will rise again, but in 2005 we have no right to bitch.

Its not bad to be a marked team when the teams shooting at you have rubber arrows.

[greggspacho]

I'm still trying to figure out what you are so pi$$ed about. Keeping in mind that the BCS was born to accomplish only one goal....to pit #1 vs #2 in the NC game. Should Texas and USC win this weekend, mission accomplished for without the BCS, we would not be seeing a true NC game once again. As to the possibility of one of the aforementioned teams losing this weekend, then sure, you have controversy, but I would submit that there's no way to avoid that. Hell, even with an 8 team playoff this season, you're going to have plenty of controversy over those that get left out. For instance, this thread would be about the alleged bias against the SEC because not all of the 3 aforementioned SEC teams (GA, LSU, & Aub) would be in the playoffs (more than likely, anyways). So, there is no way of avoiding the controversy and there is no simple answer to keep the masses happy.
As to the assertion that those 3 SEC teams deserve BCS bowl bids this year, my question would be why and for what reason. I mean, without a chance for the NT, what difference does it make?? Is glory and prestige not attainable by winning any bowl?? It CERTAINLY can not be about the money, could it??? :rolleyes: I mean, us fans routinely vilify the NCAA as being all about the money....there's not a double standard in your argument is there, Gregg??
Bottom line is that what difference does it make in the whole scheme of things between being ranked #4 and/or #7?? The fact remains that you did not achieve the ultimate prize...so everyone needs to take their parting gifts with a smile and just be happy that you were even invited to the party!! JMHO!!


I am pissed off about the lack of respect given to what many people consider to be the best conference in college football. When LSU wins the NC on the field they are forced to share with So. Cal. Fine, the Trojans had a great year. Then we turn around the next year to see the Trojans win the NC on the field and Auburn (undefeated) beats a good VT in the Sugar is just SOL. That sh*t don’t fly with me. Don’t tell me that 2004 LSU AP Champs & So. Cal Coach’s Champs explanation, then So. Cal. 2005 getting both, I am aware. The coaches made a big stink about going against the rules in crowning a NC to be fair to the horses and then no peep out of them for Auburn.

If So. Cal & Texas both take care of business this weekend the BCS will have done its job. I totally agree, So. Cal. & Texas have been the two best teams in the country all year and are most deserving of the NC game. The problem I have is with the rest of the BCS bowls and the fact that, win or lose, So. Cal. & Texas would still get there shot. Everyone else but Notre Dame, So. Cal, & Texas drop more than one spot in the polls following a loss. My friend this is what I call a double standard. Is it not?

You’re absolutely right that there is no way around controversy; I am aware of this and able to except. As for all 3 SEC teams making BCS games, I’m not saying if they didn’t it would be a sham. I just don’t understand why they are not thrown in to the discussion.

The Tigers² and the Dawgs deserve just as much as anyone else because they hold the same, if not, better records then schools I feel did not play or beat the competition that they did. (see schedules of Oregon, ND, & Ohio St) Okay I do not have issues with Ohio St. their record is comparable to the ones of the SEC elite.

Now I am very glad that you asked this question. You’re damn right it’s about the all mighty dollar. Just because you are out of the NC game does not mean you should be fine with going to a sub par low paying bowl game. Remember there is a significant monetary difference between playing in the BCS vs. Peach, Outback, etc.

Peace.

[volimhtown]

Let me first say that Tennessee's lack of success this season has NOTHING to do with my previously posted thoughts. In fact, if you look back at my posts the last 2 seasons you'll see that I'm harder on the Vols than most.
We can play the "what-if" games all day long. Had Tennessee won out this season and were sitting at #3 in the BCS right now, sure I'd be upset. BUT, had that happened, we'd also be talking ALOT of how the SEC was down this year as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, S Carolina, and Notre Dame would each have one more loss than they currently do. The only "quality" win (in the eyes of many) would have been the road win against LSU and they'd be playing LSU this Saturday. When factoring all of this in, it makes Tennessee's tough schedule far less compelling in terms of arguments. That said, you'd have a hard time convincing me of the plausability of such an argument. You have to keep in mind the fact that the Vols were ranked ahead of Texas to start the season and that barring any losses, I can't see a scenario in which the Vols would have fallen behind the Longhorns...especially when taking into account the schedule. You can point to Texas' win over Ohio St, but keep in mind that the Vols would have won road games at Florida and LSU at the same time. Again, hard to fathom the Vols dropping behind the Longhorns in any scenario. To this point, you can scream "bias" all you want, the simple fact remains that had Auburn (last year) played any type of descent non-conference opponent last season and won, I feel pretty confident that this whole "bias" crap is mute!!
Now, to the situation at hand, seems to me that if ANYONE should be bitching, it should be Oregon. Not to mention the fact that they got screwed a couple of years ago by not making it to the NT game, their ONLY loss this year would be to the #1 team in the country. All the while playing in a Major conference, they are likely going to get looked over for the top 8 spots?? Are you kidding me?? And you guys want people to have empathy for 2 and/or 3 loss teams from the SEC?? I mean honestly... You all want to talk about the bias against the SEC.... how the hell would you feel if you were a Duck fan?? That said, do I believe that Oregon is a better team than Ohio St., Notre Dame, Auburn, LSU, or Georgia. Absolutely not, BUT have they not done what should be necesary to earn a spot in the top 8?? Absolutely! So to have 2 losses and to scream about how one "deserves" to be rewarded for that is in and of itself pretty biassed and self-serving.
The bottom line is EVERY team has the opportunity to earn their post-season. If you lose 2 or more games, how do you feel you're ENTITLED to anything?? Sure you want the best possible opportunity for your team, but when you don't make a clear and concise case above all others in terms of victories, how do you justify such arguments?? When in such a situation, I think the opinions of the majority are an acceptable way to solve them...which is what we have.
Finally, in terms of Miami being ranked ahead of Georgia, frankly who cares. What difference does it make?? Who's going to remember in 2 years (or hell...next week) that Miami was ranked ahead of Georgia in the 2nd to the last poll of the season anyways? Defeat LSU, and I'm sure you'll move ahead of them....lose and it justifies the rankings. Point is, it has no bearing on anything. Stop all of the "bias" rantings... positions are earned...NOTHING is "deserved"!!

[grapenuts]

It's what message boards are for... get over yourself.