The BCS Remains As Clear As Mud
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Thanks to LSU’s choke against Darren McFadden (the proper choice for the Heisman) and the rest of the Arkansas Razorbacks and a football-filled Thanksgiving weekend that actually clarified some things, the BCS standings needed another bout of musical chairs-like rearrangement. Because of Les Miles’ inability to coach his team in an overtime setting (both of LSU’s losses came in overtimes), we now have a new number 1 atop the BCS polls.
Welcome to the party, Missouri Tigers. Enjoy your stay.
The top of the new BCS looks like this:
1. Missouri
2. West Virginia
3. Ohio State
4. Georgia
5. Kansas
But how will it play out? Will these teams remain in their current positions? Given the fact that Missouri and West Virginia still have games to play, there’s no telling who will wind up in New Orleans on January 7, but we will try to clarify things a little:
Missouri
On Saturday, the Tigers play Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship, giving Mizzou an opportunity to avenge their only loss of the season. Lots of Missouri defenders try to excuse the loss by saying the Tigers were in it until some mistakes in the 4th quarter gave Oklahoma the win. Sorry folks. A loss is a loss. It doesn’t matter if you look good doing it or not. When the historians look back at MU’s schedule, they will see a loss next to the Oklahoma game, not a disclaimer saying the Tigers played well but gave the game away when it mattered.
When you consider the fact that, much like Kansas, Missouri hasn’t played ANYONE of note (I don’t really count Illinois because the Big 10 is very average this year and Ole Miss was just horrid), it’s hard to see them beating Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game. If they do happen to win, it’s welcome to Louisiana. If not, expect more BCS chaos to ensue.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Pat White and the gang are in a great position going into the final weekend before the bowl selection process. After dispatching conference foe UConn in convincing fashion, some expected the Mountaineers to leap-frog Missouri for the top spot in the BCS. Alas, this did not happen but West Virginia still controls their destiny. They finish the season with a home game against the 4-7 Pittsburgh Panthers.
Provided they don’t fall flat on their faces against Dave Wannstedt’s mustache, the Mountaineers will be in New Orleans on 01/07/08. Hide your couches.
Ohio State Buckeyes
With their regular season over (you may want to stretch this out next season, Coach Tressel), the Buckeyes can sit and watch this weekend play out, knowing if Oklahoma beats Missouri or West Virginia loses to Pittsburgh (better root for the Sooners, Buckeye fans), they will be playing in the BCS Championship game. While this OSU team may not be as strong as previous versions, they do have a chance. I just hope their fans can stand rooting for different teams on Saturday.
Georgia Bulldogs
As of today, Georgia is probably playing the best football of any BCS team, but their two losses will be difficult to overcome. The only thing Georgia fans can do is hope both WVU and Missouri lose on Saturday. If that actually does happen, look for a Georgia/Ohio State National Championship game, much to the chagrin of Kansas fans everywhere.
Kansas Jayhawks
Sorry Mangino fans, your team absolutely does not belong in the top 5 of the BCS (but then again, neither does Missouri). The Jayhawks have not played anyone of note all season and when they were given the opportunity to prove themselves, they failed. If you think this Kansas team could stand toe-to-toe with any of the 5 teams below them (LSU, USC, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Florida), then you haven’t been watching any football outside of the Big 12 North (something Jason Whitlock is obviously guilty of).
Of the 12 games they played, only three were against teams with winning records (Mizzou, Central Michigan and Texas A&M, a team so successful, they fired their head coach). The rest were either .500 or below. If that sounds like a team deserving of shot at the title to you, you may want to have yourself checked for delusional thinking.
As it stands, the only team I’d bet on making it to the January 7th match-up is West Virginia… and for all you BCS defenders out there, do you really think this is an acceptable alternative to a freaking playoff???
Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think.
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If this season hasn’t proven beyond a reasonable doubt that 1-A needs to have the bowl system blown up, its proponents sent to Camp X-Ray (don’t forget to pre-board Kirk Herbstreit), and a playoff system instituted similar to 1-AA (forget that Bowl Subdivision nonsense), there’s just nothing else left to make anyone change their minds.
I listened to Herbie bleating on the radio about “how can you expect people to travel to multiple bowl games to follow their teams” and the always hilarious “disrupting the student athlete schedules” excuse. Wasn’t that last one the reason why they didn’t want to add another game to the schedule, until the NCAA went ahead and added another regular season game?
Chris, you’re my boy and everything, but there’s no way McFadden deserves the Heisman over Tim Tebow this year. Tebow’s got seven more rushing TDs on 110 fewer rushing attempts, ten on runs of 5 yards or more. The only reason McFadden will get it is because he’s a senior.
He’s playing like the best player the last couple of games… granted, you get the award based on the entire body of work, but if McFadden goes off in their bowl game, I think he’ll get it.
If I’m an NFL GM and I have the first pick in the draft, I’m not even calling Tebow’s agent. I’m asking McFadden if he prefers to wear the number 25, 35, or 45 for my franchise.
Too bad we just can’t go back in time and take Eric Crouch’s heisman away and give it to whoever comes in second this year.
McFadden will be taken high, but who’s to say he won’t turn into Ron Dayne in the pros?
the fact he can control his weight?
That’s a good point, David. The truth is, there’s no sure way to tell – or at least, if I knew of one, every GM would want my cellie digits.
That said, I can offer the obvious comparison: especially for running backs, SEC Football is much better for preparing a player for playing in the NFL than the Big Ten. If you need substantiation, just look to Maurice Clarett’s pwnage of the Big Ten a few years back.
Dayne was a perfect fit in a bruising, run-heavy system. McFadden is much more versatile, and therefore much more suited to play on Sundays. He’s big and fast, and has soft hands. Dayne was just big. Total rushing yardage record or none, I’ll take McFadden over Dayne any day.
I have to agree with Chris and Jim on this one. I think McFadden has the talent to become a big time threat in any offensive scheme. I see him as an LT(Ladainian not Lawrence, obvi) type player in that he can run, catch, and throw TDs. Granted, he’s only caught one TD pass this season but that will change when he plays on Sundays and Mondays next season. Tebow, however, is a bad mofo and would certainly deserve the Heisman should he win it.
Clarett’s a really bad example of a running back making a transition from college to the pros.
I’m surprised no one’s brought up Reggie Bush and his 4 rushing TDs this year. Sure he’s becoming a Brian Westbrook style of player, but how many rings has Philly won with Mr. Fifty Receptions a Game out of the Backfield?
Chris, Dayne’s weight wasn’t the problem so much as him suddenly turning into a mincing runner who started sobbing every time he had to run between the tackles. I’m sure the White Castles didn’t help.
Bryan, there is one LT, he wore #56 and shattered Joe Theismann’s leg on national television. LDT carries the rock for the Bolts, on the occasional times that the coach remembers to call his number.
McFadden’s a talent, it’ll be interesting to see him in the Dolphins backfield next year.
if the Dolphins take McFadden in lieu of a quarterback, they deserve whatever befalls their franchise… Trent Green and John Beck are not the answers to what ails the Dolphins.
@Chris: My boy Ronnie is out for what, 4 games and you completely forget about him?
If the ‘fins end up with the top pick, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them try and trade down, as none of the QBs – who at the beginning of the year looked to cram-pack the top 5 selections – are looking like solid #1 overall picks.
that’s what I’m saying Jim. the Dolphins have no reason to take McFadden, other than turning him or Ronnie into trade bait.
Ha, the Patriots will end up taking McFadden with the Niners pick. The Fins will be stuck with the #1 pick because nobody will be enough of a sucker to trade for it and they need a QB (and everything else), the Rams need O-line help desperately, the Jets spent money on Thomas Jones, who’s been hurt, and they’ve got needs beyond the RB position (as in everywhere else), leaving McFadden to slip to the Pats at four with the SF pick. How’s that feel, AFC East?