This Week in College Football 11/1 - 11/5

[Guest Leelee]

Was I mishearing things or was one of the announcers towards the end of the Miami-VT game complaining about how the Huricanes are being screwed by the BCS system because they have no chance of getting into the title game unless the undefeated teams lose? It seems that sportscasters are going to have to grasp at straws like "the BCS prevents previously beaten teams from redeeming themselves by getting the chance to upset unbeaten ones!"

 

Because they're right.

 

If Miami was undefeated, would they have a shot at the National Title?

 

Nope.

 

With the current system, where the human polls basically mean everything, if USC/Texas goes undefeated, that's it. Miami could win 100-0 every game, and it would mean nothing. Therefore, the season is about 2 teams playing for something, 23 or so teams trying to knock them off, and the other 90 playing for squat and hoping USC/Texas lose. That's where my negativity comes in. I honestly don't try being bitchy about it, but that's how it is, and it sucks. There isn't even the traditional matchups that the bowls used to have. All the bowls are meaningless, except one.

 

College football badly needs a playoff. Because I just can't get enthused when 99% of the current games have no bearing on deciding who #1 is. And I really don't give a crap who wins conferences, or fights for a Capital One bowl bid, because there's no payoff for it.

 

Now, insult me. Thanks!

[Bored 0]

What are they going to do about the bowl game for this season? At-large it?

It doesn't matter if they finish with a losing record, if you win your conference you get an automatic bid to a bowl game. North Texas did in 2001 with their 5-6 record.

[Guest]

A playoff would need to be setup to where only undefeateds and one loss teams would have a chance. I don't feel any sympathy for those with 2 or 3 losses.

[Guest]

What are they going to do about the bowl game for this season? At-large it?

It doesn't matter if they finish with a losing record, if you win your conference you get an automatic bid to a bowl game. North Texas did in 2001 with their 5-6 record.

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Yuck.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I don't any excuses for at least two teams in the Sun Belt not to be at least bowl eligible every year. Louisiana has enough hs talent that Monroe and Lafayette should not be has bad as they usually. Same goes for Alabama, and Texas. In the upcoming years the same will go for Fla Int'l and Fla Atlantic.

[Guest]

But they always schedule games against Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma type teams.

[Bored 0]

Fun Fact: Sun Belt doesn't have a non-conference win over a I-A team this year. Only Louisiana-Lafayette came close losing 24-21 to Central Florida.

[Guest *KNK*]

They need to kick the Sun Belt teams out of D-1A just for being a joke conference and taking up bowl spot.

[Der Kommissar 0]

Fun Fact: Sun Belt doesn't have a non-conference win over a I-A team this year. Only Louisiana-Lafayette came close losing 24-21 to Central Florida.

 

Actually, Middle Tennessee St. beat Vanderbilt 17-15.

 

Another fun fact: Division leader Louisiana-Monroe lost to division 1-AA Northwestern State.

[iggymcfly 0]

Was I mishearing things or was one of the announcers towards the end of the Miami-VT game complaining about how the Huricanes are being screwed by the BCS system because they have no chance of getting into the title game unless the undefeated teams lose? It seems that sportscasters are going to have to grasp at straws like "the BCS prevents previously beaten teams from redeeming themselves by getting the chance to upset unbeaten ones!" since it's becoming more and more likely we are going to end up with a USC vs. Texas matchup of unbeaten teams that are the clear top two.

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Why is that an invalid criticism. College football is the only sport on earth where you can lose your first game by three points, win your final 11 games in impressive fashion, and still have absolutely no chance to compete for a championship. The fact is that college football needs an 8-team playoff, and they need it now.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Dama, the #2 team in the SEC goes to the Citrus Bowl. Cotton's usually reserved for the #3 team.

 

AND GODFUCKINGDAMMIT CAN WE STOP TALKING ABOUT MARGINS OF VICTORY?? IF YOU WIN, YOU WIN.

 

If Alabama manages to make it through the SEC undefeated playing like they are, then they deserve at least a big-ass trophy for an undefeated season where the entire team was forced to score. Alabama/Miami in the Sugar Bowl is an extremely appealing matchup to me for some reason.

[teke184 0]

Alabama still has to get through LSU next week, which has a tough defense and a lot of talent on offense.

 

 

Something that people aren't paying attention to about LSU is that they've cut down on a lot of the sloppiness seen in some of the big games earlier this season, as they have exactly 1 turnover in their last three games, including a no-turnover performance against Auburn.

 

 

If Alabama is still having offensive woes when LSU comes to town, it may be all over for them.

[Art Sandusky 0]

If Miami and Penn State weren't in the same boat, I'd say LSU was the scariest one-loss team out there, fo rillz.

[Ripper 0]

If bama finishes undefeated I would like to see someone justify them not playing in the title game. That schedule is brutal.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Watching VT go down like that was sweet. Now they have two weeks to get ready to get rolled again, in Charlottesville this time (what UVA pride what). At the start of the year I said Miami/FSU in the championship game (amusingly enough, despite bombing against NC State today, FSU still sewed up their spot in the ACC title game), and now it looks like we'll get it. VT finally had to play someone who was faster than them and had comparable talent, and they got absolutely wrecked.

 

The Vandy/Florida game also had a spectacular fourth quarter and finish. That unsportsmanlike penalty was ridiculous, but I would have taken the extra point anyway, so not that big a deal.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Fuck that, I woulda gone for two. That penalty was absolutely inexcusable.

[therealworldschampion 0]

That might not be all it means.  Depends on if USC, Texas or Alabama lose, and I think that it would probably be a little more likely to be Penn State against Miami.

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I am demanding one of these 3 BCS bowl matchups:

 

Penn State vs. Notre Dame: Finally restarting the rivalry

Penn State vs. Miami: This so needs to be the Fiesta Bowl game if it happens

Notre Dame vs. Miami: CATHOLICS VS. CONVICTS!!!

[therealworldschampion 0]

I almost wish Mike was here to scream about how South Carolina or Ole Miss could somehow possibly beat PSU...

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You're joking with this comment, right? Please tell me you're joking.

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Oh hell no. He made a long-ass post saying how the top 8 teams in the SEC could beat PSU, from the rational (LSU and Georgia) to the insane (Tennessee and South Carolina)...

[LooseCannon25 0]

If bama finishes undefeated I would like to see someone justify them not playing in the title game. That schedule is brutal.

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If they beat LSU and Auburn and then win the SEC title game, I definitely think they should at least be considered for the championship game. These are the bowls i think we're gonn see:

 

Rose Bowl - USC vs. Texas

Sugar Bowl - Miami vs. Alabama

Orange Bowl - West Virginia vs. LSU

Fiesta Bowl - Penn State vs. Notre Dame

 

 

I knew UCLA wasn't for real and ranking them that high was crazy

[Guest Ether]

Don't be surprised if you see this match-up:

 

WVU v. Penn State

 

WVU is likely going to go 10-1, finish in the top 10, and still be bashed by critics. WVU-Penn State - while not as storied as Pitt-Penn State - was an old rivalry that was allowed to die and is one of the few match-ups I can think of involving a Big East that critics and producers may actually give a positive build-up for.

 

Why is that an invalid criticism. College football is the only sport on earth where you can lose your first game by three points, win your final 11 games in impressive fashion, and still have absolutely no chance to compete for a championship. The fact is that college football needs an 8-team playoff, and they need it now

 

It is also the only sport where 80% of the teams are eliminated from winning the championship before they take the field. Make it a 16-team playoff, with an automatic bid for each conference and 5 at-larges. Now everybody has a shot. Some will say there shouldn't be a .500 Sun Belt team or some other team 2-3 losses. I say that's becomes the reward for finishing the regular season #1 - you get North Texas or UL-Monroe or whoever comes out of that conference. The other teams can open with a tough mid-major (TCU, Boise State, etc) or a strong at-large team.

[Guest Ether]

EDIT: Double post. Stupid, slow computer.

[LooseCannon25 0]

A playoff system will never happen. NCAA and the conferences would lose Millions and millions of dollars if they took away the bowl games.

 

 

I think at the very least they should have a format like this:

 

Rose Bowl - USC vs. Texas

Sugar Bowl - Miami vs. Alabama

 

Added Bowl Game for the Championship - Rose bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl Winner

[cabbageboy 0]

It's way too early to say Bama is going anywhere. They have to beat LSU, Auburn, and Georgia back to back to back most likely to even GET to the BCS. I wanna hear how Texas is more deserving if Bama runs through that shit undefeated, considering they are doing jobber squashes of OK St. and Baylor.

 

Bama's main problem is that SEC games are just awful to watch: ugly, low scoring snoozers. It'll hurt them in terms of style points, considering that Texas owned TX Tech 52-17 while Bama staggers past Tennessee 6-3.

 

And now....I am going to freak you guys out. Who says WVU is any sort of lock to make the BCS? They have an ambush waiting to happen in Tampa against USF. South Florida has winnable games vs. Cincy, Cuse, and UConn and if they win out they'll have one loss in conf. going into that WVU game (which was postponed due to Wilma). USF wins that one, they win the BE and go to the BCS.

 

Mind you, I'm hoping that scenario doesn't happen and that WVU simply takes them down. But USF is a scary team at home, ask U of L about that. The only big problem is that SOUTH FUCKING FLORIDA going to the BCS will likely get the Big East stripped of its bid, whereas a 10-1 WVU would be a solid BCS team that no one would have a problem with.

[Slayer 0]

If 'Bama runs the table in the SEC, there's no way they should be denied the title shot over Texas...

[yankovic fan 0]

USF moved up WAY too fast.

 

They are getting lucky in my estimation.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Like I said, I'd prefer a Pac-10/SEC fight. It'd be interesting to see how USC fares against a team that would slow down the pace of the game considerably.

[Damaramu 0]

Wow......everyone wants to come up with every argument possible to keep Texas out. Texas and USC are clearly the two best teams in the country. Is it Texas' fault that OU isn't very good? Is it their fault that Mizzou sucks? Nope. So why penalize them for it when they've proven how damn good they are every week?

[therealworldschampion 0]

Going undefeated in the SEC vs. Going undefeated in the Big XII, which is more impressive?

 

Personally I don't think Bama gets through those next 3 games unscathed so it won't be an issue. But if they do and Bama gest shut out the BCS has the same exact problem from last year: preseason rankings deciding whos in the national championship.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Perhaps the best idea is not to do any polls til halfway through the season, so that things would seem more fair, as far as ranking teams.

[Damaramu 0]

And if you had your way they wouldn't rank Texas in the Top 10 when those polls come out.

They're clearly the #2 team in the country. I'm sorry but it's true.

 

I knew it'd take a matter of minutes for people to start declaring Alabama was screwed. Anything to keep a Big XII team out of the title game.

Hell when 'Bama goes down I'm sure there will be people calling for Miami to play in the game over Texas.