"I know! Let's have a spelling contest!"
Posted on 12/02/2013 8:34:12 AM PST by xzins
With one week to go before the BCS rankings leave us forever, an undefeated Big Ten power missing out on the national championship is somehow an actual worry. Meanwhile, Florida State's sitting pretty. Full standings below.
It doesn't matter that Ohio State went 12-0 last year. It doesn't matter that an unbeaten Auburn was shut out of the BCS National Championship in 2004. It doesn't matter that Ohio State has lost two national title games against SEC teams in recent years. It doesn't matter that the SEC has won seven straight championships.
Or at least it shouldn't.
What will matter, however, is whether the BCS polls and computers rank Ohio State or Auburn No. 2 next week, assuming the Buckeyes and (burnt orange and navy blue) Tigers win their respective conferences. We'd thought we were just about done with the season's series of debates over which team should rank No. 2 and which should rank No. 3, but we've only just now arrived at the biggest one yet.
For now, the updated BCS standings after Week 14's wild weekend:
A win by either the Spartans or the other Tigers would render all this moot (except for Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs suddenly becoming a huge Mizzou* fan, we trust).
* Though Missouri would have a better case for No. 2 than Auburn would, if you ask me, since the (black and gold) Tigers have spent most of the year smashing fools by exorbitant margins. But nobody's asking me. Mizzou's probably too far back to jump that far, barring insanity.
If our new Nos. 2 and 3 win their conferences, the polls would be where Florida State finds its Pasadena opponent. While many voters would fall back on the SEC's presumed strength of schedule and difficulty (and most strength of schedule numbers do rate Auburn's as tougher so far), others would sympathize with a 13-0 BCS conference champion that was ineligible last year. At the moment, the Buckeyes hold that advantage, and would any voters who were unconvinced by an Auburn win over Alabama really be swayed by one over Missouri?
The difference could be Urban Meyer, who's successfully stumped his team into a BCS National Championship before -- and that was an SEC team at the expense of a Big Ten team. But do voters still think of Meyer as they did then? Whether Meyer's national profile has changed since '06 due to various controversies would actually matter. Like, actually help determine the season's champion. That's insane and ridiculous, but it's the system.
We don't know whether Auburn or Ohio State would win the right to go play FSU if the two played on a neutral field. We don't have a playoff yet, not for 12 more months. We do know the Buckeyes have won all but two of their games by multiple scores, while Auburn's won by a single score six times (including the two luckiest, most improbable winning plays of the year). Auburn's also lost a game by 14 points. Gus Malzahn and Nick Marshall have led an immaculate rebuild, but let's not let that loss be a footnote.
So it begins. One more week. The only vital contributions to the debate going forward will be those made by the players on the field in the Big Ten and SEC championship games.
LOL.
And here is more proof that God is an Auburn fan...
After the three games I watched, the Lord might just be a Tiger's fan.
5.56mm
>> All I have to say is... may the best team win :)
I can’t argue with that, but I am kind of hoping Texas will. :-)
So you admit that the conference you are in matters along with SOS. In terms of conference rankings, I would put the SEC clearly in front followed by the PAC 12, Big 10, and Big 12. The SEC champion deserves to be in the title game, especially with only one loss.
Normally, I’d pick FSU - assuming they dispatch Duke by like 24 or more…and Ohio State beats Mich State….somewhat handily….simply because the souther teams’ speed owns the Big Ten in almost all of these games. ALMOST all.
But, if all the media would pick FSU….like they did Sou Cal over Texas in the BCS…or for example Florida over Louisville last year in that bowl….I’d go counter intuitive and pick OSU.
(and Louisville and Texas won, UL rather handily, both citing mediia coverage as a huge motivator).
Getting “dissed” by the media is worth like 14-21 points in these games, thus I’d wait and see how the national mood is. Also would want to see how the Winston affair turns out.
Oh, another factor, Braxton might get ticked at all the love for Jameis….ala all the love for Reggie Bush versus Vince Young. Young outplayed Bush.
LOL. Michigan is a shadow of its former self. Michigan was lucky to get by Akron and Connecticut.
see once again SEC gets two chances to make it to the big dance in your proposed match up.
I’d like to see the SEC champ play the PAC10 Champ for a shot at playing FSU or OSU.
"I know! Let's have a spelling contest!"
The speed was about the line not just the backfield. OSU’s offensive line couldn’t block the Gators faster defensive linemen and linebackers. So they were able to overwhelm the QB.
Very good insight.
If OSU went to the SEC they’d be #1 hands down.
Nonsense. Northern Illinois is undefeated and Fresno State just missed out on an undefeated regular season. I guess it depends on what the meaning of "qualified" is.
It’s worse than just that. The Rose Bowl is a home game for USC and UCLA three time zones away from the Mid-west. The Sugar Bowl for LSU. The Orange Bowl is home for Miami, and local for Florida teams. The Cotton Bowl for Texas.
Yep and so far the only two teams remaining are OSU and FSU. All others teams have received a big L. Now if FSU or OSU lose next week...oh man this will be a mess...especially if both lose because the SEC outcry to get back in at #2 have #3, 4, and 5 spots in the poll. Could we have an all SEC title game if both FSU and OSU lose. That would be a joke.
Kind of like Alabama, huh?
Prior to that game Michigan had lost to Penn State, Michigan State, Iowa, and Nebraska. It took them three OT's to get by Northwestern and they were fortunate to beat Akron.
Shhhh....don’t let them know about FSU having a super weak schedule. No one is complaining about that...only about OSU because they are trying to keep them from the title game...the SEC doesn’t want to face them this year they know what Meyer will do to them. After all he dominated the SEC already.
Let them think FSU is a powerhouse so if/when OSU wins it will be even sweeter.
Please read this: http://m.thepostgame.com/commentary/201208/better-without-em-northern-manifesto-southern-secession-chuck-thompson-sec-bcs
You mean the Kiffin emasculated Tennessee team??? Not a good measure . . . What about Auburn - Oregon in the title game???
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