It’s that time of year.
BCS doomsday scenarios abound. “What if Ohio State and Kansas both lose, but Hawaii runs the table?” “What if everybody wins out but Kansas can’t pass LSU in the standings?” “What if…?”
I don’t really want to hear it. I’ve let it be known before and I’ll say it again. I’m a big fan of the BCS. In my opinion, everything we love about college football would be ruined by a playoff system. Every game wouldn’t be life or death anymore, which would affect every facet of the game we all enjoy today.
I’ll always maintain the only school that can feel legitimately wronged by the BCS was Auburn in 2004, because they took care of their business. Everybody else? Win your games and you wouldn’t have had that problem.
Which makes the “everybody but Hawaii” loses scenario so interesting. As you can probably guess, I say take the two highest ranked BCS conference schools and square them off. If Hawaii can dominate a good team in the bowl game, a split title might be permissible, but they don’t deserve a shot at a solo national title. Almost every team on their schedule was somebody else’s tune up game. Going 8-0 against the WAC is akin to batting .731 in tee ball.
This week’s top 15 is brought to you by the number four, because sadly, there’s only four weeks of the wild, crazy season we’ve had remaining.
No. 1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
(10-0, def. Wisconsin 38-17) Last Week: 1
Don’t be fooled by the score, the Badgers gave OSU all they could handle in the Horseshoe Saturday. What’s impressive is the way Jim Tressel’s squad rebounded and asserted their dominance with 28 straight points.
No. 2 – Kansas Jayhawks
(9-0, def. Nebraska 76-39) Last Week: 2
76 points, and it could have been so many more. Kansas gets a chance to prove themselves to the masses against up-and-down Oklahoma State before closing with Missouri and, assuming they beat the Tigers, the Big XII Championship Game.
No. 3 – LSU Tigers
(8-1, def. Alabama 41-34) Last Week: 3
There’s nobody the Tigers D can stop right now. Fortunately for them, Nobody (Louisiana Tech) is coming to Death Valley this week, so they should be alright.
No. 4 – Oregon Ducks
(8-1, def. Arizona State 35-23) Last Week: 4
In Dixon they trust. His Heisman campaign – and Oregon’s season – almost went up in smoke with that injury. Fortunately for all of our viewing pleasure, he ended up ok.
No. 5 – Oklahoma Sooners
(8-1, def. Texas A&M 42-14) Last Week: 7
With the Kansas/Missouri winner on the schedule, the Sooners need only two of Ohio State, LSU and Oregon to lose in order to secure another championship game appearance. Just imagine what this team would be if Adrian Peterson had stuck around.
Compare with the AP poll
1. Ohio State
2. LSU
3. Oregon
4. Oklahoma
5. Kansas
6. West Virginia
7. Missouri
8. Boston College
9. Arizona State
10. Georgia
11. Virginia Tech
12. USC
13. Michigan
14. Hawaii
15. Texas
No. 6 – Missouri Tigers
(8-1, def. Colorado 55-10) Last Week: 8
Can you say look ahead game? It will be interesting to see how a team not used to being on top keeps its focus with Kansas looming in two weeks. One game at a time boys.
No. 7 – West Virginia Mountaineers
(7-1, idle) Last Week: 9
This is almost illegitimate, given that I’m watching the WVU-Louisville game right now. It’s disappointing, at the beginning of the year this game looked like it held so many title implications.
No. 8 – Arizona State Sun Devils
(8-1, lost to Oregon 35-23) Last Week: 5
They can’t cry long about that loss to Oregon. There’s no telling which UCLA team they’ll play in the Rose Bowl this weekend, but they have to prepare for the worst to keep their Pac-10 title hopes alive.
No. 9 – Georgia Bulldogs
(7-2, def. Florida 42-30) Last Week: 10
I’m a Miami Dolphins fan (brave enough to admit it too), so every time Knowshon Moreno’s name gets mentioned I find myself making a double take. I’ll need whiplash treatment if he keeps playing the way he is.
No. 10 – Connecticut Huskies
(8-1, def. Rutgers 38-19) Last Week: 11
I still don’t know what to say. Connecticut? Really? Really?
No. 11 – Michigan Wolverines
(8-2, def. Michigan State 28-24) Last Week: 12
Spartan coach Mark D’Antonio doesn’t like it when U-M’s Mike Hart refers to them as “little brother.” Reminds me of the first time I beat my brother at Super Mario Kart. My advice would be to follow suit and win next year in Ann Arbor.
No. 12 – Auburn Tigers
(7-3, def. Tennessee Tech 35-3) Last Week: 14
This team has been so close to winning so many games. The great teams figure it out, but the good teams just come to play.
No. 13 – Hawaii Warriors
(8-0, idle) Last Week: 13
Fresno and Boise still loom. If they can navigate that stretch, they’ll have earned the BCS bid. It starts against the Bulldogs this weekend on the island.
No. 14 – Boston College Eagles
(8-1, lost to Florida State 27-17) Last Week: 6
Way to play yourself out of that Heisman race Mr. Ryan. Don’t feel bad, losing to Florida State isn’t so bad… provided the year is 1999.
No. 15 – Virginia Tech Hokies
(6-2, idle) Last Week: 15
Well, at least I wasn’t disappointed in their performance for once. These guys can get some R and R with the best of them.
Dropped from the top:
NOBODY!!!
On the Fringe:
Alabama Crimson Tide (6-3), Texas Longhorns (8-2), USC Trojans (7-2), Virginia Cavaliers (8-2)
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Heisman Spotlight
Dual threat quarterback wearing No. 10. Sounds a lot like last year. But if it ain’t broke…
1. Dennis Dixon, QB, Oregon
Dixon’s gotten it done in the big ones, lets see if he can make sure they win the others. These sorts of upsets have plagued the Ducks in the past.
2. Mike Hart, RB, Michigan
Seriously, those “little brother” comments were hilarious. Points for off the field style.
3. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Funny how ye olde 323 yard game can vault a guy right back into the race.
4. James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
While teammate Todd Boeckman has been a pleasant surprise, there’s little doubt who the best player on the best defense on the No. 1 team in the country is. Only one primarily defensive player has ever won the award (Charles Woodson), but don’t sleep on the Little Animal.
5. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
You’ve had quite the year Tim. You’ll have your day in the sun soon.
Tags:
ncaa football,
ohio state football
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