Bowl Selections Announced

by Pfef on Dec 2, 2007 9:09 PM EST in Football

The BCS Bowl selections were announced today, and to not many people's surprise, the Buckeyes will take on LSU in the BCS Championship game. The rest of the match ups are as follows:

Rose: Illinois vs USC

Sugar: Georgia vs Hawaii

Orange: Virginia Tech vs Kansas

Fiesta: Oklahoma vs West Virginia

Looking at these games, with a focus on the Rose, Sugar, and BCS championship, one thing sticks out to me: The illusion that the mainstream media has cast over college football fans over the past year that the SEC is the most dominant conference in college football and that the Big Ten is "slow," has a chance to crumble to the core after this season. If (key word: if) Ohio State defeats Louisiana State, (or even gives them the fight of their lives for that matter) Illinois upsets USC, and Hawaii pulls off a miracle against Georgia, justice will be served in the NCAA.

If Ohio State, a team that will almost unquestionably enter the championship as the underdog despite their #1 ranking, makes the "superhuman" LSU team look like a normal football team, last year's loss to Florida will finally be buried in the ground for good. The stereotype of SEC supremacy will die, because the conference's top team would struggle against a "bad" conference's top team.

If Illinois can beat USC -- and do it convincingly at that -- it would mean that the Big Ten's number 2 team in a down year for the conference would have outplayed and outrun the top team in a conference perceived to be much more dominant, thus evening the playing field.

And, in a game that features no Big Ten teams, the Sugar Bowl between Hawaii and Georgia. Every year that a non-power conference team makes it to the BCS and pulls off the upset of a powerhouse, the whole college football world has to stop and think to themselves either, "Wow, if Hawaii could beat Georgia, that must mean we aren't as dominant as we thought," or "If Hawaii can do it, why can't we?" based on their team's conference. In addition, every time a major upset like Boise State over Oklahoma occurs, it brings all the more reason for implementing a playoff.

Go Bucks.

Or should I say, Geaux Buckeyes?

Bring on the Tigers.

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We got lucky

In my opinion, Oklahoma is vastly superior to LSU. LSU has proven to me a few times they can lose the game themselves. I think OU is a better team and that they got shafted.

Oh well. Better for us.

Talkin' Sports

by BlackOps on Dec 2, 2007 10:30 PM EST 0 recs

*vastly superior

Heh, I overstated that.

Talkin' Sports

by BlackOps on Dec 2, 2007 10:31 PM EST up 0 recs

The SEC...

I don't think anyone from the SEC would try to claim that the SEC will always have the best team in the nation located in their conference every year. However, the overall DEPTH of the SEC is what is usually talked about.

I don't think you could even pretend for one second that, from top to bottom, the Big 10 is anywhere close to as strong as the SEC. Look at the Top 25: There are 5 SEC teams, and only 3 Big 10 teams. And in fact, before you even get to the second ranked Big 10 team (Illinois), you have three SEC teams.

Fine, the polls are biased, because of the perception that the SEC is the strongest conference overall. Then let's look at Out of Conference wins and losses. With only 11 teams, the Big 10 has 9 Out of Conference losses. All the losses - except one, Indiana's loss to Missouri - came to teams not found even in the final top-40 BCS rankings. Teams that Big-10 teams DID lose to? Where to start... should it be Michigan, one of the traditionally strongest that lost to Appalachian State - a team that barely squeaked into the Division I-AA playoffs? Or maybe the absolute drumming by Oregon 39-7 to the same team? Oh, this is the same team that still manages to finish third in the Big-10. Well hey, let's look at some other teams. How about Iowa, that lost to a dismal Iowa State? Or maybe their loss to Western Michigan? Hrm.. how about Duke's (only) win over Northwestern? I mean, sure, Northwestern isn't exactly a Big-10 powerhouse - but they still managed to beat three Big-10 teams this season. Good for them.

So, what is the best Out of Conference opponent that the Big-10 beat? Oh, that would be Bowling State, the very last ranked team on the BCS rankings (#41). Nice.

The SEC didn't fair all that well Out of Conference this year either - but their 8 losses (distributed among 12 teams) came from mostly respectable opponents. The only two losses that the SEC suffered this season were to Louisiana-Monroe and Florida State. Those two losses are a bit hard to explain - but Alabama was pretty bad this season. Wake Forest was a weak team as well, but it was to Vandy, the perennial dirtrag of the SEC. All of the other losses were to ranked teams. In fact, no other loss came to a team outside of the top-15.

And what is the SEC's best victory? Try LSU 48-7 against the supposed third best team in the nation, Virgina Tech.

Ohio State should be the underdog. It's a shame that the Rose Bowl decided to make a mockery of itself... Georgia v. USC would have been a fun game to watch. LSU v. Ohio State might be as well. . but I'm going to have to go with LSU in a relatively straight out victory. There's a reason why SEC teams are 3-0 since the institution of the BCS. Soon to be 4-0... which, out of 10 championships, isn't bad. And if you want to be picky, one could make an argument that it should be 5 out of 10 with the 2004 fiasco.

Whether or not you like it, the SEC is the best conference for sports, football included.

by ethernal on Dec 3, 2007 12:06 AM EST 0 recs

Clarification

Ethernal --

I apologize if you misinterpreted my post. I admit I wrote it rather hastily, but my point in writing it was that the BCS bowls very well could set themselves up to level out the balance of power in college football. I would agree with you that the SEC is generally a stronger football conference than the Big Ten, but my purpose for writing was that if Ohio State, Illinois, and Hawaii can all win, it will help to resurrect the Big Ten's reputation as a slow, fastly fading conference, as well as help to alleviate the illusion that the mainstream media has painted for their northern audience that the SEC is untouchable, which I think we both can agree is a bit of a hyperbole, even though I must again state that I would agree that the SEC is the best conference from top to bottom.

by Pfef on Dec 3, 2007 10:11 AM EST up 0 recs

the SEC

While I doubt anyone will argue that the SEC is the deepest conference, it does not necessarily mean that the SEC is head and shoulders above the rest.

You mentioned the Virginia Tech win by LSU as a marquee win. However, that is the only one for the conference.

Here are the other (BCS) wins:
Georgia - Okla St (6-6) and Ga Tech (7-5); Tennessee - nobody, Florida - Fla St (7-5), Kentucky - Louisville (6-6), South Carolina - NC (4-8); Vandy - nobody; Auburn - Kansas St (5-7), Arkansas - nobody; Miss St - nobody, Alabama - nobody, Ole Miss - nobody.

Now here are the BCS losses:

South Carolina - Clemson (9-3); Vandy - Wake (8-4); Tennesee - Cal (6-6); Auburn - S. Fla (9-3), Miss St - W Virg (10-2); Alabama - Fla St (7-5), Ole Miss - Missouri (11-2)

[per your comment about losses being against ranked teams: Wake Forest, Cal, and Fla St are not in the final BCS 25 - I don't care where they were ranked at the time, that means nothing]

Now I agree the Big10 proved nothing this year. In fact they may even be the 5th or 6th best BCS conference this year. But all this superiority crud from the SEC apologists is laughable. If the SEC was so darn good, they would have beaten a lot more of those BCS schools above. What I get from that data, is that when the SEC plays good BCS schools (8 wins or better), they were only 1-4. If this dominance that is perceived to exist, that record should have been 3-2 or better.

Finally, when posting, you may ant to check your data. Illinois lost to Missouri, not Indiana. And it is Bowling Green St, not Bowling St.

by talonk on Dec 3, 2007 10:44 AM EST up 0 recs

Backed In?

I'm so sick of hearing how Ohio State "backed" in to the national championship. I'm sorry that every team ahead of them lost. I had accepted a Rose Bowl bid when OSU lost to Illi. What should OSU do? Not accept the BCS Championship bid?

by WhiteDawg on Dec 3, 2007 8:18 AM EST 0 recs

SEC hype?

Well, we're going to find out whether the SEC is hyped up or the real deal in the bowl season. It's too bad there isn't a true playoff system in Div. IA college football, or we'd find out. I think the opinion polls are garbage--as evidenced by our Buckeyes being ranked 11th in the preseason, dropping to 7th with 2 weeks to go in their regular season, then rising to the top. Then, in a similar situation with Florida last year, the polls are massaged to jump Michigan. Was it justified? Sure. Is it playing within the rules of the system? Absolutely not.

Give me a playoff system and the death of the BCS/Opinion Polls deciding who plays; otherwise it's still a mythical National Championship.

The BCS needs to evolve again to a Plus One format. That's another step closer to a true playoff; the problem is, Delaney is against it. When Delaney is against something in College Football, he has enough leverage due to the current contracts in place to nix it.

Sigh.

Tom Blogical

by Tom Blogical on Dec 3, 2007 10:30 AM EST 0 recs

Correction

...as evidenced by our Buckeyes being ranked 11th in the preseason, dropping to 7th with 2 weeks to go in their regular season, then rising to the top.

That should read (changes in bold):

...as evidenced by our Buckeyes being ranked 11th in the preseason, rising to number 1, dropping to 7th with 2 weeks to go in their regular season, then rising to the top again.

Most improbable any other year. God apparently loves the Buckeyes, and apparently hates Notre Dame. (and I'm a Catholic saying that) :-)

Tom Blogical

by Tom Blogical on Dec 3, 2007 10:34 AM EST up 0 recs

Playoffs !!

While I'd love playoffs (see my diary on how'd I'd love to set it up), the polls/opinions would still be a factor even if playoffs existed.

If an 8 team playoff is devised (6 BCS conference champs and 2 at large), you still need a system to rank teams 1-8. Also, if it is a 16 team playoff (11 conference champs, 5 at large), a ranking for the 1-16 seeds is still needed. And determining any at large teams would still need to be based on opinions/computer rankings etc.

The polls will never be completely not involved.

by talonk on Dec 3, 2007 10:48 AM EST up 0 recs

Agreed

"The polls will never be completely not involved."

Of course I agree with that, it's an obvious statement. My beef is with the polls having a DIRECT IMPACT on who gets to play in the National Title game. That. Must. Stop.

I've said it many times. College Football is the only sport in America with no tourney or playoff system to decide the National Champion on the field. It needs to change.

Tom Blogical

by Tom Blogical on Dec 3, 2007 1:11 PM EST up 0 recs

re: Agreed

While I totally agree with you, even in a seeding system of 1-8 or 1-16, the polls/computers would really impact those matchups. Using current BCS standings you'd have the following for an 8 team playoff:

1 OSU vs 9 West Virginia
2 LSU vs 7 USC
3 Va Tech vs 6 Missouri
4 Oklahoma vs 5 Georgia
(#8 Kansas gets bumped for being the 3rd Big12 team).

Let's say LSU was voted 1 instead of OSU. That matchup against USC is nasty. So the polling/computers really affect who plays where. Also, now that I think about it, Hawaii probably gets the 8 seed (due to qualifying) instead. Getting that 1 seed as a real boost then, and the polls would really play into that.

by talonk on Dec 3, 2007 1:32 PM EST up 0 recs

Agreed again...

...and I don't have a problem with the polls/computers influencing matchups prior to the playoff. The same thing occurs in College Basketball. So be it. It doesn't bother me, because nasty matchup or not, you're in the playoffs...but this does NOT directly affect the NC Game, in my opinion.

All opponents are nasty when you get into the big dance. Win, and there's no problem. Lose, and go home. End of story.

You might be able make a case for the "best 2 teams" getting matched up in the first round or second, but I don't think it happens enough to worry about. No system is perfect, but a playoff with a seeding system has been proven every year for decades to be the best sports system for determining a champion. It's a LOT better than what College Football has now.

Tom Blogical

by Tom Blogical on Dec 3, 2007 4:20 PM EST 0 recs

Really?

Until tOSU breaks its current 0-8 record against SEC teams in bowl games, I'm pretty sure that conference can toot its horn all the day long. And I fully expect the record to roll to 0-9 this year.

by questions on Dec 3, 2007 5:25 PM EST 0 recs

Yes, really.

I fully expect the record to roll to 1-8. Are you going to be back here to eat crow if that happens? Nope. But I'm sure you'll be back to rub it in if it doesn't.

Tom Blogical

by Tom Blogical on Dec 3, 2007 6:07 PM EST up 0 recs

Tame The Tigers

If you're a Buck you are one sorry ass fan. If you're from the SEC, well, I guess the same applies.

Beat LSU!

by gahnki on Dec 3, 2007 10:04 PM EST up 0 recs

You're addressing me?

If you're not addressing me, then please reply to the appropriate comment in the future, and disregard the following (except for GO BUCKS at the end).

If you are addressing me, then you obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Then again, I guess your comment speaks for itself. You can't even figure out if I'm a Buckeye fan or an SEC fan. I've been commenting here and at other Buckeye sites for quite some time.

If you "know" what the outcome of the game is going to be, then by all means, "Carnac", let us know.

Both teams are going to have nearly 2 months to prepare. Both teams are going to come out with something to prove. Both teams have a lot of talent. I still believe OSU will come out on top, based on all the college football I've seen this year, and from watching both teams play. That doesn't mean I don't think I could be wrong. I never thought Pitt would beat WVU, for example.

I've been a Buckeye fan for 31 years. Save your drive-by "sorry ass" description comments for somebody else.

GO BUCKS!!!

Tom Blogical

by Tom Blogical on Dec 4, 2007 11:17 AM EST up 0 recs

Easy does it

Gahnki actually was responding to "questions"-poster, not you. The way the nested comments show up (if more than one person respond to the same comment, they have the same indentation0, his response would have been indented again (like mine to yours are above).

by talonk on Dec 4, 2007 1:40 PM EST up 0 recs

Hence, the wording of my first sentence

talonk:

I wasn't sure who he was responding to--so I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my first sentence. (:-D)

I see the indentation differences now.

Tom Blogical

by Tom Blogical on Dec 4, 2007 2:11 PM EST up 0 recs

on the bright side. . .

with all of the negative banter from SEC posters and bloggers everywhere, there is nothing like heading over to the Michigan sites and reading their comments. The crying about Les Miles forsaking them and blaming Herbstreit, Hating on Martin and Carr, and thinking that-if they just ask-any coach, from Richt to Rodriguez to Cowher, will come running to the Blue.

That may put a smile on your face.

by The Cockroach on Dec 3, 2007 5:48 PM EST 0 recs

playoffs will never happen

the Tressel comment on playoffs were again centered around the athletes being students. He mentioned the ones that would have to be studing for medical school tests as an example. Also, for the one's vying for a spot in the NFL, they would be preparing for Senior bowls as tests for that career.

And don't forget that gigantic bowl cash cow that would be diluted. . .Since the Presidents vote for playoffs and not the fans nor the bookies, never happen.

by The Cockroach on Dec 3, 2007 8:01 PM EST 0 recs

Ah the "study" angle

While I agree that the playoffs will never happen, it's not because of the "hit the books" canard they've been pushing. Why do I think it's a canard? Two words: College Basketball. Their season is longer and they have a lot more games. They find plenty of time to study.

The fact is, Jim Delaney and the PAC 10 leveraged the BCS. They got the contracts written the way they wanted because they were reluctant to do the BCS in the first place. Without the Rose Bowl, the BCS goes bye-bye.

As a result of that, the contracts are written in the Big 10 and the PAC 10's favor. Nice cash flow and heavy veto powers as a result.

Delaney is anti-playoff. What Delaney wants for College Football, Delaney gets. THAT'S why the playoffs will never happen--despite the fact it's painfully obvious to the rest of the sports world that it's the only valid option to determining a National Championship.

Here, check out this article.

Tom Blogical

by Tom Blogical on Dec 3, 2007 8:34 PM EST 0 recs

Wow

This sounds a good news to us.

by welcommyn on Dec 4, 2007 10:44 PM EST 0 recs

The best part about all this

What I enjoy most about Ohio State playing for the title is the extra 50 days all Buckeye fans get to enjoy this season. For 50 days you can dream about championships. For 50 days you have the ultimate trump card over fans of all but one other school. For 50 days we get to watch all the ESPN talking heads force to cover Ohio State, when they clearly would rather be basking in the aura of Pete Carroll. No matter what happens on Jan. 7th all the Buckeye faithful can be proud of what Ohio State is accomplishing. Now that the sun is setting on Florida's brief championship spurt, it's becoming clear that no other school can boast a better athletic program than The Ohio State University.

My infrequent but lengthy writings about college football are at The Captain of History.

by capnhistory on Dec 8, 2007 11:30 AM EST 0 recs