PSU Volleyball: Greatest college dynasty ever?

Penn State just had to stress us all out last night. The Nittany (Lady) Lions went down 2-0, facing No. 2 Texas in the Women's Volleyball National Championship; but Penn State, like all great teams, found a way to win. Senior Megan Hodge (pictured above), AVCA Division I National Player of the Year, used her patented death stare to stun the Longhorns, and led Penn State to a wild comeback win.

It is Penn State's fourth national title, third in a row. The Lions also extended their current record win streak to 102, while giving coach Russ Rose his 1,001st career victory. This can only beg the question: Is Penn State Women's Volleyball the greatest college championship dynasty in Division 1-A history?

More below the fold...

Preview: 2009 BCS Championship Game

No. 2 Florida vs. No. 1 Oklahoma

Florida

The Question on Everyone's Mind: Can the SEC make it three in a row?

The Answer to Everyone's question: Probably, but it's definitely a level playing field this time. In 2008, Ohio State backed into the title game, getting there only due to mammoth upsets in late November and early December. LSU was No. 1 several times during the season, and wasn't given enough credit going into the game. In 2007, Ohio State had the now-famous "50 days" from its last game until the title game, while Florida was a very underrated team. This year, Oklahoma has played a game as recently as Florida, and is just as good (on paper) as the Gators. This should be a good test for both Florida and Oklahoma.

How the Gators can win: Get to Sam Bradford. Teams all year had difficulty putting pressure on the Heisman winner, while all he needs is that split second longer to make a killer throw. Florida has to jam the Sooners' receivers, while forcing Bradford to throw sooner than he wants to, and that's no small task. I have confidence that Tim Tebow and the offense will score enough points to keep pace with Oklahoma, but if the Gators' defense can't slow the Sooner attack, this will turn into a shootout. On top of all that, Oklahoma will be without Demarco Murray, the team's leading rusher. So Florida should tee off on the one-dimensional offense.

Oklahoma

The Question on Everyone's Mind: Is the Big XII a fraud?

The Answer to Everyone's question: Again, probably. I'm still giving the edge to Oklahoma, but that's only because I think Florida's defense has had trouble with good offenses. Oklahoma's is very, very good. However, the Big XII's bowl outing this season has been more embarrassing than the Big Ten's, but no one seems to care. This was labeled as the absolute best conference this year, but has seen its best teams struggle mightily against inferior competition. Missouri, Texas Tech and Texas played terrible games against only mediocre teams. But Oklahoma could throw a wrench into that perception by beating Florida.

How the Sooners can win: Bomb away. Who cares if Bradford throws an interception, or there's a fumble? Oklahoma is fielding the most prolific offense we've seen in a long time, and the scary part of it is that it's under the pro-style scheme. Alabama was able to push around the Florida defensive front. Oklahoma's line is even better, if not the best and biggest in the country. The Sooners need to use that. Get a few quick scores, and force Florida into comeback mode. That's not to say Oklahoma should play keep away, but if the Sooners can make Tim Tebow throw more than run, and get the ball down-field, the nation's leader in turnover margin will have plenty to feed on. Considering that points might come easily in this game for both teams, Oklahoma has the early advantage. Keep Bradford upright for at least 2.5 seconds per dropback, and the Sooners win.

Predictions

What will happen: I expect both teams to come out strong, but a little sloppy. Florida will probably take a lead into the locker room, but it won't feel comfortable. Alabama led Florida at the half, but we all knew the Gators were ready to pounce. Oklahoma will try to run the ball early, but find that it's much easier to throw. Bradford will throw for a pedestrian 250 yards, but make the important plays when needed. Tebow will outplay Bradford, raising doubts as to which quarterback should have won the Heisman. But Oklahoma will settle down and take advantage of its size and talent up front to muscle its way to the BCS championship.

Score: Oklahoma 36, Florida 29

**The poll (below the posts) will be open only until the game starts, so get those votes in!

More below the fold...

The BCS: A crystal football full of lies

I'm sure someone, somewhere has written or talked about this, but I haven't seen or heard it yet. Have you noticed that the garbage coming from BCS Coordinator John Swofford, has done nothing to prove that the BCS is here to help college football?

"Well, people are talking about it all the time, and that's all the justification we need to keep this system in tact for the next 10,000 years."

No, that's not a real quote from him, but it's really freaking close. The BCS has been assailed by a new wave of "what about us" gangs, mainly from the Big XII (because the Big Ten and Pac-10 aren't a bunch of whiners). Now, I have nothing personally against them, as I'm sure Penn State fans would be kicking and screaming if in Texas' position. But this isn't about them, it's about "the system."

Was there ever an intent by the BCS creators to create the most fair method to select the college football national champion? It seems less likely every day. We all know that college football is more corrupt, full of more kickbacks, favors and lobbying than the Bush Administration. It's always been like that, and always will be. I don't mind, just don't tell me it's "better" now than it was then. To who? You? Because it sure as hell isn't better for us, the fans.

I do love the quote from Swofford, after Barack Obama said he wants to see some sort of college football playoff. Swofford must go by the "Dick Cheney Majority" formula in this one: Majority = <1% of the population.

"For now, our constituencies... have settled on the current BCS system, which the majority believe is the best system yet to determine a national champion while also maintaining the college football regular season as the best and most meaningful in sports."

Of course, that formula only works if the BCS's "constituencies" are actually the fans. (They're not, but I'll get back to that in a minute)

Now, I'm not going to compare the BCS or Swofford to the Nazis or Hitler. That might be going too far. After all, the Third Reich didn't play American college football.

You know, I really wouldn't mind this system so much, if the people who run the damn thing would just admit that they are in it for the money, and have no intention of improving college football's method of naming a national champion.

Swofford better stop this bullshit of portraying us, the college football fans, as his constituencies. We're not; we never were. Those constituencies are the bowl games, presidents and corporate sponsors burning a hole in your wallet. So the BCS should stop pretending to care what we want, because it doesn't. If it or Swofford did care, we'd be saying "buh-bye BCS."

More below the fold...

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in

So, you assumed–as any rational college football fan would–that once Penn State gagged away the Iowa game, the Nittany Lions were essentially eliminated from the National Title picture. Wrong, as some writers are already coming up with clever ways in which Penn State could actually still play for all the Miami beans.

The occasionally brilliant Pete Fiutak, from CFN:

"This isn’t as crazy as it might appear. Remember, Ohio State was a distant seventh in the BCS rankings last year at this time and it didn’t get anywhere near the respect that Penn State receives. Compared to others on this list, the No. 68 schedule ranking isn’t horrific, but being in the Big Ten hurts. When the dust settles there will likely be wins over just four teams that’ll end up going bowling, and the non-conference games against Coastal Carolina and Temple would haunt the argument. However, it’s not like the Nittany Lions got blasted by Iowa. It took a last-second field goal on the road to lose, while a case could be made that the loss in Iowa City was better than Florida’s loss at home to Ole Miss and USC’s loss at Oregon State. The win at Ohio State was as good as anything Florida and Alabama has come up with so far."

The usually punkish Dennis Dodd, from Sportsline:

"All is not lost for Penn State. There is a convoluted way that Joe Paterno can get to the national championship game.
1. Penn State wins out to go 11-1
2. Alabama loses to at least two of the three: Mississippi State, Auburn and Florida.
3. Texas Tech loses to Oklahoma and Baylor.
4. Oklahoma State defeats Oklahoma.
5. Missouri defeats Texas in the Big 12 title game.
6. USC loses once more to either Stanford, Notre Dame or UCLA.
7. Utah loses to San Diego State or BYU.
That would leave Florida No. 1 at 12-1. Bama, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Texas and USC would each have at least two losses. An undefeated Utah might not be a threat anyway but a loss to BYU ends the Utes' hope for making a miraculous run to the national championship game. The only possible No. 2 would be Penn State. Hey, I told you it was convoluted."

Bill Kao, from Bleacher Report:

"People....Stop laughing. There is still a slim chance that Penn State could end up playing in Miami for the National Championship. Remember, Ohio State last year was ranked #7 in the BCS poll last year at the same time and ended up in the Championship game so there is HOPE. Here is what will happen so let's all pray.
Nov 15 - Texas (3) vs Kansas: Kansas beats Texas and PSU moves up 1 spot to #7
Nov 22 - BYU (17) vs UTAH (7): Go Mormons and see below...
Nov 22 - Texas Tech (2) vs Oklahoma (5): Bob Stoops is 60-2 at home and TT's luck runs out. PSU moves to #6
Nov 29 - Florida (4) vs FSU (19): FSU is due for a win over the Gators. Why not.
Nov 29 - Oklahoma (stays at 5 with win against TT) vs Oklahoma St (#13): Oklahoma St cowboys Oklahoma at home.
Nov 29 - ND vs USC (6): This will be the only time that I am a ND fan. Claussen goes home and show's off his arm. PSU moves to #3 with loss from Florida, Oklahoma and USC.
Dec 6 - Big 12 Title game - Texas Tech (2) vs Missouri (12): Chase Daniel goes for the Heisman and throws for 500 yards.
Dec 6 - SEC title game - Alabama (1) vs Florida (5): Tim Tebow runs over Nick Saban and earns his 2nd Heisman Trophy.
Jan 8th - FLORIDA(1) VS PENN STATE (2)
NATIONAL CHAMPS: PENN STATE and Joe Paterno retires."

Chew on that for a while.

More below the fold...

Why Penn State should now be No. 2

As No. 1 Texas lost tonight in Lubbock, coupled with No. 8 Florida's demolition of No. 6 Georgia, I immediately started the inevitable argument: Who should be No. 2 now? I came up with a few reasons why Penn State shouldn't get jumped by any other team this week, specifically Texas Tech or Florida.

1. Texas Tech's win wasn't as impressive as Penn State's in Columbus. Tech won a night game, at home, against a Texas team that was a bit overrated overall, and very overrated on defense. State won a night game, away, in a stadium where the home team only lost three games since 2001, against an Ohio State team that wasn't overrated overall, but definitely underrated on defense coming into the game. Texas Tech also made several costly mistakes, like turnovers, penalties and gave up many big plays for scores. Penn State played a very clean game, away remember, without turnovers, no penalties and never gave up even a touchdown.

2. Florida already lost a game, at home, to a very mediocre Mississippi squad. In college football, you must win your games first, then argue for a spot in the National Championship game. Until there aren't any undefeated BCS-conference teams (Alabama, Penn State and Texas Tech are the only three left), you have no place in the title picture. Should Bama, PSU or Tech fall, then Florida can reenter the race.* And if the final polls come down to which team's loss was "better" or "worse," then the check list goes: 1. Home loss, or away loss? 2. How good or bad was the other team? 3. Was the game result close, and was the entire game close?

3. Penn State's schedule is tougher than the doubters suggest. Have you noticed that every time anyone (ahem, Mark May, Desmond Howard & Co.) runs down Penn State's "soft" non-conference schedule, they always leave out that pesky team from Corvallis? Yeah, Penn State embarrassed that same Oregon State team which beat Southern California. Throw in Ohio State, Wisconsin (yes, still a tough place to play) and Illinois, and you've got a decent schedule. Florida lost to Ole Miss, and beat very clearly overrated LSU and Georgia teams, neither of which were true road wins. I'm not saying Florida's schedule was easier than Penn States, just not hard enough to jump an undefeated Penn State in the rankings.

So there you go. Argue all you want. That's what college football is about, "every week is a playoff," right?

*This situation should actually remedy itself. Should Bama go undefeated, and Florida wins out, they'll meet in the SEC title game, eliminating one of them from NC consideration. Plus, Texas Tech will have to run the table, which would be very impressive, earning the Red Raiders their spot in the NC game above any one-loss team.

**On Alabama: while I do believe Penn State could beat Alabama, the Crimson Tide gets my nod for No 1 right now. That's not due to the lack-luster win over Arkansas State (which Penn State bumped from its 2008 schedule in favor of Oregon State, just saying), but because they have a slightly better resume, right now, than the Nittany Lions.

More below the fold...

A message from Buckeye Battle Cry

Jeff over at the BBC has been a gracious opposing fan. He's smart. You see, Jeff understands that if Penn State is the Big Ten's only chance to redeem itself in the BCS national championship game, then the entire conference must rally behind the Lions.

From Jeff, yes, an Ohio State Buckeyes fan:

Dear Zombie Nation fans (and all fans of Penn State);

Last weekend's game was amazing. Going into the game, I knew it would be a battle. Hell, I knew that going into the SEASON, but I didn't expect the Lions to be this formidable of an opponent.

One play separated the Buckeyes from victory, and that one play went your way because you made it happen. Terrelle Pryor was stripped of the ball by an outstanding play, and the Nittany Lions sprinted to the loose ball and drove the field for the game-winning score.

We were not "robbed", we were not cheated, and neither team should ever hang their head after a game like that. Both teams played incredibly. But those types of games come down to one play, and when that play occurred, Penn State outhustled the Buckeyes and came away with the victory.

Our most sincere congratulations go out to you.

The Buckeye Battle Cry, like most Ohio State fans who are wise in the ways of football, holds no ill will to our brothers from the east. We wish you the best as the eventual new champions of the Big Ten.

To you, we say "GO GET 'EM".

Go take care of business in Iowa, then come home and beat the daylights out of Indiana and Michigan State. Get that 12-0, and get your asses into the BCS National Championship game!

And when you take that field in the title game, Buckeye fans will stand proudly by your side as you bring that trophy back to our conference where it belongs.

Last Saturday, we may have been enemies. But as you venture forward to represent the Big Ten, I proudly say "WE ARE....PENN STATE"!

Bring it home, guys. We're with you.

Jeff
The BBC

More below the fold...

Thought the Big Ten wasn't any good?

So, if the Big Ten is so horrible, and doesn't deserve any respect whatsoever, then why was it more popular than the freaking World Series? Yeah, I know it was the Rays and Phillies, but come on. I thought the Big Ten wasn't worth a penny. No so fast, my friends! From GoPSUsports.com:

"Penn State's thrilling 13-6 win at No. 10 Ohio State delivered the seventh-highest number of viewers ever for an ABC primetime regular season college football telecast.

According to data from ESPN, 7.35 million TV households tuned into the clash last Saturday night, as the No. 3 Nittany Lions scored 10 points in the final 6:25 to improve to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten. Penn State held the Buckeyes to their lowest point total at home since a 6-0 loss to Wisconsin in 1982 and the Lions won their 10th consecutive game, tied with Texas Tech for the nation's longest winning streak."

And if you want to take it one step further, how then, did the Penn State win over Ohio State garner more viewers than all but SIX ABC college football broadcasts ever aired? I for sure thought the SEC games, or the Big XII games would be so mammoth, so grand, that a pesky little Big Ten regular season game wouldn't come close. Ha!

Face it, ESPN, you need Penn State and the Big Ten. ESPN has been using us as a media punching bag for the better part of three years now, and have already begun your quest to doom Penn State's national title legitimacy. But what the national media has cleverly swept under the carpet, is that Penn State draws viewers, and boosts ratings. But I'm sure this will turn into just another version–well, we PSU fans hope–of 1986. Yeah, remember that year? Penn State was the weak Eastern football lot, without a chance in hell of beating the bigger, faster, future-NFL roster Miami Hurricanes–1986's version of this year's Texas, Alabama or Florida. Penn State proved them all wrong. Will ESPN look bad, yet again? Maybe... maybe.

More below the fold...

Penn State fans' new favorite team

Go Tigers! Do I really need to explain why?

More below the fold...

A one-loss PSU could share National Title

I was thinking today, if Penn State loses to Ohio State in two weeks, how can they win at least a share of the National Championship? Well, there are a thousand ways, but I thought this was the most interesting. Let's assume every MNC contender loses one game, if they haven't already. That's the BCS's and the pollsters' worst nightmare. Between the pro-SEC and pro-Big XII biases, those two would get in under my train of thought, relegating Penn State to the Rose Bowl. So how can they do it? Let's find out one way they could.

The set up, End of the regular season:

Penn State goes 11-1, loses a close game at Ohio State, which also goes 11-1.
Missouri goes 12-1, w/ surprising second win over Texas in Big XII Title Game.
Texas goes 12-2, w/2 losses to Missou, one in Big XII Title Game.
Florida goes 12-1 w/ win over Bama in SEC Title Game.
Alabama goes 12-1 w/ loss to UF in SEC Title Game.
Oklahoma doesn't get to Big XII Championship game, so they're out.
USC goes 11-1, can't escape that Oregon St. loss, and a weak Pac-10, so they're out.

The bowl selections:

Rose: Penn State (11-1) vs. USC (11-1) No one wants an OSU/USC rematch, so PSU is the default selection. Penn State beats red-hot USC by 14+.
Fiesta: Texas (12-2) vs. Alabama (12-1) Texas beats Bama in a good game.
Sugar: Ohio State (11-1) vs. Utah, or some other undefeated non-BCS team. Ohio State wins.
Orange: Big East winner vs. ACC winner. Outcome doesn't matter.
BCS Title Game: Florida (12-1) vs. Missouri (12-1) SEC fans will scream that Bama deserves a shot, but we'll all laugh at them. Missouri wins by a hair.

Ok, so that's where we are. Now for the reasoning. Missouri wins the BCS National Title, in a sloppy, close game over Florida, which makes the Bama loss to the Gators look worse, but Bama loses to Texas anyway, so it doesn't matter. Both SEC teams are out of contention. Texas recently lost to Missouri in the Big XII title game, and no team will win the championship without even winning its own conference. Texas is out. Ohio State, the Big East champs and the ACC champs were never in it. USC loses by a relatively big margin to Penn State. USC's out. Now, if Penn State loses a close game, I mean like 1-2 points, at Ohio State, and Ohio State finished the season on a dominating run, but can't get away from the USC loss, Penn State will have a fantastic shot at being named the AP National Champions.

In college football, it's all about perception. Penn State's loss at Ohio State will look better than Missouri's loss at home to Oklahoma State, especially if the Cowboys turn out to be a 9-3 sort of team. Penn State would HAVE TO beat USC by two touchdowns, and never let the game be in doubt. If that all happens, the Nittany Lions could very well be celebrating a some-what meaningless AP National Championship.

Remember, this is purely hypothetical, and one of the very few ways Penn State could win the AP title. If one of the things I said, does not happen, then it doesn't work. I get that. And I realize that all those other teams could lose games by the end of the season, which would get Penn State in almost automatically. But my scenario assumes all those teams lose one game only. So, if you have other coherent ideas of how PSU could win the AP with one loss, please comment. This is the kind of fun stuff we can talk about now, so let'er rip.

More below the fold...

One Loss And We're Not Out

I came across this picture today, showing Penn State's offense lined up against a Dan Marino-led Pittsburgh team in 1982, and it made me think. Everyone's so worried about losing to Ohio State--nothing suggests we will win--in Columbus, which would effectively end our National Championship hopes. Wrong. During the '82 regular season, Penn State was clobbered by Alabama 42-21 in Tuscaloosa. A few months later, the Nittany Lions were National Champions. I'm not saying PSU will definitely win the MNC this year, but don't freak out if the only loss is to Ohio State in the 'Shoe. In fact, Ohio State could beat USC, then as No. 1 or 2 beat PSU, then lose to another Big Ten team in November--ehem, Illinois. If the only PSU loss was to an undefeated top-ranked OSU team in October, it would not hurt the Lions' ranking as much as a late-season letdown for Ohio State. And as we all saw last season, cards fall in tricky places, and PSU could very well end up in the NC with only one loss. Just thought I'd mention that.

Dammit, I just spilled Kool-Aid all over the desk!

More below the fold...

The Definition of Rediculous

As we actually begin to think the United States government can't get much worse, they go ahead and waste our tax money on this. Oh, wait, they probably used the borrowed money from China to fund it.

Full story below:

WASHINGTON -- Forget government corruption or corporate fraud. Three members of Congress want the Justice Department to investigate whether college football's Bowl Championship Series is an illegal enterprise.

Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) are introducing a resolution rejecting the oft-criticized bowl system as an illegal restriction on trade because only the largest universities compete in most of the major bowl games. The resolution would require Justice's antitrust division to investigate whether the system violates federal law.

The measure would also put Congress on record as supporting a college football playoff.

"Who elected these NCAA people? Who are they to decide who competes for the championship?" Abercrombie said at a press conference Thursday on Capitol Hill, gripping a souvenir Hawaii football.

Abercrombie said the matter is worthy of federal review because college football is big business with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake.

"It's money. That's what this is all about," he said.

But it's no coincidence that all three lawmakers have home-state schools with recent beefs against the bowl system.

Hawaii and Boise State University in Idaho each had an undefeated season in recent years but were denied a shot at the championship. And Westmoreland said he is still smarting about his Georgia Bulldogs being passed over for the national championship game last year.

Georgia instead was matched up against undefeated Hawaii in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, winning 41-10.

Westmoreland and Abercrombie said they started talking about the resolution after that game, as Abercrombie was paying off a bet with chocolate-covered macadamia nuts.

The lawmakers say the bowl system is rigid and blocks all but the largest universities from competing in postseason bowls, denying dozens of others not just the opportunity to compete but also a shot at the big payoffs and national exposure that come with bowl appearances.

Abercrombie maintained that television markets are one factor in selecting which teams go to high-profile bowls.

"We shouldn't have to argue about who the champion is," Westmoreland said, citing the excitement and unpredictability of the NCAA college basketball tournament. "That should be decided on the field."

The BCS was created in 1998 by the six most powerful conferences. It relies on polls and computer ratings to determine which teams qualify for the top bowls.

Congress held a hearing on the BCS in 2005, but no legislation came of it.

In a statement, ACC commissioner and current BCS administrator John Swofford said the BCS allows all qualified teams to participate and is beneficial for student-athletes, universities and fans.

"This issue has been looked at before," Swofford said. "We're confident that it complies with the law."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

More below the fold...

Remember When :: The last time PSU was ranked No. 1 by ANYONE

Does anyone else find this utterly disturbing? If Penn State doesn't reach No. 1 at some point during the 2008 football season--I know, don't hold my breath--it will be the tenth anniversary in 2009 since the last time the Nittany Lions were second to none.

That's right, it has been nine years since Penn State went into the 1999 season ranked No. 1 by many, including this retro SI.com preview.

It's unprecedented in the Joe Paterno era for Penn State to go more than a decade's time without a No. 1 ranking. There is some hope, though, surrounding this year's team. I'm the first to say that I will drink the cool aid if it's given to me by Evan Royster, Maurice Evans, Sean Lee and AQ. But again, that's only if they stir it up and pour the glasses. There's really no point to this post, except that when I found that SI preview link, it got me thinking... is Penn State really that far removed from its illustrious past? Looks like we'll find out in 2008.

More below the fold...

Article of the day

One of my favorite weekly standards, Pete Fiutak's Cavalcade of Whimsy tackles the Big Ten bashfest going on everywhere. I think he hits the nail on the head. His articles are usually very long (but very good), so I'll leave out a bunch of stuff here. So feel free to go and read the rest there.

If this column sucks, it’s not my fault … I wasn’t even able to win my own division outright, much less my conference championship, but I feel like I should’ve been playing for the national title after destroying an overrated Hawaii team that had its head out over its skis. Because I didn’t get a chance to play for the whole ball of wax, I want to overhaul the column and push forward a playoff system. I'm also writing up a formal proposal to turn back time so I can then benefit from the new format.

The brake pedal is the one on the left … Great, now I have to look like Mr. Big Ten again.

Has there ever been a backlash like the one against the Big Ten for having the temerity to lose a second straight national championship game? Columnists and radio talk show hosts across the country couldn’t shovel dirt on the league and Ohio State fast enough after the bowls, like getting whacked LSU is like losing to Appalachian State or Duke at home.

Well, the Big Ten did lose to Appalachian State (Michigan) and Duke (Northwestern) at home, but that doesn’t mean the conference is somewhere between the MAC and Conference USA on a national perception scale, as a my-dog-just-died looking Kirk Herbstriet said.

Look, if a fully healthy, fully rested LSU wasn’t the best team in America, it was a close number two, and you’d have been nuts not to think it'd probably beat any of the 118 D-I/FBS teams on that Monday night in the Superdome. Georgia certainly would’ve given LSU a fight (and I sort of think Missouri would, too), but a 99% healthy USC is probably the one team that truly has a claim to being the best in the country. The Big Ten shouldn’t be killed for getting blown out by a healed and fired up Trojan team in Pasadena; Illinois just so happened to be the team that got in the way of the speeding bus.

Second, to compare this year’s BCS Championship to last year’s is simply moronic. The Buckeyes were completely and totally outclassed, outhustled, outcoached and outplayed by Florida in every way shape and form in the Glendale debacle. Against LSU, they had several chances to turn the game around, but in the end, they just lost to a better team after battling hard for a full sixty minutes. This game was nowhere near as bad as the embarrassment against the Gators.

Third, the Michigan win over Florida and the Wisconsin and Michigan State performances have somehow been swept under the rug. The Badgers played Tennessee right down to the wire in a dead-even battle that just so happened to come out on the wrong side for the Big Ten. If nothing else, the game showed how there really isn’t a speed and athleticism disparity among the top teams. The Spartans, a lower division Big Ten team, played ACC No. 2 Boston College down to the wire in a loss. And, of course, Michigan got Chad Henne and Mike Hart healthy, and voile, the offense worked against the Gators.

No one’s saying the Big Ten is remotely close to being as good as the SEC right now. This year, I’d put the Big 12 number two, but in a sort of challenge, going from top to bottom, I’d take the Big Ten over the Pac 10 thanks to a better midsection, and I’d sure as heckfire put the league ahead of the ACC and the Big East. No, compared to several other teams, Ohio State probably didn’t belong in the national title based on the overall schedule, but if West Virginia had beaten Pitt or if Missouri had beaten Oklahoma, Jim Tressel would’ve likely been holding the crystal ball over his head while preparing to do future battles with the Les Miles-led Wolverines. This really wasn't a bad Ohio State team.

While we’re at it, let’s be honest here about all the outpouring of love going to the SEC for its bowl season. Georgia was terrific, no question about it, but every Big Ten bowl team would’ve beaten Hawaii. Every Big Ten bowl team, other than probably Indiana, would’ve beaten UCF (who lost to Mississippi State), a depleted Florida State (who lost to Kentucky) and Colorado (who lost to Alabama). With Arkansas mailing it in after Houston Nutt left and Darren McFadden ready to take his Escalade to the NFL, it probably would’ve lost to all the Big Ten bowl teams but Indiana and Purdue. I’d take Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan over Clemson, who lost to Auburn, but I would’ve taken the Tigers over Michigan State, Penn State, Indiana and Purdue.

On the flip side, I’d take USC, who beat Illinois, over every SEC team but LSU in the Rose Bowl, and the Trojan-Tiger game would’ve probably been a coin flip. With the way Oklahoma State came out with everything working in the Insight Bowl against Indiana, it would’ve likely beaten Mississippi State, Alabama, Arkansas and Kentucky, as would Boston College, who beat Michigan State. Yeah, all the SECers would’ve beaten Central Michigan (who lost to Purdue), but Texas A&M, who put up a mega-fight against Penn State, would’ve likely beaten most of the second-tier SEC bowl teams.

Again, I’m not saying the Big Ten is in the same ballpark as the SEC. The league just wasn’t as bad as you’re probably making it out to be.

The voice of reason, however loud it may be at times, somehow gets lost in the constant chest thumping of the SEC fanbase. I really wish people would shut up for once second and hear out the argument, SEC fans. Oh well, I should have the "Waaayyy too early 2008 Preseason Top-25" later today, so check back then.

More below the fold...

OSU vs. LSU, a side-by-side position comparison

Here's how the two top teams match up by position. The obvious edge goes to OSU, but that doesn't necessarily mean one team is overall better than the other. Also, check out Zombie Nation's full BCS National Championship Preview.

QB-LSU get's the QB edge due to Ryan Perrilloux.
RB-Chris Wells is head-and-shoulders better than all LSU backs combined.
WR-LSU only really has one good WR. Holliday is more of a slasher.
OL-Duh.
CB-Only a slight edge to Malcolm Jenkins and Co.
S-Craig Steltz has bailed out LSU numerous times.
LB-OSU has much more than just Laurinaitis. LSU only has Highsmith.
DL-If Dorsey is healthy, this one's a runaway, but don't underestimate Gholston.
K-Tressel's teams are built on this aspect.
P-Same with this one, too. Trappasso will go pro.
C-Although conservative Mr. Sweatervest can be dull, he knows how to win the big ones when it counts. 2006 was just one game.
E-Nearly all of OSU's players saw action in last year's BCS title game.
H-LSU's been banged up since September.
Cr-This one is only a sliver away from going OSU, but in New Orleans, LSU is comfy.

More below the fold...

The BCS: A Playoff in Disguise

Georgia could have played for the BCS title.

USC could have played for the BCS title.

If Oklahoma wins just as big, throw them in, too.

LSU and Ohio State are playing for the BCS title.

You know what, all of those teams are—or have just finished—playing for the BCS title. No, I haven’t officially lost it, even after suffering through two of the worst New Years Day games ever. In fact, I’ve just had a moment of clarity unlike any other. The 2007-08 BCS games are a playoff, a weird, demented playoff—for the 2008-09 BCS title that is.

In college basketball, tournament seeding is everything. If a team is seeded No. 1 or No. 2, they have a decided advantage over the lower-seeded teams. And while basketball actually allows teams to play their way to the title, each team’s position going into the tournament has everything to do with their chances of getting to the title game.

Now, look at the BCS. Georgia just blew out an undefeated Hawai’i team, and USC obliterated Illinois. If you want to take it one step further, Missouri pantsed Arkansas. And if Oklahoma tears apart West Virginia, they’ll be in this same boat. Sure, none of those teams moved closer to playing for this season’s title, but they vastly improved their chances for making it into next season’s. More likely than not, Georgia will roll into the 2008 preseason rankings somewhere in the top-5, along with USC and the winner of the LSU/OSU game—or both if it’s a close came. Missouri will round it out somewhere in the preseason top-10, and if Oklahoma wins, count them into the top-10 also, if not No. 1 or No. 2. Had Georgia, USC or Missou played poorly or lost, they wouldn’t get the preseason accolades they’re in line for right now. If the BCS title game turns into it’s 2007 predecessor—for either team—the loser will have a long climb up the polls, come the 2008 season.

However, this sounds a lot like the old poll system. Scary stuff, considering the BCS taunts itself as the be-all-end-all answer to college football’s age old question of “who’s number one.” Back then, if a team won it’s bowl game, they would have to wait and hope the pollsters chose them as worthy enough for the title. The only difference between then and now is that the decision is postponed until August, and the title is actually the following season.

Preseason polls are too powerful, too influential in college football—a sport in which “each week is a playoff.” Those polls are the very life blood for most title runs. In 2004, Auburn was buried by the AP at No. 17. USC and Oklahoma both began the season ranked No. 1 and No. 2. In 2004, Auburn defeated No. 4 LSU, No. 8 Tennessee in Knoxville, No. 5 Georgia, No. 15 Tennessee in the SEC Championship Game, and then No. 10 Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Oklahoma defeated No. 5 Texas in Dallas, No. 20 Oklahoma State away, No. 22 Texas A&M in College Station, and got blown away by USC. USC defeated No. 7 California, No. 19 Arizona State, and blew away Oklahoma. The only reason Auburn was kept from playing for the 2004-05 national title was their low preseason ranking. The Tigers’ schedule was tougher, their wins more impressive and their performance more consistent, week in and week out.

Fast forward to August 2007, when USC was ranked No. 1, LSU No. 2, Oklahoma No. 8, Ohio State No. 11, Georgia No. 13, and Missouri receiving 128 votes in the AP poll, placing them just below No. 25 Texas A&M. You already know where I’m going with this one. The two teams playing for the 2007-08 BCS national title also happened to be the second and fourth highest ranked of those the teams claiming they’re deserving of this season’s title. USC lost to Stanford, which validates their exclusion outright and at Oregon. Oklahoma lost at Colorado and at Texas Tech. Georgia lost to South Carolina and Tennessee. Missouri lost to Oklahoma, twice. All of those teams lost twice, and Ohio State lost once, to Illinois. So Ohio State is essentially omitted from this argument. But if you look at LSU, which lost to mediocre Kentucky and Arkansas teams, and barely got by Tennessee in the SEC title game, the major factor propelling that team to the title game was its lofty preseason ranking.

The voters wanted LSU in the title game. They hated Missouri at No. 1, and despised South Florida and Boston College at No. 2. Even California and Oregon were sketchy at No. 2, in the pollsters’ minds. What about Kansas at No. 3? Forget about it, they found a reason to throw them back down after their single loss of the season.

So the next time someone tells you “In college football, every week is a playoff,” you tell them “Yeah, for next season’s title.”

I want to see a playoff, and I want to see the polls count for nothing until the first week of October. However, I also want to see Notre Dame join a conference, and FBS (D-1A) drop about 50 teams to FCS (D1-AA). But unless the SEC realizes it’s not “faster,” Charlie Weis loses about 200 pounds, or Penn State is rightfully given the 1994 National Championship, nothing will change any time soon.

More below the fold...