BCS Blunder
No matter what kind of post-season system there is, some team is going to feel left out or ripped off. But here are the reasons why LSU made it to the National Championship game as a two-loss team, and they are pretty hard to argue with.
1. The case against Georgia
Georgia had two losses in the SEC just like the Tigers, but their brutal loss to Tennessee put them in second place in the SEC East, which meant they did not even win their division. So why should a team who did not win their conference let alone their division play for a National Championship, especially when the Tigers now have one more win than the Bulldogs and won their conference? Exactly, they shouldn’t. The Dawgs are playing great ball and they will kill Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. They got a BCS bid without even winning their division, be happy about that.
2. Oklahoma won the Big 12, but not enough for the Title Game
After their first loss to unranked Colorado, the Sooners had been playing some great football. They only lost by one touchdown to Texas Tech, beat Missouri twice and won their conference. They ended the season with two losses and a conference title just like the Tigers, but we can’t forget that LSU’s two losses were in triple overtime. The Tigers were undefeated in regulation. Neither Colorado nor Tech was ranked when the Sooners lost to them. LSU lost to then #17 Kentucky and, yes, an unranked Arkansas team, but you can also look at it as LSU lost to two Heisman candidates….in triple overtime.
3. Hokies?
LSU has been a highly touted team this entire season, and they definitely made a huge statement in their 48-7 massacre against then ninth ranked Virginia Tech back in September. The Hokies also finished with two losses and an ACC Championship title, but how could anyone but Frank Beamer vote for them to go as number two to the National Championship game because of their loss to the Tigers? This shouldn’t have even been an issue. They had quality losses against LSU and Boston College, but there is no doubt that LSU was the better team to go. LSU already won this match-up three months ago.
The Tigers beat six ranked teams this season and a Heisman Trophy Winner in Florida’s Timmy Tebow. They won an SEC Championship, which is widely considered to be the toughest conference in the nation, and deserve their spot in New Orleans.
If any team has complaining rights, it’s Missouri. Georgia backed into the Sugar Bowl because the SEC representative, LSU, was upgraded to the National Championship game. The Sooners are back in the Fiesta Bowl and the Hokies are going down to Miami, but where is Missouri? Missouri beat Kansas to go to the conference title game against the Sooners and gets stuck in the Cotton Bowl, while Kansas gets a nice trip to the beach and the Orange bowl. Kansas did not win their division! To any fan or football fanatic, how is this right? Missouri has two losses to Oklahoma and Kansas only has one loss to Mizzou, but Missouri had to play one more game than the Jayhawks and it happened to be for a conference title and their second loss. So Kansas gets a BCS bid when they did not win their division, and Mizzou, who won their division, gets to go to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl against Arkansas.
So think about it like this, should you really be complaining where your team is going this year? No, unless you are from Missouri.
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7 Responses to “BCS Blunder”
December 10th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Yeah, I’ll agree that Georgia should be grateful we got a BCS bid. But, is it so wrong to want more than is given to you?
December 13th, 2007 at 2:35 am
I believe what you are asking is, “Is it wrong to want more than you deserve?”
Then my answer is yes.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
I’m gonna say this before I throw my comments out there:
I’M NOT LOOKING TO PICK A FIGHT.
okay, with that said, I like how the LSUers are making up their own rules as they go along. Like:
“Georgia’s losses are worse than LSU’s because LSU, after all, lost both their games in triple overtime whereas Georgia lost in regulation. If that’s your argument, LSU, you have a national title you need to give up to USC. In 2003, LSU and USC both had one loss. USC’s was to Cal in overtime, at Cal. LSU’s loss was in regulation, a 19-7 decision against the Gators in Baton Rouge. So, USC was “undefeated in regulation” in 2003 and didn’t even get a chance to play for the national title. Was that fair? Of course not.
I don’t want to sound like I’m attacking LSU. LSU is a wildly talented football team who is a formidable opponent for any team, although they haven’t played like it recently. Both LSU and Georgia have legitimate arguments for their positions. The problem is that each argument advanced for either side has a sound counterargument. Neither team can claim the spot with a clear conscience.
The bottom line here is that the system is hopelessly flawed and anyone claiming a “national championship” should do so with a smirk. There is no logic to this season and no logic to picking its “champion.”
BTW, YES, I am over the fact that LSU is in and not Georgia. I have a feeling someone will attack me for being emo or something and tell me to stop whinning. Believe me, I’m over it. As stated before, I’m not picking a fight just stating my view. (That is what a blog is for afterall)
Thanks for your time,
Good luck,
Dave
December 19th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Dave you make an interesting point about USC in 2003…..however, it’s easy to claim that the national championship means nothing when your team isn’t in it…..
Let’s be honest - if Georgia won a BCS Championship you would be saying it with more then a “smirk”……just like the rest of us you would be sticking your chest out and pumping up your team….
With that said though - nice comments.
GO BUCKS!
December 19th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
In 2003 USC did lose to Cal in overtime and LSU’s lost to Florida was in regulation. But was Cal or Flordia the higher rankend team? I believe Florida was the stronger team.
After LSU’s one loss in the regular season, they went on to beat number five ranked Georgia to once again win the SEC. And I know you will agree with me here, that LSU won the strongest conference in the nation. USC did not have to win a conference championship and lost to a lower ranked team.
Some fans might want to call it a split-national championship, but I just say we have the crystal trophy and won the national title game.
Thanks for all your comments. You’re right, no fighting here, just stating our views and I’m glad you keep coming back!
December 19th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
And, when you say LSUers argue that our losses were in overtime and that is our only argument, that is not true. My biggest argument against Georgia is that they did not win their division and did not even compete for the SEC title. It doesn’t matter how many losses the Dawgs have or if the losses were bad or quality losses, it is the fact they did not even win their divison.
January 13th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Great discussion, I will say this.
In this “format” the right 2 teams went to the title game. In this “format” each year (more or less) there have been some sort of snubs. In this “format” there will always be some sort of doubt.
I have followed college football for probably longer than I should have (if you don’t believe me ask my wife she will confirm it), and there is always going to be the “what if” to it. Do I like the system of the BCS? No, but the reality is that right now that is the system/format that is being used.
Expect to see the “plus one” (which won’t solve much), but not a playoff soon. So what does that truly change? Nothing and the “what if” will continue (and in a way isn’t that the fun of football?)
AEM
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