Controversial finish: USC No. 1 in polls, third in BCS

[arthurracoon]

SUGAR: LSU vs. OU
ROSE: Mischigan vs. USC
FIESTA: K-state vs. Ohio State
ORANGE: FSU vs. Miami

---------------------

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/6902840

College football fans, get ready to crown not just one, but possibly two national champions.

That's because the computer rankings had Oklahoma as the country's top team Sunday while the human poll voters picked Southern California.

Despite getting walloped by Kansas State 35-7 on Saturday night, Oklahoma will take its 12-1 record to the Sugar Bowl against LSU, which won the Southeastern Conference championship by beating Georgia 34-13.

The winner in New Orleans on Jan. 4 automatically captures the coaches' title under Bowl Championship Series format.

USC, which finished third in the BCS rankings, could win The Associated Press championship by beating No. 4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl, with a split national title certain to leave more people calling for a playoff.

The No. 1 team in the AP poll has never dropped after winning its bowl game. The USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll must give its championship to the Sugar Bowl winner.

The BCS was started in 1998 to create a national title game without playoffs.

When the BCS contract expires after the 2005 season, a one-game championship might be instituted after the bowls. That would be too late to fix this year's mess.

In the final BCS standings, Oklahoma was first with 5.11 points based on its top spot in five of the seven computers, the 11th-toughest schedule and a quality win over Texas. The Sooners were third in both polls.

LSU (12-1) was second with 5.99, edging out USC (11-1) by 0.16 in the second closest finish in the six-year history of the BCS. Nebraska beat Colorado by 0.05 in 2001.

The Trojans got 79 of the 128 first-place votes in the polls but finished third in five computers because of a weak Pac-10 schedule.

LSU was second in the polls and six computers and edged out USC based on a tougher schedule. LSU and USC were each picked first in one computer.

The Tigers' spot in the title game wasn't assured until Boise State beat Hawaii at 3 a.m. ET Sunday. The Trojans' strength of schedule was hurt because they beat Hawaii in September.

The dream matchup for the Rose Bowl, a traditional pairing of Big Ten and Pac-10 champions with national title implications, is the doomsday scenario for the BCS.

It's the third time in four seasons that a team in the top two in the polls didn't make it to the BCS title game. The BCS avoided disaster those years because No. 1 Oklahoma beat Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl and No. 1 Miami beat Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl.

The No. 2 teams in the polls won their bowl games those years and could have won the AP title if the top-ranked teams lost. The only way to avoid a disputed finish this year is if Michigan (10-2) beats USC.

The other BCS matchups have No. 10 Miami (10-2) playing No. 9 Florida State (10-2) in the Orange Bowl and Ohio State vs. Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Champions of the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC qualify for a BCS game. Oklahoma and Ohio State were picked as at-large teams.

Despite the controversy, there are still two intriguing matchups.

First up is USC-Michigan on Jan. 1 in the seventh Rose Bowl meeting between the schools. The game features two high-powered offenses. USC is sixth in the nation in scoring at 42.2 points per game and Michigan is ninth at 37.2.

Quarterback Matt Leinart leads a balanced offense for the Trojans, which features game-breaking receivers in Mike Williams, Keary Colbert and Steve Smith and a dangerous running duo of Reggie Bush and LenDale White.

Michigan is led by quarterback John Navarre, who has delivered his biggest games against the best opponents this year. The Wolverines also have talented receivers in Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant and Steve Breaston, and a top running back in Chris Perry.

Three days later, LSU will play Oklahoma in what will almost be a home game for the Tigers at the Superdome in New Orleans - a short drive from LSU's campus.

This game features the country's two best defenses. Oklahoma leads the nation, allowing only 255.6 yards per game, slightly better than LSU's 259.5. The Tigers have the top scoring defense at 10.8 points per game compared to Oklahoma's third-best 14.9.

Both teams also have big-play quarterbacks. Jason White has 40 touchdown passes and is a Heisman Trophy candidate for Oklahoma, while LSU's Matt Mauck has 28 touchdown passes.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

This entire system is a joke.

Oklahoma did what, in years past, you could not do. They lost LATE. They should deservedly drop in the rankings and the Championship matchup should be between the next two best teams in the nation, LSU and USC.

Is there any way to let the NCAA/BCS/etc know how upset the average college football fan is over this garbage?

If there isn't an anti-BCS website...there should be.

 

[Assface]

Oklahoma got rolled by Kansas State. They way they got embarrassed they don't deserve to play for the National Championship. I think the best game would be USC and LSU.

 

[Chaplin]

BCS is just another lame acronym for "Pac-10 sucks!" (We kinda do this year, but not USC)

 

[AZCB34]

Boo Hoo for USC. You know what, they can point to alot of things as to why they aren't going to the Sugar Bowl

1. They lost to a beatable Cal team. Sorry but the first rule in BCS land is to take care of business and USC failed to do so. If they win that game, there is no controversy.

2. They can point to an over-rated PAC 10. Sorry but the SEC and Big 12 are stronger and can hold up better in the strength of schedule rule than a PAC 10 team can.

3. Their non-conference schedule certainly didn't help. Auburn falling flat out of the gate did help at all. Maybe it is also time to say "Thanks Notre Dame for the cool rivalry, but you guys are dragging us down." ND hurt a few teams with their piss poor year and maybe it is time to put that rivalry to rest for the chance at a title.

4. They can point at the PAC 10 conference and the way it is structured. The PAC will always be hurt by the fact they don't have a nationally televised confernce championship game. I would presume people may have bypassed the USC game (if it was even nationally televised to begin with) and saved themselves for the SEC and Big 12 championship games. Maybe it is time for the PAC 10 to expand and create a conference championship...which likely will only help the conference win it's first title in the BCA era.

This is where it gets a bit trickier...and where I have the big problem.

5. USC can point at the human polls as being flawed...but not for the typically BS east coast bias crap usually laid out. Oklahoma lost in their last game...as we all know...and didn't just lose but got their ever loving asses kicked all over KC. Yet, the coaches and writers didn't drop them below #3 in their polls. The reason, which has logic to it, does make sense...how can they justify dropping OU behind 2 loss Michigan, Tennessee or even texas (who OU beat the hell out of. However, I would bet that if you went back over the polls since the BCS was formed, whenever a Top 5 team lost, the polls usually knocked them down alot further than 2 spots. OU should have punished for the egg they laid...thus it would have been USC v LSU.

6. USC can point at the BCS computers as being flawed. I prefer there to be a different formula for strength of schedule. What that formula is I have no idea. Teams should be rewarded and penalized sufficiently for wins and losses. Teams shouldn;t be held accountable because a team they played in week 1 turns out to be a fraud.

What it all boils down to...USC should have beaten Cal.

BCS is going to be called into question...but make no mistake...it isn't going anywhere. There is too much money at stake.

 

[arthurracoon]

I agree AZCB. It all comes down to winning games.

 

[Card Trader]

Or you can think of it this way......a few years ago that "loss" would have been a Tie and their record would still be better than Oklahoma's. USC never once this year got smacked like OU did.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I think the BCS just made a lot of LSU fans come bowl time.

Down with OU !!!

LSU shouldn't have too hard of a time...after all - the 13th team in the nation (K-St.) just blew out the Sooners...

 

[Mojo]

I guess what it all comes down to is the fact that in a system designed to decide who plays for the national championship, the consensus number one team in both polls was left out. I think this is a new low for the BCS, but it would be cool if USC won the rose bowl because there would prolly be split national champions

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by AZCB34
Boo Hoo for USC. You know what, they can point to alot of things as to why they aren't going to the Sugar Bowl

1. They lost to a beatable Cal team. Sorry but the first rule in BCS land is to take care of business and USC failed to do so. If they win that game, there is no controversy.

2. They can point to an over-rated PAC 10. Sorry but the SEC and Big 12 are stronger and can hold up better in the strength of schedule rule than a PAC 10 team can.

3. Their non-conference schedule certainly didn't help. Auburn falling flat out of the gate did help at all. Maybe it is also time to say "Thanks Notre Dame for the cool rivalry, but you guys are dragging us down." ND hurt a few teams with their piss poor year and maybe it is time to put that rivalry to rest for the chance at a title.

4. They can point at the PAC 10 conference and the way it is structured. The PAC will always be hurt by the fact they don't have a nationally televised confernce championship game. I would presume people may have bypassed the USC game (if it was even nationally televised to begin with) and saved themselves for the SEC and Big 12 championship games. Maybe it is time for the PAC 10 to expand and create a conference championship...which likely will only help the conference win it's first title in the BCA era.

This is where it gets a bit trickier...and where I have the big problem.

5. USC can point at the human polls as being flawed...but not for the typically BS east coast bias crap usually laid out. Oklahoma lost in their last game...as we all know...and didn't just lose but got their ever loving asses kicked all over KC. Yet, the coaches and writers didn't drop them below #3 in their polls. The reason, which has logic to it, does make sense...how can they justify dropping OU behind 2 loss Michigan, Tennessee or even texas (who OU beat the hell out of. However, I would bet that if you went back over the polls since the BCS was formed, whenever a Top 5 team lost, the polls usually knocked them down alot further than 2 spots. OU should have punished for the egg they laid...thus it would have been USC v LSU.

6. USC can point at the BCS computers as being flawed. I prefer there to be a different formula for strength of schedule. What that formula is I have no idea. Teams should be rewarded and penalized sufficiently for wins and losses. Teams shouldn;t be held accountable because a team they played in week 1 turns out to be a fraud.

What it all boils down to...USC should have beaten Cal.

BCS is going to be called into question...but make no mistake...it isn't going anywhere. There is too much money at stake.

I agree. I was going to post basically all of the same things, but I didn't want to become the target of derision on this board.

And fans can complain about the BCS system, but we are stuck with it for at least a few more years. Fans should save their energy for the time when they can actually do something about it.

I still say: LSU vs. OU.

The loss to Cal knocked USC out of the picture IMO. If USC had beaten Cal, then there would be no question who would play for it. I couldn't care less how many points OU lost to K-State, that shouldn't matter much. A loss is a loss, and I apply that to the USC loss to the much inferior Cal.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Bickley's Take

You think you're mad? Trying being Southern California coach Pete Carroll, losing a championship berth because four of your allegedly prestigious opponents - Auburn, Notre Dame, Arizona State and Washington - couldn't find their heart with two hands and a road map.


http://www.azcentral.com/sports/colleges/1208bickley1208.html

 

[Dback Jon]

Disagree with you, AZCB. It is not USC's fault that a few of USC's opponents sucked this year. Normally, playing Notre Dame, Auburn and BYU, plus a PAC-10 schedule with WASH etc would be a very tough schedule, but it wasn't enough this year.

Of course, LSU played UA, LA-Monroe, LA Tech and Western Illinois for their non-conference games - three of the teams are the worst in I-A, while WIU is a Division I-AA team - WEAK!!

Losing one game, in O, to a Cal team that played Kansas State tougher than OU did is no shame.

Also, look at it this way - K-State pummeled OU, K-State lost to Marshall!. Marshall got pummelled by 40 to Miami of Ohio.

Put Miami (Ohio) in the championship game!!!!

Also - Michigan is playing as well right now as any team in the country. I guess Michigan needs to schedule LA-Monroe for non-conference instead of Oregon......

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Dback Jon
Disagree with you, AZCB. It is not USC's fault that a few of USC's opponents sucked this year. Normally, playing Notre Dame, Auburn and BYU, plus a PAC-10 schedule with WASH etc would be a very tough schedule, but it wasn't enough this year.

Of course, LSU played UA, LA-Monroe, LA Tech and Western Illinois for their non-conference games - three of the teams are the worst in I-A, while WIU is a Division I-AA team - WEAK!!

Losing one game, in O, to a Cal team that played Kansas State tougher than OU did is no shame.

Also, look at it this way - K-State pummeled OU, K-State lost to Marshall!. Marshall got pummelled by 40 to Miami of Ohio.

Put Miami (Ohio) in the championship game!!!!

Also - Michigan is playing as well right now as any team in the country. I guess Michigan needs to schedule LA-Monroe for non-conference instead of Oregon......

But LSU has to them play an SEC schedule...and the SEC is the toughest conference in the land. So their strength of schedule gets very tough from there.

My point is, it doesn't matter who Cal beat or played tough, it was a winnable game for a superior USC team but they blew it. Again, priority #1 in the BCS world is to take care of your business and USC didn't. I think USC should say sayonara to the ND rivalry because ND isn't going to help strength of schedule anytime soon. USC controls their non-conference schedule and if they feel slighted, they should take the steps to fix things so they don't get shafted again.

I think the poll voters didn't punish OU for getting dismantled though and that simple fact is what screwed USC too.

 

[Dback Jon]

Not sure why you are harping on USC for not taking care of business, when both LSU and OU also lost conference games - these things happen. And in USC's case, it was early in the year - not the last game.

OU is still a one-loss team - but again, I think Michigan is as good as any of the three (we will see about vs USC).

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Dback Jon
Not sure why you are harping on USC for not taking care of business, when both LSU and OU also lost conference games - these things happen. And in USC's case, it was early in the year - not the last game.

OU is still a one-loss team - but again, I think Michigan is as good as any of the three (we will see about vs USC).

I am harping on all the bitching about it. If USC...or any of them...had taken care of business, this wouldn't be an issue. By losing to Cal, USC placed it's fate in the hands of the computers. If they had won that game, it wouldn't have mattered. USC didn't get robbed, they just didn't take advantage of their opportunities and their bowl future was placed in the hands of a flawed system.

One thought on all this too...this could be a giant conspiracy by the sportwriters and coaches to rid everyone of the BCS. I still think OU didn't get slapped hard enough for getting their butts whipped. Maybe all the pollsters felt if they voted OU 3rd (which did have some logic to it) then that would force the NCAA to either totally revamp the BCS process or force a playoff.

 

[KingofCards]

All I know is Go LSU.

I always pick a team to pull for when my teams are out of it.

The BCS is lame but so was the old system, though I liked it better when they referred to the #1 team as the winner of the "Mythical" Championship.

We need a playoff system but it will never happen, unfortunately. They can't see the forest for the trees.