Monday, November 27, 2006
LSU Should Get Last BCS Slot
There is a raging national debate, currently taking place around thousands of water coolers, over who should get the #2 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) slot to face #1 Ohio State in the BCS National Championship game on January 8, 2007. However, with Arkansas' loss and USC's win this past weekend, the debate over #2 is likely over. It's a safe bet that USC will beat UCLA this weekend and return to the National Championship game for the third straight year.
But, who else will make it to the BCS? Well, there are 10 BSC slots. The National Championship game gets the top 2 BCS teams. The next 8 go to the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls.
The champion of each BCS conference is automatically in. That means USC gets the Pac-10 slot; Ohio State gets the Big-10 slot; Boise State has already qualified for a spot; Rutgers or Louisville will get the Big East slot; the winner of Georgia Tech/Wake Forest gets the ACC automatic bid; the winner of the Oklahoma/Nebraska game gets the Big-12 slot; and, the winner of the SEC championship game (Florida or Arkansas) gets the SEC slot. That accounts for 7 of the 10 BCS bids.
Then, Michigan will surely get one and Notre Dame (undeservedly) will get one. Why Notre Dame? Oh my, that's a whole different subject I can't cover here. Anyway, we are now down to only one empty slot. Who should get it?
The answer is obvious. LSU. Why? Mostly because this year, as in most years, the SEC is clearly the strongest football conference. On any given Saturday – Florida, LSU, Arkansas, and Auburn could all beat anyone in the country. And, Tennessee was right there before it's QB went down.
Don't just take my word for it. Look at the BCS standings going into the final weekend of the year. 3 SEC teams in the top 10 (Florida, LSU, Arkansas) and Auburn is #11. That's amazing!! Tennessee comes in at #16. No other conference has more than 3 teams in the top 25. The SEC has FIVE in the top 16!
How about non-conference schedule? The SEC is an amazing 41-7 versus non-conference opponents in 2006. This .854 winning percentage far outstrips any other conference. (Check out www.secsportsfan.com/sec-football.html for more information on SEC football). This past weekend was no exception. The SEC had 3 out of conference games against in-state rivals. Florida at Florida State; South Carolina at Clemson; Georgia Tech at Georgia. Result – SEC 3 wins 0 losses vs. ACC teams.
The SEC is so strong that none of its teams was able to emerge undefeated from its bruising SEC schedule. Strength of schedule makes it highly unlikely that an SEC team can go undefeated. Thus, the current BCS system greatly disadvantages the SEC from being able to get one of its teams into the National Championship game. However, if the BCS system is to give any credence to toughness of schedule, a second SEC school should get the final BCS bid.
Who should that team be? Easy, LSU. Why? The key is LSU's win over Arkansas this past weekend. The winner of the SEC championship game (Florida or Arkansas) will get the automatic bid as SEC champion. If Arkansas is the loser of the SEC championship game, LSU should get the nod over the Razorbacks since they just beat them. If Florida is the loser of the SEC Championship game this weekend, then LSU should still get the nod because both LSU and Florida will have 2 losses and LSU will have just beaten the SEC Champ (Arkansas).
Also, LSU is finishing the season, playing as well as anyone in the country. They have won 6 straight games, including wins at Tennessee and Arkansas. Their only losses came early in the year at Auburn and at Florida. Anyone who saw the Arkansas game on Friday will agree that right now LSU can play with anyone in the country. The Tigers were able to overcome the most powerful running game in college football, and get a win, on the road, at Arkansas.
If the college football world were fair, Florida, Arkansas, and LSU would all get a shot at the National Championship – along with Ohio State, Michigan and USC. But college football lives in BCS-Land. And fairness is not a BCS criteria. Still, look for LSU to get a shot at Michigan in the Rose Bowl. That will be a great game.
But, who else will make it to the BCS? Well, there are 10 BSC slots. The National Championship game gets the top 2 BCS teams. The next 8 go to the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls.
The champion of each BCS conference is automatically in. That means USC gets the Pac-10 slot; Ohio State gets the Big-10 slot; Boise State has already qualified for a spot; Rutgers or Louisville will get the Big East slot; the winner of Georgia Tech/Wake Forest gets the ACC automatic bid; the winner of the Oklahoma/Nebraska game gets the Big-12 slot; and, the winner of the SEC championship game (Florida or Arkansas) gets the SEC slot. That accounts for 7 of the 10 BCS bids.
Then, Michigan will surely get one and Notre Dame (undeservedly) will get one. Why Notre Dame? Oh my, that's a whole different subject I can't cover here. Anyway, we are now down to only one empty slot. Who should get it?
The answer is obvious. LSU. Why? Mostly because this year, as in most years, the SEC is clearly the strongest football conference. On any given Saturday – Florida, LSU, Arkansas, and Auburn could all beat anyone in the country. And, Tennessee was right there before it's QB went down.
Don't just take my word for it. Look at the BCS standings going into the final weekend of the year. 3 SEC teams in the top 10 (Florida, LSU, Arkansas) and Auburn is #11. That's amazing!! Tennessee comes in at #16. No other conference has more than 3 teams in the top 25. The SEC has FIVE in the top 16!
How about non-conference schedule? The SEC is an amazing 41-7 versus non-conference opponents in 2006. This .854 winning percentage far outstrips any other conference. (Check out www.secsportsfan.com/sec-football.html for more information on SEC football). This past weekend was no exception. The SEC had 3 out of conference games against in-state rivals. Florida at Florida State; South Carolina at Clemson; Georgia Tech at Georgia. Result – SEC 3 wins 0 losses vs. ACC teams.
The SEC is so strong that none of its teams was able to emerge undefeated from its bruising SEC schedule. Strength of schedule makes it highly unlikely that an SEC team can go undefeated. Thus, the current BCS system greatly disadvantages the SEC from being able to get one of its teams into the National Championship game. However, if the BCS system is to give any credence to toughness of schedule, a second SEC school should get the final BCS bid.
Who should that team be? Easy, LSU. Why? The key is LSU's win over Arkansas this past weekend. The winner of the SEC championship game (Florida or Arkansas) will get the automatic bid as SEC champion. If Arkansas is the loser of the SEC championship game, LSU should get the nod over the Razorbacks since they just beat them. If Florida is the loser of the SEC Championship game this weekend, then LSU should still get the nod because both LSU and Florida will have 2 losses and LSU will have just beaten the SEC Champ (Arkansas).
Also, LSU is finishing the season, playing as well as anyone in the country. They have won 6 straight games, including wins at Tennessee and Arkansas. Their only losses came early in the year at Auburn and at Florida. Anyone who saw the Arkansas game on Friday will agree that right now LSU can play with anyone in the country. The Tigers were able to overcome the most powerful running game in college football, and get a win, on the road, at Arkansas.
If the college football world were fair, Florida, Arkansas, and LSU would all get a shot at the National Championship – along with Ohio State, Michigan and USC. But college football lives in BCS-Land. And fairness is not a BCS criteria. Still, look for LSU to get a shot at Michigan in the Rose Bowl. That will be a great game.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
A Good Weekend For the SEC
Lots of traditional rivalry games today in college football. A fairly unique opportunity to have some big out-of-conference games. Those are the games that obviously are key to analyzing which conference is best. Obviously, Arkansas' loss to LSU is bad for the Razorbacks and the SEC since it knocks both out of contention for the national title. Obviously Arkansas is out of it with 2 losses. But also, the SEC is too since I don't think Florida can get to #2 in the BCS no matter what. I think Arkansas had a chance if they could have had impressive wins against both LSU and Florida.
But, anyway, the point of this post is that what happens in conference games doesn't tell you much definitively about which conference is the best. Did Arkansas lose because they are not that strong or because LSU is? Who knows? You could argue forever about that.
But, we had 3 big out of conference rivalry games SEC teams played today.
1. Georgia at home against Georgia Tech
2. South Carolina at Clemson
3. Florida at Florida State
All would appear to be fairly competitive games. Both Clemson and Georgia Tech ranked vs. un-ranked SEC teams. Certainly Florida would be expected to win, but playing at Florida State, last game of the year for the Seminoles. Still interesting.
What did all 3 games have in common? You guessed it. The SEC team won each game.
Nuff said.
It will be interesting to see how the parity of the SEC pans out with the bowl bids. It knocks out out of the BCS championship game. But, I think the SEC will do well with more big bowls than any other conference. And more bowl wins too. We'll see.
But, anyway, the point of this post is that what happens in conference games doesn't tell you much definitively about which conference is the best. Did Arkansas lose because they are not that strong or because LSU is? Who knows? You could argue forever about that.
But, we had 3 big out of conference rivalry games SEC teams played today.
1. Georgia at home against Georgia Tech
2. South Carolina at Clemson
3. Florida at Florida State
All would appear to be fairly competitive games. Both Clemson and Georgia Tech ranked vs. un-ranked SEC teams. Certainly Florida would be expected to win, but playing at Florida State, last game of the year for the Seminoles. Still interesting.
What did all 3 games have in common? You guessed it. The SEC team won each game.
Nuff said.
It will be interesting to see how the parity of the SEC pans out with the bowl bids. It knocks out out of the BCS championship game. But, I think the SEC will do well with more big bowls than any other conference. And more bowl wins too. We'll see.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Comments Enabled
Thanks to Dan Pantzer for informing me that this site was set up so that only registered users could post comments. So, I fixed that. Now, everyone should be able to comment. If anyone else has any problems -- let me know by e-mail to: mo@secsportsfan.com.
Even though Dan is apparently a Big East fan -- I still appreciate his help. Life isn't fair. Not everyone can be an SEC fan. Too bad.
Even though Dan is apparently a Big East fan -- I still appreciate his help. Life isn't fair. Not everyone can be an SEC fan. Too bad.
