Typically, I’m one of those people that feel that though the BCS doesn’t always give us the best championship game, it does effectively give us some of the best top bowl games. (Hell, I’ll always remember Boise State vs Oklahoma.) But this time, I’m going to have to agree with the masses and say that the BCS dropped the ball here.
Understandably they made the best choices for monetary reasons; its not hard to see. But, some things are hard to accept. First, how can Kansas, a team that didn’t win their division or conference, play in the Orange Bowl (against Virgina Tech)?? Where does that leave Mizzou? There only two losses are to Oklahoma but they get the Cotton Bowl. YAH!
Second, how does Ohio State, one of the most overrated teams get to play for the National Championship? Yes, they won their conference. Yes, they have one loss. Yes, they beat Michigan this year. But their schedule was a bloody joke. They beat first a bunch of minor league schools and also, a 5 loss Purdue, a 4 loss Michigan & Penn State, a 3 loss Wisconsin and lost to an unranked Illinois (inexplicably playing in the Rose Bowl). Backdoor-ed into the Championship, Ohio State’s birth into the game makes me a little nauseous.
If I were Va. Tech, I’d feel great about the season & the Orange Bowl game. But, I’d feel pissed off that after dominating the ACC (a much stronger conference than the Big-10) , winning the ACC championship and avenging the only in conference loss (Boston College), that no consideration was given to us being title contenders.
LSU lucked into it as well. But I figure that the following of LSU helped the BCS “numbers” work out to putting them in the title game. But, that said, LSU has been the best team all year; hands down. With two losses, both in Triple-OT, its hard to dispute that. Teams like USC, VT and OU all have a legit beef with the way the bowls worked out because they all have a legitimate claim to be the 2nd best team in the country.
It all doesn’t matter know though. The BCS has what they want. The money from viewers wanting to see if they got it right or wrong. And people like me, openly discussing their choices. Either way, they win. Buzz and money. Publicity and sponsors. Once again, they’ve dropped the ball. But sadly, as a fan, I’ll watch anyway hoping to get another Boise State “feel great” game out of the BCS madness.
