So, the BCS has supposedly worked.  If your idea of this convoluted system working properly is only that the #1 and #2 teams are matched up in the championship game, well, then it has accomplished what you wanted it to do.  However, much like when they try and put in a state lottery intentions often go farther than reality.  When this BCS system was first proposed, it was promised that the top two teams would be guaranteed a game.  How those teams got to that point, unfortunately, was not even given a sniff at correcting.  What officials wanted was to do away with the #1 team playing U Stink in the Orange Bowl with the #2 team playing Suck It State in the Rose Bowl, and both winning thereby having two teams “claim” they should be National Champions.  The rest of the BCS bowls have proven to be just that mess.  Let’s take a look.

Okay, I’ll give you that there are 5 BCS bowls, and the top 10 in the rankings got all of those spots.  But upon closer look there’s something fishy in Denmark. (I have no idea what that means, but it sounds good)  First there’s the BCS Championship Game.  #1 against #2.  The system supposedly worked here, but there are some very strong arguments that TCU is a better team than Texas.  One reason is power rankings.  TCU has a power rating of 58.0 while Texas is at 54.5.  Some say Cincinnatti is better than both Texas and TCU.  Others argue Boise State should be #2.  While the system has given us #1 and #2 in a game, there is now as much if not more debate as to who should be that #2.

In the Sugar Bowl, Cincinnatti gets the chance to actually prove they belong in the discussion by taking on previously unbeatan and former #1 Florida.  However, after being thoroughly beaten on by an outstanding Alabama team, how much heart will Florida have in this game?  If Cincinnatti wins critics will point to the SEC Championship loss as why Florida “…just wasn’t into it.”  Really now, Cincinnatti is in a no-win situation.

The Rose Bowl has #7 Oregon against #8 Ohio State.  There are many who feel Ohio State is overrated, but when the BCS was first conceived the Rose Bowl indicated they would not be a part of the process unless they could keep the Pac 10/Big 10(11) traditional match up.  They can, and are.  Is there anybody outside of the state of Ohio who really feel the Buckeyes have much of a chance in this game?  Believe it or not, there are.  Bodog has Ohio State at -3.5.  Open Las Vegas line sits at OSU -2.0 with the Vegas Hilton sportsbook agreeing with Bodog.  Really?  Watch this line folks.  Oregon would be a very smart bet.

Now, the first of the Travesty bowls, the Orange Bowl.  Georgia Tech and Iowa.  Iowa?  Seriously?  Georgia Tech received the automatic ACC champion bid, but Iowa?  Here’s another reason that the polls have some issues.  Iowa comes in at #10, but they were very unimpressive throughout the entire year.  But when you look at records it’s tough to make an argument for anybody else.  Penn State?  Iowa beat them.  Va Tech?  3 losses.  BYU?  Spanked by both Florida State and TCU.  I guess it’s the lesser of two evils.

Travesty Bowl #2, the Fiesta Bowl.  TCU and Boise State.  One of these teams comes away from this game undefeated and makes serious claims that they should have had a shot at the championship.  Since they both play in non-BCS conferences pundits will make that their argument.  How convenient for the NCAA.  How can either team make a case based on who they played?  A much more intriguing matchup would have been something along the lines of Boise State/Iowa and TCU/Georgia Tech.  So what if both BSU and TCU remain undefeated.  Obviously the NCAA doesn’t want to do the right thing to ensure a true National Champion.

The system in place sure does beat what used to be.  No longer will there be split champions.  However, the path these teams have taken to get where they are remains suspect.  It’s not Boise State’s fault that teams from BCS conferences don’t want to play them.  Or maybe it is.  You have a program that gets too good measured against those around you and nobody wants a piece of you.  They all feel it’s a no-win situation for them.  Unfortunately the NCAA permits this type of attitude and in fact promotes it with the Mickey Mouse season that is the Bowl Championship Series.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 7th, 2009 at 2:30 pm and is filed under NCAA Football. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.