Spoiler Alert - Another BCS Buster For 2008?

Could there possibly be another non-BCS team invited to a BCS bowl in 2008? It has happened 3 of the last 4 seasons. The BCS itself has encouraged this drama by guaranteeing 12th ranked teams or better a BCS bid. The better teams in non-BCS conferences have found a formula get consideration. There are several things that Utah, Boise State and Hawaii had in common to earn their bids.

First - An undefeated regular season. This has become much more important than strength of schedule. Only undefeated teams from fly-over land will catch the eyes of coastal media voters. They need a very weak non-conference schedule to accomplish that. Conference games are usually not the problem. Winning every game in any conference is difficult enough without having to beat a powerhouse team, usually on the road, early in the season.

Second - Play in the WAC or MWC. Boise State and Hawaii are both WAC teams. Utah is a Mountain West team. Eastern folks might not realize that these two conferences used to be one and share many of the same small market laments against BCS decision makers. They are like blood brothers.

Third - Have a great quarterback that welcomes over-matches. Boise State had Jared Zabransky who will certainly have a career in MMA. Hawaii had Colt Brennan the record setting juvenile delinquent. Utah had Alex Smith in 2004.

Fourth - Have an inspiring coach that convinces players that they deserve to be there. June Jones for Hawaii is now at SMU. Chris Petersen as a first year head coach for BSU. Urban Meyer for Utah, now coaching the Florida Gators.

Last - You can see it coming by their momentum of winning seasons and experienced players returning. In 2002 University of Utah had a two loss season to build on. In 2005, prior to their BCS bid, Boise state lost 4 games, but 3 were to top 20 teams. Hawaii in 2006 lost only three games, Alabama, Oregon State and the undefeated Boise State.

So which one of these nerds can take out the schoolyard bully again? None of them. Hawaii opens at Florida. Boise State is still rebuilding. Utah has almost completely disappeared since Urban Meyer left and plays at Michigan the first week.

Fresno State thinks it has a good chance out of the WAC this year. I don't. The Bulldogs have to play Rutgers, Wisconsin, Hawaii and UCLA in their first five weeks.

Brigham Young University has all of the above mentioned stars aligned for an undefeated regular season.

The Cougars' 2008 schedule is unusually weak for BYU who ordinarily likes to believe it is one of the class bullies.

BYU has a good young coach in Bronco Mendenhall who likes to invoke the holy names of LaVell Edwards and the 1984 national championship team as often as possible to inspire the troops.

They open with Northern Iowa and only have to get past UCLA in the third week to sail straight through the Mountain West conference as they have the last two seasons. The Cougars were 11-2 both years with only non-conference losses. 

BYU always has a great quarterback and Max Hall's 138 QB rating last year is no exception.

My money is on another B word being added to the ridiculous alliteration that has infected sports commentary. BCS Bowl Busters BYU.

But in case I am wrong, I will publish this article under the "comedy" category.