The Sunday Morning BCS Report: Week 14

College football's championship weekend lived up to the hype.

Only the biggest game—the SEC title game—had a lopsided final score that did not reflect how close the game was at the half.

The Crimson Tide shut out the Gators in the second half to stamp their ticket into the BCS National Championship game.

Colt McCoy almost made an epic mistake, as the clock on the Big 12 title game ticked down towards zero.

Replay saved the Longhorns' season, as they were afforded one final second to try and make a game-winning field goal.

That is how close the BCS came to being a complete mess— one measly second.

If that second is not put back onto the scoreboard, then suddenly TCU might be in the BCS title game as the ultimate BCS Buster.

If that second is not put back, then Cincinnati's magical comeback against Pitt, led by the dynamic Mardy Gilyard, could have them asking, "Why not us?"

That is why the BCS is not the system that college football needs. I t literally needs luck on its side to work.

In 20 years, it will say that Texas and Alabama played in the 2010 BCS title game, and only the fans will remember how close the BCS came to chaos.

We always thought that a bunch of one-loss teams would spell doom for the BCS, but this season, with five undefeated teams left after the regular season, it is hard not to want to see them play in a postseason tournament.

The games—starting with Oregon vs. Oregon State on Thursday night—all lived up to the championship hype.

Chip Kelly led the Ducks into the Civil War with the Rose Bowl on the line.

LaGarrette Blount made his return after serving his suspension for his meltdown in the opening game against Boise State and scored a critical touchdown.

LaMichael James carried the load as he has all season in Blount's absence, and Jeremiah Masoli made the play of the game with his spin move on fourth down to allow the Ducks to run out the clock, securing victory over the Beavers.

Pittsburgh jumped out to a 31-10 lead at home in a snowstorm.

Then, they kicked off to Mardy Gilyard, and he ran the ball back for a touchdown to close the gap to 14 points going into halftime.

Cincinnati might lose their coach, Brian Kelly. They might be too small on defense to compete with the big boys, but I can't wait to see that offense in their BCS bowl game.

When the Bearcats are clicking, like they were in the second half, they chew up yardage up and down the field.

Pitt's loss hurt because it came from a botched extra point, but Dion Lewis had a game for the ages with 47 carries.

I had a feeling that Alabama was not going to lose two years in a row to Florida. The Tide rolled all game long, grabbing the momentum on their first drive with a field goal.

It had elements of national championship games of the past, as the better team made its claim to the title, but we have to remind ourselves that it was only the SEC Championship that Alabama won. 

They merely earned the right to play for the national title with their bruising win over the Gators.

Ndumakong Suh was the best player on the field of the Big 12 Championship Game, but the better team won on the game's final play after a replay that put time back onto the clock.

The Big 12 has been a disappointment this season.

Sam Bradford's injury turned Oklahoma into an average team, and no other team stepped up to challenge Texas.

Nebraska was tough in the championship game, but they have no offense, so you have to wonder about the quality of the Big 12 North.

The ACC had a title game, too, and I say good for them.

The right team won in Georgia Tech, and Clemson's C.J. Spiller showed the nation that he is an elite talent stuck on a team that couldn't get him any Heisman buzz.

My preseason pick to win the national title, USC, finished off a four-loss season with a loss at home to the Arizona Wildcats.

In a down year for USC, they will still go bowling.

The Wildcats also finished with four losses, and we are dancing in the streets of Tucson over our season.

It's all about perspective.

How about that Illinois/Fresno State game? What is it about seeing those big boys running with the ball that makes you feel so good inside?

My Top Two

Like I said, I picked USC over Florida in the BCS title game at the beginning of the season.

I stuck with USC after their loss at Washington, but they looked bad against the Oregon Ducks.  

I stuck with Florida all season until the week before the SEC title game, when I had this feeling that Alabama was going to knock off the Gators.

Once USC had two losses, I moved Texas into the second spot, and they finished off a perfect regular season.

Alabama dominates their games by running the ball with Mark Ingram and stopping the other team's running game, so on paper it looks like the Tide will roll again in the BCS title game.

Like Kenny Mayne used to say, "They don't pay games on paper, they play them inside of TV sets."

The BCS Bowl Games Prediction

Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Ohio State

Fiesta Bowl: Iowa vs. Boise State

Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. TCU

Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Cincinnati

BCS Title Game: Alabama vs. Texas

Conference Power Rankings

1. SEC

2. Big 10

3. Pac-10

4. Big East

5. Mountain West

6. Big 12

Week 15 Preview

1. Army vs. Navy

2. My Final Top 20 poll