Boise For BCS? That's Whack! Why an Undefeated Season Won't Justify a BCS Bid

I'm not sure what irks me more.  The fact that Chris Petersen appears in College Gameday commercials as BCS Championship coaches such as Mack Brown, Nick Saban, and Urban Meyer or that the Boise State Broncos are constantly in the mix for a play at the BCS title game.  I won't pretend to be a surefire fan of the current BCS points system, but what I am sure is that the barrage of backing the Broncos is serving more ire than support.

1. Strength of Schedule

I'm not a hater.  Based on the current points structure to make the big game, I understand how going undefeated in a season makes teams a shoo-in for one of the two coveted spots...for automatic qualifying (AQ) teams.  Why?  Because when a team's season hinges on beating Virginia Tech and Oregon State to prove they belong with the big boys, please.  Call up James Madison and ask their opinion on that matter.  At the start, BSU's schedule only provided playing against two top 25 teams, one of which has already fallen out and the other is on its way. The only contender left is a November match up with an undefeated Nevada whose schedule boasts one ranked team, the Broncos themselves.  Boise's BCS contentions rely too heavily on what happens outside their team.  Whether the teams they've beaten continue to win and whether the real big boys lose a game or two are more important than their actions, and it's only week four. 

2. Win the WAC? So What! 

Cupcakes and cakewalks.  That's how I'd describe the list of WAC opponents Boise State has.  Pit an Ohio State, Alabama, and a handful of other Big 10, Big 12 or SEC teams in that schedule, then yes, I would expect an undefeated run as well.  The comparison to playing a conference schedule that ends with Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan or a strenuous string of Arkansas, Florida, and South Carolina cannot be surmounted by playing New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, and Hawaii.  A one-loss AQ team over Boise State in the title game?  Not so far fetched.  I'd go as far to vote in a two-loss SEC or Big 10 team.  When teams have to to go against top ranked conference foes week in and week out, it's difficult to throw favor towards a team who plays in a conference that AQ schools pay the big bucks in season openers to give a beating against. I'll give Boise State credit for moving to the Mountain West Conference next year, but until then, no more harping about being shut out of the Championship. 

3. History is not a factor

Sure, season opening rankings are highly dependent on how teams finished the prior year and how many starters that they return.  But just because a team has gone undefeated in the past and returns 21 of 22 starters, doesn't mean they belong in the bout.  Pat Forde leads a staunch support for a BSU title run, but since when does getting shut out in prior years create poll pity points? 

I have no problem with BSU in the title talk as soon as they prove they are more than the champions of the WAC beatdown.  Their wins over AQ conference teams and bowl win over TCU last year are a great start and worthy of praise, but it just isn't fair to the teams that have to play against BCS worthy teams all season.  Until then, hold off the hype and let's see how the Mountain West Conference fares in 2011.