BCS Rankings: Oklahoma Turns Boise St.'s Bronco-Drawn Carriage Into a Pumpkin
Dear fans,
I have a splitting headache.
Sincerely,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwAhWlfF3NM
Dear followers,
I have a splitting headache.
Sincerely,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt6C6P3bJq8
Dear readers,
I too have a concussion, but it's not of the physical variety. The BCS has released its preliminary rankings, and in an attempt to understand their methodology, I have researched myself into a coma.
My head trauma confirms the most used and abused cliche in college football: the BCS system is senseless and needs to be replaced by a playoff. I will eventually translate the weird and arbitrary criteria the BCS uses to formulate their rankings, so that you can ever-so-masochistically decide for yourself, but first consider the most compelling argument...
AP Rankings
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[compiled by 60 of the Associated Press' most experienced sportswriters]
1. Oregon (39)
2. Boise St. (15)
3. Oklahoma (3)
4. TCU (3)
5. Auburn
6. LSU
7. Alabama
8. Michigan State
9. Utah
10. Wisconsin
Compared to...
BCS Rankings
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[compiled by averaging the Coaches' Poll, the Harris Interactive Poll, 6 computerized rankings, and the wingspeed of an African swallow carrying a 16 oz coconut through the eye of a temperate hurricane]
1. Oklahoma
2. Oregon
3. Boise St.
4. Auburn
5. TCU
6. LSU
7. Michigan St.
8. Alabama
9. Utah
10. Ohio St.
Not too different, right? Wrong. The differences, or shall I say difference, is both huge and microcosmic of the BCS System's fatal flaw.
Where The BCS Fails
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If the season ended today, the No.1 and No. 2 BCS ranked teams would play for the National Championship—Oklahoma and Oregon. Not Boise State.
Both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll (ranked by the most knowledgeable humans on the subject - sportswriters and coaches) have Oregon and Boise St. at No. 1 and No. 2.
The number "15" in parentheses next to Boise St. in the AP Rankings indicates 1st place votes, meaning that 15 experts think Boise St. is the No. 1 team in the country. Fifteen experts think Boise St. is better than Oregon, Oklahoma, and every other team in the country. Three voted for Oklahoma.
If this were a high school Prom Queen election, and Oklahoma (less pretty than Boise St., slightly balding, three limbs, frayed, mustard-stained sweatpants, etc.) won Prom Queen and vomited all over the stage during her acceptance speech while Boise St. (treasurer of student council, captain of the swim team, dating the smartest boy in the Western Athletic Conference) wept elegantly all over her white dress in disappointment, it might be a half decent representation of the injustice of sending Oklahoma, the football team, to the National Championship instead of Boise St.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Why Boise St. Deserves Oklahoma's Spot
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That prom scenario actually happened to me, by the way, and I still to this day contest that I earned my tiara. The rumors that I let the Principal see me naked were all started by Boise St. I voted for myself three times, fair and square.
Oklahoma impressed against No. 16 Florida State and No. 13 Iowa (47-17 and 52 - 0), but they also squeaked by unranked Utah St., Air Force, and Cincinnati by seven, three, and two.
Whatever the computers see in them, hundreds of educated voters don't. I understand the need to eliminate bias from the election, but if voters don't discredit Boise St. for their strength of schedule, then neither should the computers. Besides, Oklahoma stuffs her bra and smells like mayonnaise.
Games that could alter/correct the current BCS landscape:
No. 3 Oklahoma (-3) at No. 18 Missouri, 8PM ET
No. 6 LSU (+6.5) at No. 5 Auburn, 3:30PM ET
No. 2 Boise St. has a Bye. Their toughest remaining opponent (and chance to impress the computers) is No. 28 Nevada in Week 12.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
