BCS Rankings Week 13: Who Would Win a Playoff Between Current Top 16?
BCS Rankings Week 13: The BCS wants to remain relevant. It wants to have some kind of say in who plays for the national championship.
Fair enough. Here's what we're going to do.
Imagine a perfect world, where the BCS doesn't screw an undefeated, non-automatic qualifying school or a one-loss powerhouse out of a chance to play for a national title.
Now imagine that world actually existing. Yeah, in true Jim Mora style, I'm talking about playoffs.
Take the current BCS system, crumple it up and throw it in the trash can.
It's time to settle the debate of who should play for a national championship the way it should be: with a 16-team playoff.
Alright, let's get to it.
We'll run through the dream scenario for college football fans and see who would win the real national championship.
Round 1: (1) Oregon Vs. (16) Virginia Tech
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Virginia Tech's 19th-ranked rushing attack is good enough to keep Oregon's offense off the field more than usual and prevent this game from getting completely out of hand.
But the Ducks' rushing attack is even better (291.1 yards per game), and there's just no way the Hokies put up enough points to take down Oregon's No. 1 scoring offense.
Prediction: Oregon 34, Virginia Tech 21
Round 1: (2) Auburn Vs. (15) Nebraska
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Nebraska's defense is stout, allowing just 16.7 points per game, but its offense leaves something to be desired.
The Cornhuskers have scored just 26 points in their last two games, and rely too heavily on the run too come from behind.
And against Auburn, you can bet that Cam Newton's team will jump out to a lead on Nebraska, which should seal the Cornhuskers fate rather quickly.
Prediction: Auburn 38, Nebraska 27
Round 1: (3) TCU Vs. (14) Missouri
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Missouri's been a hit or miss team all season, controlling the game in a win over Oklahoma and being absolutely dominated by the running game in a loss to Nebraska.
TCU, on the other hand, hasn't played quite the competition that the Tigers have, but they've only really played one game (vs. San Diego State) too close for comfort.
The Horned Frogs should win this one because of their balance (sixth in scoring offense and first in scoring defense), but it'd closer than people expect.
Prediction: TCU 27, Missouri 21
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Round 1: (4) Boise State Vs. (13) Oklahoma
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These two teams met in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl in what is arguably one of the greatest bowl games in history.
I don't know about you, but I'd love to see these two teams clash again in a game that would probably be a shootout between two prolific offenses.
And as entertaining as this game would be, I think Kellen Moore's just too good to let this one slip away.
He'll lead Boise State to two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Broncos take down the Sooners in epic fashion once again.
Prediction: Boise State 38, Oklahoma 31
Round 1: (5) LSU Vs. (12) Arkansas
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Hey, isn't this game really happening this week? Yeah, I believe so.
Well, as an LSU grad, don't expect me to favor the Tigers.
Les Miles undoubtedly has a rabbit's foot up his a*s, and his team could very easily have two more losses on the season.
The Tigers gave up 36 points last week to Ole Miss for crying out loud. They'll get shredded by Ryan Mallett and that Arkansas offense.
Prediction: Arkansas 35, LSU 20
Round 1: (6) Stanford Vs. (11) Alabama
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Alabama would be the more talented team in this matchup, but has been a bit too up and down all season, losing by 14 points to South Carolina and somehow making LSU's offense look like a juggernaut.
By comparison, Stanford plays in a weaker conference, but has put a beatdown on most of its opponents, with its only loss coming against No. 1 Oregon.
With all due respect to Greg McElroy, the Cardinal has the better quarterback in this game.
That'll be the difference as Stanford scrapes by Alabama on a late field goal.
Prediction: Stanford 31, Alabama 28
Round 1: (7) Wisconsin Vs. (10) Michigan State
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Michigan State vs. Wisconsin: The rematch.
Wisconsin lost the first game between the two teams, but the Badgers have looked like a different ball club since then, taking down the likes of Ohio State and Iowa and dropping 83 points on Indiana.
I like Wisconsin in this one because of the progression they've showed, and the fact that it would be hard for Michigan State to take down the same team twice in once season.
Plus, the Spartans gave up 31 points to Purdue last week. Ouch.
Prediction: Wisconsin 42, Michigan State 31
Round 1: (8) Ohio State Vs. (9) Oklahoma State
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This game would provide an interesting battle between dual-threat quarterback Terrelle Pryor and the gun-slinging Brandon Weeden.
It's obviously hard not to like Pryor's ability, and that Ohio State defense allows just 13.9 points per game.
But Oklahoma State is loaded on offense, with Weeden, Kendall Hunter and (Dez Bryant clone) Justin Blackmon.
The Cowboys can score on anyone, including the Buckeyes.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 34, Ohio State 28
Round 2: (1) Oregon Vs. (9) Oklahoma State
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If you want a game with the potential for some offensive fireworks, this is it.
But I actually wouldn't be surprised to see Oregon's defense step up in this one and limit Oklahoma State's scoring because the Ducks have held their opponents to 16 points or less six times this season.
Though the Cowboys have only scored less than 33 points once this season, this is only their second game against a top notch defense.
I'm not sure they're ready.
Prediction: Oregon 38, Oklahoma State 28
Round 2: (4) Boise State Vs. (12) Arkansas
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When we talk about Boise State, we tend to forget about the Broncos defense.
I know, I know, Boise State plays in the WAC.
But the Broncos still have the nation's No. 2 scoring defense (11.5 points per game), which is good regardless of what conference they're in.
Now Boise State hasn't played an offense quite like Arkansas's, but that Broncos offense will make up for any slip-ups its defense might have.
Prediction: Boise State 41, Arkansas 28
Round 2: (2) Auburn Vs. (7) Wisconsin
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Auburn's offense lives and dies by Cam Newton, and I think we all can agree that the Tigers probably would have lost at least four games this season without him.
But the Badgers don't rely on just one guy to get the job done, and they've managed to score 40.1 points per game with contributions from a bunch of offensive players.
You also have to like Wisconsin's defense, which gives up about 4.5 points less per game than Auburn's and is battle tested having played against teams like Michigan State, Iowa and Ohio State.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but this one has upset alert written all over it.
Prediction: Wisconsin 35, Auburn 34
Round 2: (3) TCU Vs. (6) Stanford
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Stanford and TCU both have very good offenses (eighth and sixth in scoring respectively) and defenses (21st and first respectively).
These two teams also bring excellent quarterbacks to this matchup in Andrew Luck and Andy Dalton.
So what gives?
Well, despite playing in a non-automatic qualifying conference, TCU has played several formidable opponents like Oregon State, Baylor and Utah.
And the Horned Frogs beat those teams by a combined 84 points, which is simply ridiculous.
I don't see the Cardinal hanging with TCU four quarters. They're just too good.
Prediction: TCU 38, Stanford 21
Semifinals: (1) Oregon Vs. (4) Boise State
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If only LaGarrette Blount was still a Duck, this game would have all the makings of a classic.
Nah, it probably still does.
It's a rematch of last year's season opener between two of the nation's newbies to the national title picture.
You probably can't go wrong picking either team in this game. It's a matchup of two squads who get it done on both sides of the ball.
It's just too hard to go against Kellen Moore and the Broncos, who put up more than 525 yards of total offense and 47.9 points per game.
Prediction: Boise State 42, Oregon 38
Semifinals: (3) TCU Vs. (7) Wisconsin
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Plain and simple, TCU just doesn't let people score.
The Horned Frogs only give up 10.9 points per game and even held then-No. 5 Utah to just seven points.
But TCU can make things happen on offense too, where it puts up more than 490 yards per game.
That's just too much firepower for Wisconsin to handle.
Prediction: TCU 28, Wisconsin 17
National Championship: (3) TCU Vs. (4) Boise State
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Imagine the look on the faces of the BCS people if this game actually happened.
They'd probably crap a brick if we got a rematch of last year's Fiesta Bowl.
Well, that's why I love it so much.
TCU vs. Boise State for the National Championship would rock the college football landscape...and be a pretty good game too, just like last year.
Prediction: Boise State 24, TCU 17
That's right. Your National Champions: the Boise State Broncos.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
