BCS Hypocrisy: How the NCAA Rigs the Deck

The NCAA has long taken a harsh antigambling stance. But the phony organization has a $100 million gamble of its own in the works—and has fixed the outcome to ensure they won't lose their money.

The NCAA, in conjunction with a mega-million dollar betting syndicate of conference commissioners, college presidents, and television networks, created the BCS 11 years ago.

The goal, they said, was to crown a true national championship game.

The problem is that contenders are judged by a subjective equation consisting of two polls and six computer ranking systems. The two top-ranked teams go on to meet for the national title.

But imperfections in the method allow for the possibility that the NCAA could lose their bet.

The winner of the alleged "championship" game may not end up with the most BCS points at the end of bowl season. The new calculations could produce a top-ranked team that didn't even participate in the BCS Championship game.

LSU earned a spot in this year’s game by leapfrogging a Virginia Tech team that won and a Georgia squad that had already finished its season. There are endless scenarios in which the victor of Ohio State-LSU could also be leapfrogged.

LSU supporters point out that both of the Tigers losses were in overtime, hence their setbacks should be accorded less weigh. Okay, so what if the BCS Championship Game also goes into overtime—should that victory be weighted less, allowing Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Georgia, USC, or Kansas to bypass the top teams with more impressive wins?

And what if Hawaii stuns Georgia in impressive fashion? That win would shed new light on the Warriors' record, and validate them as the only undefeated team in the country.

But don't worry. The NCAA is keenly aware of the nightmare scenario—and has already fixed the outcome.

Coaches included in the year-end poll have as much right to vote their consciences as do Cuban voters. Regardless of which team a coach believes should be No. 1 at the end of the season, he's mandated to pick the winner of the BCS "title game."

Is this not blatant shaving of the BCS’s own point system?

In fact, the BCS rankings aren't even recalculated following the bowls. A true final poll could reveal the BCS lost their wager. Instead, the NCAA rigs the system to guarantee that there will be no undesired results.

If a player does that, it’s called point-shaving. When the NCAA does it, they call it the Bowl Championship Series.

College athletes, visit the DontBetOnIt.org site. Remember, when the NCAA informs you about all the evils of gambling and point-shaving—do as they say, not as they do.

Joe Duffy is CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com. Make sure you're happy with the outcome of the college football bowls by getting his GodsTips winning selections at OffshoreInsiders.com