Stanford vs Oregon: Winner of Pac-12 Matchup Won't Matter in BCS Title Run

This Saturday, we will be treated to an epic contest of two offensive juggernauts. The crowd will roar and the winner will be lauded as one of the best in the nation. Too bad they are guaranteed to not play for the actual title of BCS Champion. 

It pains this Pac-12 fan to no end that we will forever be stuck on the wrong end of the respect stick. The world loves the SEC, Big 12 and even Big Ten above our efforts. 

Any other year I would sit here and ballyhoo what the Pac-12 has to offer over, say the SEC. This year is different. I have seen the best in the nation, and it's not Stanford or Oregon. 

Both teams are wonderful in their own right. Oregon's ground game is unrelenting. That fact is exacerbated by their no-huddle offense that even has me gasping for air on the couch watching them. 

Stanford, without a doubt, has one of the best quarterbacks in a generation at the helm. Their defense is an underappreciated entity to boot. 

The way things shake out, I just don't see either making the trek to the national title game. This affects Stanford more than anything, as Oregon gave up their claim in their first loss. 

If the Cardinals win, they will no doubt enjoy the seeding at No. 3, but that is as far as they will climb with limited power in their schedule remaining. If Auburn can continue to rise in the ranks with a win over Georgia, Alabama has a real shot of taking back No. 2 with a win at the end of the season. 

That is, of course, if Oklahoma State wins out, which is ever more likely the way they have been playing. 

All of this is to say that I am far more confident with Oklahoma State or Alabama having the sway with the BCS than Stanford will, even if they trounce Oregon. 

As it looks, the Ducks and Cardinals will be fighting a neck and neck battle that Stanford could very likely lose. 

The Pac-12 will have to settle for a lesser BCS Bowl game, and we should be fine with that. I still cling to hope that LSU and Alabama will give us part 2. Sure it was boring, but that is no argument against having the two best teams fight for the title game in January.