TheLoveBandit
Retired Never Was, Coulda been wannabe
I know there was a 3 way tie, but that's why that have tiebreakers. And sometimes those go 5-7 rules deep (as they needed 5 here, and they needed all of them in the SEC a few years ago....where it goes down to a vote by the AD's of the remaining conference schools). While the BCS lives on a formula, we'll have things go wrong for somebody, but they can't complain because everyone is living under those rules.
Not enough BCS points? Play tougher competition. Better yet, don't lose AND play tougher competition.
That said, it's really hard to take the emotion out of it. Yes, the voting portion of the formula is swayed by emotion, which counts when you lose, and often by how much you win or lose, and takes the 'close calls' down to a feel of who would win on a neutral site.....which brings a lot of people back to TX > OU on a neutral site....proven fact. Personally, if they DID replay TX vs OU on a nuetral, I'm not so sure OU would win. It'd be a great game (better than OU vs MIZZ), and be a better qualifying play-in game than the conference championship (akin to what AL and UF went thru), but again....it's been done. What would TX have done if they got the nod into the Big12 Practice Game with MIZZ....would they have won 62-21? Maybe, but they only beat them 56-31 (at TX) earlier...so maybe not. Eh, I could go for either team in the NC - as a Gator fan, or just a NCAAF fan.
Btw, the significance of saying "Double Digit Win" is not that 10 is not the same as 40....it's for the fact that it was more than one score, meaning not so close. You can sing the song of injuries but that's a part of life - you lose someone, you either fill the hole or you don't....winners do. There is a difference between 10 and 40, but that is the difference between "Double Digit" and "Ass Whoopin' ". Look at UF-AL ending at 31-20....double digit. Ass-Whoopin'? No. Close? Not so much. Ergo, "Double Digit Win".
As a Gator fan, who would I rather see in the NC? OU provides more story, but I can't say I'm really wanting TX or OU more. They are pretty equal in my mind, and I'm not going to hide and want the 'weaker one'. I'd take either one.
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Anyone else pissed to see ND in a bowl game? Hope the 'save the whale' folks are on patrol when Weiss hits the Hawaii beaches 8). :blech:
Other interesting matchups for me....
Maryland vs. Nevada (Roady's Humanitarian) primarily because Boise isn't playing their home bowl game again (I'd have put them ahead of Ohio State, however, as an at large, fwiw). Besides, I always enjoy watching other teams suffer in that arctic neverland. Not much of a matchup this time, but it's usually funner to see someone from the South up there freezing their asses off on the astrosmurf wondering if this was really their big reward for the season.
Oklahoma State vs. Oregon (Pacific Life Holiday)
Decent matchup. Couple of could'have'beens.....Eh, fills the day a bit.
LSU vs. Georgia Tech (Chick-fil-A)
First thought is "Home game for GT", but I expect LSU fans will come reasonably well, unless they are so disillusioned after this season. Gut feeling is the Tigers are in for another loss, after watching GT tear UGA a new one. A chance for redemption for the SEC > ACC (after ACC went 3-0 over SEC to close the season), but it ain't gonna happen.
South Carolina vs. Iowa (Outback)
I was at the Outback where Iowa kicked UF's ass. So, I want USC to win - for the SEC, for Spurrier, for my butthurt. But my money is for the Cocks to go limp and lose. Again.
My thinking is Big10+1 > SEC on this one.
Georgia vs. Michigan State (Capital One)
As the media has already started hyping - two great running backs. However, Knowshon has become something of a NoShow late in the season - either because the team falls behind and must pass, or the opposing defense is simply limiting him (by limiting, we're talking ~100+ yds and 1 TD, not too shabby). We know UGA has other offensive weapons beyond Knowshon, and the beloved Stafford and his key recievers might be able to keep the game open. The two questions that come to mind - can UGA stop Ringer? Maybe, maybe not...depends upon which UGA defense shows up...and then on if MSU has any other plays it can run. The second question is if MSU can stop a balanced UGA offense. I don't think MSU's offense poses any real technical problems for UGA (like GT did), but it almost all falls down to a performance question. Does UGA have the heart to win. At this point, i don't know. I hope so, but I don't know. Gut feeling, SEC finally wins a matchup over Big10+1.
Penn State vs. USC (Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi)
The Grandaddy of them all, and no, I don't mean Joe Pa
. Ought to be a good game. I don' tknow if Joe Pa can keep the team focused and ready for all this time off - I am confident USC won't have any focus issues. The only trip up for USC is not taking PSU seriously, and assuming it will be another home (it IS home) cakewalk. If PSU can stay focused and be ready, they might not lose by that much 
Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech (FedEx Orange)
This is one instance where the BCS bowl tie-in creators ought to be shot. I suppose this is payback to the Orange Bowl for getting the NC, first they have to try out the field with this HS matchup. Seriously, neither of these teams deserve to be in a BCS bowl, IMO. Yeah, yeah - kudos to Cinci for managing multiple QB crushes over the season, and congrats to VT for winning a mediocre ACC by not losing out, here...go play in the Humanitarian Bowl...puh-lease 8)
Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech (AT&T Cotton)
Actually, I think this ought to be a fun one as well, despite my pulling for Ole Miss (more cred for UF's one loss, and SEC homerism in general). I've enjoyed watching Ole Miss get better over the season and exceed expectations. I really hope Nutt does well and kicks Arkansas ass every year, but that's another story. I like the team, what they've done, and wish them the best. That said, I've also fallen in love with the nutty professor that is Mike Leach - love to hear him talk, and have always loved watching his high powered offense. Now, they finally have a defense (sometimes). This go'round, I expect the TT defense is going to be there with a point to prove - and they are more than capable of shutting down Ole Miss. On the flip side, Ole Miss has a good ("SEC") defense ... that will get massacred by TT. Chalk another SEC loss in a bowl game, IMO.
Utah vs. Alabama (Allstate Sugar)
Big question - did AL just run out of gas and is shattered by the loss in the SECCG? Big question - Is UT the Hawaii of the '09 Sugar Bowl? It will either be a fun match, with AL managing a "double digit" win
or a blow out by AL trying to prove a point to the world. UT has been in big bowl games before (under Meyer), and whilst I don't expect them to show up all googley eyed, I also don't expect them to handle the AL team that will show up.
Ohio State vs. Texas (Tostitos Fiesta)
It's no secret - I don't like OSU. I can respect them, but I don't think they should have been invited to be in this game. Aaaaannnnnd, when kick off comes around, I don't expect them to be in the game for long. TX is pissed off, and more importantly they are a much, much better team. I see the Big12 offense pouring out another lopsided win. At least Mr. Sweater Vest can sigh a relief for not losing to an SEC team this year (though it is a shame he probably could have beaten one in a NYD bowl like UGA or LSU).
Florida vs. Oklahoma (FedEx BCS National Championship Game)
Um.....I'm just going to sit back an enjoy our SECCG for another week or so before thinking about this one.
Not enough BCS points? Play tougher competition. Better yet, don't lose AND play tougher competition.
That said, it's really hard to take the emotion out of it. Yes, the voting portion of the formula is swayed by emotion, which counts when you lose, and often by how much you win or lose, and takes the 'close calls' down to a feel of who would win on a neutral site.....which brings a lot of people back to TX > OU on a neutral site....proven fact. Personally, if they DID replay TX vs OU on a nuetral, I'm not so sure OU would win. It'd be a great game (better than OU vs MIZZ), and be a better qualifying play-in game than the conference championship (akin to what AL and UF went thru), but again....it's been done. What would TX have done if they got the nod into the Big12 Practice Game with MIZZ....would they have won 62-21? Maybe, but they only beat them 56-31 (at TX) earlier...so maybe not. Eh, I could go for either team in the NC - as a Gator fan, or just a NCAAF fan.
Btw, the significance of saying "Double Digit Win" is not that 10 is not the same as 40....it's for the fact that it was more than one score, meaning not so close. You can sing the song of injuries but that's a part of life - you lose someone, you either fill the hole or you don't....winners do. There is a difference between 10 and 40, but that is the difference between "Double Digit" and "Ass Whoopin' ". Look at UF-AL ending at 31-20....double digit. Ass-Whoopin'? No. Close? Not so much. Ergo, "Double Digit Win".
As a Gator fan, who would I rather see in the NC? OU provides more story, but I can't say I'm really wanting TX or OU more. They are pretty equal in my mind, and I'm not going to hide and want the 'weaker one'. I'd take either one.
- - - - - -- --- -- -
Anyone else pissed to see ND in a bowl game? Hope the 'save the whale' folks are on patrol when Weiss hits the Hawaii beaches 8). :blech:
Other interesting matchups for me....
Maryland vs. Nevada (Roady's Humanitarian) primarily because Boise isn't playing their home bowl game again (I'd have put them ahead of Ohio State, however, as an at large, fwiw). Besides, I always enjoy watching other teams suffer in that arctic neverland. Not much of a matchup this time, but it's usually funner to see someone from the South up there freezing their asses off on the astrosmurf wondering if this was really their big reward for the season.

Oklahoma State vs. Oregon (Pacific Life Holiday)
Decent matchup. Couple of could'have'beens.....Eh, fills the day a bit.
LSU vs. Georgia Tech (Chick-fil-A)
First thought is "Home game for GT", but I expect LSU fans will come reasonably well, unless they are so disillusioned after this season. Gut feeling is the Tigers are in for another loss, after watching GT tear UGA a new one. A chance for redemption for the SEC > ACC (after ACC went 3-0 over SEC to close the season), but it ain't gonna happen.
South Carolina vs. Iowa (Outback)
I was at the Outback where Iowa kicked UF's ass. So, I want USC to win - for the SEC, for Spurrier, for my butthurt. But my money is for the Cocks to go limp and lose. Again.

Georgia vs. Michigan State (Capital One)
As the media has already started hyping - two great running backs. However, Knowshon has become something of a NoShow late in the season - either because the team falls behind and must pass, or the opposing defense is simply limiting him (by limiting, we're talking ~100+ yds and 1 TD, not too shabby). We know UGA has other offensive weapons beyond Knowshon, and the beloved Stafford and his key recievers might be able to keep the game open. The two questions that come to mind - can UGA stop Ringer? Maybe, maybe not...depends upon which UGA defense shows up...and then on if MSU has any other plays it can run. The second question is if MSU can stop a balanced UGA offense. I don't think MSU's offense poses any real technical problems for UGA (like GT did), but it almost all falls down to a performance question. Does UGA have the heart to win. At this point, i don't know. I hope so, but I don't know. Gut feeling, SEC finally wins a matchup over Big10+1.
Penn State vs. USC (Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi)
The Grandaddy of them all, and no, I don't mean Joe Pa


Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech (FedEx Orange)
This is one instance where the BCS bowl tie-in creators ought to be shot. I suppose this is payback to the Orange Bowl for getting the NC, first they have to try out the field with this HS matchup. Seriously, neither of these teams deserve to be in a BCS bowl, IMO. Yeah, yeah - kudos to Cinci for managing multiple QB crushes over the season, and congrats to VT for winning a mediocre ACC by not losing out, here...go play in the Humanitarian Bowl...puh-lease 8)
Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech (AT&T Cotton)
Actually, I think this ought to be a fun one as well, despite my pulling for Ole Miss (more cred for UF's one loss, and SEC homerism in general). I've enjoyed watching Ole Miss get better over the season and exceed expectations. I really hope Nutt does well and kicks Arkansas ass every year, but that's another story. I like the team, what they've done, and wish them the best. That said, I've also fallen in love with the nutty professor that is Mike Leach - love to hear him talk, and have always loved watching his high powered offense. Now, they finally have a defense (sometimes). This go'round, I expect the TT defense is going to be there with a point to prove - and they are more than capable of shutting down Ole Miss. On the flip side, Ole Miss has a good ("SEC") defense ... that will get massacred by TT. Chalk another SEC loss in a bowl game, IMO.
Utah vs. Alabama (Allstate Sugar)
Big question - did AL just run out of gas and is shattered by the loss in the SECCG? Big question - Is UT the Hawaii of the '09 Sugar Bowl? It will either be a fun match, with AL managing a "double digit" win

Ohio State vs. Texas (Tostitos Fiesta)
It's no secret - I don't like OSU. I can respect them, but I don't think they should have been invited to be in this game. Aaaaannnnnd, when kick off comes around, I don't expect them to be in the game for long. TX is pissed off, and more importantly they are a much, much better team. I see the Big12 offense pouring out another lopsided win. At least Mr. Sweater Vest can sigh a relief for not losing to an SEC team this year (though it is a shame he probably could have beaten one in a NYD bowl like UGA or LSU).
Florida vs. Oklahoma (FedEx BCS National Championship Game)
Um.....I'm just going to sit back an enjoy our SECCG for another week or so before thinking about this one.
