I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT

October 28, 2009

As the regular season winds down, fans everywhere will start to campaign for their school or their conference. Higher rankings, bowl bids and most importantly, BCS berths will be the goals. As everyone tries to build themselves up by tearing others down, here are three arguments that won't fly with me.

Sure, they are undefeated, but they barely won last week. If it is so easy to have a perfect regular season, then why doesn’t it happen more often? Every team will play a bad game sooner or later. The great teams find ways to win anyway.

I was more impressed with Florida after the Arkansas game than I was after the win at LSU. With Tim Tebow still recovering from that wicked concussion and following the game everyone said was their biggest obstacle, they struggled. Even USC had trouble following up big wins the last two seasons. Last year, Penn State had a bye week after they finally won in Columbus, and they still keep out flat at Iowa. Great teams win, even when they aren’t great. They shouldn’t be penalized for win.

If Florida and Alabama are both unbeaten and the SEC Championship Game comes down to the end, they should play again in the BCS Final. No way! No how! No chance! I’ll throw every argument the SEC used in 2006 against an Ohio State-Michigan rematch right back in their faces. In 2006, I was completely against a rematch and would be again. If Michigan, who lost a very entertaining game by three didn’t deserve a rematch when they lost in Columbus, why would the loser here deserve one after losing on a neutral field?

I know I’ll hear the cry of, “Isn’t the job of the BCS to match the best two teams?” NO! The BCS is supposed to determine the most deserving teams!

There are 120 teams in FBS college football. Schools will only play 10% of the other teams out there. Why should the #1 team play someone they already defeated on a neutral field over a team from another conference that has not had their shot at them yet? If Florida and Alabama want to play for the national championship, beat the other for the SEC crown. If you don’t, enjoy Bourbon Street.

Notre Dame/Ohio State/Penn State doesn’t deserve a BCS bid over unbeaten Boise State. Once the two teams are determined for the national championship game, the bowls are trying to sell tickets, fill hotel rooms and draw people to the TV. Rules are in place so Notre Dame or a team that is not a league champ must meet certain requirements in order to be chosen for the BCS. Would you honestly rather watch Alabama play Boise State over Notre Dame? Me neither.

Games of the Week:

Florida v. Georgia (in Jacksonville) – This is one of the most overrated rivalries in college football. The Gators have won nine of the last eleven meetings and 16 of the previous 19. It’s a great party with history, but honestly, the game hasn’t been that compelling for years. That being said, the Gators offense has been stuck in neutral since #15 was knocked out in Lexington. Let’s see if they put on a show the way they did last year. I feel one coming. The Gators lock up the SEC East on Saturday.

USC @ Oregon – The Ducks would have to lose three of their last four games to send USC back to the Rose Bowl. The later we get into the season, the more USC will gel. This is the best shot the conference still has to send someone else to Pasadena. The Ducks have done a complete 180 since they left the blue turf of BoiseIowa game films. opening night. QB Jeremiah Masoli will need a big game. The Ducks defense will need a bigger game. I think they win a close one and start watching Iowa game films.

Texas @ Oklahoma State – OSU is 2-21 all-time against the Longhorns. To make matters worse, Texas has a habit of spotting the Cowboys a sizable lead and still escaping Stillwater with a win. Last time here in 2007, OSU was up 21-0 and lost 38-35 after allowing 24 fourth quarter points. Then there’s the time in Austin when Vince Young erased a 35-7 deficit for a 56-35 triumph. One year ago, on this very weekend, Texas fell to Texas Tech. Colt McCoy and company will be ready. This will be a four quarter game, but the Longhorns stay perfect.

Upset Alert – Penn State @ Northwestern – In August, I called this the mother of all trap games. PSU travels to Evanston the week after Michigan and the week before Ohio State. The last four meetings in Evanston were decided by an average of five points per game. Also, PSU is 2-9 in their 2^nd consecutive road game. (See Iowa last year, Illinois ’07, Wisconsin ’06, Minnesota ’05… just to name a few) I think PSU wins, but for some reason, NW always seems to be able to score plenty of points on the Lions when they get them at home. In fact, outside of their first year in the Big Ten, the Lions have either lost in Evanston or won by one score.