DON'T EVEN START

In the back of my mind, I had this topic scheduled for the week of November 12th. I had to bump it up in the rotation once fans and media started talking about a possible LSU-Alabama rematch in the BCS Championship Game.

Those people that know me are aware there a bunch of things in the college football world that I despise. Calling divisions Leaders and Legends, moving bowl games off of New Year’s Day, teams that won’t leave the state for a non-league game and Michigan are all on that list. Atop that list is rematches.

There are 120 FBS teams. That means in a twelve game season, you will only play ten percent of the other teams competing for a national title. Add those numbers to the fact that the biggest complaint about college football is that “it’s not settled on the field.” When you have a rematch, you have two teams that have already settled it on the field.

I understand some rematches cannot be helped. In the age of conference championship games, they will happen more and more. I am not a fan of those, but the teams will have earned their spot in the game by winning the division. In bowl games, why would you choose a rematch over giving another team a chance to do the job?

“But, isn’t the purpose of the championship game to match the two best teams?” No. It is to match the two most deserving teams. USC may have been one of the top teams in the nation in 2006, 2007 and 2008, but they were not chosen for the championship game. Why? There were other teams more deserving of the spot based on not just who they played, but when and where they lost.

I made these same exact arguments in 2006 when Ohio State and Michigan played that classic game decided by three points in Columbus. The questions began. Should they play again? If voters had followed that line of thinking, Florida never would have had their chance to rout the Buckeyes. Do I think Oklahoma, Clemson or Wisconsin will beat Alabama or LSU? No. Do they deserve the chance to step on the field with the SEC Champ? Absolutely.

I would rather see Boise State lose to Alabama by fifty, than see two teams from the same conference play for a second time over other league champions. The SEC is without a doubt the best conference in college football, but that does not mean no one else should be afforded the opportunity to challenge them for the crystal football.

Games of the Week

Wisconsin @ Michigan State - Through the first six games, Wisconsin has averaged 50.2 points and 523 yards per game. They also have only played one game outside of Camp Randall Stadium, and that was to face Northern Illinois at Soldier Field. The Spartans are the last team to beat the Badgers in the regular season. MSU has a defense that will challenge Russell Wilson, Monte Ball and company. They are second in the nation in total defense with 21 sacks and 8 interceptions, but they will play without DE William Gholston. Expect a rematch in Indianapolis, but that one will finish the same as this one. Wisconsin 23-21.

Washington @ Stanford - Washington is going in the right direction with Coach Steve Sarkisian. Even after losing Jake Locker to the NFL, the Huskies are 5-1 and 3-0 in Pac 12 play. This game will match the two highest rated passers in the conference in UW’s Keith Price and Stanford’s Andrew Luck. The key in this game is the Stanford defense. They are allowing just 294.8 yards and 11.2 points per game. With the game in Palo Alto, I like the Cardinal and future Dolphin Andrew Luck 35-26.

USC @ Notre Dame -The Irish finally broke through last year and ended USC’s eight game winning streak in the series. Matt Barkley was unable to play in this match-up last year due to a bum ankle. The Irish struggled early this year with unforced errors. They finally seem to have that under control. They had two weeks to prepare for this game, and it is the first night game in South Bend in twenty years. USC will be in this one the whole way, but ND prevails 31-28.