2008 BCS & Bowl Game Discussion

[Dan Wishengrad]

Joe, I'm not even going to bother trying to debate you point-by-point. You are a Hawaii and mid-majors "hater", and not even a Warrior rout over the illustrious Bulldogs would convince you that UH is worthy.

But I watched that worst team in the Pac-10 lose to both #1 Ohio State and to #10 Hawaii this year. Both were games the Huskies could have, or maybe even should have, won. We outplayed both the Buckeyes and the Warriors and led in the first half, but got out-coached and out-played in the second halves of these two games. OSU may be #1, but they are not that great a team. They would have alot of trouble beating Hawai'i IMHO -- the Big Ten always struggles against passing teams and are and will always be vulnerable to wide-open offenses. LSU may very well continue the legacy of Ohio State's failures in title games.

My two cents is that the best two teams in the country RIGHT NOW are USC and Oklahoma, both finally with healthy first-string QBs back in the lineup. But we have no true playoff, so the Trojans and Sooners will just have to be content beating up on weaker opponents in the lesser bowls.

[Beta]

Beta:
Can you please include tOSU when talking about an easy schedule from now on. I would say it was as easy as Kansas and Hawaii...They were clearly the worst BCS conf. this year (cue Big East talk), yet they didn't go undefeated. I don't know that Hawaii wouldn't have gone undefeated with that schedule.

I agree the Big Ten is not good top to bottom this year. Although, 10/11 teams in the Big Ten had overall winning records. Teams beating up on each other within a conference happens, I would call it disparity. Ohio State didn't play terribly to lose to Illinois...the Illini played the game of their lives. Ohio State has looked pretty solid this year. Just because Michigan stinks this year doesn't mean the Big Ten is bad overall. Wisconsin is still good. Penn State is doing their usual thing with Joe Pa stumbling around on the sidelines wondering why all those kids are tearing up the lawn.

Don't forget the ACC, which has been down for the past 2 seasons, also with Florida State, Miami and GT not doing much...in addition to the flakiness of Virginia, Maryland and NC State. The ACC looks really terrible minus VT and BC.

[Zeuslax]

Don't forget the ACC, which has been down for the past 2 seasons, also with Florida State, Miami and GT not doing much...in addition to the flakiness of Virginia, Maryland and NC State. The ACC looks really terrible minus VT and BC.

Yup!

The Illinois selection seems like one that has a lot of foresight. They are going to be a very good team next year and for many years to come. Is it fair this year, probably not.

[Beta]

Joe, I'm not even going to bother trying to debate you point-by-point. You are a Hawaii and mid-majors "hater", and not even a Warrior rout over the illustrious Bulldogs would convince you that UH is worthy.

Worthy of what? Being able to beat multiple good teams in a year? That's my whole point. It's easy to show up and only play 1 good team a year in a bowl game, as opposed to 6 in your season schedule. Perhaps LSU shouldn't have played Auburn, and they'd still have Dorsey rushing the QB. Or LSU shouldn't have had played Arkansas and lost their starting QB. They should have played Louisiana State Tech Southwestern - Statesboro Campus instead.

But I watched that worst team in the Pac-10 lose to both #1 Ohio State and to #10 Hawaii this year. Both were games the Huskies could have, or maybe even should have, won.

Who says they should have won? You? They didn't win, end of story. Wouldashouldacoulda means nothing. A 21 point lead by the Huskies was absolutely wasted on Saturday. Part of the whole "being good enough to take the lead" is the often overlooked "being good enough to hold the lead".

What bothers you more, the fact that I ridicule college teams for playing cupcakes from the first through last game? Or the fact that your bowl-less team proved that they could go to that conference and compete for the #1 spot and a BCS game?

[grinderpete]

Beta:
Can you please include tOSU when talking about an easy schedule from now on. I would say it was as easy as Kansas and Hawaii...They were clearly the worst BCS conf. this year (cue Big East talk), yet they didn't go undefeated. I don't know that Hawaii wouldn't have gone undefeated with that schedule.

I agree the Big Ten is not good top to bottom this year. Although, 10/11 teams in the Big Ten had overall winning records. Teams beating up on each other within a conference happens, I would call it disparity. Ohio State didn't play terribly to lose to Illinois...the Illini played the game of their lives. Ohio State has looked pretty solid this year. Just because Michigan stinks this year doesn't mean the Big Ten is bad overall. Wisconsin is still good. Penn State is doing their usual thing with Joe Pa stumbling around on the sidelines wondering why all those kids are tearing up the lawn.

Don't forget the ACC, which has been down for the past 2 seasons, also with Florida State, Miami and GT not doing much...in addition to the flakiness of Virginia, Maryland and NC State. The ACC looks really terrible minus VT and BC.

This is the problem, what happens when the BCS conferences have a down year, how do we find out if another conference has the best team. I can agree that Hawaii may have a crappy schedule, but can you fault them for doing it. It is going to make them a lot of money. Also, how do we know that they are not the best team. Just cause they played a bunch of patsies doesn't mean that they are not good. And the problem is that we will never know.
You all know the arguments, so it is stupid to repeat them. But anyone who loves the NCAA basketball tourney, should also see the value in a football tournament.

[Dan Wishengrad]

What bothers you more, the fact that I ridicule college teams for playing cupcakes from the first through last game? Or the fact that your bowl-less team proved that they could go to that conference and compete for the #1 spot and a BCS game?

Huh?

I don't think the Huskies were very good this year. Period. We were not worthy of much of anything. 4-9 is about right given our tough schedule and our pathetic defense and our self-destructive second-half performances all season long. All I am saying is that I saw us play against both OSU and UH and think THOSE two teams are not very far apart. And I DO think Hawai'i would be more than capable of beating Ohio State. So sue me...

[Zeuslax]

I'm not sure what the stats are for UH running attack, but the pass opens it up for them (just a little opposite). They had a terrible time holding on to the ball on Saturday though. They're good! Let's not forget that a lot of teams play up and down to the competition. Yes, even good teams.

[Dan Wishengrad]

Great opinion piece by a local Seattle columnist on the Pac-10 getting slighted by the BCS, once again:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/b ... ers03.html

One salient point that Withers points out -- which should always be considered - is that the BCS Corrdinator is also Commissioner of the SEC.

[LaxRef]

My main thought on the BCS system is this:

If we know at the beginning of the season that there are teams in DI-A that can go undefeated and not win the national championship, the system is worthless. I don't believe there is any other high school, NCAA, or pro sport in which it is possible to go undefeated and not win the championship.

[Danny Hogan]

One salient point that Withers points out -- which should always be considered - is that the BCS Corrdinator is also Commissioner of the SEC.

why is that significant?

[Dan Wishengrad]

One salient point that Withers points out -- which should always be considered - is that the BCS Corrdinator is also Commissioner of the SEC.

why is that significant?

Gee, I'm not sure Danny... let's see: No playoff system, no obvious team worthy of facing OSU in the mythical "title" game... I know, let's jump LSU from #7 all the way up to #2 because they beat the greatest Tennesee team of all time by a whopping touchdown! Much more sensible to take our best SEC team, Mr. Slive surely reasoned, then take a different two-loss team that just demolished last week's unanimous #1, and for the second time this season. Best to leap-frog the Tigers over the higher BCS-ranked Bulldogs, cuz Georgia might not really be as good as we thought they were, and just last week?

[Danny Hogan]

i was having a hard time following how the pac10 got slighted in favor of the SEC. the article mentioned a lot of non-SEC teams that the author thought the PAC10 was slighted in favor of.

I agree that LSU's jump to #2 was remarkable. I don't think it is a conspiracy though.

[ZagGrad]

Would the debate/conversation this thread provides still be present if there was a playoff? Meaning, would people still argue about the system for teams not making a playoff?

Dear God, initiate a playoff system. This is ridiculous.

[Beta]

Would the debate/conversation this thread provides still be present if there was a playoff? Meaning, would people still argue about the system for teams not making a playoff?

There'll always be debate for sports when teams aren't on level playing fields; but I think the debates will be over smaller topics (strength of schedule, # of games played, etc) as opposed to very large issues (our post-season for college football is royally fubar).

[cjwilhelmi]

Couple Thoughts:

1) Joe Tara"I Hate Hawaii"gowski is just upset because Tech sucked this year.

2) Hawaii/Georgia is going to be a great game along with ASU/Texas.

3) Until there is a playoff system, there is no true national champion. You can't win it because some computer said you should be in the game.

4) As the reigning Collegelax.us Bowl Pick 'em Co Champion I will begin putting together a spreadsheet for everyone to fill out for this year. Thanks to help last year I have a better system for it this year.