BCS computers become self-aware; spontaneously generate playoff system

It has become so painfully obvious college football needs a playoff system to everyone (except the corrupt cabal of big conference commissioners, of course) that even the computers have rebelled against their masters like HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey [“I’m sorry BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock, I’m afraid I can’t do that.“] and created a de facto Final Four.

The first BCS poll of the year was revealed on Sunday and, much to everyone’s surprise, the computers actually got it right on the first try. LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are truly the top four teams in the county. But even more serendipitous is that LSU vs. Alabama on November 5th and OU vs. OSU on December 3 will create what amounts to a national semi-final.

So let’s look at the BCS Final Four. The seeding doesn’t really mean anything as things stand right now, but LSU is more than qualified to be the nation’s best at 7-0 with victories over four Top 25 teams including a neutral-site victory over my pre-season National Champion pick Oregon and a road win over #16 West Virginia.  Les Miles and crew aren’t afraid to play anyone anywhere and have been justly rewarded for it.

It’s hard for this B1G fan to admit, but the SEC is simply the best conference in college football. Period. One only has to look at the last five National Champions to know it’s true.  And as much as it pains me, Prick Saban’s 7-0 Alabama squad deserves the second slot with thee victories over Top 25 teams.

Oklahoma certainly deserves it’s #3 ranking with the best road win of the year at an incredibly hostile Florida State as well as a convincing blowout win over Red River rival Texas.

Where things get a bit contentious is at the #4 spot. Arguments could be made for Wisconsin, Stanford and most strongly for 7-0 Clemson with three victories over Top 25 teams, but Oklahoma State gets the nod for several reasons.  The Cowboys simply have more quality wins than Wisco and Stanford thus far. Clemson might have the resumé to possibly supplant OSU, but the Tigers suffer by being ranked #8 in the AP, USA Today Coaches’ and Harris polls—two spots behind the Ok. State in each. As for Boise State, a win over a mediocre Georgia team and nothing else to hang it’s hat on just doesn’t cut it.

Of course, the only way this virtual Final Four all works out in the end depends on each of the quartet remaining unbeaten until and after their impending semi-final battles. Even if it does happen, the BCS is still fatally flawed and corrupt.  This lucky break doesn’t change that.

Spartan path paved to the National Championship?

Michigan State find themselves 7-0 for the first time in 44 years and dreaming of previously unreachable heights after manhandling Illinois 26-6 at Spartan Stadium Saturday. With Ohio State’s collapse in Madison that same night the #7 Spartans are not only in the driver’s seat to a Big Ten Championship, they actually have a legitimate shot at the BCS Championship Game. Here’s what would need to happen:

1. Take care of their own business. Obviously, the Spartans must win all 5 of their remaining games. State comes to Evanston this weekend to take on a scrappy Northwestern squad, but they should be able to handle the Wildcats with relative ease.  The real test comes the week after as they travel to Iowa City to battle the #13 Hawkeyes.  If they can get past Iowa (admittedly, not an easy task) their road to an undefeated season is paved with extremely winnable home games versus Minnesota and Purdue and a finale at very mediocre Penn State.

2. Sit back and wait for the computers to screw over the little guys. While perennial Cinderellas Boise State and TCU are currently ahead of State in the BCS rankings, their strength of schedules simply won’t compare with Spartan victories over Top 25 teams Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa.  Maybe that’s unfair, but that’s just the way it is until the powers that be relent and adopt a long-awaited playoff system (but that’s the subject of another post).

3. Let parity (and anarchy) reign! Seeing the #1 team in the nation lose in each of the last two weeks is more than enough evidence in support of the Spartans hopes. No one is a clear, dominating presence on the college football landscape a this point and every team in front of State in the rankings has much more difficult hurdles to get over than the Green & White. We know one contender will be eliminated next week as LSU faces Auburn. Even if LSU wins on the road, they still have to face Alabama, Arkansas and have the SEC Championship game to deal with. Sorry LSU—not gonna happen. Auburn should beat LSU at home but they would still have to go to Alabama and then face the conference championship game—no way that’s going to work for the War Eagle. The very overrated Oklahoma goes to very underrated #11 Missouri this weekend and still has to travel to in-state rival #14 Oklahoma State. Oregon still has to travel to face an overlooked USC team, then home vs. #18 Arizona and finish the season with their Civil War game versus Oregon State in the Beaver Dam. Even if one of these teams runs through their daunting gauntlets, there’s still another spot in the title game waiting for State.

With a relatively easy path to an undefeated season when compared to the other contenders, the BSC system working against the two non-BCS schools in the mix, and only needing to slide into one of two slots in the BSC Championship Game — you read if here first — the Michigan State Spartans will vie for the national title on January 10th in Glendale, Arizona.

Earhole Top 10: Week 7

Another week, another #1 falls (well, #2 in my rankings last week).  Despite Terrelle Pryor’s desperate pleas to the contrary, Saturday’s loss to Wisconsin does define him and his Ohio State Buckeyes: both are highly overrated and crumble in every big game.  Pryor completed only 50% of his passes for a meager 156 yards in their 31-18 loss to the Badgers while rushing for an underwhelming 56 yards.  Once again, he and The Sweater Vest couldn’t get it done when the spotlight shone brightest.

1. Oregon (6-0)
2. Oklahoma (6-0)
3. Boise State (6-0)
4. Auburn (7-0)
5. TCU (7-0)
6. Michigan State (7-0)
7. Alabama (6-1)
8. LSU (7-0)
9. Utah (6-0)
10. Wisconsin (6-1)