Thoughts:
1) The BCS just doesn't work. Every year, it's so close to a major implosion, and every year, it barely escapes -- to something that still isn't legitimate;
2) Texas isn't very good, and Alabama will win the MNC easily;
3) I think the BCS will be wise to match Boise and TCU in a bowl game, and if they can, send Cincinnati to the Sugar Bowl to play Florida. That will leave the BCS "champ" and a non-BCS school as the only undefeated teams left at the end of the bowl season -- thus adding pseudo-legitimacy to the BCS process;
4) For all the hype about Florida this year, it amazes me how pathetic they played yesterday. I will echo the sentiment that I think Urban Meyer is going to Notre Dame; he's not much different than Saban, in that he needs a new challenge regularly to stay engaged.
Rankings:
1. Alabama (13-0): Pretty dominant from the get-go yesterday. They're easily playing like they belong in the title game.
2. TCU (12-0): I don't know what else a non-BCS school can do to get into the title game. One of these years, only non-BCS schools are going to end up undefeated at the end of the regular season (four years in a row now a "small school" has run the regular season table, only to be shut out of the title game), and the BCS will have to put them in the title game.
3. Boise State (13-0): I think they play the best defense of the undefeated teams left here. They held Oregon to eight points, even if it was way back in September.
4. Cincinnati (12-0): Can Cincinnati play defense? No. They can score on anyone, though.
5. Texas (13-0): Rarely have seen a less impressive performance by a team playing as a title game entrant in the BCS era. Nebraska's offense is terrible, and Texas could barely beat them. Very ugly, even if it "won".
6. Florida (12-1): With at least six losses in only three years as a starting QB, can we just stop all the "Tebow is the best ever" talk? I don't know how it got started. The guy is a gamer, yes. For the most part, he's steady and stable. But he's not a spectacular player at all; he's a grind-it-out guy. Boring. Steady, but boring.
7. Oregon (10-2): Their defense isn't very good, or else it just looks bad because of all the good teams in the Pac-10. But I think they'll win the Rose Bowl.
8. Georgia Tech (11-2): Good recovery game. Again, if there was a playoff, it'd be great to see the Yellow Jackets in it. No one would want to draw them in the first round.
9. Ohio State (10-2): The Rose Bowl will represent a big pivotal point in Terrelle Pryor's career. Either he shows up and launches a Vince Young-like finish to his career at tOSU, or he fizzles and becomes Ron Pawlus. It'll be interesting to watch.
10. Iowa (10-2): I hope they get the at-large BCS bid. They deserve it over Penn State, for a variety of reasons: H2H, the injury that cost them a lot more, etc. Plus, they'll travel just fine.
11. BYU (10-2): So other than Alabama's win over Florida, TCU holds the second-best win of the season for undefeated teams in my estimation. And it would look even better if BYU hadn't laid that egg against a mediocre FSU team.
12. Penn State (10-2): Paterno RUTS on Bowden.
13. Central Michigan (11-2): I bet they beat the ACC team they'll play in the GMAC Bowl.
14. Virginia Tech (9-3): Another consistently solid, if unspectacular, season for Beamer Ball.
15. LSU (9-3): Amazing this team could go 9-3, when it just isn't that good. If Bama out up 32 points on Florida, why could LSU manage only three?
16. Miami-FL (9-3): A good season for The U, hopefully on their way back up.
17. West Virginia (9-3): Maybe Bill Stewart can coach.
18. Pittsburgh (9-3): What a letdown for the Panthers, losing these last two games by thin margins. A better coach might have won those games.
19. Oklahoma State (9-3): Still puzzled over how they got shutout by Oklahoma.
20. Wisconsin (9-3): Very quietly successful season for the Badgers.
21. Utah (9-3): They might get to beat USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.
22. Houston (10-3): Lame loss to end their regular season.
23. Troy (9-3): This makes Florida's win over them look ... good?
24. Temple (9-3): This makes Penn State's over them look ... good?
25. Arizona (8-4): It was either the Wildcats or Middle Tennessee State.
Also considered: Middle Tennessee State, USC.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
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