Yesterday the first BCS rankings of the season were released and the first 6 spots were reserved for unbeaten teams. This has the talking heads up in arms because apparently the voters forgot to rank redheaded step children Boise State, Iowa and Cincinnati low enough that the computers could not reward their flawless seasons.
The pollsters undoubtedly will find a way to correct this issue as we possibly could be looking at one of those three teams in the National Championship game which would cause the world to spin off its axis and hurl through space on a crash course with the sun. And if the NC game should happen to be two of those teams competing, well spontaneous combustion would obviously occur.
So here are the top 11 BCS teams and my best arguments for or against. What can I say, I’m a Duck fan.
- Florida – The Chosen - The Gators have Tebow, Tebow’s tears cure cancer. He can do no wrong. He has the best coach in the country behind him as well as an incredibly talented team. This team kind of sort of deserves the #1 spot, but most of that is due more towards the old saying, your number 1 until someone beats you. I doubt they finish as number 1 at least an undefeated #1.
- Alabama – The Hungry - Nick Saban has this team playing the best football in the country right now, roll tide roll is more than a backwoods war cry, it’s a warning to every team that is about to in the way of this unstoppable tsunami. The Tide are in second place solely based off of the way they finished last year, not the product they are bringing out this year. The good news for the Tide is that they will get a shot at Florida, assuming that both teams don’t stumble.
- Texas – The Bridesmaid – Every time Mack Brown talks, you just feel like he is mad at the world. Who can blame him? Last year his own conference’s ridiculous series of tie breakers prevented his Longhorns from playing in the NC game. This year everything lines up for his team to get back to the Rose Bowl for another chance at a second NC in 5 years. Texas did what it had to do in narrowly escaping the Sooners, but don’t get your hopes up Longhorn fans, a loss is likely in your future unless a second receiver can step up.
- Boise State – Underdogs – Chris Peterson has the Broncos looking at another undefeated season as they play exactly no quality teams for the rest of the season. In fact the only way this team improves its standing is if the teams in front of them lose and Oregon runs the table. This is not a great football team, like the Zabranksi and Johnson team that beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Boise fans will be barking about being left out of the conversation soon enough, but can the fans really believe they could do this in the SEC Big 12 or PAC10?
- Cincinnati – The New Kids – Brian Kelly is masterful. The defense is brand new and playing better than ever. The offense barely skipped a beat against USF after starting QB Tony Pike went down. But the road gets rougher from here for the Bearcats. They will face 2 ranked opponents as well as an emotional Connecticut team that will likely be playing inspired football. If Pike misses any of those 3 games it would be hard to imagine them running the table. I actually don’t think they can win the Big East without him let alone get a shot at the NC game.
- Iowa – The Surprise – Kirk Ferentz’s team is by far the most surprising of the season. With a huge win in Happy Valley and only 1 more ranked opponent on the schedule. A loss is not likely. The November 14th game against Ohio State could propel them ahead of an unbeaten Boise State team and put them in the mix to be playing the last game of the season. With no stars on either side of the ball, this is a team that just knows how to win. The reputation of the Big10 could hurt them even if they go undefeated but you get the feeling that Iowa just wants to play football.
- USC – The Reputation Rank – This is the first spot that is disturbing. Some how the BCS and the pollsters agree that this is the best one loss team in the country! Why? Pete Carroll’s Trojans did what recent Carroll coached teams do, they lost to a bad football team. In fact they were bad against a bad football team. Their “signature wins” are against an anemic Ohio State and a slightly above average Notre Dame. The win against Cal was supposed to be a quality win, but Oregon devastated Cal the week before. USC is overrated and will not go the remainder of the season with out either losing to Oregon or tripping up against another inferior team. Remember when USC never rebuilt, merely re-loaded? Back then they never handed the reigns over to a true Freshman QB.
- TCU – Who? – I’d be lying if I said I know anything about this team. Where Boise State has a soft schedule and has but 1 quality win, TCU hasn’t beaten anyone but their schedule is about to get beyond bumpy and if they come through unscathed they might get their shot at BCS glory this year and perhaps even deserve it.
- LSU – The Forgotten Ones – You know what the difference between LSU and USC is? LSU beat Washington. LSU’s only loss is to top ranked Florida and they only allowed 13 points. The only reason LSU is so low is that computers factor in margin of victory and quality opponents. LSU is not impressive in either category but it’s hard to blame an SEC team for scheduling cream puffs to start the season. LSU could be an at large bid if they take care of business as the strength of their remaining schedule will impress with Auburn, Alabama and Arkansas all lined up for the Tigers. November 7th at Alabama will be a must win game. Too bad Alabama is better.
- Miami – Welcome Back – Wow, college football is better when Miami is good. And Miami is good. If it weren’t for a monsoon in Blacksburg, this team could very well be undefeated. Jacory Harris may be as good as he thinks he is and Randy Shannon may be the best hire they could have made. Without a single ranked team in their path for the rest of the season, this team could be the lowest ranked team to have a shot at the NC. A loss however would kill them. I don’t think they get into the NC without several slips ahead of them, and Virginia Tech must lose again because Miami has to win the ACC to even think they belong.
- Oregon – The Hyped – Who would have thought that Oregon would be ranked this high after the debacle in Boise? I didn’t, I’ll be honest. Oregon has to be the best team in the PAC10 and seem to have the kind of depth required to make a run at the conference title. Oregon has overcome injuries and a suspension that very few, if any, teams could. The offense found its stride and for the first time this decade the defense is as good as they come. Unfortunately for the Ducks the memory of Boise will linger and they have no chance of being a 1 loss team vying for a NC appearance. At least they can get back to the Rose Bowl, as long as rookie head coach Chip Kelly can keep this lightning bottled up and at his disposal every Saturday.
There it is, several football games left to be played, but hey at least the BCS waits until the middle of October to rank teams. Let’s see how long it takes for the Coaches Poll to swing dramatically against Cincinnati, Boise State and Iowa, because 1 of those 3 teams will be unbeaten and if either Alabama or Florida loses before their highly anticipated showdown, the fate of the free world may rest in Mack Browns hands. And somehow the Big12 bylaws will find a way to crush Texas’ hopes and dreams along with the BCS’s legitimacy (Stranglehold).
-Kurt Valentine
Happy are the families where the government of parents is the reign of affection, and obedience of the children the submission to love.Do you understand?
Posted by: lacoste shoes | Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 07:33 PM