2011 College Football

[Paelos]

I think Illinois has a lot of potential. I think they can certainly finish higher than 5th in their conference. However, I think currently Northwestern has more upside than Illinois.

I think Illinois has to fix it's issues with the passing game. You have four teams in the Big Ten that really pass the ball well: Northwestern, Michigan State, Iowa, and Wisconsin. You'll notice in that list are the two teams playing for the conference championship.

Illinois has great defense. That's where they can hang their hat. If they can couple that with a decent passing attack that doesn't toss up a bunch of picks, you're going to win 8-9 games a year.

[ghost]

Urban Meyer offically to OSU

This whole deal has been very  .  It just seems awfully convenient the way that Meyer happened to be available when Tressel just happened to get fired for lying to the NCAA. 

[Paelos]

Utes could have been playing in that game riding a 5 game win streak if they hadn't completely fallen apart against one of the worst teams in the country. 

And it gets better. UCLA fired their coach heading into the PAC-12 championship game.

If I'm USC, I'm going 

[Ingmar]

Damn, I was hoping Neuheisel would hang around longer. A strong UCLA is really bad for Cal, there's probably nobody we overlap with more in terms of recruiting.

[ghost]

Well, he probably fucked them up for years to come so I wouldn't worry too much about it. 

[Ingmar]

Eh, I don't think it will be a horribly difficult task to turn UCLA around if they get a good coach in there. They have a lot of recruiting plusses.

[ghost]

So does Cal.  Moreso, in many instances.  Aren't you guys getting a new kickass stadium renovation?

[Ingmar]

It is unclear what the level of kickassness in the actual stadium will be (I'm not sure anything in terms of the actual stadium itself is changing from the team's point of view), but yeah the training facilities, locker room, etc., are going to be actually modern now. I kind of hope the visiting locker room stays shitty, ours is notorious for being the worst one in the conference. 

[ghost]

And Berkley has to be one of the best campuses anywhere.  I know UCLA is nice too, but it's in LA.  Who wants to live in LA?

[Ingmar]

Anyone who wants an easy time finding an agent? 

[ghost]

Stick up for your school, man.  It's better than UCLA.  They are a fucking sub-location school.

[caladein]

While I'm usually quick to defend Los Angeles, I am... not a fan of Westwood.

[Ingmar]

Oh, I know Cal is better than fUCLA, but you know, they've been to the Rose Bowl more recently than 1958 (setting aside that they play there anyway) so they do have a bit of an inside track on us when it comes to recruiting.

[caladein]

In much more important news, a blind poll on who you think should be #2.

[ghost]

That's a shitty, biased comparison because it doesn't take into account how bad the losses are.  Losing to Iowa State is fucking inexcusable.  Oregon losing to LSU and a very good USC team puts them in ahead of Okie State in my opinion.

[Ingmar]

I'm inclined to just say let Houston have their shot, personally. If nothing else it won't be a horrible 6-3 game probably.

[ghost]

I have so little interest in watching a rematch of LSU and Bama, but they're the two best teams so they should be the ones that play the BCS game.

[caladein]

That's a shitty, biased comparison because it doesn't take into account how bad the losses are.  Losing to Iowa State is fucking inexcusable.  Oregon losing to LSU and a very good USC team puts them in ahead of Okie State in my opinion.

I can understand the rationale behind taking the team with the "best loss" as they're therefore the team that's closest to being undefeated.  I just don't think the difference between one lost game over another should override a gap in overall strength of schedule as large as the one between OKST and Alabama (which would be my second choice).

[ghost]

I suppose everything should be taken into consideration, but the poll didn't do that.  

Edit:  I don't think any of this will matter because Okie State is going to get the beatdown from Oklahoma this weekend.  The only other team that has a reasonable argument after that is Virginia Tech and maybe Boise State. 

[Paelos]

If Oklahoma State beat OU, I would put them in the Title game.

Reasons:

1 - The loss to Iowa State was right after a completely demoralizing plane crash the day of the Friday night game. It was obvious they were dealing with that.
2 - The loss was in 2OT. It wasn't like they just laid down.
3 - Bama had a chance to control it's own path by winning at home. I'm supposed to believe that it will be different in a neutral site?
4 - I'll be the first to say it, the Bama-LSU game was fucking boring. I have no desire to put that on the populace again. Watching kickers and defense is for a 1900 football game, not a 2011 one.
5 - Oklahoma State played in the tougher conference this year. The SEC may have the better top end, but the middle and bottom as absolutely wretched this year.

[ghost]

Bedlam doesn't have a history of being particularly competitive. 

[01101010]

If Oklahoma State beat OU, I would put them in the Title game.

Reasons:

1 - The loss to Iowa State was right after a completely demoralizing plane crash the day of the Friday night game. It was obvious they were dealing with that.
2 - The loss was in 2OT. It wasn't like they just laid down.
3 - Bama had a chance to control it's own path by winning at home. I'm supposed to believe that it will be different in a neutral site?
4 - I'll be the first to say it, the Bama-LSU game was fucking boring. I have no desire to put that on the populace again. Watching kickers and defense is for a 1900 football game, not a 2011 one.
5 - Oklahoma State played in the tougher conference this year. The SEC may have the better top end, but the middle and bottom as absolutely wretched this year.

/signed.

Having Bama in it without the SEC title is shady. I understand their only loss was to #1, but no conf championship = no dancing. I'd go with OKST if they win. If not, VaTech might work if they beat Clemson. Two SEC teams in the title game feels like cheating to me.

edit: To further add to the mix. What if Bama beats LSU in the title game? Who gets the title or is it going to be split? 

[Paelos]

Bama wins, you cry.

[ghost]

My preference, if it has to be a team other than Alabama, is to see Boise State get in over Okie State. 

[Paelos]

The hell are you huffing? Boise State deserves a kick in the nuts, not a national title shot.

[01101010]

Bama wins, you cry.

Nah. LSU had a historical season I will snuggle up with. Disappointed... sure.

[Paelos]

The you was directed at the collective outrage of the cajuns who don't understand the math.

[Ingmar]

It really bothers me that they'd consider putting Alabama in the title game if it's against LSU. They had their shot.

Now the perfect situation of course is that Georgia wins this weekend...

[Paelos]

Georgia can win the game, but we need to do some things.

1 - Rush for 150+ yards
2 - Not miss a single FG
3 - Don't settle for FGs if we are in the red zone.
4 - Create at least 2 turnovers from Jefferson
5 - Stop LSU from driving the ball more than 80 yards in one drive for a TD.

Do that, UGA wins going away. Miss on any one of those things, we'll lose a close one. Miss on two or more, WTFBBQ'd.

[ghost]

The hell are you huffing? Boise State deserves a kick in the nuts, not a national title shot.

Why do you think I want them to play LSU?   

[ghost]

Wow.  Something is rotten in Tennessee.  I don't expect Derrick Dooley to last very long at this rate. 

When your star quarterback and wide receiver are ignoring and/or actively antagonizing coaches, something has to give.

[Paelos]

That sucks if it's true. I love to beat the shit out of Tennessee, but I don't want them to fall into obscurity. It's bad for all of us.

[SnakeCharmer]

Ahem...Excuse me while I whip this out...

The purpose of the BCS is to put 1 vs 2.  That's it.  It's not about being fair, who "deserves" it, who had their shot, who won their conference or didnt, or anything else. It's about putting the two best teams in the country against each other.  Can anyone really argue that isn't Alabama and LSU?

If you want to play the 'had their shot game', we can play that.  Okie State had their shot to get in.  The blew it when they lost to Iowa State, the equivalent of Kentucky in the SEC.  No, the plane crash doesn't matter.  It's not like half the half the football teams coaching staff died or even any players.  Yeah, it sucks, but I just don't see that being the deciding factor in losing to IOWA STATE.  Oregon had their shot, but they blew it when they lost to USC (and an earlier loss to LSU).  Oklahoma had their shots but blew it when they lost to Texas fucking Tech AND Baylor.  Stanford had their shot but they lost to Oregon AND have a terrible schedule.  Other fun games to play?  Lets compare Okie State's loss to then Kentucky Iowa State vs Alabama's loss to LSU.  You can't.

But it doesn't matter.  All that matters is who is 1 and who is 2.
#1 LSU
#2 Bama

And that's who belongs in the BCS NCG.

Do you want to put in an Okie State that would get blown the fuck out by LSU?  Or even Stanford who would get plowed harder than a 10 dollar hooker?  LSU v Boise State would be over before it began.  That said, if Okie State goes to Oklahoma and posts 60 points and hold them under 10 and gets notched up to 2 and gets a shot at LSU?  I'm good with that - but OSU is probably going to lose so it doesn't matter.  Hell, if you want to talk insanity, LSU has such a stranglehold on 1 that they could lose to UGA and still play in the NCG.  On that note, does UGA beating LSU (and winning the SEC) mean they should play in the NCG?  After all, they just beat the number 1 AND won their conference.  Does it mean they should play for the NC?  Hell no it doesn't and you're INSANE if you think so. 

[Ingmar]

The purpose of the BCS is to determine a national champion. Alabama already lost to LSU; if they then turn around and beat them in a rematch, well, all we have is a tie.

[SnakeCharmer]

The purpose of the BCS is to determine a national champion. Alabama already lost to LSU; if they then turn around and beat them in a rematch, well, all we have is a tie.

To determine a champion by playing the two best teams in the country (i.e. 1 vs 2) against each other.  At the point of the actual game, the 'preseason' doesn't matter.  If what you're saying was even remotely true, then in any playoff scenario, if team A beat team B in the regular season and then team B beats team A in the post season/championship, then you'd have a tie.  Which is complete bullshit. The regular season of the college football is effectively the playoffs.

Can you honestly tell me that, besides LSU, there is a better team than Alabama that should be 2?