Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

bouray · 11-22-2004, 09:36 AM

It's funny as I watched college football this weekend all I heard about is the fight between OU and AU for a shot to play USC in the Orange Bowl. Why does USC get an automatic bid into the game when all the teams are undefeated? I have several other questions that I decided to post just to get a feel for everyones opinion. But before answering, please look at the issue open minded and don't let team or conference allegiance blur the obvious.

--How much of the USC hype has to do with them being left out of the BCS last season? In my opinion, they are not as good as last years team. Last year they were really dominant in there offense, and while their D was good, it was far from the best in the country. Unfortunately, last year doesn't count anymore. If you look at the 3 teams fighting it out, they are all of the same calibur and deserving of a title shot. Each of the teams did what it took to win in the big games this year: OU-pulled it out against Tx A&M, OkState, and UT; USC got outgunned by Cal and Stanford and got the "W", but they did dominate ASU; and Auburn squeezed by LSU and dominated Georgia and Tenn.

--If the preseason polls had started with OU #10, AU #11, and USC #12, would all these folks in the media be clamoring for a USC team to be in the championship? If so, why? If not, is it fair for a team to get an automatic slide into the national championship cuz people felt they were going to have a good year? After viewing the first game of the season against Virginia Tech, you could see USC was not the same dominant team as last year. Wouldn't it be a little more fair to throw out the preseason rankings cuz they don't mean anything? Look at LSU, Miami, Georgia, etc for examples (all teams that started the year ranked very high, but lost games early on and are out of the championship picture).

--I hear all this talk about non-conference schedules and Auburn did have a very, very easy non-conference schedule (which is what is hurting them), but why doesn't an easy conference schedule hurt a team like USC since that is what hurts UTAH? I know that is not a very good comparison between the two conferences, but come on the PAC 10 has three good teams: USC, CAL, & ASU then a huge drop off; both the Big12 and SEC are having mediocre years, but they still have these teams in the top 25: OU, Texas, TAMU, OkState---AU, Georgia, LSU, Tenn, Florida (AP #25,most others about #26)---unfortunately a tougher conference with a conference championship game has become a hinderance in the title quest.

Unfortunately, with the system the way it is, someone is going to be left out...I just hope all the pollsters vote with their minds and not their hearts. Then again, each of these teams have at least one game left---maybe it will be decided for us on the field (I doubt it).

My wish for a national championship game: USC vs. Auburn. I think OU has shown itself to be very vulnerable against tough competition and these two teams have the better match up. My opinion only.

11-22-2004, 09:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
bouray Insane Location: Bayou Country	USC: Are they really that much better? It's funny as I watched college football this weekend all I heard about is the fight between OU and AU for a shot to play USC in the Orange Bowl. Why does USC get an automatic bid into the game when all the teams are undefeated? I have several other questions that I decided to post just to get a feel for everyones opinion. But before answering, please look at the issue open minded and don't let team or conference allegiance blur the obvious. --How much of the USC hype has to do with them being left out of the BCS last season? In my opinion, they are not as good as last years team. Last year they were really dominant in there offense, and while their D was good, it was far from the best in the country. Unfortunately, last year doesn't count anymore. If you look at the 3 teams fighting it out, they are all of the same calibur and deserving of a title shot. Each of the teams did what it took to win in the big games this year: OU-pulled it out against Tx A&M, OkState, and UT; USC got outgunned by Cal and Stanford and got the "W", but they did dominate ASU; and Auburn squeezed by LSU and dominated Georgia and Tenn. --If the preseason polls had started with OU #10, AU #11, and USC #12, would all these folks in the media be clamoring for a USC team to be in the championship? If so, why? If not, is it fair for a team to get an automatic slide into the national championship cuz people felt they were going to have a good year? After viewing the first game of the season against Virginia Tech, you could see USC was not the same dominant team as last year. Wouldn't it be a little more fair to throw out the preseason rankings cuz they don't mean anything? Look at LSU, Miami, Georgia, etc for examples (all teams that started the year ranked very high, but lost games early on and are out of the championship picture). --I hear all this talk about non-conference schedules and Auburn did have a very, very easy non-conference schedule (which is what is hurting them), but why doesn't an easy conference schedule hurt a team like USC since that is what hurts UTAH? I know that is not a very good comparison between the two conferences, but come on the PAC 10 has three good teams: USC, CAL, & ASU then a huge drop off; both the Big12 and SEC are having mediocre years, but they still have these teams in the top 25: OU, Texas, TAMU, OkState---AU, Georgia, LSU, Tenn, Florida (AP #25,most others about #26)---unfortunately a tougher conference with a conference championship game has become a hinderance in the title quest. Unfortunately, with the system the way it is, someone is going to be left out...I just hope all the pollsters vote with their minds and not their hearts. Then again, each of these teams have at least one game left---maybe it will be decided for us on the field (I doubt it). My wish for a national championship game: USC vs. Auburn. I think OU has shown itself to be very vulnerable against tough competition and these two teams have the better match up. My opinion only.