The BC-Mess

Yeah, I know. Lame title. Sue me. Whatever.

It's a joke. The whole thing. Just a joke. The fact that Florida has basically no hope of winning the title because they don't win with enough style is a joke. The fact that Wisconsin at 11-1 has no possible chance of going to a bigger bowl than the Capital One Bowl is a joke.

We should just revert back to the old system. Name the national champion before we play the bowls, and then just play the bowls for fun and bowl trophys. Give Ohio State the title, and then play the bowls.

And they'd probably look something like this:

Rose: Ohio State vs. USC
Sugar: Florida vs. Michigan
Fiesta: Nebraska vs. Boise State
Orange: Georgia Tech vs. Rutgers

Alas, that probably won't happen. And so, we'll have controversy and conflict. Arguments about who should have played for the title, and who didn't get a chance to.

The Game really was THE GAME

It's amazing, isn't it, how few games that are so hyped up actually live up to the hype and deliver a game with high energy, good drama, and an amazing outcome. Three times in the past 16 months we've seen college football games deliver. Texas @ Ohio State, Texas vs. USC in the Rose Bowl, and now, Michigan at Ohio State. For everything leading up to the game, the rivalry, the history, Bo's death, the rankings ... the game still met expectations and delivered.

Of course, it delivered more than just a great game. It delivered proof that these really are the two best teams in the country. There is no doubt in my mind that Ohio State is number 1 and Michigan is number 2. I simply hope that, for political reasons, voters in the Coaches and Harris polls don't vote them that way.

And I say that for a simple reason:

There shouldn't be a rematch.

Otherwise, all the hype, all the tears, all the emotion for yesterday's game ... was for nothing. The two teams should have just played their backups if the real game was going to be played 50 days later. The winners should walk out with their prize, the losers should leave heading to a different Bowl Game, and Mike Hart should just shut up.

That leaves four basic contenders for the spot against Ohio State. USC, Florida, Notre Dame, and Arkansas. I rank them in the following way:

1. USC. If they win out, they deserve to go to the Title game, no argument about it. In doing so, they will have beaten two teams on the list of contenders above (Notre Dame and Arkansas), and will have their only loss coming on an incomplete pass on a two-point conversion attempt.

2. Arkansas. If they win out, and USC loses a single game left, they're the next-best choice. They'll have gone through the SEC unbeaten, which is a huge accomplishment, regardless of if you believe the SEC is overrated or not.

3. Notre Dame. If they win out, and Arkansas loses to either LSU or Florida, they're in, at least in my book. The pressure to win at Notre Dame is amazing, and to win with that kind of pressure is what championship games are all about.

4. Florida. They don't have a signature win. They didn't get through conference play undefeated. They're the lowest on the totem poll. They're only hope, in my opinion. to play for the title, is to win out, have USC beat Notre Dame, and then have UCLA beat USC. Very unlikely.

If, somehow, all four of those teams lose along the way (which is possible: LSU over Arkansas, USC over ND, UCLA over USC, Arkansas over Florida), give me anything but a rematch. Give me Boise State, give me Wisconsin, ... anyone but Michigan. They already lost their Title Game.

Saturday's biggest loser

Lost in the Michigan-Ohio State game was the biggest loser Saturday: West Virginia. Had WVU gotten the chance to play an undefeated Rutgers, then a win would have given them the Big East Title, and a trip to a BCS bowl. Now, that chance has been taken away from them. If they beat Rutgers, that will be Rutgers' second Big East loss, leaving the first place tie to be only Louisville and WVU, which would be decided strictly on head-to-head. And there's about 0% chance they'd get an at-large bid, not with three locked up with Boise, ND, and Michigan, and only one more to give out.

Ohio State Michigan

Well, this game might break the hype machine by the time it kicks off. Hopefully, that will be well deserved. But, I cannot avoid doing a full breakdown, being from Northwest Ohio. So here goes.

Quarterbacks

This is a big advantage for Ohio State. Henne makes too many mistakes, and struggles to make plays out of nothing. Troy Smith is a smart quarterback, doesn't make a lot of mistakes, and has a knack for making a big play out of thin air.

Runningbacks

This is an advantage for Michigan. Mike Hart is simply amazing, and while Pittman is durable and good enough, he's not amazing the way Hart is. The questions about Chris Wells' hands and fumbleitis push it even further into the Michigan camp.

Receivers

Everyone wants to focus on Ginn/Gonzales vs. Breaston/Manningham. And while that's all good, Ohio State has the edge in the top pairs category, and an even bigger edge when you go down the depth chart (Robiskie is developing nicely, no?). Throw in a talented tight end for Ohio State, and I think they take this category nicely.

Offensive Line

I'm going to call this a push. Both teams have good units, but I think Ohio State has a more skilled unit. Having said that, Ohio State's line is a little more banged up and has been prone to stupid penalties more often. Although, the crowd could nullify that. Still, we'll call it a push.

Defensive Line

Here's another tough one. Michigan has a slightly better unit, but Ohio State has the best DLman (Pittcock). Still, the group beats the standout, so a slight edge to Michigan.

Linebackers

Again, the same problem as above. Michigan's unit is a little better, but Ohio State has the best standout. Slightest of edges to Michigan.

Defensive Backs

Now, we reverse that problem. Michigan has the best individual (Hall), but the Buckeyes have the better unit. We'll give tOSU the edge here.

Special Teams

Both teams feature good return men, reliable kickers, and good enough punters. I think Big Blue's kicker is a bit better, so we'll give Michigan the edge.



So, now, having done all that, what about matchups that actually take place on the field. I think Michigan has an advantage on Ohio State when they try to run the ball, but I'll flip it around and give Ohio State the advantage when Michigan goes to the air. I'll be the complete opposite the other way, giving Ohio State the advantage when they pass, but Michigan the edge when tOSU tries to run the ball.

I think it comes down to Ohio State needing to jump to an early start and take away the running game from Michigan. For Michigan, it comes down to controlling the ball, running well, and keeping their offense on the field for long stretches.

This is a game that can flip on a few key turnovers, and Chad Henne makes more mistakes than Troy Smith, and the Ohio State Defense is very opportunistic.

Prediction: Ohio State 35, Michigan 17.

Playoff Saturday

Yesterday certainly seemed like a playoff. Enough teams dropping out of contention thanks to knockout blows. Simply amazing.

(Quick note: how sick was that Cavs comeback yesterday? 11-0, down 19 in the 3rd? amazing! and completely under the radar thanks to the day of upsets in CFB)

We lost several national championship pretenders this week (Auburn, Cal, Texas) and added a contender (Rutgers), and had another contender fortify their claim (Arkansas).

With that said, here's an attempt at a top-25

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Rutgers
4. Arkansas
5. Southern Cal
6. Florida
7. Notre Dame
8. Wisconsin
9. LSU
10. Wake Forest
11. Texas
12. Auburn
13. Boise State
14. Georgia Tech
15. Virginia Tech
16. Oklahoma
17. Maryland
18. Nebraska
19. California
20. Louisville
21. West Virginia
22. BYU
23. Oregon
24. Tennessee
25. Boston College

And my updated Heisman Ballot:

1. Troy Smith, Ohio State
2. Darren McFadden, Arkansas
3. Ray Rice, Rutgers
4. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
5. Mike Hart, Michigan

I was wrong

The Big East does have a real team. Of course, I was right when I said WVU wasn't for real, and when I said Louisville wasn't for real. Rutgers, however, I believe is for real. A team that plays solid defense, has a smart quarterback who doesn't lose games, and has a solid running game can be for real. And Rutgers has all of those in abundance. So, hats off to Rutgers.

Although, their win does bring back into the fold the old playoff argument. I'd like to offer my suggestion for a playoff for college football.

First of all, we keep all the minor bowls. Most teams enter the season with no actual hope of winning the National Title. Every team can enter the season with at least a dream of a bowl game. No need to take that away from them.

Second, make it a ten-team playoff. Winners of the SEC, Big East, Big Ten, Big Twelve, Pac Ten, and ACC get automatic bids. They also get first round byes, and are seeded 1-6 by a committee. Four teams get at large bids. The only guaranteed at-large bid goes to a team that is undefeated that is not already in (for example, Utah a couple of years ago, or if Wisconsin was undefeated this year and never played Ohio State). The other spots are filled by a selection committe, and seeded 7-10.

The 10-seed plays in the 7-seed, and the 8-seed plays the 9-seed. Maybe a second-tier bowl (such as Capital One or Cotton) would host this game, or maybe you create new game sites.

Then, obviously, the teams advance through the tournament in single-elimination. Quarterfinal games are home games, semi-finals and the final and third-place game rotate among the four current BCS bowls.

So, this year, you'd have something like this: (predictions by me on conference champs, not on current standings)

Automatic bids: Ohio State (Big Ten Champ), Texas (Big 12 Champ), Georgia Tech (ACC Champ), Rutgers (Big East Champ), USC (Pac-10 Champ), Florida (SEC Champ), Boise St. (Undefeated).

At-Large Bids: Auburn, Michigan, Notre Dame

Seeds:
1. Ohio State
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Rutgers
5. USC
6. Georgia Tech
7. Auburn
8. Michigan
9. Notre Dame
10. Boise State

Why would this system work? Simple: win your conference, and you get a shot at the national title if you're in a big-six conference. Go undefeated, and you get a shot at the national title if you're not. No one gets squeezed out if they simply take care of business.

And, how would I see this playoff playing out?

Auburn over Boise and Michigan over Notre Dame in the first round.

Ohio State over Michigan, Auburn over Florida, Georgia Tech over Texas, and Rutgers over USC in the quarterfinals.

Ohio State over Rutgers and Auburn over Georgia Tech in the semis, with Ohio State defeating Auburn in the National Title Game.

Minus six

Steelers turned the ball over six times today and lost by 11. If they could hold onto the football, they might be undefeated. It's pathetic.

At least the Buckeyes keep winning and at least the Cavaliers are playing again.

That'll give me something good to hang my hat on, even if the defending champs are making me cry.

Actual analysis or something ... eventually