Sunday, November 15, 2009
What About Who's ranked #4?
All of the top teams did exactly what they were supposed to do as the season is coming to and end. They won this past weekend. The only question that remains is why does TCU get left out in the cold when it comes to the BCS and a chance to play for a championship?
Do you really want to tell me that the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University do not deserve to play for a the title? On Saturday they demolished a #16 ranked Utah team, that has played in a BCS Bowl game and is very well respected (just ask Urban Meyer), by a score of 55-28.
TCU did it every way they could by offense, defense and on special teams. They also have wins against a currently ranked BYU team and a currently ranked Clemson squad. Both wins coming on the road. You really want to say they don't deserve a shot. Florida has only one win over a currently ranked team (LSU) as does Texas (Oklahoma State). Alabama has two wins against currently ranked teams (LSU and Virginia Tech). These Horned Frogs may be the best team in the country and you know what Florida, Texas or Alabama will more than likely be crowned the National Champions. Not saying they aren't good football teams but lets settle this on the field not in the polls.
Lets look at the facts. TCU ranks seventh nationally in total offense. Where do #1Florida, #2 Alabama and #3 Texas rank. Well it's not even close. Florida (29th), Alabama (34th) and Texas (28th).
The next question that pops up will be, "What about their defense?", and the answer to that is #4 in the country behind Texas, Florida and Alabama, in that order. You mean to tell me TCU doesn't deserve a shot?
Now the naysayers will say, "What about their strength of schedule"?, Well even that argument doesn't hold water when you compare them to the top three in the AP and USA Today polls. TCU comes in with a SOS of #25 in the country. Florida is at #14, Alabama (20) and Texas (37).
Six of the six computer rankings that the BCS systems uses have TCU ranked higher than Florida and Alabama. Three of the six, computer rankings, have TCU ranked higher than Texas. The computers seem to think TCU could stand a chance against the mighty three.
Many will say that TCU should put a tougher non-conference schedule together. They did, as the previously mentioned Clemson, and against Virginia on the road. As with Boise State, it's hard to get someone to schedule you outside of conference when they know that team could beat them.
So with all that, it is pretty much settled that the winner of the SEC Championship will get to face Texas, if they win the Big 12 Championship, in the Fed Ex National Championship Game in Miami. TCU will get BCS Bowl bid and deservedly so, but it's a shame that maybe the best team in the country won't get to prove it on the field. I now that either Florida or Alabama would much rather face Texas than TCU.
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ReplyDeleteThose Stats are impressive for TCU, but i have come up with a different spin on these stats. And they just rank the top 4 against each other.
Opponents Played Average Wins..#1. Florida (5.6) #2. Alabama (5.4) #3. Texas (5.3) #4. TCU (5.0).
Opponents Played Average Loses..#1.TCU (4.2) #2. (tie) Florida, Alabama & Texas (4.7).
Opponents Average Total Offense Rankings..#1. Texas (50.3) #2. Alabama (62.2) #3. Florida (66.6) #4.TCU (69.3).
Opponents Average Total Defense Rankings..#1. Florida (50.9) #2. Alabama (52.8) #3. TCU (55.0) #4. Texas (60.5).
If you take those rankings and add them together, with lowest # getting the higher ranking it shows that atleast in the poles the BCS has it right.
#1. Florida (7) #2. Alabama (8) #3. Texas (10) #4. TCU (12).
All four a probably deserving of the playing in the BCS championship game But three of them still have 3 games left (TCU only has 2), and Florida or Alabama will eliminate the other one in the SEC Championship Game.
Anyone can twist the statistics to make them look favorable for your point of view. Neither the blooger or the comment above are wrong. This whole mess could be and should be settled with a playoff for the Football Bowl Subdivison. It's silly to even be having this conversation. Like the blogger said, let's settle it on the field and not in the polls.
ReplyDeleteTCU is getting the wrong end of the stick on this one. Thats what happens when you don't play in a known football conference like the SEC, Big 12 or Big Ten. Even a Pac-10 team other than USC or Oregon would have a tough time getting to the National Championship game.
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ReplyDeleteBy the way, all those Stats were combined after thowing out any 1-AA opponents (which i think Florida and TCU were the only ones playing 1-AA)
What about Cincy and Boise State both of those teams are going to get left out in the cold to with no way of getting into the Nat. Champ. game. Boise State seems to be there every year and every year are on the oustide looking in. The BCS favors the big time football factories and they don't want anyone invading their turf or taking over their cash cow. That's the main reason you will never see a real playoff. Just more of the BS Championship Series. It is a bunch of crap!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see Florida lose a couple of games before the season ends and have them beat Bama in the SEC Championship game. Then I would like to see Texas lose in the Big 12 Championship Game. That would move TCU, Boise State and Cininnati all up in the BCS rankings and the screaming you would hear from the Big 12, SEC, ACC, Big 10 and Pac-10. They would be whining all the way to the NCAA offices. I say Florida would have to lose twice because one loss and a win over Bama and they get in the BCS Title Game. It's sad but that would happen. One loss for Bama and Texas and they are done. I would love to see that happen. I betcha than the big boys would come around to a playoff system.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with the last comment to a certain extent. I would find it very interesting as a college footbal fan to see TCU and Boise State or any combination of TCU, Cincy and Boise State playing for the National Championship. I find it interesting that the conversation starts to turn to stats (me included) when we start comparing the teams that are ranked in the top four. I feel that all the teams are very simliar to each other and compare favorably to each other and would a play-off system would give us some intruiging match-ups that we would not ordinarily see. I do not like the BCS System because it does not give a fair chance to some of the smaller conferences. It also does not take into consideration what a team has done all season. I will use Florida as an example. If Florida loses won of its next two games (probably won't) it will hurt the chances of the Gators playing for the National Championship. If they had lost earlier in the season they could overcome that loss but their late season loss will not be enough time to move back up in the polls. A saving grace for Flordia though is playing in the SEC Championship Game. That could help tremendously if they should lose a game before than. Take a look at Stanford if you want to put that theory to the test. The Cardinals are coming on strong and seem to be jumping throught he polls at a good click. One loss and they will disappear. Look at Georgia Tech, one loss and ranked #7, that loss coming early in the season. The system is not fair and needs to be changed.
ReplyDeleteCould you imagine a TCU/Boise State National Championship Game. Who would watch? It would be the same reason that Major League Baseball, the NBA and the NFL deplore small market teams getting to the finals, World Series or Super Bowl. TV ratings would tank and the NCAA would not like that. That is why there is no playoff system it would give every school a fair chance and the NCAA does want to hurt the bigger football factories so it will not happen. It has nothing to do with being fair, it is all about money. End of story.
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ReplyDelete"The person that commented on the playoff system in College Football being about money hit it right on the head. MLB figured it out that if the Yankees, Red Sox or Dodgers don't make it to the Series, TV ratings tank. Why do you think MLB does not have a salary cap. The NFL and NBA are the same way, if the Major Markets aren't represented, TV revenues fall off! That's why the College playoff system is not in place. Only the diehard fans would watch if the Championship game pitted TCU and Cinncinati. NASCAR proved that TV makes makes money from the casual fan, not the true fan."
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ReplyDeleteHeard a great commentary this weekend about the BCS.
It addresssed TCU and Boise State missing out on the BCS Championship.
It started with the fact that a playoff system is not in the near future. TV money is not going to allow a playoff, because they are getting what they want, big games, between big programs, in the National Spot Light.
The solution to TCU and Boise State being left out can be handled by their two conferences, the WAC and the Mountain West.....Merge the two and form a "Super Conference", creating a Conference Championship Game. Then petition the BCS to be recognized as an competitive conference and desreving of consideration in the BCS System. This could create a two division conference, with TCU and BYU in the North, with Utah and Boise State in the South. But at the same time it would add Fresno State, Nevada Utah State and Air Force into the mix.
But to do this, both conferences would have to quit whinning about "we're not getting our deserved chance", and Senators wasting tax payers time, trying to pass laws about needing a playoff, because their state schools are being left out.
I see this as a great idea, for these Non-BCS schools, to have the chance they are always asking for.