Sorry to say, Boise State didn't deserve BCS

[Eric]

They did beat Oregon on the road, which is a top 25 team though. I'm of the opinion that both teams would finish with equal records if they flipped schedules. However, I actually would go with the unknown because I don't think Ohio State has a win as good as the Oregon victory. Their best wins came against Michigan State and Northwestern.

Actually, scratch that. Even with Thomas at QB, I definitely think Ohio State could lose on the road to Oregon. I've gone on record saying that we're splitting hairs in this discussion because their resumes are similar. I'm no militant Boise State/BCS supporter over Ohio State.

[Spence]

But what would you base your opinion of Ohio State on if they played Boise's schedule?

If you don't base an opinion of who they lose to (and how they played in the loss),,you must base an opinion on who they beat (as I do). And if you played such a very, very weak schedule at Ohio State (Boise's #113 schedule), how would you base your opinion? Would you come out and say..."Yes, we deserve to go to a BCS bowl. True, we didn't really play much of anybody, but also we didn't lose to any of those patsies."

I know you go back and forth some on this Spence..but I like your former thinking...

That is the point., that is what the road to the BCS is about. Playing a great schedule and showing you are as good as your record indicates. You need to beat as many good teams as is possible according to your schedule. The games should be difficult to make it to the BCS.

A mid-major that has not beaten a team in the final AP 25 hasn't earned the right to play in a BCS bowl.

I have argued this for several months. Couldn't agree more.

Oregon was a top 25 team. Ohio State only had Michigan State as their good win. Michigan State is lots better then the last four or five years, but they aren't good. I haven't changed my thinking at all. I just think that the schedules, excluding losses, aren't that different. Maybe the B-10 teams Ohio State played are a touch better then the teams that Boise State played. Not enough to justify getting beat by SC as bad as they did. I'm sorry, but win you lose like that during the season, the BCS should be out of reach - especially as an at large. I'm all for proving your way into the BCS, my point is that Ohio State didn't this year. No matter if the game with Texas is close or a blowout, Ohio State did not prove they belonged in the BCS this year.

[billybud]

Ohio State's SOS is top 50...........Boise's isn't top 100...enuf said for me. The schedules are not close.

If your SOS is reasonable..and your record is good, you have shown something.

SOS

BOISE.......................................Played one team in Top 50, six teams in the second 50, and five teams over the top 100..including two teams over 150.

#204...Idaho St.

#81...Bowling Green

#18...Oregon

#96...La Tech

#80...S. Miss

#82...Hawaii

#102...San Jose St

#144...New Mexico State

#110...Utah State

#162...Idaho

#60... Nevada

*85...Fresno State


Ohio State may be playing in a down year for the Big Ten...but Troy is ranked higher than all but two Boise opponents..and OSU played seven conference opponents who are ranked higher than the #3 team in rankings on Boise's schedule...and add USC in the mix...and the schedules are vastly different in difficulty.

[Spence]

Take USC and Penn State off Ohio State's schedule and tell me what the SOS is, that is my point.

[billybud]

I'd make a bet that if you compute the average rankings of "wins" of OSU vs the average ranking of "wins" for Boise...OSU would be way ahead...and that is my point.

Forget the losses...OSU may not have had a Top 25 win...but they had a bunch more opponents ranked in the 30-70 range...(7)..Boise (1)...

[Spence]

Maybe, I just can't wrap my head around letting a team that gets hammered as bad as Ohio State got hammered into the BCS. That shouldn't happen, doesn't matter who the team is or the circumstances.

[billybud]

Well..the next "most deserving"" would have been Texas Tech...ranked higher in the BCS than the Buckeyes...but two max from a conference rule kicked in..(and Tech, more so than Ohio State even, had a huge loss in their 65-21 beating by the Sooners)

[WoVeU]

Take USC and Penn State off Ohio State's schedule and tell me what the SOS is, that is my point.

When I used to try and pick games more seriously...that is what I looked at SOW...strength of wins!

[Spence]

Well..the next "most deserving"" would have been Texas Tech...ranked higher in the BCS than the Buckeyes...but two max from a conference rule kicked in..(and Tech, more so than Ohio State even, had a huge loss in their 65-21 beating by the Sooners)

Which is why I didn't consider them. On two conference teams is fair, because the majors have automatic bids, so there will be years when the automatic probably doesn't deserve to be there.

[billybud]

Hard to tell about the automatics vs non BCS...in 2005, an 8-4 ACC champ (FSU) went to play Penn State...TCU, at 11-1, had many supporters who thought that they were more deserving. Poor TCU had to play a 7-4 Iowa State..beat them by a field goal.

Didn't do much to sell their argument.

[Spence]

I guarantee that Pitt didn't deserve to go when they played Utah a few years ago.

[WoVeU]

I guarantee that Pitt didn't deserve to go when they played Utah a few years ago.

Any time you make negative statements about Pitt...I feel all warm on the inside!

[billybud]

I agree about Pitt in 2005...

[Spence]

I guarantee that Pitt didn't deserve to go when they played Utah a few years ago.

Any time you make negative statements about Pitt...I feel all warm on the inside!

[winter_kills_stuff]

Is it fair to say that Ohio State may also lose to TCU on a neutral field? It's like deciding who the biggest snubs were on Selection Sunday. Regardless of what they do in the NIT, their body of work during the regular season may have been worthy. I still say that Boise State was more deserving even if Ohio State does beat Texas.

I don't know if it's fair to do a head-to-head between two teams that haven't played against each other since 1972. It's maybe why I'm still a little partial to Ohio St, this season, despite their having lost against two very good teams (USC & Penn St). That's what we know. Similarly, TCU proved they weren't BCS material when they lost to Oklahoma, and Utah, but played well, to close their season out.

Ohio St earned a bid, in part, by winning the Big Ten title, against Michigan St. They share it with Penn St, who needed a few breaks to win against the Buckeyes, a team they hadn't beaten, there in close to 30 yrs.
And, Ohio St pretty much proved they were BCS material, by their trouncing of Michigan. I think the Big Ten deserves two teams, but I hope Ohio St plays with a little more "mettle" than they've shown in past years.

Did you guys hear about how Todd Boeckman & Terrelle Pryor might share the huddle? It bothers me that it's made the headlines, since it works against OSU, strategy-wise. But, it's been shown, that a good QB, when put into the right position, can pay dividends. In last night's Holiday Bowl, I thought the QB (Johnson) made the difference. Over 100 yards, rushing, combined with team-mate Jeremiah Johnson's 100+ proved to be too much for Zach Johnson, Dez Bryant & the Oklahoma St Cowboys. But in spite of the offensive fireworks, it wasn't even close to a record. Holiday Bowl games are renowned for their offensive displays.

I remember one year, where BYU and Penn St were paired together. If memory serves correctly it was Detmer's sophomore season. Both teams were outstanding, offensively, and the deciding margin was a 2-pt conversion that went the other way. Penn St won, but it was definitely a game for the ages. One, I think that lead to Detmer's Heisman Trophy run, the following year.