Boise State vs. San Jose State

[RazorHawk]

My thinking was, how in the world does San Jose St get Alabama, Wisconsin and Utah on their schedule in the same season?

If this is an indirect criticism of Boise State, the easy answer is that San Jose State is a patsy.

It might be that they are willing to go on the road to those venues for a payday, while Boise State is not.

[billybud]

San Jose State is grist for the mills.

And Boise is just cruising along while the big boys knock themselves out....Ohio State playing Wisconsin, Auburn vs Arkansas, Nebraska vs Texas..

Tough contests every week...well, except, you know....

[Spence]

San Jose State is grist for the mills.

And Boise is just cruising along while the big boys knock themselves out....Ohio State playing Wisconsin, Auburn vs Arkansas, Nebraska vs Texas..

Tough contests every week...well, except, you know....

Doesn't matter. Winners win. If you aren't good enough at some point it will come out.

[billybud]

It won't come out if you do not play a challenging team.

And, unfortunately, there is not a team left on Boise's schedule who would not be a underdog to most of the SEC...

San Jose State (1-6) was fodder...La Tech, Idaho, and Fresno State are fodder. Hawaii has lost it's two games with BCS conference teams by an average of over two touchdowns. Utah State is 2-4, and finally Nevada. Nevada has no win over a + .500 IA team...

Nevada has beaten IA teams with the following records...2-5, 3-3, 2-5, 1-6, 1-6....lost to Hawaii, the only team they have played who are above .500.

[Spence]

If Boise State doesn't get challenged at the end of the regular season they will be challenge in the NCG. If they are good enough they will win. If they aren't they will lose. I understand people wanting the teams in the BCS to be challenged several times by good teams, but there aren't that many good teams out there to challenge anyone. Call it parity or what ever you want, but I can't pick out very many good teams. Oregon looked like world beaters last year and Ohio State - an average Ohio State - beat then without lots of trouble. They even gave up some terrible return yards on the special teams. So I'm not all in for Oregon. They are good, I don't see them as great. Oklahoma may be good, we don't know yet. Alabama only scored twenty four points on a terrible Penn State team. They seem to have a great running game. Not much of a passing game and an alright defense. Not sticking the sword in any of these teams, but why not Boise State. They played a couple pretty good BCS programs early. They haven't shown for a second they aren't up to the task. They are running through their schedule like a big time team should run through that schedule. I don't see any reason to not put them up there.

[RazorHawk]

If Boise State doesn't get challenged at the end of the regular season they will be challenge in the NCG. If they are good enough they will win. If they aren't they will lose. I understand people wanting the teams in the BCS to be challenged several times by good teams, but there aren't that many good teams out there to challenge anyone. Call it parity or what ever you want, but I can't pick out very many good teams. Oregon looked like world beaters last year and Ohio State - an average Ohio State - beat then without lots of trouble. They even gave up some terrible return yards on the special teams. So I'm not all in for Oregon. They are good, I don't see them as great. Oklahoma may be good, we don't know yet. Alabama only scored twenty four points on a terrible Penn State team. They seem to have a great running game. Not much of a passing game and an alright defense. Not sticking the sword in any of these teams, but why not Boise State. They played a couple pretty good BCS programs early. They haven't shown for a second they aren't up to the task. They are running through their schedule like a big time team should run through that schedule. I don't see any reason to not put them up there.

Ironically, the very thing that almost guarantees them an undefeated season, my keep them from making it to the National Championship game.

I remember when Notre Dame played a very weak schedule, but did have a number of what we now call BCS schools on their schedule, their path to the top of the polls was much easier. Penn St was in that same situation. Penn St after joining the Big 10 has not dominated, as they did when they could completely control their schedule. If the goal is an undefeated season, being an independent or playing in a non BCS conference is definitely an advantage.

This is a very interesting year and a lot of football to be played. I would not be surprised if there is not a BCS school unbeaten at the end, with only TCU and Boise State left without a blemish.

[Spence]

I agree. I don't think a season with Boise State's schedule probably gets them in the game. If you look at them from now back to their last loss, I think they should get a chance.

[Dossenator]

If you look at them from now back to their last loss, I think they should get a chance.

Not I...it makes a mockery of the entire system, and punishes the schools who actually play a tough schedule. All wins are not equal....giving Boise or TCU a shot is saying that very thing. So, why should teams challenge themselves is all you need is wins against cupcake teams. I know...I have said this until I have almost made myself sick. Like Billybud said....other schools have to play tough games many times during a season and will knock each other off.

Look at the SEC West alone....(#5 Auburn, #6 LSU, #7 Alabama, #21 Arkansas, and #24 Mississippi State)...5 of the 6 teams in the AP top 25. Look at what Bama, or Auburn, or LSU, etc has to do during the season to try and get to the championship game (Arkansas may finish 5th in their division and very well could be one of the top 20 teams in the country). It does not even compare to the pee-wee league schedule of Boise. Oregon State has lost 3 now and will likely lose more....Virginia Tech lost to a FCS school (which should never happen...ever)....and Nevada just went down to mighty Hawaii (Nevada was supposed to be the team left that would give Boise a fight...it will not happen).

[Spence]

It doesn't make a mockery of the system. Boise State gets "up" every week. Even if they know they have the game won. Not many teams do that. Boise State hasn't come up flat one time this year. So yes maybe 15-20 teams could go undefeated with Boise State's schedule. Could they do it without being flat a struggling against the weaker teams. I haven't really seen that this year or really ever. Everyone seems to have games they don't get up for and they struggle - Boise State wins the way a good team should win.

[billybud]

To play in the championship game should require a championship season...beating the best teams.

No way would I put an undefeated Boise State in the NC game over a one loss SEC team.

[Spence]

To play in the championship game should require a championship season...beating the best teams.

No way would I put an undefeated Boise State in the NC game over a one loss SEC team.

But teams that make the championship don't always beat the best teams. Some do, some do not. They may beat ranked teams, but some teams get ranked more based on who they are and not how strong they may be. If Notre Dame wins 12 games next year, no matter who they play or how many weeks they get to prepare for a tough game, they will be in the championship. We all know that to be true. Why not Boise State who hasn't lost a game in a couple of years? Who has beated several ranked teams during that span. Who plays in a FBS conference the same as everyone else. If they don't measure up, they got a shot. If they do, well they proved what they thought was true.

[Spence]

Maybe. The people crying bias in the human polls are right, the polls are biased. They are biased based on what they have seen for years to be true. So the bias is based on reality. Does that mean Boise State or TCU are no good? Of course not. It is hard to break through for teams like Boise State. It is also hard to break through for Arkansas or Oklahoma State. Is it fair? I guess that depends on what you consider fair.

[Spence]

I don't think it matters as long as you rank teams honestly. In the end it will all work out.

[Spence]

I don't think most people put much stock in preseason polls or anything that happens until 5 or 6 games have been played.