As much as I hate to say it, I think Oklahoma will be playing Florida in the Rose Bowl and my beloved Canes will get screwed again. Today's game against Troy State will prove to be like last year's game against Louisiana Tech. It will kill Miami's strength of schedule in the BCS rankings. However, Nebraska only beat Troy State by 28 points in Lincoln..funny how people forget about that. Yes, Miami, was favored to win by 50 but that was a line that was begging to be bet on. Troy State could probably beat Notre Dame. Yes, Miami had the talent to beat them by 50, but they just didn't get it done. So, what does this mean? I would not be surprised to see both Florida and Oklahoma jump over Miami in at least one of the two polls maybe both. Florida, in my mind, is the best team in the country right now. I still think that Miami is a better team than Oklahoma but Oklahoma played better today but then again look at their competition compared to Miami. You know that old saying...you play to the level of your competition. I just find it hard to justify a team dropping 2 spots despite winning by over 30 points. As for Oklahoma's remaining schedule, only Nebraska seems to be any threat of beating them. Of course, the Big 12 championship game will be another possible loss, but as OU has shown time and time again, they will find some way to luck up and win in the end. Florida's remaining schedule is tougher as the Gators still have to play South Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee, and now add Georgia to that list. That strength of schedule right there will put them ahead of both Miami and Oklahoma. The SEC Championship Game will be a joke again for the Gators. Miami could go back on top again if they are able to beat FSU convincingly next Saturday in Tallahassee. I know that this game has lost some of its luster, but still FSU hasn't lost at home in 10 years. Boston College could be a challenge but probably not. However, the Canes final 2 games will be their toughest after FSU in Washington (who came out with the advantage of having this game played later) and Virginia Tech. If these 3 teams are all unbeaten at the end of the regular season, I think that Miami will get left out again because of the strength of schedule. I know that I'm not giving OU any credit, but until they play Miami and beat them, I still feel that Miami is better than them. However, if my scenario comes true, Miami will once again not get the opportunity to prove it.
Miami is loaded, however playing Washington and VT in consecutive weeks will be too much to overcome. I'm an FSU fan, but I will say Miami will beat FSU, and end their home streak. FSU will be lucky to have it close enough to be Wide Right 4. Fla is kicking some serious ass. However, they have USC, FSU, Tenn, and the SEC title game for their last 4 games. That is a murderous schedule. If Fla can somehow remain undefeated, I will have some new-found respect for the Gates. OU will probably run the table. Look out from out West, for Oregon. Their offense was a machine tonight against Zona. The Big 10 sucks and has no real contender. Nebraska will beat KSU, but needs to make sure to beat OU not just once, but twice.
http://espn.go.com/ncf/news/2001/1007/1260726.html Miami is still #1 but just barely in the Coaches poll. Behad: Thanks for the kind words. It's hard to believe that the last time that BC beat Miami was the Flutie game 17 years ago. Kidrock: Being an FSU fan, you know probably better than anyone about Mark Richt. His coaching yesterday definitely turned some heads. Living in Tennessee all my life, I can tell you that unless your last name is Spurrier, you just don't go into Knoxville and expect to win, at least not against Fulmer. The fact that Georgia was able to win in Knoxville means that the Georgia-Florida game may actually be a game this year. Still, I don't think that Spurrier will overlook UGA like Tennessee possibly did. Even though, the Gators have several chances of losing, I still like them being 12-0 and going to the Rose Bowl. If I had to choose one coach to run a team, I would have to go with Spurrier, even though I can't stand the man's demeanor (I will give him credit--he was very humble after Miami beat his team in the Sugar Bowl). Virginia Tech is looking stronger and stronger every week, but like Miami they have not been tested yet. I feel that Washington will probably have at least one loss by the time they play Miami, and even though that will be a tough game, the tougher game will obviously be in Blacksburg on the 1st of December. If Tech wins, then they have much a claim as anyone in playing in the Rose Bowl. Nebraska is another team to watch out for. Yes, they still have to play Oklahoma, Kansas State, and Colorado, but if they can win those games and the Big 12 Championship, then they will take Oklahoma's place. However, I think OU will luck up and beat the Huskers. One thing is for certain: there are still many great and crucial games to be played. It should be interesting!
If Miami goes undefeated, I think they'll make the BCS. I don't see Florida going undefeated, and Oklahoma and Nebraska could knock each other out if they split their two games in the Big 12. The x-factor, in my opinion, is the Pac10. There are 4 teams there that could skate through undefeated -- Washington, Wash State, UCLA, and Oregon. If one of them goes 11-0, they'll have a better schedule than Miami. The key to Miami is not losing a game. If they go undefeated beating Washington, VTech, and FSU, they should go. If not, there's your perfect argument for a playoff system. Interestingly, BYU and Fresno State could go undefeated also. My ideal setup would be for Miami, Florida, UCLA, Oklahoma, FresnoState, and BYU to all go undefeated and really screw the whole BCS. We need a playoff system. 8 teams or 16 -- whatever, just have it decided on the field and give teams with fluke losses a fair chance at redemption.
Damn I forgot Nebraska and Oklahoma play in the regular season. I was thinking that both would go 11-0 and have a showdown in Dallas for the Rose Bowl. The loser would then get a BCS at large bid. Nebraska will beat OU in Lincoln, however I'm not sure if Nebraska can win in the Big XII Championship game. If both have 11-1 records at the end of the year, its going to be hard to pass up on the loser of the Big XII Championship game.
You make some excellent points, shanna. Oregon does not play Washington and as a result both teams have great shots at going unbeaten if they can beat UCLA and Washington State. I think that WSU will fade, but UCLA will be tougher. They have both Oregon and Washington at home. I still think that no one will come out of the PAC-10 unbeaten. Miami is #2 in the AP poll behind Florida. Well, I'm not surprised by that. Florida is, in my mind, a better team than Miami right now & I don't think that the Gators should have ever lost their #1 ranking in the first place. I sure hope you are right about Miami going undefeated that they will play in the Rose Bowl. After what happened last year, I don't know what to expect. A playoff would be nice and it would solve everything, but the idiots that run college football would never think of doing something that would present a clear-cut national champion, now wouldn't they?
College football will NEVER have a playoff. It's a succesful money-making sport, so the old adage of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Ya, it has its flaws, but so does any other alternative. Institute a playoff system, and the value of the regular season goes down the drain. Must-win games become few and far between. Every regular season game is bascially a playoff, do or die game for the top teams. Let it be.
Bad news, Manny. http://espn.go.com/ncf/s/insidebcs/1007.html Miami is currently 10th in the BCS, although it is quite early. Miami's opponents have a combined 1-14 record thus far .
Yea, shanna, I'm not surprised. Personally, I wish Miami wouldn't play teams like Troy State, but I think they are playing Florida A&M next year, so here we go again. However, they are playing both Florida and Tennessee next year, at least I'm pretty sure about that--the UT game will be in Knoxville. I thought about going because it would be easy to get a ticket (I know lots of UT fans), but it's not worth being harassed by idiots when I want to cheer for my team-so, I'll just watch that game on TV. Unofficial BCS Rankings 1. Oklahoma 2. Florida 3. Nebraska 4. UCLA 5. South Carolina 6. Virginia Tech 7. Oregon 8. Washington 9. Fresno State 10. Miami I don't have problems with people saying that these teams are playing better than Miami right now. I know that Miami could beat every one of them except maybe Florida. However, I have a problem with both South Carolina and Fresno State being ahead of them. South Carolina has had some nice wins, but they beat Georgia by 5 points, Alabama by 1 point, and Mississippi State by 2 points. Neither Mississippi State or Alabama, especially MSU, has done anything this year. South Carolina better than Miami is the best laugh I have had in years. Thanks, BCS. That should prove right there what a farce the BCS is. Fresno State has had some impressive wins, but Oregon State has proven not to be as good as last year and will be lucky to make a bowl game, same goes for Wisconsin which got waxed by Indiana 63-32. Only the Colorado game is an impressive win in my mind and they only beat them by a couple of points. I would love to see Miami play both South Carolina and Fresno State, but hopefully it won't happen because if it did then it would mean that Miami would not be in the Rose Bowl.
The following is a great article about why the BCS is not the best way of figuring who is to play in the Rose Bowl this season. http://www.sportingnews.com/voices/matt_hayes/20011013.html
If Miami runs the table there is little doubt in my mind they will be in the Rose Bowl. The only possibility is if both the Pac 10 and Big 12 have teams that run the table. In the Pac 10: UCLA or Oregon, has a chance to run the table, they play Nov 10 in LA where 1 has to fall. UCLA has the better chance because they are only Pac 10 team with defense, but Oregon is a master of winning close game. WSU is good, but not good enough to win all their Pac 10 games. WSU, UW, OSU, USC and Stanford are all capable of beating UCLA or Oregon on the formers best day and a medicre day by the latter--thus the odds that anyone going 11-0 from the Pac 10 are probably less than 30%. Again, UCLA has the best shot though. In the Big 12, OU will be underdogs at Nebraska, and not overwheliming favoriates (probably less than 2 touchdown spreads) home against the Aggies or at Tech. If OU wins all these regular season games they still would have another quality opponent in the Nebraska-Colorado winner. Nebraska has the best chance at running the table, and they still have home games with OU & KSU, at Colorado (IMO their toughest game) and the Big 12 championship. Odd the Big 12 has a team that runs the table, maybe 40%. Now the Big East? Miami and VTech, with the excemption of them playing each other have far and away the easiest road. The only semi-quality opponents is UW (for UM), and they are really a 2nd tier Pac 10 team, and the game is in the Orange Bowl, plus VTech plays at the 3rd tier ACC Virginia team (however this is a rivalry game at UVA that possibly could be close). I put the odds of the Miami-Vtech winner for running the table at like 85%. In short, if Miami runs the table they have very little to worry about. I think too many people make a big deal of last year. Yeah, they probably should have been OU's opponent. But if they had taken care of business against UW they would have been fine. In the end Miami, FSU and Wash all had equal 1-loss seasons, and FSU go the long end of the draw. Noone had a right to be bitter last year because only 1 team ran the table, Miami could feel dissappointed yes, but bitter no, IMO. If 3 teams go undefeated and don't make the Rose Bowl, then you have a case to be bitter.
Manny- Nebraska will not lose to OU in 2 weeks. The Cornhuskers are solid all the way around, and have a proven QB in Crouch. It will be an awesome game, and I will be lucky enough to be in Lincoln to watch it. Peace
ROCKSS, I agreee with you, it is the end of the line for OU's unbelievably impressive string. The current OU QBs, unlike Josh Hypeul (sp?), will not be able to make the quick decisions and throws needed for them to move the ball against the Black shirts. KSU was also able to move the ball on the ground against Okla, Nebraska does it even better, they roll 24-7. Being a Texas fan, I just hope someone else can knock off OU as well so we can get a shot at the Huskers in the Big 12 title game.
ROCKSS: I should have posted another thread instead of updating this one. However, I agree with you on that Nebrasaka will beat Oklahoma. Desert Scar: I hope you are right about Miami making it to the Rose Bowl if they go unbeaten no matter if UCLA and Nebraska are unbeaten as well. I think you can understand the fact that I don't have a lots of confidence in the BCS right now.
More for Manny: http://espn.go.com/ncf/s/insidebcs/1014.html from ESPN: <I>Unofficial BCS Standings 1. Oklahoma 2. UCLA 3. Nebraska 4. Oregon 5. Miami 6. Virginia Tech 7. Fresno State 8. Michigan 9. Texas 10. Florida Inside the BCS computers Miami's relatively weak ratings are keeping the Hurricanes down in the overall standings, but things might be better if not for some changes made by the BCS Group in the offseason. One of the new computers belongs to Wes Colley, who has Miami ranked 13th; the ousted Dunkel Index, however, has them at No. 1. The revised Kenneth Massey ratings have the Hurricanes ranked 21st, while his old version (used in the BCS last year) has them ranked best in the nation. Richard Billingsley's old version might also have Miami as the top team if he still calculated it, because his revised edition -- without scoring margin -- has them at No. 3, their best ranking in any of the active computers. The other rating removed in the offseason was that of the New York Times, which has Miami 19th. The other new computer belongs to Peter Wolfe, who is holding his rankings until next week to coincide with the official release of the BCS. <pre><font size=+1> Miami No. 1 Anderson-Hester 14 UCLA Billingsley 3 Oklahoma Colley 13 UCLA Massey 21 UCLA Matthews 9 UCLA Rothman 7 Oklahoma Sagarin 6 UCLA Wolfe N/A N/A </font></pre> *-Peter Wolfe’s ratings will be released Oct. 22. </I>
