Espin. Over Signing Bowl. Rematch Jan. 9th. Satan Vs the Mad Hatter

[jwinslow]

I really hope the AP poll votes for someone besides Bama if they win the alleged NC game.

LSU won at Bama, won the SEC, dominated Oregon, beat WVU.

Even with a loss in the separate season known as the bowl game, they still are more deserving than Bama.

 

[Jake]

Prior to 2004, the BCS formula would've given us LSU versus Oklahoma State. They changed it that year to give more weight to the human polls and this year's game is the result.

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

 

[zincfinger]

But they didn't lose at home and they did win their conference. Two things Alabama cannot say.



I agree. I don't mind a defensive slugfest. I'm just not interested in seeing a rematch that wasn't determined on the field but rather selected in a board room. The system is what it is and I don't believe any team deserves a do over.

There are unquestionably some valid arguments for putting OK State in the game instead of Alabama. I personally think the rematch argument is stronger than the "did you lose at home or away" argument, because I think where you lost tells less about your quality of play than does whom you lost to. Stated alternatively, a narrow home loss to a very good team is more forgivable than a narrow road loss to a mediocre team, in my view. And the conference championship argument is really just doubling-down on the "whom did you lose to argument", because it was only because of that one loss that Alabama didn't win their conference (assuming they'd have spanked Georgia as well).

Overall, I'd probably rather see OK State in the championship game instead of Alabama, if only because I think bowls are (or should be) primarily about novel matchups. But I think Alabama's season performance rates reasonably favorably with OK State's, in terms of qualifying them for the championship game.

 

[BB73]

Prior to 2004, the BCS formula would've given us LSU versus Oklahoma State. They changed it that year to give more weight to the human polls and this year's game is the result.

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

I was wondering about that before the final result yesterday. Looking back, was ESPN a factor in changing the formula to increase the human component, since they would be in position to influence the human voters, but not the computers?

I could see that as being part of their plan to exert more control over college football, and sadly, it worked for them this year.

 

[tsteele316]

There are unquestionably some valid arguments for putting OK State in the game instead of Alabama. I personally think the rematch argument is stronger than the "did you lose at home or away" argument, because I think where you lost tells less about your quality of play than does whom you lost to. Stated alternatively, a narrow home loss to a very good team is more forgivable than a narrow road loss to a mediocre team, in my view. And the conference championship argument is really just doubling-down on the "whom did you lose to argument", because it was only because of that one loss that Alabama didn't win their conference (assuming they'd have spanked Georgia as well).

Overall, I'd probably rather see OK State in the championship game instead of Alabama, if only because I think bowls are (or should be) primarily about novel matchups. But I think Alabama's season performance rates reasonably favorably with OK State's, in terms of qualifying them for the championship game.

the thing about it is this. would it have been alabama that lost to a mediocre team, say vanderbilt on the road, all you would here from espn is how it was an outlier caused by the distraction generated from the plane crash and it shouldn't be held against them.

 

[woofermazing]

I was wondering about that before the final result yesterday. Looking back, was ESPN a factor in changing the formula to increase the human component, since they would be in position to influence the human voters, but not the computers?

I could see that as being part of their plan to exert more control over college football, and sadly, it worked for them this year.

No doubt, there is too much money at stake for them to not want a say in the BCS results.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

if Bama wins i will laugh. LSU wins on the road at night in front of 100K mouthbreathers but bama can win on a neutral site and flat out steal an NC.

Win or lose don't matter one bit. Bama fan will still claim a NC.

 

[BlufftonBuckeye]

Nick Saban had Sparty at 17 on his poll...and scUM at 9.



Karma is a bitch, Bama is getting their ass kicked.

 

[JXC]

I'll watch...I'll watch all the BCS bowls. It looks to be the best matchups in the BCS in a really long time. Whether Oklahoma State or Alabama is in the NCG doesn't really change my life at all, even though I was hoping to see Oklahoma State there. But above all I love college football...so of course i'll watch.

 

[zincfinger]

the thing about it is this. would it have been alabama that lost to a mediocre team, say vanderbilt on the road, all you would here from espn is how it was an outlier caused by the distraction generated from the plane crash and it shouldn't be held against them.

That may well be true. But I'm not trying to counter ESPN bias here, I'm just discussing whose regular season performance, OK State's or Alabama's, better merits inclusion in a "national championship" game. And my position is that, while it's close either way, OK State's relatively "bad" loss does, and should, weigh against them. If Alabama had the "bad" loss, instead of OK State, that would change my view on that point, although it might not change ESPN's.

 

[LovelandBuckeye]

I haven't watched a BCS NCG since 2007 OSU loss to LSU.

THIS! If there is no vested interest in the game then I really could care less. I watched bits and pieces of the first game and was bored to tears. I hope Glee is on that night.

 

[tsteele316]

That may well be true. But I'm not trying to counter ESPN bias here, I'm just discussing whose regular season performance, OK State's or Alabama's, better merits inclusion in a "national championship" game. And my position is that, while it's close either way, OK State's relatively "bad" loss does, and should, weigh against them. If Alabama had the "bad" loss, instead of OK State, that would change my view on that point, although it might not change ESPN's.

that would be fine logic if you only looked at a paper schedule of each team and only focused on the single game that they lost.

 

[MaxBuck]

I'll be at a movie or something that day. :osu:

I'll be boycotting the game.

I guarantee I will not watch this game.

I will NOT watch the National Title Game this year.

I will discontinue my cable for that day

100% guarantee that I will not watch this game.

Of course we won't bother watching.

Mark me down for not watching this.

I won't be watching it.

Add me to the list of not watching.

I've saved all my hatred for Jerry Sandusky, Pol Pot and brussels sprouts. Yeah, I'm gonna watch this game.

 

[Jake]

I was wondering about that before the final result yesterday. Looking back, was ESPN a factor in changing the formula to increase the human component, since they would be in position to influence the human voters, but not the computers?

It was done in response to Oklahoma getting crushed in the Big XII title game but getting the #2 spot in the BCS, anyway. There were talking heads, coaches, and plenty of fans throwing a fit over that result, produced when the computers - who were 50% of the score - trumped the humans who all "knew" Oklahoma didn't belong there.

They changed it so 66.67% of the score comes from human voters and it was just enough to push Alabama into this year's game.

BTW, Oklahoma only lost 21-14 to LSU, in New Orleans, for the BCS title.

 

[Jake]

I've saved all my hatred for Jerry Sandusky, Pol Pot and brussels sprouts. Yeah, I'm gonna watch this game.

Hatred implies a feeling of emotion. Some of us just aren't interested in seeing LSU-Bama, part two. It's more of a lack of emotion.

Brussels sprouts really do suck, though.