[Husker] the view from the east coast

[Steve Reichenbach]

I think its a close call.  Rutgers' victories haven't been especially
convincing, but Sagarin has them rated #8 (although with the #16
predictor).  A victory at WVU will be an upset --- Sagarin has WVU
a favorite by nearly 9 pts.  If Rutgers can win out, they won't have
shown that they are one of the two best teams, but I think they will
have made one of the best cases to get in.

That said, there's some logic to favoring strength of schedule.  If
Florida wins out, including FSU and the SEC Championship, that's a
very good case (with wins @Tennessee, @LSU, @GA, and @FSU, and only
a close loss @Auburn --- what a tough road schedule).  What records
would Rutgers and Florida have if they exchanged schedules?  If USC
wins out with victories over Cal, Notre Dame, and UCLA, that's a
pretty good case too (but all of their ranked opponents were at
home).  Notre Dame's case isn't quite so good, but their only loss
is @Michigan.

I guess I think if Florida wins out, I will think they deserve the
berth more than Rutgers.  If USC wins out, I think it is a toss-up
compared to Rutgers.  If Notre Dame wins out, I think Rutgers deserves
the nod.  I think both Rutgers and Florida will lose another game and
that the winner of the USC and Notre Dame will have the inside track.
Arkansas is a darkhorse, but if they close with wins over LSU and the
SEC Championship game and USC beats Notre Dame but loses to UCLA or Cal.
I think WVU requires quite a few upsets.

It's funny how much teeth gnashing there is about the BCS, but it
usually sorts itself out pretty well.  I think that will happen
again.

> "If Rutgers wins out (specifically, beats WVa, since wins over Cinn
> and Syracuse are assumed), should they be in the N.C. game?" is the
> constant discussion/arguement topic here on the east coast.  now that
> several of the "one-loss" teams have now lost another (Texas, Cal),
> should R.U. jump ahead of them?  an Ohio State - Mich rematch is the
> prevailing thought