[NU Sports] Again, the "B" in BCS stands for ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

... Big XII.

It used to stand for the Bowden Computer System after
it favored 1-loss FSU year after year over other
1-loss teams, despite the weak ACC (pre-Big East
raid).

But in the last few years, it seems to have stood for
Big XII. 

* In 2001, it placed Nebraska in the title game ...
even though the Huskers didn't even play in their own
conference's title game and were destroyed by Colorado
in their season finale. UNL lost to Miami in the Rose
Bowl. The main victim? Pac 10 champ Oregon.

* In 2003, it placed Oklahoma in the title game ...
even though the Sooners lost their conference title
game to KSU in humbling fashion. The Sooners lost to
LSU. The main victim? Pac 10 champ USC.

* In 2004, it placed Oklahoma in the title game over
equally unbeaten (and from a much stronger league)
Auburn and the Sooners were squashed in the title
game. But it also bumped Texas up a spot in the final
poll to earn the automatic at-large berth. The main
victim? Pac 10 runner-up Cal.

And now the BCS has Texas as the #1 team in the nation
over USC. The same USC who hasn't lost in a couple
years, is a two-time defending champion and has
perhaps the best offense in college football in a
decade. 

Texas' most impressive wins? At Ohio State is big, but
on par with the USC win at Notre Dame. And I guess
Oregon is on par with Texas Tech (though playing at
Autzen Stadium is different than playing at home vs.
the overrated Red Raiders). And I don't think there's
any question the Pac 10 is a better league this year
than the Big XII. So it is close, but a win over TTech
flips the 1/2 spot? Please!

The good news? At least this time it's 1/2 flopping
and it shouldn't affect the national title game, so
we'll settle this on the field.

Still, I know I'm new to this Pac 10 territory thing
in Arizona, but I'm starting to see this "West Coast
Bias" thing ... and Pac 10 fans really gotta be ticked
over the Big XII bias in the BCS that's hurt them the
past few years.

On the plus side, the BCS still ranks ND #15 (we gotta
HOPE the Vols can salvage their season and win in
South Bend in 2 weeks to keep ND out of the BCS) and
NU is up to #21 (with Michigan #25)!

I will give the B(C)S one thing - it does create
controversey over its befuddling logic!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


		
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