[NU Sports] Big Ten and the BCS ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

After another wild weekend of college football, I'd
say our bowl hopes got a slight boost. A couple of
thoughts, though ...

* If I were a Bucknut (shudder), I would really start
to wonder why West Virginia is getting a free pass
into the title game ahead of us. OSU has the better
loss (Illinois  looks better each week while South
Florida looks worse), better wins (Wisky, at Michigan
and at Penn State against at Cincy and home vs.
Louisville - barely - and UConn) and comes in from a
better conference. About all that WVU did was lose
earlier - but there should still be at least a
discussion about whether OSU or WVU belongs in the
title game.

* Also, I think this shows for the second straight
year that the Big Ten needs to alter its schedule (as
the Pac 10 and Big East have done) to fit in this new
title game era. Just because we don't have a title
game doesn't mean we have to stop by mid November
while other teams play until December. If the
OSU-Michigan game were this coming week, the Bucks
would have a chance to impress the voters one last
time at the end instead of being out of sight and mind
while WVU rolls it up on an overrated UConn and
pathetic Pitt. Michigan had the same fate last year
when Florida really didn't play that great of teams in
Arkansas and FSU, but were at least on TV. Plus we
wouldn't have such a long layoff for bowls.

* Of course, this is all moot if Oklahoma beats Mizzou
again and then the Buckeyes and Mountaineers can
settle it on the field in what could be a dandy of a
title game. And I think we need to all cheer for the
Sooners next week ...

Not only would it give the league another title shot,
but I think it helps our bowl hopes.

Illinois has been climbing in the polls to sneak into
BCS range with all the losses (thank you ATM!) and the
Rose would love to select them with an at-large pick
if they lose OSU (remember, the Illini couldn't go to
Pasadena the last time they won the league).

The folks in Orlando would hate losing their Zooker
Bowl matchup with the Gators, though, and they had the
Badgers last year ... maybe Lloyd's swan song would be
against Tebow the Heisman winner (ouch!)?

Dunno how much it helps us - Iowa still gets in ahead
of NU - but it increases our chances. Losses by Vandy,
Miami (FL) and K State yesterday also helped. A
Louisville loss to Rutgers on Thursday and ASU beating
Arizona on Saturday couldn't hurt either.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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


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