[NU Sports] Interesting day for the B(C)S ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Hmmmmmm ... gonna be tougher and tougher for the B(C)S to avoid taking both TCU and Boise State after this week. It also looks to be an intriguing day for our probable bowl opponent in Orlando, as UNC took a tumble.

But first, a brief aside :) ...

The SEC is a lock for twoteams ... however, despite the CBS hype machine, the league is really down this year. If LSU loses to Arkansas, only two teams will finish above .500 in league play and in the top 20. 

Kind of interesting how a couple years back when OSU and Michigan met at the end of the season as #1 vs. #2 and played a thriller, St. Urban and the SEC folk cried foul at the talk of a rematch -- despite the Big Ten being loaded that year with Wisconsin also at 10 wins.

Yet if Bama/Florida play a close game next week and Texas gets upset, I have a feeling SEC nation will be demanding a rematch in Pasadena instead of allowing TCU or Boise State into the title game. Yet their league is far from loaded this year and is far closer to being a "two team league" than the Big Ten.

Guess the SEC and CBS just do a better job with the hype, as opposed to ABC and their buffoons in the studio who constantly deride their bread and butter league that give them big ratings and big attendance while trying in vain to puff up the Big Least or Big XII.

But anyway, on to the BCS ...

- The SEC and Big Ten are all but assured of two teams now. And the B(C)S folk are probably wishing they could take three to fill seats because it's looking like there will be a LOT of empty stadiums out there. After that??? Well ...

- The ACC is a mess, with Clemson getting blown out today GaTech struggling with Georgia, they are the picture of mediocrity. Oddly, two teams not in the title game are their best chances for at-large bids because VaTech can bring fans and Miami brings tradition. Their problem with getting two bids is that the Orange gets the first pick (after compensation) and they won't want two ACC teams. So they're probably left with one bid.

- The Big Least took a big hit with Pitt's loss and Cincy's D looking mighty sieve-like against the woeful Illini. Don't listen to that fool John Saunders and the Mimbo next to him - one bid max.

- The Big XII, after all the hype last year, has turned out to be a huge disappointment this year. They will only have one team in the top 20 and only can double dip if Nebraska upsets Texas.

- The Pac 10 is the wild card ... they really only have one team who would be attractive as an at-large selection and those darned Trojans are sneaking back into the top 14 with all the losses today. 

Still, there'd be an uproar if a 3-loss Pac 10 team was taken over a Boise team that beat the Pac 10 champ (probably).

The Pac 10 thing may be worth keeping an eye on, though. If the Fiesta takes SC and not Iowa with their compensation pick, the Orange would probably take Penn State over Iowa, so it could alter Big Ten order slightly and the Hawkeyes could drop from Fiesta to Citrus.

The other effect on NU is that we should creep closer to the rankings with all the losses by teams #12-25 today. It's a real slap in the face that only three teams are ranked and something we need to start addressing in bowl games and nonconference victories. An 8-4 team that finished in 4th place in the Big Ten should be right up there for top 25 consideration!

Like I said at the start of the year, I think Big Ten football is in the position Big Ten basketball was in last year -- everyone knows the 2-3 teams at the top but they don't respect the middle. But after a year of solid tourney performances and big wins, now we have six teams ranked and others pulling upsets over top 25 teams. If we can get some bowl wins (and I like most of our matchups as projected), maybe next year we'll get some Big Ten respect back and a fourth place team will be top 20 material.

Or maybe we just need to get rid of Saunders, the Mimbo, Musburger and such and hire the CBS hype machine.:)

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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