[NU Sports] LOL

[Mike Nolan]

> I was merely pointing out the ridiculousness (hence the LOL thread I added to) of the computer rankings. You can throw those off by what you include and don't include, and it's been pretty clear that the formula Sagarin uses is about as unfavorable to the Big Ten as possible.

But the question is whether it is unfavorable to the Big Ten by deliberate
design or by propinquity and happenstance?  I'm not sure I can answer that
objectively.

The continuing flaws in the BCS process, including IMHO _all_ of the 
component rankings, is a classic illustration of the Law of Unintended 
Consequences.  

A school qualifies for the BCS game with dubious (at best) credentials 
(like Nebraska a few years back), then they tweak the rules to try to 
prevent that, and in the process create some OTHER oddball path for some
school to get to the title game over some other 'better qualified' school, 
and as Pres. Reagan used to say, "There you go again!".

However, a playoff would not necessarily be LESS flawed, just DIFFERENTLY
flawed.  (Look at the brouhaha over the NCAA Basketball Tournament
each year, how teams are seeded, what 'deserving' schools get left out, 
etc.)

But it should be remembered that the reason the AP created the first
football poll decades ago was to spark interest.  Controversy still sells.

And as I wrote on the Husker List the other day:

ESPN is reporting that right now the BCS poll would match up Oregon and 
Boise State.  That could change by next Sunday's first poll. 

They do point out that Boise State's SOS has probably peaked and Ohio State 
and Nebraska's should go up as the season progresses. 

But the pressure for a BCS buster in the NC game could build to the point 
where poll voters feel pressured to put Boise State higher on their cards 
to 'validate' the computer ranking.

For the BCS haters (and/or playoff fanatics) this could set up the 
perfect storm.  Let Boise State and Oregon play in the BCS bowl with 
Ohio State and Nebraska playing for the 'real' national championship 
from AP. :-)
--
Mike Nolan