My Two-Cents on the 2009-2010 Bowl Season

Let me preface this post by saying that I'm still bitter about Nebraska choking away what would have been an epic Big XII Championship upset.  The Huskers took the lead, and apparently forgot about fundamentals, which left the window cracked for the Longhorns to sneak in and steal the game back.  To be honest, I'm not a Cornhusker fan, but I wanted them to win for two reasons.  First, it would have screwed over Texas, and I'm always in favor of that.  It would have also thrown a massive monkey wrench into the whole BCS system.  Instead of having TCU or Cincinnati face Alabama, we get the boring Bama-Texas match up.

Last night, the rest of the BCS and college football bowl games were announced, and I thought I'd share my two cents on the matchup.

BCS National Championship Game: (1) Alabama vs. (2) Texas
I'm glad that Alabama was able to get into the National Title game over Florida, but other than that, I really could care less about this game mostly because the matchup was so predictable.  We knew going in that the SEC Champion would take on Texas, but the possible matchups would have been more interesting had Texas lost.  We could have seen the underdog Horned Frogs or Bearcats take on the big boys to prove that it can be done.  Potential flaws in the BCS could have been exposed (yet again), and maybe we would be one step closer towards a playoff.  Instead, we get the same old stuff.

Like I said earlier, I really don't have much interest in this game because I'm not invested in either team.  Since I'm so anti-Longhorns, I'm naturally going to pull for the Crimson Tide, but that's more out of hatred than loyalty.  With that being said, I'm predicting Texas to win the game and the National Championship.

Orange Bowl: (9) Georgia Tech vs. (10) Iowa
This has to be one of the most boring BCS games this season.  Both the ACC and the Big Ten are mediocre conferences, and this matchup doesn't have much draw for those that are not Yellow Jackets or Hawkeyes.

If I had to pick the winner, I'd go with Georgia Tech just because I've heard the analysts slurp on them more than they have Iowa.  Regardless, this is going to be another Orange Bowl that I skip due to indifference.

Fiesta Bowl: (4) Texas Christian vs. (6) Boise State
One of the best bowl games last season, the Poinsettia Bowl, gets a rematch but this time the venue is much grander.  The two Cinderellas have the chance to prove to the BCS that they belong, but unfortunately they have to take on one another.  Some think this matchup is great because we get to see two non-automatic qualifying teams in a BCS game, while others would have preferred to see TCU and Boise State in two different BCS games (the Fiesta & Sugar for example).  The latter scenario could have ensured that four teams could have finished the season with perfect records, which could have added fuel to the anti-BCS fire.  This matchup pretty much cuts that number down to three, and a lot less controversy.

This is the only BCS bowl game that I care about, mostly because I've been pulling for TCU all season, and have been a fan of Boise State since they upset Oklahoma a few years back.  It's a shame that they'll be taking on one another rather than playing with the big boys, but I'm sure the fat checks they'll be earning will ease some of their pain.  While I love both teams, I'll be rooting on the Horned Frogs this time around.

Sugar Bowl: (3) Cincinnati vs. (5) Florida
I guess when it comes to the big picture, Texas' win wasn't a total disaster because it looks like Cincy would have snuck into the BCS Title Game had the Horns lost instead of TCU.  While I'm a fan of the little guys, I'd much rather see the Frogs take on the Tide than the Bearcats.  The main reason I would've been anti-UC is because the Big East is an overrated conference that should have left the BCS once Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College left for the ACC.  The Big East hasn't been a major BCS factor once the Canes & Hokies switched conferences, so they should have their AQ status revoked.

The only highlight for me in regards to the Sugar Bowl is the fact that Florida was knocked off their pedestal, and will not be playing for their 2nd straight National Title.  Really, it's nothing against Florida as a school or program.  I'm just tired of hearing about them and Tim Tebow.  UF is going to stick around as a dominant football program, and I see them beating Cincy pretty easily.

Rose Bowl: (7) Oregon vs. (8) Ohio State
I'm glad that we're getting a traditional Big 10 vs. Pac-10 Rose Bowl since it's this game that's really keeping us from a playoff system.  The Rose Bowl is always a fun game to watch mostly due to the tradition and pageantry, and this year's game should be a good one.  It's also the only other game that I have a horse in, and I'm hoping that Oregon will destroy the overrated Buckeyes.  Seriously, the only school I dislike as much as Texas is Ohio State, and I'm glad that they were not able to sneak into another BCS Championship game.

While I was living up in Oregon, the Ducks were the team I cheered for more often than not, and I don't see that changing this time around.  I'm impressed with how UofO was able to rebound from a devastating start in Boise, and they really deserve being in the Rose Bowl.  Let's hope the Quack Attack stops on some nuts on January 1.

Other Notable Bowl Games


Poinsettia Bowl - Utah vs. California: Two really good teams on the cusp of being great teams, and this game should be a fun one to watch.  My loyalties are kind of torn because I tend to be a Golden Bear fan, but I love it any time Utah beats a major conference team.  It seems like the Poinsettia Bowl is becoming a pretty decent minor bowl game when you combine this year's game with last season's TCU/Boise State matchup.

Independence Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Georgia: I'm happy that my Aggies became bowl eligible this season after last year's disappointing record.  Unfortunately, Texas A&M has never been a strong bowl team since I've been a fan, and I don't think that's going to change this year. I'm expecting for UGA to win this one.  I just hope it's not a blowout.

Holiday Bowl - Arizona vs. Nebraska: The Holiday Bowl is another one of those non-BCS bowl games that is usually a good game to watch.  This year's Arizona/Nebraska matchup should be no exception.  It's not as glossy as some games in the past, but it should be a good one.  As always, I'll be rooting for the underdog, which could be hard to determine between these two, so I'll just stick with the Wildcats.

I know that the hopes for a playoff system will never come to fruition, but that doesn't stop me from playing "what-if", and putting together a mythical playoff bracket that I may post here later.  Then again, bowl games can be fun to watch.  It's just too bad that big time college football refuses to join the times.

My BCS Clusterfrick, Pt. 2

I know that I've already ranted about the Bowl Championship Series, and its flaws, but I read a post I read online riled me up all over again. Here is the reply I shared:

This post officially turned me into an anti-BCS person mostly because of the "student athlete" argument. That load of junk has to be the most worn out, nonsensical argument ever crafted to defend the BCS.

Sure, it's a fact, but every NCAA sport is comprised of student athletes, but we still have March Madness, the Div I-AA-Div III Football playoffs, and so forth and so on. This argument pretty much says that Div I-A football athletes should be treated differently because they're either special or they're not bright enough to handle a playoff schedule like every other student athlete.

Granted, football does not have the same demands as basketball, volleyball, baseball, etc., but if Div I-AA schools can manage, some of which are larger, more prestigious, and more demanding than some Div. I-A schools, then why can't it work for the big boys?

Of course, the answer always comes back to one thing and that's money. The BCS bowls bring in tons of cash for the schools, the cities, the sponsors, etc. off of the blood, sweat and tears of the same student athletes that the system is built to "protect".  We can get into the debate about whether student athletes should receive a stipend, but that's a whole different can of worms.

I'd have more respect for the pro-BCSers if they just came out and said that it's all about making money, rather than trying to dupe us into believing that the broken system is in place to help the student athletes. If the NCAA really cared about these young adults, they'd be doing more to raise graduation rates rather than defending the BCS.

The whole "every team has the chance to become national champions" argument is a joke too because this very post admits that not every school is on the same level or playing field, so those that are not in one of the six BCS conferences really don't have the same opportunities. Any system that punishes a team for going undefeated by denying them a chance to play for the National Title is just illogical.

Plus, playoffs make sports great.  I know that comparing college football to the NFL is dicey at best, but could you imagine a world where the top AFC team automatically played the top NFC team? We wouldn't have those great underdog stories to share. It would just be the same hand full of teams playing one another over and over again. Without playoffs, a small market team like the San Antonio Spurs or the Tampa Bay Rays would probably never be taken seriously and kept out of the championship picture all together.

Let's just look at college sports. I cannot tell you which team won the NCAA Basketball Title last season, but I sure as heck remember George Mason making it to the Final Four because the little guy was given the chance to take on the big boys. Sure, it didn't result in a national title for GMU, but at least they were there.

Again, comparing Div. I-A football to any other sport is very much an apples and oranges situation, but if playoffs are such a bad idea, then why does EVERY other sport in America utilize them. Oh yeah, because we're taught in America that everyone should have the chance to reach their goals...unless you're TCU, Utah, or Boise State.

My BCS Clusterfrick

I've been torn about the Bowl Championship Series. On one hand, it's better than the old system where the number 1 team in the rankings would be crowned National Champion. Since we have multiple ranking systems, we inevitably ran the chance of having more than one National Champion. The BCS was created to crown one true NC...in theory.

For the most part the BCS has done its job by pitting the top two teams in the nation in one final game. The championship is determined on the field, which is what most people want, but it's figuring out which two teams deserve the spots that has created so much controversy.

I admit a system that penalizes a team for going undefeated by keeping them out of the National Championship game is counterintuitive. In a perfect world, teams like Boise State, TCU, and Utah should have all had their chance to win the title, but of course college football is far from perfect.

So, we get to watch the two best teams play for the National Title, but are the teams really the top two? I love seeing the championship determined on the field, but I also think a team should have the chance to be the champions if they win all of their games. Such a dilemma.

I do enjoy the BCS overall because it causes so much drama every year, and it gives us something to talk about. If we had a playoff, things would unfold so logically, which wouldn't be much fun. It's this craziness that I'm hoping for this season.

The recent BCS Rankings has Florida, Alabama, and Texas as the top three teams, but underdog TCU has creeped up to No. 4. It's almost a given that the winner of the SEC Title game between Florida & Alabama will fill one of the two BCS Title Game spots, but it's determining which team is number two is where things could get interesting.

Hypothetically, Texas could be knocked out of the BCS Title picture if they lose a game. For example, if Texas loses to Baylor, Kansas, or Texas A&M (fingers crossed) they could lose the number two spot, which could open up the door for TCU to shock the world if they run the table.

Unfortunately, the powers that be will more than likely not let TCU prove itself even if they go undefeated. Knowing the BCS, Alabama could sneak back into the title game if Texas loses one more regular season game and the Big 12 Championship game. Texas could get a chance to play for the National Championship if they lose one regular season game, but still wins the Big 12.  Even Cincinnati could get into the BCS Title Game if they run the table and win the inferior Big East.

For my own enjoyment, I'd love to see TCU play for the BCS National Championship, but their snub could be equally as entertaining.