Deciphering the Bowl Championship Series (BCS)

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College Football Betting - Deciphering the BCS

If you want to be a successful college football betting player, you need to learn the nuances of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), which is how the NCAA decides its national champion. It can get confusing, especially later in the season, so here’s an analysis to help you out before you head to your sportsbook to place a wager.

The BCS started in 1998, and there are changes made almost every year. There are five BCS games: the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, the Orange Bowl, and the BCS national championship game. The BCS involves teams from the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Pac-10, and as of this year, the Mountain West Conference.

There are three polls and standings which make up the BCS rankings:

HARRIS POLL – former coaches, players and administration, as well as former and current media
Strengths: knowledgeable people that know the game, can cover a lot of matchups
Weaknesses: some have an agenda, certain conferences/teams can be favored

USA TODAY POLL – a poll of current NCAA coaches
Strengths: also knowledgeable, also is credible coming from a coach’s perspective
Weaknesses: same as Harris Poll, some may not vote for bitter rivals, and current coaches can’t watch as many games as they need to

COMPUTER RANKINGS – six different statistical categories, including strength of schedule
Strengths: very thorough, considers the most important stat, strength of schedule
Weaknesses: unable to see how the games play out, which plays a massive role in the polls


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Would you guys keep the BCS as is? or how would you alter it to make it be more fair (making easier to understand and follow)?

 

[BigdaddyQH]

Here is my take. First, the Computers. All 6 computers use systems that vary in their make up. Some put a lot more weight on certain things than others do. These computer jocks enjoy what amounts to complete annonimity. They can change the values of their system at any time they choose to. They can be easily manipulated by the BCS. Let us assume that Florida, Texas, and USC all finish the season with the same number of losses. The Rose Bowl, who hosts the BCS Championship game this year, obviously puts the squeeze on the BCS to get USC in the game. So the BCS puts the squeeze on the computers to churn up numbers that favor USC. If you do not think that the BCS can do this, remember how they conviently changed the rules to allow Illinois to come to Pasadena to play in the Rose Bowl. Also remember how the computers 86'd USC out of the 2003 Championship game in favor of LSU. Oh by the way, that game was played in New Orleans.

Next, the two polls. The Harris poll is made up of people who the BCS wants in it. Some of these people are so old that they have no clue as to what is happening. Others will vote for their teams or conferences, no matter what common sense dictates. It is even worse with the coaches poll, where deals are made to determine outcomes. Do you seriously think that OU could have been voted ahead of Texas if the Big 12 didn't want that outcome? The big problem with all of these systems is the ability for the BCS to rig the systems and get the desired results.

 

[Betonline]

Here is my take. First, the Computers. All 6 computers use systems that vary in their make up. Some put a lot more weight on certain things than others do. These computer jocks enjoy what amounts to complete annonimity. They can change the values of their system at any time they choose to. They can be easily manipulated by the BCS. Let us assume that Florida, Texas, and USC all finish the season with the same number of losses. The Rose Bowl, who hosts the BCS Championship game this year, obviously puts the squeeze on the BCS to get USC in the game. So the BCS puts the squeeze on the computers to churn up numbers that favor USC. If you do not think that the BCS can do this, remember how they conviently changed the rules to allow Illinois to come to Pasadena to play in the Rose Bowl. Also remember how the computers 86'd USC out of the 2003 Championship game in favor of LSU. Oh by the way, that game was played in New Orleans.

Next, the two polls. The Harris poll is made up of people who the BCS wants in it. Some of these people are so old that they have no clue as to what is happening. Others will vote for their teams or conferences, no matter what common sense dictates. It is even worse with the coaches poll, where deals are made to determine outcomes. Do you seriously think that OU could have been voted ahead of Texas if the Big 12 didn't want that outcome? The big problem with all of these systems is the ability for the BCS to rig the systems and get the desired results.

.. It does seem like the academy awards in which a mystery group of people often vote on movies they don't bother watching, no transparency and often the winner is the film that gets the most 'buzz' but not necessarily the best movie.

The problem you get whenever it becomes opinion based voting (such as asking coaches) is that they are probably going to vote for the teams that they've heard the most stories about throughout the season - so it's more about being top of mind. It's like me asking you to name 5 beers - your probably going to say the big brands and not necessarily the best brands.

The more you look at the pros and cons of any one method of voting, no single method seems to really be the best solution.