Not while BCS Brother runs things...I think we will have a split champion this year.
sb
sb
If LSU wins they are the Champs, if OK wins then USC has a argument considering OK isn't even the Champs of there own conference.
LSU (if they beat OK), will have beaten the better teams than USC and lost to a better team also.
[This message was edited by valdosta on January 02, 2004 at 12:39 AM.]
[This message was edited by valdosta on January 02, 2004 at 12:39 AM.]
Oklahoma/LSU winner gets No. 1 in coaches poll...everyone is saying USC will be voted No. 1 in AP poll, but stranger things have happened. The last AP poll had USC only 15 points ahead of LSU. If LSU routs Oklahoma, they would probably pick up the Sooners' 2 first-place votes and would only need to 10 of the writers who put USC on top last time to switch their votes to sweep both polls.
RANK TEAM RECORD PTS PVS
1. USC (42) 11-1 1,595 2
Last game: Def. Michigan 28-14 (Jan. 1)
Next game: vs. Michigan (Jan. 1)
2. LSU (21) 12-1 1,580 3
Last game: Def. Georgia 34-13 (Dec. 6)
This week: vs. Oklahoma (12-1)
3. Oklahoma (2) 12-1 1,491 1
Last game: Lost to Kansas State 35-7 (Dec. 6)
This week: at LSU (12-1)
RANK TEAM RECORD PTS PVS
1. USC (42) 11-1 1,595 2
Last game: Def. Michigan 28-14 (Jan. 1)
Next game: vs. Michigan (Jan. 1)
2. LSU (21) 12-1 1,580 3
Last game: Def. Georgia 34-13 (Dec. 6)
This week: vs. Oklahoma (12-1)
3. Oklahoma (2) 12-1 1,491 1
Last game: Lost to Kansas State 35-7 (Dec. 6)
This week: at LSU (12-1)
Rail, Rail, Rail..USC is every bit as good as LSU and OU, but according to the rules agreed upon going in..they are and should be the odd man out.
There are three deserving teams in Division I-A with one loss each: LSU, Oklahoma and USC. Using the information available at the time bowl matchups were set, let's rank the three teams in less subjective areas than the polls.
National ranking in schedule strength, according to seven BCS computers: 1. Oklahoma (11th). 2. LSU (29th). 3. USC (37th).
Games against the BCS top 25: 1. LSU (4); 2. OU (3); 3. USC (1).
Victories against the BCS top 25: 1. LSU (3); 2. OU (2); 3. USC (1).
Games against teams with five or more losses (low number is best): 1. LSU (7). 2. OU (8). 3. USC (11).
Keeping the above in mind, let's rank them by:
Points: 1. OU (587); 2. USC (506); 3. LSU (454).
Points against (low number is best): 1. LSU (140); 2. OU (193); 3. USC (225).
Margin of victory: 1. OU (35.16 points); 2. LSU (24.15); 3. USC (23.42).
Margin of defeat (low number is best): 1. USC (3 points); 2. LSU (12); 3. OU (28).
Per-game scoring margin: 1. OU (45.2 points to 14.8); 2. LSU (34.9 to 10.8); 3. USC (42.2 to 18.8).
Comparing one-loss teams requires a look at each team's loss. Again, using the information at hand when the bowls were set, let's take a closer look.
LSU lost at home to Florida 19-7. Florida, 8-4 against the nation's fifth-toughest schedule, was 15th in the BCS and No. 17 in each poll. The Gators defeated the BCS's No. 2 and No. 12 and lost to No. 7, No. 8, No. 9 and No. 19.
Oklahoma lost to Kansas State 35-7 on a neutral field. Kansas State, 11-3 against the 10th-toughest schedule, was 10th in the BCS and in both polls' top 10. The Wildcats beat the BCS's No. 1 and No. 20 teams and lost to No. 6 and No. 21.
USC lost at Cal 34-31 in three overtimes. Cal, 7-6 against a weaker schedule than Kansas State or Florida played, was unranked. The Bears defeated the BCS's No. 3 and lost to No. 10.
No way does losing to Cal rate anywhere but third place in this three-team race!
P.S. Rail, where does the USC win over Mich differ much from Oregon's win over an overrated Michigan?..similar first halves..slightly similar second halves..similar final scores..just many more sacks by USC, and a more efficient effort by QB(Leinhart) than the other game.
There are three deserving teams in Division I-A with one loss each: LSU, Oklahoma and USC. Using the information available at the time bowl matchups were set, let's rank the three teams in less subjective areas than the polls.
National ranking in schedule strength, according to seven BCS computers: 1. Oklahoma (11th). 2. LSU (29th). 3. USC (37th).
Games against the BCS top 25: 1. LSU (4); 2. OU (3); 3. USC (1).
Victories against the BCS top 25: 1. LSU (3); 2. OU (2); 3. USC (1).
Games against teams with five or more losses (low number is best): 1. LSU (7). 2. OU (8). 3. USC (11).
Keeping the above in mind, let's rank them by:
Points: 1. OU (587); 2. USC (506); 3. LSU (454).
Points against (low number is best): 1. LSU (140); 2. OU (193); 3. USC (225).
Margin of victory: 1. OU (35.16 points); 2. LSU (24.15); 3. USC (23.42).
Margin of defeat (low number is best): 1. USC (3 points); 2. LSU (12); 3. OU (28).
Per-game scoring margin: 1. OU (45.2 points to 14.8); 2. LSU (34.9 to 10.8); 3. USC (42.2 to 18.8).
Comparing one-loss teams requires a look at each team's loss. Again, using the information at hand when the bowls were set, let's take a closer look.
LSU lost at home to Florida 19-7. Florida, 8-4 against the nation's fifth-toughest schedule, was 15th in the BCS and No. 17 in each poll. The Gators defeated the BCS's No. 2 and No. 12 and lost to No. 7, No. 8, No. 9 and No. 19.
Oklahoma lost to Kansas State 35-7 on a neutral field. Kansas State, 11-3 against the 10th-toughest schedule, was 10th in the BCS and in both polls' top 10. The Wildcats beat the BCS's No. 1 and No. 20 teams and lost to No. 6 and No. 21.
USC lost at Cal 34-31 in three overtimes. Cal, 7-6 against a weaker schedule than Kansas State or Florida played, was unranked. The Bears defeated the BCS's No. 3 and lost to No. 10.
No way does losing to Cal rate anywhere but third place in this three-team race!
P.S. Rail, where does the USC win over Mich differ much from Oregon's win over an overrated Michigan?..similar first halves..slightly similar second halves..similar final scores..just many more sacks by USC, and a more efficient effort by QB(Leinhart) than the other game.
Horseshoe, great post. I was at a Wizards game last week and had this same debate. This guy was telling me that OU had no business at the Sugar Bowl and that it should be USC/LSU. Your stats offer a good criteria to debate. The fact is that those claiming OU should not be in the Sugar Bowl use the argument that the amount of the loss is why they should be out of the running. LSU lost to Florida at home. No national championship contender should ever lose at home. The strength of schedule is also of merit. The fact that USC played 11 teams with 5 or more losses is staggering. I did not know their schedule was that week. The other problem is that USC did not play a conference championship game. With all this debate we will probably end up with a dual champion. However, I do think LSU is going to give OU all they can handle. But I am sick of hearing about USC and their shitty schedule whose Rose Bowl championship was at the defeat of a way overrated Michigan team.
LSU non conf schedule of Arizona, Western Illinois, and Lousiana MONROE. This should put them in the back of the line. USC nonconf schedule was 2 bowl teams and AT Southbend. Computer geeks throw out W. ILL and LAMonre. Nor does the Computer geeks realize in WHAT STADIUM the games were played in. That needs to be put into the computer data. This same computer geeks think that mand kind came from bacteria, there data is pathetic and flawed.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Horseshoe:
Speaking of weak schedules, Oklahoma's "quality" wins keep getting diminished in the Bowl games, as the Rebs are opening a can on OSU(OU opponents Texas, Mo, TT, & UCLA also stunk)..Go Rebs, Go Vols, & Geaux Tigers!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If you buy into the theory that bowl games, rather than the entire football season, defines the quality of a team then you may very well be correct.
I don't put much that much stock into the bowl games however.
Speaking of weak schedules, Oklahoma's "quality" wins keep getting diminished in the Bowl games, as the Rebs are opening a can on OSU(OU opponents Texas, Mo, TT, & UCLA also stunk)..Go Rebs, Go Vols, & Geaux Tigers!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If you buy into the theory that bowl games, rather than the entire football season, defines the quality of a team then you may very well be correct.
I don't put much that much stock into the bowl games however.
Shotgun, While I do put some stock of my seasonal notes on teams and conferences strength to work in bowls, it is by no means an end-all-beat-all, as matchups, motivations, travel, team/coaches bowl history,etc...can all eliminate,increase or decrease a game's value.
But, I do believe to the astute eye that does his homework, the bowls offer rewards to those that have done their capping all fall and watched their games,teams, & conferences.
BM's left too much meat on the bone with TCU at home, NW, etc..
But, I do believe to the astute eye that does his homework, the bowls offer rewards to those that have done their capping all fall and watched their games,teams, & conferences.
BM's left too much meat on the bone with TCU at home, NW, etc..
