The BCS is really the BC$ -- the Bowl Cartel Series. They are about the matchups that maximize revenue, and they have agreements between the bowls to spread that revenue around each subsequent year. Faced with a choice of revenue and some sports justice as far as match-ups, they choose revenue every time.
Maybe because the Sugar and Fiesta bowls, by agreement with the BCS and conferences were REQUIRED BY CONTRACT to take Alabama and Texas to replace conference champions they lost if they were automatic qualifiers (which they both were, due to the Kansas State rule). The stated goal of the BCS is to pair the #1 vs. #2 teams in a BCS Title Game, and beyond that there is no consideration given to produce the best matchups in the other games.
These bowl tie - ins are just flat out sickening. Ohio St. should be playing Utah and should be glad they even made it. Boise St. should have replaced Ohio St. as they were rated higher in the final BCS standings but we all know the politics involved. There are six teams that have a legit shot this year and with Fla and Okla at the top, they should have first round byes and lets settle this damn thing on the field.
Okla - bye
Fla - bye
Penn St.
Texas
USC
Bama
Another thing that wouldn't be half bad would be to just go back to the traditional bowl system and let the bowl games also be "auditions" for the beauty contest. Re rank the teams after the bowls and THEN let #1 play #2.
Okla - bye
Fla - bye
Penn St.
Texas
USC
Bama
Another thing that wouldn't be half bad would be to just go back to the traditional bowl system and let the bowl games also be "auditions" for the beauty contest. Re rank the teams after the bowls and THEN let #1 play #2.
The point is they didn't give us the right matchups. Bama/Texas would have been a much better matchup. And probably the one the majority of us would have liked to see over Bama/Utah. And I guarantee the line wouldn't have been 10 with these two teams. And then let them matchup Utah/Ohio State. The line there also probably would have been less than 10. Penn State/USC probably couldn't have been helped with the line. But it's better one game being a double digit than three games. Believe me, the BCS knows what kind of teams they're matching up. And have a general idea of what the lines are going to be. They pay people to figure these things out. But my point is, they are just concerned with the money part with this disguise that they are giving us something special with these matchups. And with ESPN's contract with the BCS, they'll start advertising these games soon like they are some kind of gargatuan matchups. Which they aren't. Matching up the number 1 and 2 teams and the 3 and 4 teams is the only logical thing to do this season if you want the best games. Or at least the closer games on paper. The examples you gave were between the number 1 and 2 teams in the BCS. Those lines couldn't be helped. But the rest of the games are an open book where they should pair the best teams for the best games.
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I also remember OU getting double digits against Florida State in their BCS title game. Whenever you see lines like that, it's all about public perception, and the way the media portrays a team. OU had been down for years, and wasn't expected to compete so soon under Stoops. And they were going up against a Heisman Trophy QB in their own backyard. Damn, that describes this year...LOL. And Ohio State was probably underestimated for two reasons: I believe Tressel was only in his second year coaching there. And OSU had played a few close low scoring games that season, and they probably weren't expected to keep up with Miami's scoring machine. I wish we got more circumstances like this in BCS games. But usually there isn't more than one surprise in any of the BCS bowls every year. If that. Urban Meyers Florida team a couple years ago was the last big surprise in BCS title game. But there again you had a program that had been average for a few years, and then comes in a second year coach. People never expect that much that soon. But teams can get good in a hurry with the right coaching. Just look at Bama this year.
