BCS is a Mess (Or, "Jesus Loves the Gators")

I suppose that maybe calling this post "Jesus Loves the Gators" is beyond the border that defines "blasphemy," so you'll notice that it is only the suggested alternative title. So, no nasty comments about that, please. I post this giant Michigan logo in honor of Kelly and the other Michiganites (Michiganers? Michiganians? Michelins? Michis? not sure...) who might be feeling blue today. Or perhaps feeling less Big Blue? I sympathize. Michigan got hosed.

I'm far from an unpartial observer - I'm an unashamed Florida homer - but I do have to say that the BCS got it right this time. Amy and I discussed the ins and outs of the BCS this morning - probably the only conversation on the subject in Muizenberg this morning as opposed to the thirty million across America - and I present the only reasons that Ohio State vs. Florida is the right decision:

• Michigan lost to Ohio State in the last game of the season.
• Florida played a far tougher schedule.
• Michigan did not win their conference championship.

That's it. Those are the three reasons that Florida is #2 and playing for the national championship and Michigan isn't. Look at the reasons one by one...

Michigan lost to Ohio State in the last game of the season. There is no rule against a rematch, but Michigan is coming off a loss, they lost to the other team in the championship game, and that loss was the last game of the season. If Michigan-OSU was in week 3, I think you could make a different argument. But the way the schedule and the season played out, everyone knew that Michigan-OSU was for a slot in the championship game. One versus two... undefeated versus undefeated... winner plays for the title. Loser goes home. That's what was at stake, and Michigan lost. If Ohio State had lost, they shouldn't be in the title game either. That's just the way the schedule went.

Florida played a far tougher schedule. The facts are all over the web, so I won't repeat them here. But if you're comparing one-loss teams (and we are) trying to determine who is more deserving of a title shot (and we are), then you have to look at the competition those teams beat to get their record. Michigan only played one good team (OSU) and they lost. Wisconsin (who claims to be a good team) didn't play anyone ranked except Michigan (and they lost). Florida's schedule was tougher, they play in a tougher conference, they won more games against ranked teams, and their opponents won more games against the rest of the field. It's hardly an exact science, but Florida took a harder path this year.

Michigan did not win their conference championship. There is no rule saying that you have to win your conference to play for the national championship. But there should be. This, to me, is the biggest knock against Michigan. If you aren't the best team in your conference, then you aren't the best team in the whole country. And on this part, I'm fair: Let's imagine for a minute that Florida had beaten Auburn this year. They would have been undefeated and ranked #2 heading into the SEC Championship Game against Arkansas. If Arkansas won in triple overtime by one point, then there's a good chance that some people would want Florida to remain #2 with one loss and play for the national championship against Ohio State. They shouldn't. If you aren't the champion of your conference, you shouldn't be the champion of the whole country.

There are lots and lots of other arguments. Most significantly, perhaps, that Jesus loves the Gators most. But setting even that given aside for now, the BCS is a mess but they got it right this time. Next year... who knows. For the record, I don't support a playoff. I liked the old bowl system. Play the games and then vote. It made college football unique, frustrating, and the subject of a million endless debates - in other words, it made college football great! If you have to have something, I might like a one game system after the bowls. But at least today, the BCS picked the right team.

And if I were from Michigan, I'd be mad. 'Cause Michigan got hosed.

Comments

[Logan Mauldin]

Thanks for your comment on my post. Are you a Florida Native? God bless your work in Southern Africa.

It's great to be a Florida Gator!

We should make a web-ring of pastors, missionaries, and theologians who love Jesus and the Gators. Jollyblogger would join, he's a UF Alumnus.

Logan

[steven]

I don't think that would be fair to all of the other bloggers out there - you know, taking all of the world's greatest blogs and putting them together like that. Because clearly we would rule.

[Phil]

Its Michiganders. Or, in the case of folks down by Ann Arbor, "trolls"... as in folks who live below the (Mackinaw) Bridge - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Peninsula_of_Michigan

And, no, I ain't one of them! Just a fellow Midwesterner.