APBy the slimmest of margins, mind you, but they still exist.
Let’s be honest: it’s going to take a lot of work for the No. 4 Stanford Cardinal to find their way in the BCS title game with just one week left in the season. But, the way things have gone lately, it’s not out of the question. Stanford would need LSU to lose — and likely lose big — to Georgia in the SEC title game, Oklahoma State to lose to Oklahoma in Bedlam and Virginia Tech to drop the ACC title game.
But at least the Cardinal’s job is done, finishing out their season with a 28-14 win over Notre Dame. All that’s left is to wait and hope that a few things go their way in the next seven days. That’s the kind of system we’re in folks. The Cardinal already lost their chance to play for the Pac-12 championship and yet have a better shot than Oregon, who beat Stanford, at competing for a national title.
That’s not to say Stanford isn’t a good team — they are — but all of this is a completely bass ackwards way of determining championships.
Okay, I’ve complained long enough about the BCS. Moving on.
In fact, such a matchup between, say, Stanford and Alabama would be pretty interesting. With as physical as Stanford is up front, and as tenacious and speedy as Alabama is on defense, that could be one fun game littered with almost as many future NFL players as another game between LSU and Bama.
A couple of the concerns about Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck this season have been that he’s put up great numbers against weaker competition and that he’s struggled in big games. There’s no doubt Luck’s been a little off his mark in the past month — he’s tossed six interceptions in his last five games — but anybody who watches him also knows not all of those interceptions have been his fault, and he still makes some killer throws that some NFL quarterbacks can’t.
Pairing him against a defense that has plenty of future NFL players would be like Christmas morning for Jon Gruden.
In all liklihood, the Cardinal will have to settle for a BCS at-large spot, but they’re in the title conversation now. That’s more than a lot of other teams can say.
If you want to be ” honest ” you wouldn’t insult LSU by writing them out of the title game with a loss to Georgia. Most pundits don’t think a loss to Georgia would knock LSU out. So said Brent Musberger tonight while announcing the game, and he has never been a big LSU supporter over the years. No way LSU loses big to Georgia.
Before their loss I was hoping to meet an unbeaten Stanford for the NC. The darlings of the west coast would have provided a satisfactory opponent for the Tigers to beat. West a coast writer Michael Ventre was touting them as able to beat LSU a few weeks ago, and he is usually ascerbic in his comments that show favoritism toward west coast teams and contempt for southern football.
I question the football acumen of anyone who believes Trent Richardson should win the heisman.
Hell, Richardson isn’t even my top choice at running back – Montee Ball averages more yards per game and has a lot more rushing TDs, and gets next to no heisman hype. I guess second to Barry Sanders all time doesn’t mean much.
Regardless, the heisman should be Matt Barkley’s.
That’s a perfect example on how whacked the BCS is, when a team that finishes 2nd in their conference has a better shot at the BCS championship than the team that thrashed them and won the conference.
@trbowman:
I agree about Barkley. I really think this anointing Andrew Luck the second coming is premature. I watched both multiple times this year and Barkley has looked much better than Luck, and in my opinion he is head and shoulders better than any other QB in the country.
Disappointing finish for Notre Dame, as it seemed that there were plays that could’ve been made but weren’t (story of their season, really), and Stanford at some points of the game seemed uncharacteristically charitable. Just never capitalized.
That hit on Rees pretty much set the tone; offensively they never found sustained rhythm. Hendrix actually played pretty well given the circumstances, however.
@th56, you are right on. How can Stanford be ranked above the team that thrashed them?
Sure, Stanford looked good dumping Notre Dame tonight, and deserve to be congratulated. Luck was, of course, good, though probably not up to Barkley’s standards.
But how would their records look different if Stanford had played LSU, and Oregon had played Notre Dame? Oregon would be the one loss team and Stanford wouldn’t even be in the picture.
As it is, Oregon’s record is much stronger– all ten of their wins were by at least two TDs, and their two losses- to LSU and USC– were both by less than that.
They both played USC even, Stanford winning in 3 OTs when McNeal fumbled; Oregon losing when they missed a FG, running out of time after scoring 21 straight points and with USC on their heels.
And then, of course, head to head, the Ducks stomped the Cardinals. So why Stanford’s higher ranking?
Still, Oregon is darn proud to have a chance to play in the Rose Bowl, assuming we get by the Bruins– it has been a long, long time since Oregon won a Rose Bowl Game!!!
Final thought– it is said that UCLA will be ineligible for a bowl at 6-7 if they lose to Oregon, and would have to petition for a waiver to play in a bowl. Perhaps they should better get a waiver to avoid having to play in the championship game and getting embarrassed again. And then lets’ get a waiver to get USC in next Friday so we can have a REAL PAC 12 championship game instead.
Last thought– none of this is as important as the fact that the State of Oregon has just fired our popular university president, evidently because he is too intelligent and independent for the state’s bureaucrats.
First of all, Stanford is the Cardinal (referring to the color, not the bird). It’s a little hard to take anyone serious that can’t manage to sort that out.
Second, Oregon didn’t play USC “even” when compared to Stanford. They lost. Stanford won. “if only” is for losers. Barkley has had a great year no question and frankly I hope, though I doubt, he comes back. USC (gulp) would be the preseason #1, and help the PAC-12 overall with recruiting.
I don’t really care whether Luck wins any awards. What I would like is for people to realize how much he does with so little. Pick out the slowest offensive skill player (any WR, RB, TE) on your favorite team…that’s his FASTEST guy. Guessing 95% of fans don’t realize that.
Third, the above notwithstanding, I think Oregon facing LSU again would be the most entertaining BCS title game with perhaps the exception of Oklahoma State. Alabama has a great defense, but their QB and kicking game is barely division 1. And, just exactly what qualifies as a quality win these days? I don’t see any on Bama’s resume. Penn St and Ark were a mess when they played, and every one since is the trash of the SEC, which is to say any team other than LSU
Enough with the BCS crap….The Teams that generate the most money, will play in the Title game..Thats Bama and LSU….The NCAA is like the mafia, a for profit organization, or else how could ND at 8-3, and if they beat Stanford, still have BCS aspirations?…It’s a scam, the NCAA does not want a college football playoff, or bracket like they have in basketball, they won’t make as much money as the presidents and bowl committee’s are deep into each others pockets, and thats what it’s all about………MONEY. If you think this entire scenerio is for the benefit of the student-athlete, then you are a complete moron….
Can’t understand why people hate on the SEC (and BAMA). The two best teams are BAMA and LSU!!! REMATCH!!!
@fanbet,
Sorry you had to focus on a typo “s” rather than the facts, such as a 23 point beat down of the Cardinal.
My point is that Oregon probably deserves to be ranked above Stanford. Do you disagree?
Second, notwithstanding the above, thanks for suggesting that an Oregon-LSU rematch would be the most entertaining BCS championship.
You might be right, we do have a pretty wild offense and we didn’t lose to LSU by a whole bunch.
However, I’m afraid that’s not going to happen unless a mess of miracles occur. And even as an old Duck fan, I couldn’t recommend it over other teams such as Alabama or Ok. State.
It’s been a bitter pill to swallow for fans of the Ducks, who believed we should have beat Auburn last year, when we lost a squeeker; who again against the SEC, believed we shoulda/coulda/woulda beat LSU; and worst of all, lost to USC, in a game we KNOW we should have won, but we seemed dead on our feet for two and a half quarters and ran out of time.
But so be it, that’s what happened, we all have our bad breaks, we are fortunate to have had our chances, and now it’s time for someone else to get that opportunity.
But again, we’ll be proud to represent the PAC 12 in the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin or MSU of the Big 10, and hope for a long awaited win there. THAT will be an entertaining game.
(unless, ahem, we are upset by ucla. )
@webfoot
Take off your bill and webbed feet before you read this and try and absorb the comments as a handicapper and not a fan.
Actually I do disagree that Oregon should be ranked ahead of Stanford. Oregon lost twice, Stanford once. That’s enough.
Stanford beat USC at USC
USC beat Oregon at Oregon
The Ducks weren’t slow against USC, as much as I hate to admit it USC is very young, very fast, and very good. If Barkley comes back it’s been publicly stated that they’ll be the preseason #1. Oregon had the same issues with USC as they did with LSU. Oregon is wicked fast, but also small on average and against teams with size and speed they have to play a clean game (limit penalties and no turnovers).
FWIW I think USC had a big advantage that no one has talked about. They didn’t have to protect a ranking, or impress any voters or bowl officials. That allowed them to play an aggressive, freewheeling offense and defense all year, and Lane Kiffen went for a lot of 4th downs he may not have otherwise. I believe their suspension had a lot to do with Barkely’s big year.
I grew up 10 minutes from Stanford, my niece goes there now, but I bet on Oregon in that game for the reasons I stated above. Stanford is just too slow to handle the Ducks even if they were healthy. Stanford was missing their best DB, LB, TE, and WR. They had no chance.
I’ve already laid Oregon -30.5 next week and if I can find it I’ll take LSU-1.5 v Bama in the BCS.
fanbet: You conveniently left out the fact that Oregon trashed Stanford at home. They pretty much left no doubt who the better team was. Also that one extra loss was to LSU, whom Stanford has not played. I’ll take head to head over speculation any day. Oregon is a lot better than Stanford. No question.
I stated that I BET REAL MONEY on Oregon because I felt head to head they had no chance. So I hardly left the result out…to the contrary, I collected some easy cash.
Based on your logic Texas Tech is better than Oklahoma, and Iowa State is better than Oklahoma State. They aren’t of course.
Every poll disagrees with you, and btw some by a long shot with several other teams between the O and Stanford.
Certain teams just don’t match up. I think Stanford would struggle with a team like Baylor. Oregon would have trouble with LSU and Bama. Bama and possibly LSU would have trouble with a team like Wisconsin or even USC, and I think Oregon could beat Wisconsin.
I don’t look at these things as a fan. I bet on games throughout the season. I have my hopes for their success once the game starts, but I don’t evaluate them with my heart.
In the end, we’ll agree to disagree.