The BCS standings reveal all that is wrong with College Football. Most people look to see who the Top 2 teams are but you can get a better idea of how teams can get to the top by looking deeper into standings. A perfect example of what I am talking about is LSU being ranked ahead of Oregon. I personally (and my computer system agrees) think that Oregon's body of work is much better than LSU's. The Harris Poll, Coach's Poll, and the BCS disagree. Time for a tale of the tape.
LSU
Record: 8-2 overall, 4-2 SEC
Ranks: 8 BCS, 10 Harris, 10 Coaches
Oregon
Record: 8-2 overall, 6-1 PAC-10
Ranks: 11 BCS, 11 Harris, 11 Coaches
Just looking at these numbers and it doesn't seem to be much of a travesty that LSU is ranked higher. Lets dig a little deeper.
Losses
LSU: #1 Florida (13-3), at #2 Alabama (24-15)
Oregon: at #6 Boise State (19-8), at #17 Stanford (51-42)
Advantage: LSU even with a home loss
This has to be the only argument someone can make to have LSU higher, but it is a weak argument as I will show.
Wins vs Teams with Winning Records
LSU: at Georgia (6-4), Auburn (7-4)
Oregon: #21 Utah (8-2), #18 USC (7-3), #25 CAL (7-3)
Advantage: Oregon
LSU hasn't beaten a team that is currently ranked in the Top 25 of the BCS, Harris, or Coaches Poll while Oregon has beaten 3.
Common Opponent - Washington (both teams played in Seattle)
LSU 31-23 win, Oregon 43-19
Advantage: Oregon
Opponents Records
LSU: 53-49 overall, 45-49 vs DI
Oregon: 56-45 overall, 53-45 vs DI
Advantage: Oregon
The 8 teams that LSU have beaten have a combined record of 33-49, 26-49 vs DI while the 8 teams that Oregon have beaten are of 39-42, 37-42 vs DI.
Point Differential
LSU: 25.0 ppg, 13.7 ppg allowed (+11.3)
Oregon: 37.1 ppg, 20.9 allowed (+16.2)
Advantage: Oregon
Yardage Differential
LSU: 314.7 ypg, 313.7 ypg allowed (+1)
Oregon: 414.6 ypg, 310.1 ypg allowed (+104.5)
Advantage: Oregon
Am I really susposed to believe that LSU is the 8th best team in the country when they outgain their opponents by 1 yard a game. Really?
The numbers never lie as Oregon cruises to a 5-1 victory. Clearly, Oregon has done more on the field this year than LSU. The Ducks have played the tougher schedule, beaten more quality opponents, and have a much greater point and yardage differentials. So what is the conclusion to draw here on the way the BCS works. The only conclusion to make is that College Football is about who you lose to rather than who you beat. It's not like Oregon has lost to chumps either. It is a shame that the voters and computers reward teams for playing weaker competition. I can only dream of the day when a playoff system will make all of this moot.
Monday, November 16, 2009
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7 comments:
That's because all the voters are a sleep by the time Oregon plays.
SEC baby....if you smell what playing FBS teams is cooking....haha...makes no sense other than ESPN shoves SEC down throats of America and people are too lazy to form their own opinions.
Just a sad state of affairs when people who are PAID to follow college football can't do so adequately. All it takes is a little brainpower and a willingness do a little research. I guess that is too much to ask.
The answer is easy...it does back to the "Laker" theory in that all "Laker" fans only judge the rest of the league on the 1 or 2 games a year they face other teams, they never watch any other games during the entire year....the voters only watch Pac-10 teams once or maybe twice a year and base opinions off of that...hence Oregon loses to Boise State and the voters never watch again.
LSU is the worst #8 team I have ever seen.
Bring on Chattanooga and FIU
PS. Ole Miss is favored by 4 pts vs LSU this week. The oddsmakers obviously dont buy LSU either.
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