Drama-free BCS title game possible
Posted: Sunday, November 09, 2008 7:29 AM
While wondering how Wyoming coach Joe Glenn is 15-29 within the MWC, but 3-1 versus the SEC, we’re back to sort out the happenings in Week 11 of the college football season.
Big Ten-less BCS title game: Even though it wasn’t the one that rolled over in the past two national championship games, Penn State would have carried the albatross of Ohio State’s failings if it had played in this season’s BCS title game, guilty by conference association. But thanks to Daniel Murray, Iowa’s backup kicker, it looks like Dolphin Stadium will be Big Ten free on Jan. 8. Murray’s 31-yard field goal with one second remaining Saturday lifted the Hawkeyes to a 24-23 victory over the Nittany Lions, who would be poised to make a title game appearance if the kick was off the mark and they closed the season with a pair of expected home victories. If Penn State had continued to matriculate toward the big game, we would have been subjected to all sorts of doom-and-gloom predictions describing how the Big Ten champions would go down in flames once again in the main event. With that out of the way, we can focus on a wide variety of controversial BCS subject matter, all of which is more interesting.
The “we-all-agree scenario” is alive and well: Although it wouldn’t be as much fun without all the associated bickering, there is a possibility that we could be headed to a championship pairing that’s non-speculative. With only two undefeated teams still standing among the chosen six conferences, there is hope that we won’t need that concoction of polls and computers to settle upon a pair of worthy teams. Alabama (10-0) needs to avoid stubbing its toe in home games versus Mississippi State and Auburn (a combined 3-8 in league play) and then “upset” lower-ranked Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Texas Tech (10-0) has a similar gauntlet, needing to win at Oklahoma in a couple weeks, beat Baylor at home, then prevail in the Big 12 title game. History tells us we’d be lucky to see even one of those teams make it through unscathed. But stranger things have happened, and Nick Saban vs. Mike Leach would make for an interesting week in South Florida.
Our new Top 10:
No. 1 – Texas Tech (no late-game heroics required this time)
No. 2 – Alabama (LSU had its shot to bounce ‘Bama)
No. 3 – Florida (how did these guys lose to Ole Miss?)
No. 4 – Texas (needs miracle to win Big 12 South)
No. 5 – Oklahoma (takes this week off after routing A&M)
No. 6 – USC (“D” making much better use of talent than “O”)
No. 7 – Penn State (now in a battle for Rose Bowl berth)
No. 8 – Utah (“Holy War” vs. BYU awaits Nov. 22)
No. 9 – Boise State (computers will hurt Broncos chances)
No. 10 – Ohio State (Pryor practically a sophomore now)
Harrell Heisman: A week after pumping up his resume with the required “Heisman highlight moment,” Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell went back to work on those gaudy numbers. In the Red Raiders’ 56-20 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday, he was 40-of-50 for 456 yards and six touchdowns. Harrell has thrown for 4,077 yards and 36 scores. In addition, he has more rushing touchdowns (six) than interceptions (five). With Oklahoma and Baylor pass defenses ranking way down at Nos. 90 and 102, respectively, one can expect Harrell’s production to hold steady and keep him at the front of the pack, fending off a late charge by the reigning Heisman winner Tim Tebow.
Quiet week ahead: Although this past week brought an added touch of clarity to the top of the BCS picture, the upcoming slate isn’t likely to do the same. Other than possibly sorting out the muddled ACC (Virginia Tech at Miami on Thursday, and Boston College at Florida State and North Carolina at Maryland on Saturday), don’t expect anything too noteworthy. The most excitement will be in Gainesville, where the Ol’ Ball Coach will be trying to find a way to get his Gamecocks in position to foul up Florida. Wouldn’t that be something?
