bowl predictions

[RichRodriguez]

the buckeyes are BCS bound again only because of the 2 teams per conference max rule. Boise State and Ball State have been cheated.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/bowls/predictions

[RealSchool]

If Ball State goes to the freaking Motor City Bowl there is no justice in CFB.

[W0lv3r1n3]

Remember last year when Kansas(?) was taken over Missouri even though they lost head to head?

[primetime101]

how about oklahoma being ranked higher than texas, even though texas won the head-to-head battle, the BCS is a joke there is nothing else to say about it, its a joke

[Wolvrin704]

Well we can cry all we want about the injustice of the BCS (and there are many) but the fact is the system is with us for several more years thanks to ESPN.

[W0lv3r1n3]

Well we can cry all we want about the injustice of the BCS (and there are many) but the fact is the system is with us for several more years thanks to ESPN.

Isn't it hilarious how all of the talking heads on ESPN always go on and on about how we need a playoff system? Almost every show even remotely related to CFB will have a few comments about a playoff system. I guess their just ignoring the fact that they're the ones keeping the BCS firmly in place.

[wolverine]

ohio Brate has an chance in the bowl game as long as they dont play an sec team

[MgoMatt]

how about oklahoma being ranked higher than texas, even though texas won the head-to-head battle, the BCS is a joke there is nothing else to say about it, its a joke

Yeah, and not having Iowa over Penn state is a joke, even though they won head-to-head. Oh, maybe overall performances matter more than head-to-head.

[Sten Carlson]

I was pretty impressed with Oklahoma last night, but that being said, I think the fact that OU passed UT shows that the BCS system is 100% ridiculous and needs to be reformed -- and I am not even a Longhorn fan despite the fact that I live in Austin!

If you're ranked higher than someone else, especially someone that you beat head-to-head, and they beat a team that you already beat, they should not pass you if you won your game that weekend. It is not Texas' fault that Texas A&M sucks (Gig Em Aggies!). A team should have to get knocked out of their ranking by losing, period.

Maybe Florida should move ahead of Texas too, I mean they were ranked 4th, and beat the crap of out of their rival ranked FSU, and UT only beat the lowly Aggies -- this is so stupid!

It seems to me that the last team to be on TV is going to get the nod from the voters.

I hope OU goes to the Big 12 Championship and loses to Mizzu by 40 (don't think that is going to happen, but one can always hope)!

[Wolvrin704]

Isn't it hilarious how all of the talking heads on ESPN always go on and on about how we need a playoff system? Almost every show even remotely related to CFB will have a few comments about a playoff system. I guess their just ignoring the fact that they're the ones keeping the BCS firmly in place.

What's hilarious is that they are being so hypocritical. They're only broaching the ideas of a playoff in order to create controversy which in turn brings in viewers. Its all about the $$$.

[RichRodriguez]

i saw this on another forum thought it was interesting. it talks about how Boise State and Ball State are being cheated.



The rules clearly state: The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, or the Western Athletic Conference will earn an AUTOMATIC berth in a BCS bowl game if either: A. Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or, B. Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls. That being said, that means Boise State, Utah, and Ball State should all be earning automatic bids as A) Utah is currently ranked 6th and Boise 9th and B) Ball State is ranked 15th, but ahead of Cincinnati the presumed Big East champion at this point. This means USC and CIncy should be playing somewhere else.

[joeismyname]

I needed to start somewhere.....these actually look like pretty good mathc-ups for the most part. Northwestern vs. Missouri is the only one that looks terrible.

I would like to see Utah play a top notch SEC opponent, maybe shut up the SEC crowd for a while.

[StevieBrownforHeisman]

Remember last year when Kansas(?) was taken over Missouri even though they lost head to head?

remember last year when Illinois was taken over Michigan even though they lost head to head? remember the Buckeyes were in the BCS title which defaulted the Rose Bowl bid to the Rose Bowl's choice of co-runners up; which were Illinois and... Michigan. who do YOU think would have given USC a better game? the Michigan team that beat Florida and Tebow, or the Illinois team that got crushed like a buckeye in pasadena?

[MgoMatt]

remember last year when Illinois was taken over Michigan even though they lost head to head? remember the Buckeyes were in the BCS title which defaulted the Rose Bowl bid to the Rose Bowl's choice of co-runners up; which were Illinois and... Michigan. who do YOU think would have given USC a better game? the Michigan team that beat Florida and Tebow, or the Illinois team that got crushed like a buckeye in pasadena?

Except we weren't ranked in the top 25 at the end of the season, and you need to be at least #16 to be picked by the Rose Bowl (or any other BCS bowl).

[StevieBrownforHeisman]

Except we weren't ranked in the top 25 at the end of the season, and you need to be at least #16 to be picked by the Rose Bowl (or any other BCS bowl).

touche, although i do remember seeing Pittsburgh in a BCS bowl despite being ranked in the middle 20's.

[Bossgobbler23]

There are some good match ups but our top two teams are going to get eaten alive. USC will win by at least 17 over PSU and Texas by about the same.

[tpilews]

There are some good match ups but our top two teams are going to get eaten alive. USC will win by at least 17 over PSU and Texas by about the same.

USC vs. PSU, that's a defensive game right there. I think PSU will surprise.

[Bossgobbler23]

USC vs. PSU, that's a defensive game right there. I think PSU will surprise.

SC ALWAYS puts it to the Big Ten. I can't remember the last close game. Its like a home game for them. I can see the SC defense shining but PSU has been slow starters of late and that will be there doom unfortunately.

[tpilews]

SC ALWAYS puts it to the Big Ten. I can't remember the last close game. Its like a home game for them. I can see the SC defense shining but PSU has been slow starters of late and that will be there doom unfortunately.

Yeah, I'm just trying to stay positive for the big10. We, as a conference, need a good showing. Our name has been tarnished the last few years.

[GoGreen23]

I liked the Ohio State Georgia Matchup, it'd be #2 Big Ten vs #3 Georgia. Sorry OSU fans, I called you #2 even though you split the title because both OSU and PSU finished with identical 7-1 Big Ten records, but PSU won head-to-head and had a better overall record.

I would much rather see MSU play a team like South Carolina or some mid-Big 12 team. I just don't think they are ready to play with the Top Two teams from any of the elite conferences yet. They will be soon though.

[GoGreen23]

Yeah, I'm just trying to stay positive for the big10. We, as a conference, need a good showing. Our name has been tarnished the last few years.

I agree, I always root for all the BigTen teams when they play in their bowl games. Even in their pre-BigTen season I still root for them, even Michigan!

[tpilews]

I agree, I always root for all the BigTen teams when they play in their bowl games. Even in their pre-BigTen season I still root for them, even Michigan!

Yeah, same here. I just can't, for the life of me, root for tuos. It just doesn't seem right. I want them to put up a good showing, but lose.

[MgoMatt]

Yeah, same here. I just can't, for the life of me, root for tuos. It just doesn't seem right. I want them to put up a good showing, but lose.

I used to support all the Big 10 teams in bowls and non-conference games. It just made me hate tOSU even more. They win when I want them to lose and lose when I want them to win. I finally settled on just hating them plain and simple.

[blueisbetterthanred]

I too support the entire big10, except osu. I just couldn't look at myself in the mirror if it was any other way.

That said, I think PSU will put up a better fight than any team tressel could ever field. Joe can coach in a big game, he won't turn tail and be all confused like jimmy. That doesn't mean psu will win, but it means at least they have a good CHANCE at winning.

The college football world has to be loving that finally.

[GoBlue21]

Oklahoma leap-frogs Texas, another great BCS decision...

How can that happen? Texas beat Oklahoma head to head, this is getting old!

[W0lv3r1n3]

I'm done with the BCS hating now that Michigan isn't even going to a bowl, how depressing. At least in years past it was fun to scout potential bowl competition.

[GoBlue21]

I'm done with the BCS hating now that Michigan isn't even going to a bowl, how depressing. At least in years past it was fun to scout potential bowl competition.

I just don't understand how one of the tie breakers isn't head to head result?

That is the #1 rule in round robin's in softball, followed by run differential (I play competitive softball in Cincinnati)

The SEC has the same tie breaker as well...

[W0lv3r1n3]

The funny thing is Mack Brown was on ESPN the other day saying how the Big Ten is ahead of everyone else as far as the conference championship goes. Here we are complaining about playing catch up and adding a 12th team when everyone else wants to be like us.

Either way, every conference should either have a conference championship or none of them should. There's just to much difference between the difficulty and length of seasons when some do and some don't.

[amazinblue]

I root for the Big 10 in all post season games - I even want OSU to win. IMO, the Big 10 has to be successful against other conferences to "gain respect" nationally, since the image of the conference has been tainted by post season performances over the last few years. People don't think of the "mismatches" - i.e. Illinois against USC in the Rose Bowl last year - people just remember the results, and OSU's performances on the big stage have, unfortunately, reinforced that perspective.

The reduced number of marquis inter-conference games early in the season make strong performances in the post season just that much more important. So, if OSU finds its way into another BCS game, I honestly hope they can find a way to win.

This year - the BCS games may be quite challenging for the Big 10. PSU against USC will be tough, and a potential OSU vs. Texas matchup could be as tough - if not more daunting.

Although the "lower tier" bowls - Capital One, Outback, Alamo, Motor City, etc. provide visibility for the conference. They don't draw the viewing audience that the BCS games do. For the Big 10 to reestablish its position as a formidable conference, teams representing the conference have to WIN these games, not just look good in them - but, the result has to be a win - period. For example, how many people think that Michigan played great against Texas (with Vince Young) in the Rose Bowl a few years ago - I believe we did, but I think most remember it as a win for Texas and a loss for Michigan.

So, for all the Big 10 teams. Win, win, win in your post season contest. I'm confident that Michigan will be in the post season next year and for many years to come.

And, yes - IMO - Texas got the short end of the stick and the Big 12 conference WILL change their tie breaking procedures this off season. It was a three way tie, so you can't just look at the "head to head" between Oklahoma and Texas without adding in Texas Tech. If conferences rely on scoring differential, or any other "rule" involving points, then we're just going to see a lot of running up the score in conference games - which, I'm not a fan of. Winning is fine - it's why the game is played, but winning by 50 or more, when you can win by 24 with a lot of playing time for underclassmen can be provided - well, I'd prefer the latter.

The Big 10 has done a number of things well. The introduction of instant reply at the college level is just one. And, I respect the tradition of the Rose Bowl being a Big 10 - Pac 10 game. What I do wish is that the conference leadership realizes that an 8 team playoff could be structured that respects the traditional bowl alignment and provide a winner based on "on field" performance and games, rather than the subjective approach of pollsters and computers. Perhaps Delany will see the light someday...

[tpilews]

What I do wish is that the conference leadership realizes that an 8 team playoff could be structured that respects the traditional bowl alignment and provide a winner based on "on field" performance and games, rather than the subjective approach of pollsters and computers. Perhaps Delany will see the light someday...

Or 16 :D:D:D...... We can only hope.

[TxWolverine]

If you're ranked higher than someone else, especially someone that you beat head-to-head, and they beat a team that you already beat, they should not pass you if you won your game that weekend. It is not Texas' fault that Texas A&M sucks (Gig Em Aggies!). A team should have to get knocked out of their ranking by losing, period.



Yes but Texas lost to Tech, OU SMOKED Tech. Boomer Sooner. (My #2 team behind Michigan) and Im from dallas.