USC No. 1 -- and plans to stay that way

NCAA lug heads ^ | 12-7-03 | By Ivan Maisel

[cherry]

"Pathetic" pac 10 team Oregon stomped Michigan, or did you forget that.....

[vetvetdoug]

I love to see Ohio State....lose...

[onyx]

LSU being cheated too. If they played USC they would win and then be number 1 in both polls.

LSU barely scraped by Old Miss. They didn't even cover the spread.

LSU has been cheated out of nothing. They will play OK for the mythical championship.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

for concocting a system that prevented the No. 1 team in college football from playing in the national championship game.

Well, maybe. Although in the absence of "the system", wouldn't USC...be playing Michigan in the Rose Bowl?

(Personally, after Saturday, I'd love to see USC play LSU.)

[Loyal Buckeye]

Excuuuse me.

OU's loss makes Ohio State's record of 14 - 0 stand out like a shining beacon on a hill. That record could stand for a long time.

Proud of our boys, 2003 National Champs

[Loyal Buckeye]

2003 s/b 2002

[DugwayDuke]

"They deserve to win for getting screwed like this."

Only in the sense that Algore got screwed in Florida. Do you guys have any idea how much you sound like the democrats in Florida in 2000?

Quite frankly, the system for picking the BCS has been in place for a number of years (Just like the electoral college). The procedures are quite clear (just like the Florida ballot). The results are in and someone doesn't like the results and wants to change the rules (just like in Florida).

The number one rated BCS team is playing the number two ranked BCS team for the BCS title. USC is number three and is playing the number four team. Nobody got screwed.

[Jim Noble]

Is the Western Illinois that LSU beat the same Western Illinois that lost to my Colgate Red Raiders (14-0) this Saturday at the spacious Andy Kerr stadium in Hamilton, NY?

Seems to me this puts Colgate and LSU on the same footing.

Get Oklahoma out! Colgate-LSU for all the marbles!

[WKB]

LSU did not beat the spread on Ole Miss
I think Ole Miss should be #1 and Eli should that thing that Heisman trophy thing everybody talks about

[Jhensy]

As anyone who's placed a wager or two can tell you, football is the least reliable sport to predict based on past performances, statistics. The oblong shape of the ball leads to funny, unintended bounces.

A team can completely dominate a game's stats -- rushing, passing, total yards, etc. -- but lose because of a blocked punt or bad bounce fumble return.

The BCS computer can't factor in a quarterback injured, or bad weather, or grudge match rivalries, or horrendous officiating calls, etc.

[DocJ69]

Is the Pac a real conference? It is not like the Big 12. It is a poor football conference. I am a K-State fan, however we were lucky on Saturday, two lousy calls turned the tables. White was not himself. Mich will beat USC, and OU will beat LSU, and Boise State will win, and oh well does it really matter, NO it is all about money folks in the end. Besides no on wants to really go to New Orleans which is a filthy town.

[Gamecock]

LOL!

[commish]

Same Western Illinois --LSU was forced to add them to the schedule in July when Marshall backed out of a home and home contract with LSU.

For the people making fun of LSU's non-conf schedule, yes it was weak, but look at the WHOLE SCHEDULES MORONS!!!! LSU played Georgia twice (Both times UGA was ranked in the top 5), Old Miss (ranked in top 15), Florida (Only loss - ranked top 15), Arkansas (top 25). USC played ONE , count it ONE top 25 team all year (Wash St).

Auburn is a wash -- both teams played them.

As has been pointed out, USC lost on the road in triple OT, LSU lost to a top-15 team -- OKLHOMA got TOOLED by Kansas State (Blown out, embarrassed, crushed, folded, spindled and mutilated)

It is clear that the National Championship should be LSU-USC. Oklahoma is the pretender.

[Dog Gone]

When USC scheduled its non-conference opponents, every single one was a legitimate bowl contender. The BCS system that you adore punished USC for not being able to predict their precise season records several years in advance.

It all came down to whether a sorry Notre Dame team could beat a sorry Syracuse team in a meaningless game.

Never mind that USC has been crushing its opponents, and the only loss was an early season road game in triple overtime. Never mind that Oklahoma didn't even win its conference. Never mind that their loss was a major-league buttwhipping when it really counted.

You can try to defend the BCS, but this outcome exposes it for the illogical fraud that it is.

It's a shame that LSU won't get the chance to play the #1 team in the country in the Sugar Bowl. It has to play a conference runner-up.

[WKB]

ping

[Skywalk]

The problem here is that Oklahoma, after getting their asses handed to them, should have dropped to #5 or #6. This is what sucks about the system. A team is and SHOULD be penalized for late season losses, unless they're the darling of the media, in which case such losses don't matter. No team that got blown out badly should be competing for a national title when LSU and USC AND Michigan both lost in closer games. My dream scenario is a close, badly played game between LSU and Oklahoma, and a convincing victory by Michigan. I wonder if they'd be #1 in any of the polls?

[Skywalk]

Stomped? Interesting, I thought Michigan lost on a last second incomplete pass?

Or did you forget the REST of the game when Michigan woke up?

[Dog Gone]

My dream scenario is a close, badly played game between LSU and Oklahoma, and a convincing victory by Michigan. I wonder if they'd be #1 in any of the polls?

Well, they certainly wouldn't be #1 in the Coaches Poll, since the coaches are contractually obligated to vote for the winner of the BCS championship game.

Contractually obligated to vote the winner of that game as #1. Think about that. Saddam would be proud of that kind of election.

[DugwayDuke]

"The BCS system that you adore punished USC for not being able to predict their precise season records several years in advance."

I don't "adore" the BCS, it's simply the best available tool this side of a play off for selecting two out of many to play in the BCS game.

And, no, the system didn't 'punish USC', it merely reported the facts as they are. USC played a relatively weak schedule and that should be considered.

"Never mind that USC has been crushing its opponents, and the only loss was an early season road game in triple overtime."

And, OU hasn't been "crushing it's opponents? Ask Texas, Texas A&M, OSU, etc., if they weren't "crushed" by OU.

"Never mind that Oklahoma didn't even win its conference. Never mind that their loss was a major-league buttwhipping when it really counted."

I don't remember 'winning their conference' as one of the selection criteria for playing in the Sugar Bowl. See what I mean about changing the rules when one doesn't get one's way (just like in Florida).

"It's a shame that LSU won't get the chance to play the #1 team in the country in the Sugar Bowl. It has to play a conference runner-up."

The number one team according to the BCS rules (OU) is playing the number two team according to the BCS rules (LSU) in the BCS championship game. All according to the rules (just like in Florida). Too bad there's no appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.

[bonesmccoy]

Your words are funny.

USC is currently number one in every poll except the BCS computer.

Great to see the SC Trojans back at #1 since 1981.