There COULD be an Alabama-Florida rematch for national title
Don’t look now folks but we COULD have a rematch of the SEC championship game for the BCS national title.
I know I’ve said for weeks that this cannot happen, that the voters in the human polls would not allow a team that loses on championship Saturday to turn right around and play for the national title a month later. But now we are looking at the real numbers and the numbers do not lie.
Florida and Alabama are 1-2 in the latest BCS Standings. They are tied for the No. 1 spot in the computers. Look at the gap in the total rating between No. 2 Alabama (.9513) and No. 4 TCU (.8689) and No. 5 Cincinnati (.8547). Alabama has almost a full one-tenth of a point over TCU and Cincinnati. In this system that is huge! TCU (12-0) is done for the season and Cincinnati (11-0) plays a Pittsburgh team (9-2) that lost last week to West Virginia.
What does this mean? It means that if Texas loses to Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game, the SEC championship game loser, if it is a really tight game, has a real chance to finish No. 2 in the final BCS Standings. That’s because the computers will still love them because their only loss this season was to a team ranked in the top two.
It will all come down to the human voters and how far they drop the SEC championship game loser. If the loser of that game only drops to No. 3 or No. 4 in the human polls, then it can finish No. 2 in the BCS standings because of the computers. So it could be that a 12-0 TCU, a 12-0 Cincinnati and a 13-0 Boise State get squeezed out.
Remember this: The voters in the human polls realized in 2006 that their votes set up the BCS championship matchup. That’s why they moved No. 4 Florida ahead of No. 3 Michigan in their final polls. Michigan had had its shot and lost to No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 USC had lost.
This also has a chance to be a repeat of 2003 when Southern California finished No. 1 in both human polls and did not get into the BCS championship game. If Texas loses on Saturday, then TCU or Cincinnati could finish No. 2 in the human polls but get left out of the big game in favor of a one-loss team from the SEC.
If Texas takes care of Nebraska on Saturday we will not have this argument. But if Texas loses, look out. If Florida and Alabama have a rematch for the national championship, those who want to blow up the BCS system will have a lot more ammunition that the system unfairly favors the elites of college football.
And boy, will that be a fun argument.
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306 comments Add your comment
im4bama
November 30th, 2009
9:43 am
Just want to say good game to Auburn. That was a great effort by your boys and good coaching.
I will say though, that the first TD for Auburn should have been called back for holding. The onside kick was perfection and so was the play for the deep TD in the 3rd. Lastly, a fine job of stopping our run. I don’t understand why our play calling didn’t make you pay for putting eight in the box. Anyway, good game.
ST. SIMONS AMBER ALERT
November 30th, 2009
9:47 am
If you see this jerk, do not rescue him.
FactuAll
November 30th, 2009
9:49 am
CharlotteGator
it’s amazing how perception differs. I hear a lot of Bama fans complain about the media’s love fest with Tebow. UF fans think that the media favors Bama.
I tend to think the media loves the media. Whatever it takes to hype the game, and raise the ratings is what they do. I’m sure we’ll see a lot of hype between now and Saturday.
Good luck to UF and their fans…see you in Atlanta.
Chris F
November 30th, 2009
9:51 am
The GT and ACC fans sure are quiet this morning.
Alabama had alot of success in the past of keeping Tebow in check, defense is better this year so I expect Tebow will have a tough day. Florida will need to stop Maze, Ingram and McElroy and even if they are successful in that Trent and Colin should be able to pick up the slack. It will be a war and the better defense will have the advantage.
If Texas and TCU both lose and Florida loses by 3 or less then it is a real possibility for a rematch because the computers will still love Florida. IMHO they are the 2 best teams in the country. We need a playoff system now so Bama and Florida can prove it.
This just in UGA just rushed for another 150 yards!
GSU Eagle 91
November 30th, 2009
9:54 am
I look forward to the SEC title game. Like last year, it will be a push and shove match until FL takes control in the 2nd half. No way Tebow lets his team lose this game…
Then it is off to play Texas in the BCS title game. McCoy and co will polish off Nebraska by 2-3 TD’s.
I wanted to congratulate UGA on a great win Saturday. O-Line for the Dawgs played their best game all season.
Tide Rising
November 30th, 2009
9:55 am
Charlotte Gator,
I would hope the revenge factor would give us the edge but I dunno. Florida wants to win just as bad and to me Florida has a slight advantage on paper. I think most pundits are picking Bama just as kind of a fashionable pick to go with the underdog.
I suspect it will all come down to mistakes and more importantly turnovers. The 2 special teams breakdowns we had last year really hurt and Florida not turning the ball over the whole game hurt as well. I think we have a good shot if Florida turns the ball over a couple times but if they play error free football like last year then it would be really hard to win.
To me the biggest key is going to be how much pressure each team can get on the other team’s qb in passing situations, especially pressure coming off the edge. Can Bama’s 2 O tackles handle Dunlap and Cunningham coming off the edge? Can Florida handle the myriad blitz packages that Saban will throw at em? It’ll be great to see.
Right On Time
November 30th, 2009
9:59 am
1. People get over it. Tony made a prediction…it was wrong. It happens. So…he is not taking time to write about a 7-5 UGA team? He is writing about a game involving #1 and #2? CRAZY I tell ya!!!
2. I would love to see a rematch. Have fla beat Alabama in the SECCG, then give Alabama a shot at a rematch. Then they beat fla and claim the NC just like fla did against FSU in 1996.
3. RAMBLE ON!!!: Hey there little buddy! That win was not that big of a deal to some of us UGA fans. I came here Friday saying it would happen…Saturday was punch a geek day. Why would it be a big deal that the best program in the state beat the 3rd best? I mean really, how many times has Yech won in your lifetime?
Jim Mora Jr.
November 30th, 2009
10:00 am
Look at the chicken sandwiches falling from the sky!!!
D
November 30th, 2009
10:01 am
Georgia fans you guys might have won the game and saved Willie M’s ASS as well? Now that would be funny.
Tide Rising
November 30th, 2009
10:02 am
And congrats to Auburn for a well played game. The tigers played hard, had a great game plan, and certainly outcoached us in the first half. The 2 weeks preparation helped and I think the short week hurt us but I can’t take anything away from Auburn.
I do have to question our coaching a little bit. It came out that Auburn had stolen our defensive signals and knew a corner blitz was coming when they burned us on both the reverse and the long td pass to Adams. Seems like we should have known Auburn stealing our signals was a possibility and that we should have changed our signals in preparation for the game even if it was a short week for us.
We were able to overcome it all but had that been Florida it would be dam near impossible to overcome those kinds of mistakes.
Chris F
November 30th, 2009
10:02 am
This may be a stupid question but what conference will Georgia State be in?
Matthew Fincher
November 30th, 2009
10:03 am
That’s actually a full tenth of a point, Tony. .95 vs. 86 is close to a tenth, .95 vs. .94 would be a hundredth.
1L
November 30th, 2009
10:04 am
you guys are cracking me up….tony is now classless for not mentioning his Home Team winning a big game. He’s a UGA grad. of course he wants to talk about the dawgs, but hes not Mr. UGA Football, hes Mr. College Football…
the same people who got mad over tech winning one rivalry game last year and rubbing it in for 12 months are now going to act in the same manner they thought was classless.
Want to know what makes a rival the most upset? Acting like the rivalry isnt one anymore because you always win…
im4bama
November 30th, 2009
10:04 am
All I know is that this Saturday, the real National Championship game will be played. You will see two teams playing their hearts out, bodies flying, hard collisions, big plays, lot’s of coaching adjustments and momentum swings. Both teams worthy to win, but their can only be one. To the victor, another National Championship because Texas can’t score much on either team.
I’m saying it now, Bama wants it more and we will win. May not be pretty but that’s ok, just win.
Gator Mike
November 30th, 2009
10:05 am
Wow! This has been an interesting year for all of us.
Hopefully, all of this ACC nonsense will stop for a while considering that the ACC’s top 2 teams lost to SEC teams.
The Gator – Tide Game should be a good one. My only observation is that it was great in the SWAMP on Saturday evening. The Gators were clicking on all cylinders, BUT FSU is a below average team at best which is poorly coached. Bobby Bowden probably does need to retire, but nobody can convince me that Jimbo Fisher will solve the FSU problems. Kicking a field goal from the 2 yard line when you are down by 30 points is ludicrous and gutless. I do not know how it looked on TV, but from the stands the 5 offensive linemen remaining in their 3 point stances after the whistle had blown was hilarious. OK, UF jumped off side, but what if the FSU QB had not hauled a$$ when the ball was snapped to him. He would have got smashed by at least 7 Gaotrs while the 5 jokers on the line remainde in their 3 point stances. I guess that is the state of coaching at FSU these days.
I do not see a rematch of the Gators and Tide regardless of all of the possible scenarios. The winner goes to the BCS Title Game and wins another title for the SEC.
Oh, I did enjoy watching #94 get helped off the field in the 4th quarter. He was trying to bait both of the Pouncey twins into a fight with his jawing most of the game. The pounceys finally nailed him legally, and that was sweet.
Go Gators!
Miles
November 30th, 2009
10:05 am
Mr. Barnhart, Florida and Alabama are the best teams in the country. Thus, regardless of all the scenarios that could play out this week, the Gators and the Crimson Tide SHOULD play in the National Championship. Go Nebraska!
Buster Meeks
November 30th, 2009
10:07 am
Because there is no playoff in the BCS the loser of the SEC (Fla or Ala) should be eliminated. TCU or one one the other undefated teams hould have a chance to play for the national title.
panda
November 30th, 2009
10:07 am
No. 2 Alabama (.9513) and No. 4 TCU (.8689) and No. 5 Cincinnati (.8547). Alabama has almost a full one-hundredth of a point over TCU and Cincinnati.
.9513 – .8689 = .0824
Yep, “almost” a full ONE-HUNDREDTH
McDawg
November 30th, 2009
10:08 am
How ’bout them dawgs-even w/turnovers, idiotic penalties, and the asinine kickoff strategy-dawgs beat the 7th ranked team in the country
game ball to R. Jones, O-Line, & RBs-great great win
Auburn John
November 30th, 2009
10:12 am
Tony,
There’s actually a chance that Florida could go to the championship game even with a loss to Bama AND a Texas win over Nebraska, so long as the idiot pollsters don’t drop UF lower than No. 3 (conceivable with a close loss to the Tide).
Check out Pete Fiutek’s article on http://www.cfn.scout.com; it’d be really close, but what a messed it be! Especially after UT missed out last season.
CharlotteGator
November 30th, 2009
10:12 am
TR,
Agree with your analysis. In my opinion, Arenas stepping out of bounds at the 2 on the punt return last year was a huge shift in that game. Everyone points to the 4th quarter drama (and it was big no doubt), but w/o that step-out on the two, Bama seals the game up in 3rd quarter as opposed to grabbing the momentum. Just my two cents.
I hate that this is the case, but I think something that gives the UF offense a chance is the Hightower injury. To me, he was the key to the Bama D in last year’s game. He took away every single mismatch the Gators liked to feast on. Save a perfect game from Tebow in key moments, the Bama D actually held the offense in check. What’s disheartening as a Gator fan is that although we take largely the same O as last year into the Dome, the one missing piece is Murphy, who is a gigantic loss/difference from last years game.
Clearly Bama’s D is better given an extra season, and Peek is a monster TE who I don’t think the Gators will have a good plan for, but I’m still not sold on McElroy. Not sure why, just a gut feeling. I admittedly however, didn’t watch every Bama game this season and may be picking from a small sample (saw the Auburn game and that was huge, but I was more impressed by Jones taking over and McElroy being efficient. Efficient and poised is good no doubt, but I think is a little different than sticking throws w/ the game on the line…just my opinion).
This game to me is a total toss-up, that I’m glad the team I support is a part of. I don’t mind losing, even if it’s due to turnovers (which I agree will be the difference), I just don’t want to see the Gators melt down for whatever reason. Bama on the other hand can go ahead and do just that if they like,
I wouldn’t mind. Anyway, back in reality, this game should be a classic.
McDawg
November 30th, 2009
10:13 am
gotta go w/ TCU if Neb. beats Texas (which i think is a real possibility) then we could hopefully have texas in the sugar bowl not sure how that works w/ BCS selection process
Dawgfacedboy
November 30th, 2009
10:13 am
Ramble- the biggest win in UGA history?!?!?! REALLY?!?!!?! Beating Tech isn’t even the biggest win in the last 3 years!!!!! This season maybe, but that’s all. To be honest it wouldn’t break my heart if we never played ya’ll again!! At least Bama and AUburn are in the same conference so it’s not only a rivalry but it actually means something.
Dose of Reality
November 30th, 2009
10:17 am
No, there will NOT be a rematch of Alabama & Florida in the BCS National Championship Game.
Please remove your head from your rectum, Mr. B.
DFWTX Dawg
November 30th, 2009
10:18 am
This is an interesting topic you’ve addressed and you’ve highlighted a poignant flaw with the BCS system: the possibility of a team that did not win its conference, or even its division, playing for a national title. The very 1st season under the BCS, 1998, nearly saw a re-match between the Vols. and UF for the national title. With the way everything worked out, had UF beaten FSU that year, they would have rematched the vols. for the national title despite the fact they didn’t win the SEC east. Don’t forget Oklahoma in 2003. Darren Sproles and KSU burned the Sooner wagon to ashes in the Big 12 Conference championship game and the Sooners were rewarded with a chance to play LSU for the National Title.
A playoff system really needs to be implemented. But until then, the BCS needs to implement some type of clause that would, by default, eliminates non-conference champions from the BCS title game. If Texas loses to Nebraska, TCU deserves their shot.
MoDawg
November 30th, 2009
10:20 am
Honestly, RAMBLE ON!!! don’t flatter yourself or your program that much! This is far from the biggest victory in UGA’s history, even though last year was GT’s biggest, apparently. It did help soften the blow of a pretty dismal season, by UGA standards.
All this did was put some of you big talkers (posters) in your place for a year. Hopefully this will revive the rivalry that had gotten a bit stale. All of that said, the vast majority of GT posters on here were setting themselves up for what they have coming to them over the next year. We UGA folks hope your feet taste good, ’cause you’re going to be sucking on them for a while!
Go Dawgs!
Auburn John
November 30th, 2009
10:22 am
Also, for all those that think TCU deserves the shot with a Texas loss, then you might want to pull out your Wannsetdt pom poms. A Cincy win over Pitt coupled with a UT loss would jump the Bearcats over the Horned Frogs in the BCS rankings.
Denver Dog
November 30th, 2009
10:22 am
Charlotte Gator, Tide Rising, can’t wait to watch those two on Saturday. Here is how I see it. Ingram will be running well, and so will Tebow. It is going to come down to which team can make the big special teams plays. They are both super teams, but I give the edge to the Gators becuase of coaching, in particular, Charlie Dean vs tide offense, and Urban vs Nick and Kirby. It should be a great one for all of us to watch. Dawg Faced boy, I’m with you, it means something to Tech only, since they put that on the rings that they got for going to the peach bowl. I wonder if they will put this years score on the rings they will get if the win ACC championship?
Nachos
November 30th, 2009
10:22 am
You FAG barners can take all the moral victories you want.. You just got beat AGAIN by Alabama.. 362 more days of taunts from the “bammers”…. enjoy.
mike on lake hartwell
November 30th, 2009
10:24 am
tony,
in 2007 when #1 and #2 lost, #3 ohio st jumped to #1 and #4 UGA
dropped to 5.
the reason? the voters penalized us for not being sec champs
therefore didnt deserve to play for nat’l championship.(even tho
that is neither a rule or requirement)
if the sec loser gets in this year, there will not be a finer example
of perennial negative UGA bias and double standard.
Nachos Deeeelicious
November 30th, 2009
10:26 am
Nachos,
You’ve now won two SEC West championships in the past decade. Congrats. We have a wall full this decade. Might want to talk when you win something of importance. Heck, when was your last Sugar Bowl win? 1992? Were you even born then? Guess you’ll get another shot at that next month. At least this year you’ll get Frogs and not Utes! Beware the Mountain West!!!
s spurrier
November 30th, 2009
10:28 am
Wish I could get tickets to the game Saturday
@mike on lake hartwell
November 30th, 2009
10:28 am
Shouldn’t have lost to USC or Tennessee.
Only team with a real gripe in the BCS era is 2004 Auburn. Go wall-to-wall in the SEC and miss out. Then we’ll listen to your whine.
T B
November 30th, 2009
10:29 am
DOSE OF REALITY, I don’t believe I said there would be a rematch for the NC i just threw a possible senario out there…. So take your head out of your rectum and pay attention when you read
Whopper Dawg
November 30th, 2009
10:31 am
Tony,
I was pulling hard for Aubrun to beat Bama and then Bama to beat FLA and Nebraska to beat Texas. Then have the BCS explain why Cincy, TCU and Bosie don’t get in. IF any two of those are overlooked for a one loss team of any sort, then they should just admit the BSC is a ruse that is based on monetary paybacks and has nothing to do with the sport of football which in fact is what it is.
To Hell with Tech and to Hell with the BCS!!!
Saint Simons, get a llife.
12 & 21
November 30th, 2009
10:33 am
Eric, I agree you should not hang your head over a ball game. You should however live the rest of your life in shame b/c of all the goats you………………
BTW ROLL TIDE, Saban will own ya’ll for as long as he chooses to.
St. Simon's Daddy
November 30th, 2009
10:34 am
As usual Tony thanks for the opportunity giving us a forum to express our opinions. Where is M and St. Simons? I see Ramble On showed up with another biased lame comment. Ramble, how bout showing some class and just admitting that UGA outplayed and outcoached GT saturday night? Your team got beat up on both sides of the ball. The interior lines of UGA dominated the game. You Tech posters have been on here and every other blog on the AJC boasting and bragging about your “superior” program and coach all year long. The next comments will be about your superior education and how many UGA graduates you have working for you. You win once in 8 years and you go nuts. Tech will never dominate UGA. Tech will win every now and then but never sustain a long winning streak. Your fan base is weak. The only time you sell your stadium out is when you play a team that travels well. Johnson will leave Tech just as Curry, Ross and O’Leary did. They will go to a program that has better fan support and a opportunity to play for the big one. I know Ross went to the NFL but when you have a home grown product like Curry and he leaves for a (one time hated rival) to Alabama what does that say about your fan base? I am sure Coach Dodd was rolling over in his grave when Curry left.
Bama and Florida should be a great game. Two well coached teams with a ton of speed. No way there will be a rematch for NC. We need a playoff.
Tide Rising
November 30th, 2009
10:35 am
Charlotte gator,
Your analysis is spot on. When Hightower went down the impact was immediately felt. I would feel really confident in this game if we had him but we don’t so I give the gators the edge due to Tebow and the absence of Hightower.
The other thing is McElroy. Like you I’m not completely sold on him despite the game winning clutch drive against Auburn. He seems to get a little panicky in the pocket sometimes and with Cunningham and Dunlap bringing the heat I really wonder how he will respond.
The Arenas mistake was indeed huge. Instead of getting the ball at the 40 we get it at our own 2. That was really bad. I won’t say it cost us the game but it certainly didn’t help our chances. There will probably be 2 or 3 plays like that in this game that will have a direct impact on the outcome. I just hope those 2 or 3 bounces of the ball go our way. Rolls tides.
Tide Rising
November 30th, 2009
10:38 am
Denver dog,
Unfortunately I would have to agree with you. I would give the gators the edge right now based on coaching and the Tebow factor. I say coaching because we clearly were outcoached in the Auburn game. You’re probably dead on in that it will also most likely come down to a couple big special teams plays one way or the other.
BTW, funny how dog fans thought it was such a crappy year and then you win a conference championship. Dawgs are now the 2009 ACC champions.
mike on lake hartwell
November 30th, 2009
10:41 am
to @mike on lake hartwell:
good point.
im just trying to make mine.
either u have to be conference champs or u dont
that’s all.
T B
November 30th, 2009
10:42 am
Does anybody really believe that a Cincy, TCU and Bosie team could play a schedule the SEC plays and be undefeated? Hell no they wouldn’t. If the three of them had the SEC bottom dwellers on there schedule ie. Vandy, Miss St, SC, GA, Tenn. not a one of them would be undefeated..
another dawg in ptc
November 30th, 2009
10:47 am
Ramble on,
This will be a big win for the Dawgs if CMR takes the player’s bowl money and makes rings for them. This game is not big for the players anymore. They concentrate on winning the SEC. Just like the pest you have as a mascot, you are a nuisance too! See you next year.
DawginLex
November 30th, 2009
10:48 am
Rambler,
At least you had the guts to show up, finally.
Wrote some checks that you couldn’t cash didn’t you? 56-18?
Send the Father’s Day cards to Sanford Stadium since we reminded you once again who your DADDY IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawginLex
November 30th, 2009
10:49 am
Ingram healthy or not, Florida wins.
Tebow=Florida’s Herschel
If you don’t think so, just wait until he leaves.
Got 12?
November 30th, 2009
10:51 am
This past weekend’s games were very embarrassing for the ACC. Will Tech’s and Clemson’s losses to mid-tier SEC programs affect attendance on Saturday?
FLA DAWG
November 30th, 2009
10:52 am
Texas will not lose to Nebraska.
Even if that happened the BCS would never allow a re-match.
m
November 30th, 2009
10:54 am
Tony,
The ACC was 6-4 vs. the SEC last year. Anyone watching the game Saturday night knows that the Jackets were thinking about Clemson, not the fleabags. We have bigger fish to fry.
Enjoy Shreveport.
N.GA.DAWG
November 30th, 2009
10:57 am
bama will not beat fla! it is gonna be a repeat of 08. yes and they will lose the sugar bowl if they play tcu. fla wins by 10 or more.
Hi Georgia Basher, I see You're Back!
November 30th, 2009
10:57 am
Gerogia Basher Dude spends all day coming up with 1 liners against Georgia.
Guys and gals, let’s all go now and vote AGAINST his EVEN SLIGHTLY anti-Georgia 1 liners, hit the button with the triangle point at the bottom:
http://projects.ajc.com/vent/sports/uga/2009/11/27/
DawginLex
November 30th, 2009
10:58 am
m,
Delusional as ever. You are about as stupid as they come.
30-24
Where is that mudhole you were gonna stomp?
Where is the ACC dominance?
Your new sheriff in town-Paul johnson(aka Barney fife), he only has one bullet in his gun and he used it last year.
Enjoy knowing that those 2 running backs who ran over you all night will be back for 2 more years.
send the Father’s Day cards to Sanford Stadium in care of “Russ” since we once again reminded you who your Daddy is.