BCS quirks mean Georgia has more to gain with SEC win
This is the time of year when following the BCS is sort of like watching an accident in the making — you know you don’t want to see it happen, but you can’t quite force yourself to look away.
And this year even the so-called truisms that frequently have been applied to the process don’t seem to be holding up.
I keep reading in the national sports press that LSU and Alabama, currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 with one more week to go, probably will meet in the BCS championship game no matter what, despite already having played each other. The consensus seems to be that LSU will make it to the game even if they lose to Georgia in the SEC championship because of their record, which includes wins over three teams that were ranked in the top three of the coaches poll at the time they played: Oregon, Alabama and Arkansas.
Meanwhile, Alabama, which didn’t even win its own division in the SEC, appears unlikely to be dislodged by No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 4 Stanford or No. 5 Virginia Tech, even if Okie State decimates Oklahoma in its finale or the Hokies do the same to Clemson in the ACC championship.
So much for the reasoning used against Georgia in 2007 when the inactive Dogs were jumped in the BCS standings the last week, despite being the hottest team in the country. At the time, the Dogs not winning their own division was chiefly cited by ESPN’s talking heads as the reason.
Likewise, the old saw that if you’re going to lose a big game, it’s best to do it early in the season apparently has been thrown out the window in the case of the 2011 Dogs, who have reeled off 10 straight wins since opening 0-2 against highly ranked opponents, and yet who seem unlikely to crack the BCS Top 10 even if they win the SEC championship. Having just dominated a ranked Georgia Tech, Georgia proceeded to drop one spot in the latest BCS standings!
Guess that also means the SEC champion is no longer a lock for the BCS title game, as has often been proclaimed in recent years.
So LSU basically has nothing much to gain by beating Georgia in the SEC title match other than preserving its unbeaten record. The Dogs, on the other hand, can secure a BCS bowl (the Sugar) with a win.
I’m not suggesting that the Tigers will be looking past Georgia to the BCS, because LSU by all evidence is a team that shows up ready to play every week.
But it’s clear which team has the most to gain with a win in the Georgia Dome.
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297 comments Add your comment
AltamahaDawg
November 29th, 2011
8:15 am
Not nearly as widespread as the Rival Obsession Syndrome.
Beano Cook
November 29th, 2011
8:22 am
“Not nearly as widespread as the Rival Obsession Syndrome.”
Thought you guys beat Florida this year? Everybody else certainly did.
AltamahaDawg
November 29th, 2011
8:48 am
Bottom line, YOU are in OUR blog. That says all there is to say on obsession.
dovebirddog
November 29th, 2011
8:51 am
TV Talking heads suck. Thats why god made radio. Bcs sucks. Win your conference and you have made a statement. thats the best you can expect from yourself because the bcs is a sham. when cmr & ctg finish working sat afternoon the talking heads wont be able to talk the seccg away from the junkyard dawgs. nuff sed.
RxDawg
November 29th, 2011
9:01 am
I agree that LSU should make it if they lose out of the regular season in the SEC champ game. I do not agree that Bama should be the 2nd team. I understand the argument from both sides of this and I do think Bama is probably a better team then OkSt or VaTech… but the key word there is probably. I don’t like the idea of VaTech going, they played nobody outside of their already weak ACC schedule. So if OkSt beats Oklahoma, I think they should go.
I also think maybe Boise should be looked at too.
Bottom line is Bama had their chance. They lost, at home. It’s exactly the same scenario with UGA in 07. I also think the voters nation wide will feel similar and there will probably be a bunch of whining Bama fans next Monday am.
Whoa! is Me
November 29th, 2011
9:25 am
Assuming LSU wins as expected this week-end, who do you think the top 2 teams are ? Do you think Okie St is better than Alabama ? How about Va Tech ? Bama is “probably” better ? Really ? It’s “probably” going to be a rematch for the NC, like it or not.
Honky Talkin
November 29th, 2011
9:26 am
Georgia is 2-2 against teams with a current winning record. Dawg fans are delusional to think you have a chance agaiinst LSU.
truedawg
November 29th, 2011
9:35 am
where is my question?
truedawg
November 29th, 2011
9:39 am
Respect the playoff the SEC has!! We played the games…we have a best of East and best of West. When they play we will have a best of the SEC. NC games should be the SEC champ vs another conference champ. Bama needs to go to another bowl. If we don’t agree to this SEC champ is best the SEC has to offer then why do we have an SEC championship game??!!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!
truedawg
November 29th, 2011
9:42 am
Instead of shutting down the BCS are we SEC fans going to let it nullify our SEC Champ??
CHDawg
November 29th, 2011
9:47 am
HonkyT, UGA fans aren’t delusional at all. The nutcase weirdos who invent new names every week and live to talk Georgia football down are worse than delusional. They morph into the fan base of the week to hate on UGA. 90% of our fans have shown tremendous respect for LSU and understand we are the underdawgs this week. There is nothing delusional here. Should the underdawgs become the wonderdawgs, and upset LSU, then we certainly do have an argument to make. We would have just proven ourselves the champions of the toughest conference in football–the SEC, through on field performance. This 11 game win streak, coupled with defeating the SEC West champion on the field, would make a very strong argument that Georgia should be in the BCS Championship game. Of course, many others will have legitimate arguments, too. LSU is favored by a large margin, so it will take a real surprise to even field this argument. Point is, UGA fans are pretty sober minded, and the morphing haters are delusional.
Evansdawg
November 29th, 2011
9:50 am
I disagree Bill. They have an SEC Championship on the line. Thats a lot to gain for any team. LSU has plenty on the line. If they lose to the Dawgs but win the NC…its still tarnished by the lack of a conference championship.
Whoa! is Me
November 29th, 2011
9:50 am
As a morphing hater, what have I said that is delusional ?
CHDawg
November 29th, 2011
9:52 am
Dawg Fans, Glad to see G. Smith was honored. I have noticed his motor all year. He really hustles and has reminded me of J. Jones and his relentless pursuit every time I have seen him. Hope Tyson is back, but I think we have a great one in the making is Smith. Go Dawgs.
CHDawg
November 29th, 2011
9:54 am
The delusion is who you are. Just ID yourself. Let us know who you are and why you hate UGA.
Whoa! is Me
November 29th, 2011
9:55 am
There is no delusion in who I am, what team I pull for, or why I am a card-carrying morphing hater. Now give me a decent answer. What have I said that is delusional ?
CHDawg
November 29th, 2011
9:57 am
Whoa/Honky, the fact that you replied to my message to Honky T. as Whoa is me answers the question.
PT
November 29th, 2011
9:58 am
Look at Alabama’s schedule then look at Georgia’s. If Georgia hasn’t played anyone then, Alabama has only played one team and that’s LSU.
Whoa! is Me
November 29th, 2011
9:59 am
I think the fact that you don’t know what delusion is answers MY question.
PT
November 29th, 2011
10:04 am
If Alabama beats LSU by 3 or less for the national title are they co-champions?
JSillaGA
November 29th, 2011
10:12 am
Good question PT. I’ll answer that one for you: If Bama beats LSU by 3 or less, then yes, LSU will still be the National Champions.
CHDawg
November 29th, 2011
10:14 am
Apparently, I understand the definition better than you do. To delude is to deceive. The Dawg fans are exactly what you see and expect–football fans discussing their favorite team. You, on the other hand, are deluding not only us, but yourself. When I responded to HonkyT, you forgot that we didn’t know you were also Whoa is me, and responded defensively to me, deluding even yourself about the ID you are presenting. Put your IDs (recent ones) in a list, and tell us who you are a fan of or why you care about Georgia football, and I will happily oblige you and pick your views apart for you.
truedawg
November 29th, 2011
10:15 am
Are we really going to let the BCS mess with our system?? No more Bama/ LSU. I say let them play again….NEXT SEASON!!
PT
November 29th, 2011
10:20 am
If I am correct, Alabama played Notre Dame on the final game of the year – lost and was still voted national champion. Why is D1 college football the ONLY league that is so screwed up? Even high school football is fundamentally sound.
RxDawg
November 29th, 2011
10:21 am
Go Dawgs!
November 28th, 2011
4:06 pm
Best post on the subject I’ve seen yet. In fact, I copied and pasted that in an email to share with some friends. You use facts and it’s hard to argue against that. Well done sir (or mam).
Yadayadayada
November 29th, 2011
10:32 am
Why can’t Georgia be National Champions?
It’s not fair!
Remarkable
November 29th, 2011
10:35 am
We do need a play-off system of some sort but not some 16 team tourney. We need something like a 6 team tourney with #1 and #2 getting a pass. There is no way to schedule a long tourney and it’s not fair to the players to force them to play that many more games. Even with a 6 team play-off you are adding 3 more games to the end of a grueling schedule (Not to mention that you have to decide which Bowl games must change their dates). Football isn’t like basketball or baseball. Few players are injured for life in those sports. We have to think about what we are asking for. A four team playoff would be better but look at who would be left out this year.
PT
November 29th, 2011
10:43 am
Remarkable – The eventual winner of a high school state championship plays 15 games. What is your point? Let the conference champions play in a playoff system. Simple!
PT
November 29th, 2011
10:49 am
The ONLY reason a playoff system is not present is because of the politics of MONEY in the BCS system.
Yadayadayada
November 29th, 2011
10:54 am
“Let the conference champions play in a playoff system.”
That would still exclude Georgia – so it wouldn’t be fair.
FL dawg
November 29th, 2011
10:54 am
I don’t care what the ESPN actors say, If Georgia beats LSU, things are going to be alot different in all the polls for the next 2 yrs. Murray’s playing above guys like Stafford, even Timmy T at this point.
Yadayadayada
November 29th, 2011
11:03 am
Oh, I agree. Murray is head & shoulders above Tim Tebow. No question about it.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:03 am
Hey Beano, I know you said Georgia rules Tech and that’s about all. But please, enlighten us as to Les Miles’ record against CMR ..
Adam
November 29th, 2011
11:05 am
Here is a very simple playoff scenario. One easily implimented. Add the cotton or chick filet bowl to the current four BCS games. Let the top ten in the BCS play in those games. Play all those games the same day. After the games are over then pick who plays in the BCS game. You are not adding any more games. Just waiting till a later date to pick the NC game. So simple.
Beano Cook
November 29th, 2011
11:07 am
@TampaDawg
Let’s discuss it next Sunday.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:08 am
As a Georgia fan for more than 30 years and a big fan of Aaron Murray, I can say with complete honesty that .. he is NOT playing better than Tim Tebow who was one of the top 3 greatest college football players ever.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:09 am
Noooo, the question is, What is Les Miles’ record against CMR NOW, not on Sunday? And I can help you with it if it’s too hard to find, but also, were any of UGA’s wins over LSU considered upsets?
RxDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:11 am
I agree Tampa. I saw that post and choked on my coffee.
Beano Cook
November 29th, 2011
11:18 am
@TampaDawg
Good luck with that record this weekend. Lord knows you’ll need it!
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:22 am
yeah Beano, we’ve heard it all year. But I guess answering the question is a little tough for you. Go back to 2005s SECCG maybe and look at that one and the rankings of the two teams. And rest assured, people before that one gave UGA NO CHANCE either and told us of all the luck we would need. It’s all good. UGA isn’t expected to win so if they don’t, no big deal. If they do, more crow sandwiches for the trolls.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:23 am
@RxDawg, nice, yeah like I said, I am a big Murray fan but let’s keep things in perspective. He was the biggest missing piece of the Gators now. If he were still there, they would still be a winning team.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:23 am
Urban may try to get Tebow to transfer to OSU from Denver.
Beano Cook
November 29th, 2011
11:25 am
Congrats on that 2005 NC.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:31 am
Its called an SEC title .. good Lord, your worse than a politician at trying to spin things. Or maybe it’s just too hard for you.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:32 am
Just like this year, UGA wasn’t in the running for it in 2005. And thanks to the Dawgs, neither was LSU then.
Beano Cook
November 29th, 2011
11:41 am
Just like every year, UGA isn’t in the running. Good thing they’re in the East Division, or they wouldn’t be playing in any kind of championship game. LSU could lose this game and Georgia still wouldn’t make the Top 10.
The SECCG has been the most irrelevant game in CFB for the past two years. Maybe next year Missou will make it more relevant?
RPollardRealtor
November 29th, 2011
11:42 am
This is exactly why there needs to be a 16 team playoff!! I love the college football regular season but with crap like this it just makes me not like it anymore!!! The Dawgs are a very young team and lost 2 games, not by blowouts, by highly ranked teams. The BCS proves yearly how much of a joke it really is!!!
UGA Insider
November 29th, 2011
11:50 am
UGA 24
LSU 20
LSU fans have already discounted this game and are not traveling to Atlanta. Saving money for BCSNCG. LSU will play Bama in the game and UGA will play this year’s Hawaii which is Houston in the Sugar. The BCSNCG will be the least viewed of all time I predict. Also, I am shocked as to why UGA can’t move up in the rankings. It’s crazy to me for sure.
Dap01
November 29th, 2011
11:50 am
The biggest need is to not have ANY poll until about mid October. Also, quit having ESPN decide the NC’s before the end of the year.
Why even have a SEC Championship game? We don’t need one unless it is convenient for Saban.
Beano Cook
November 29th, 2011
11:50 am
@RPollardRealtor
Maybe you’ll feel better after they lose 3. Especially if it’s a blowout. It most likely will be.