Could mighty LSU wind up in a non-BCS bowl? Er … maybe
Don't worry, Leslie: Your darn strong team won't fall as far as the Chick-fil-A Bowl. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Raging consensus holds that LSU will play for the national title no matter what it does Saturday and that the Tigers’ opponent Jan. 9 will again be Alabama. But there’s a slight — slight, let me emphasize — possibility the team that has been No. 1 in every week of the BCS rankings might land in a non-BCS bowl. (And here let me thank esteemed colleague Kevin Whaley for bringing this to my attention.)
Say LSU loses to Georgia by three touchdowns. Say No. 3 Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma by three touchdowns. (By way of comparison, Georgia is No. 14 in the BCS standings to OU’s No. 10.) Say there’s a major Oklahoma State groundswell in the human polls. Say LSU slides to No. 3 in the final rankings behind Oklahoma State and Alabama, the latter of which cannot lose this weekend because it isn’t playing.
Know where LSU, the team that has been the nation’s best from September through November, would be headed? To Orlando for the non-BCS Capital One Bowl. Or to Dallas for the non-BCS Cotton Bowl.
I say again: I don’t think that will happen. Given the Tigers’ strength of schedule — three victories against opponents in the BCS top 10 — and glowing SEC profile, it’s hard to imagine them suffering a Boise State-like fate. (One loss and you’re relegated to the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl.) But if Georgia beats LSU, it goes to the BCS-affiliated Sugar Bowl as SEC champ. If Alabama stays No. 2 or ascends to No. 1, it’s in the BCS title game. And the only way a conference can send a third team to a BCS game is if two of them are playing for the national title and neither is the conference champion.
I say yet again: I don’t think that will happen. Should LSU lose, the debate would become: Who are the two best one-loss teams? At this moment, LSU would figure to have the most impressive body of one-loss work, but the voting won’t be done at this moment. Balloting — and computer-tabulating — will occur late Saturday night, and voters tend to rely most on what they saw last. And what if they just saw the Tigers lose 35-14 to a team that, according to the BCS rankings, is the SEC’s fifth-best?
Never forget that this is the BCS, where weird happens. In 2003 unbeaten and top-ranked Oklahoma lost by 28 points to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship, and somehow the Sooners stayed No. 1 in the BCS rankings. In 2007 once-beaten and top-ranked Missouri lost by 21 points to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship and didn’t even wind up in a BCS game. (But Kansas, which Missouri had beaten two weeks earlier and which finished two spots behind the Tigers in the BCS rankings, did. Georgia wasn’t the only team that got short shrift in ‘07.)
For the fourth or fifth time: When the standings are announced Sunday night, LSU and Alabama figure to be Nos. 1 and 2 (or 2 and 1) even if Georgia topples the Tigers. And that would look funny, too. A national championship game would pair a team that didn’t win its conference against one that didn’t win its division? But that’s the BCS: It’s always going to look funny. Smell funny, too.
By Mark Bradley
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595 comments Add your comment
Don
November 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
you UGA fans are something – you better hope LSU wins or it will cost your school about a $1.5M payday when two SEC schools show up in the BCS – besides, you won’t know what hit you in the frst quarter – Hell’s coming to the Ga dome and although Sherman was the first President of LSU in 1860, he won’t be with them this time.
we are not playing Alabama
November 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
We are playing LSU :
# 3 SoS
beat # 2 Alabama
beat # 6 Arkansas
beat # 8 Oregon
beat # 22 West Virginia
________________________
LSU is playing UGA :
# 43 SoS
lost to every team who is a ranked team today, everyone
Geaux Tigers
November 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
You better get some more titles if you want to be on our level.
SLim
November 30th, 2011
2:13 pm
Here you go….
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/16294072
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 30th, 2011
2:13 pm
UGA89, I couldn’t find where I said SC should play in the SEC championship game. What was the time of my comment?
I've been to the fanfare many times
November 30th, 2011
2:14 pm
They gave us some stuff. Wait in line to get in. Something to do, but enjoy the tailgaiting far better. So, no. Not worth time.
Alphare
November 30th, 2011
2:15 pm
Geaux Tigers,
No dispute Tigers are good.
But I want to correct some spellings: “WE WON’T LOSE” should be “WE WeauxN’T LeauxSE”.
Let me know if I am wrong, Cajun language is not my strong subject.
that will make a lot of difference, us with 33 not suiting up ourselves
November 30th, 2011
2:17 pm
Mark Richt gave 33 scholarships out for this season who were supposed to suit up Saturday night and will not. Jarrett Lee ? He doesn’t even play.
timthebrave
November 30th, 2011
2:18 pm
SEC fanfare IMO not worth it either. I would rather be tailgating
Idiot Dawg
November 30th, 2011
2:19 pm
Alphare, you have to ask nicely, Cajun language….. and pass the crawdad heads please!
LawDawg
November 30th, 2011
2:28 pm
Bama would go to the title game over LSU? That is just stupid. Both will have 1 loss, LSU will have beaten BAMA and only lost in the championship game to a team that will have won 11 in a row at that point. I think LSU-OSU is more likely in that instance.
LawDawg
November 30th, 2011
2:31 pm
By the way, there has never been more of a paper tiger in football history than that 2007 Mizzou team.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 30th, 2011
2:32 pm
The score will tell….
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 30th, 2011
2:33 pm
Regardless if LSU wins or loses, it will be Alabama and LSU in the title game, because LSU is on the back of the weighted average and can basically afford to lose.
In terms of those calling for a UGA victory, please put your money where your mouth is…I will take LSU even, and no push.
Geaux Tigers
November 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
Will the puppies ever win a National Title?
Cody
November 30th, 2011
2:37 pm
You people are so crazy!! Every game LSU plays, there are all these articles that are written and comments made about how LSU could or will get beat. Same thing going on this week with GA. GA thinks they are a good team because they have won the last 10, and you know what…, that’s great and all…, but they only 2 DECENT teams they’ve played this year beat them. They have played NO ONE, and yeah their stats look good on paper, but a teams stats are based on the teams that they have played. If GA had played the same schedule that LSU played their stats would be non-existant. GA doesn’t have chance this weekend. LSU is not taking them lightly, we want OUR SEC RING. Get ready GA, You’re about to face the best team that GA has ever played against!!
PS. I can’t wait to read the articles and comments next week.
woof woof
November 30th, 2011
2:38 pm
munsondawg – I was there to in ‘08!! Yup, so many tiger fans yelling “tiger bait” to me before the game, but afterwards…not a single word.
I think it’s time to kick-out the bcs and look at play-offs – only way it really can make sense.
i mean a “possible” team who doesn’t win their conference vs. a team who didn’t win their division. dumb.
GTBob
November 30th, 2011
2:38 pm
All that Alabama had to do to win the BCS title this year was beat Arkansas and win one of two games against LSU. Can anybody think of an easier road to a title? Must be nice to be Alabama.
Tiger Bait
November 30th, 2011
2:39 pm
I hate to say it, but yes, the bulldogs have won a national title. Please don’t embarrass yourself.
munsondawg
November 30th, 2011
2:43 pm
@ woof woof
Wasn’t that fun?? I still look back and smile. First time I had been to that stadium. It could happen this week. Stranger things have happened. I’ll be there this Sat. win or lose.
Play-off system would be exciting in my opinion.
Geaux Tigers
November 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
I meant to say will they ever win another one? I’ll answer that….they won’t.
Idiot Dawg
November 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
I’m not too sure about this playoff thing. After all, I might not be able to catch the ‘New Mexico Bowl’ with San Diego State vs. Temple. Now that would upset me and probably half of Balaama, too!
timthebrave
November 30th, 2011
2:52 pm
Mike Bobo 17 INT, Did you bet your house on your yellow jackets last week? How long before they foreclose your house and cut your internet so we won’t have to hear you anymore? Just curious?
Adam
November 30th, 2011
2:59 pm
THIS IS DUMB MARK…
timthebrave
November 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
Most LSU fans are usually fun to tailgate with. I’m looking forward to the game this weekend. The last SEC championship I scored tickets through a sports writer I know for the Times Picayune. I found a bottle of makers mark going into the dome that somebody left still unopened and the dawgs won big.(lucky me) Since I got the tickets from a LSU guy I was surrounded by tigers….Walking in all I heard was tiger bait…tiger bait…..but they were really cool and we had a great time with them….The makers mark shots didn’t hurt either
timthebrave
November 30th, 2011
3:05 pm
The reason I say most should be obvious on blogs like this
Stop and Think
November 30th, 2011
3:05 pm
UGA 89
I agree with you about ESPN and what they said in 2007. If LSU was in Bama, VT, or OSU place they’ed be screaming again about a team that didn’t win it’s conference let alone play for the CC they should not be in the NC game.
StungByAYellowJacket
November 30th, 2011
3:06 pm
Dontavius Supremo
November 30th, 2011
9:36 am
The Tech fan referring to Georgia as “UGAG” must have been on dope last Saturday.
LOL!!!! Being that you went to “UGAG”, you must know a lot about dope, don’t you?
timthebrave
November 30th, 2011
3:07 pm
StungByAYellowJacket, thank god you don’t even get suspended for smoking pot at tech.
ARdawg
November 30th, 2011
3:12 pm
Mike Bobo 17INT
Rightttt. Like you would pay up
Mott deWitt
November 30th, 2011
3:15 pm
You guys are on crack. Georgia has ZERO victories over decent teams. LSU will win by three touchdowns. The same thing will happen to Georgia that has happened to all teams but Bama. It will be close for a quarter. Shortly thereafter Georgia will understand that they cannot run the ball and will become one dimensional, at which time the pass defense will take over. Sacks and turnovers will happen every few downs. Then the big backs that LSU has will start pounding the ball for seven, eight, ten yards a carry. LSU wins by three touchdowns easy.
Alphare
November 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
Mark Bradley,
“A national championship game would pair a team that didn’t win its conference against one that didn’t win its division”
Since you mentioned winning division. Do you think UGA wins the East division? if they did, how come their division record is 4-1 while SC’s division record is 5-0?
WDE
November 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
@StungByAYellowJacket really that’s only happened once in the last decade..
timthebrave
November 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
Mott deWitt, You seem confident…You should go bet your life savings
munsondawg
November 30th, 2011
3:21 pm
timthebrave,
That would only be about $99.95 for him!!!!! Yeah, bet it all….
BigDawg4
November 30th, 2011
3:21 pm
How does Mark Bradley still have a job. In any other sports market this clown would have been fired for the BS waste of time articles.
ARdawg
November 30th, 2011
3:22 pm
Alphare
tsk tsk tsk. Stretch, bend, turn the truth any way you please. Georgia beat Tech and Georgia won the SEC East. Hurts don’t it
WDE
November 30th, 2011
3:22 pm
@Alphare where will you be getting your nails done Saturday afternoon? Would like some cheese with that whine?
WDE
November 30th, 2011
3:23 pm
@BigDawg4 because a TON of us enjoy Mark’s writing…most of the time…smile.
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2011
3:24 pm
Anything can happen, and it usually does.
5IML
November 30th, 2011
3:38 pm
LSU by 24.
Early pressure on Murray causes a couple first half INT’s. UGA wears down in the 3rd and gives up.
Les’s post-game comments make absolutely no sense.
SecFan
November 30th, 2011
3:38 pm
The BCS was tweaked after the Oklahoma mess to reduce the influence of computers, which should not have been included in the first place. Can’t see LSU in the top two if they lose to a team that backed into the game to begin with. Georgia is where their deluded fans have them every year at the beginning of the season, kings of the college football world. But Saturday around 8pm when they have played the third of three good teams all year, they will be 0-3 and calling for Richt’s head. We’ve seen this movie a lot of times but it’s always entertaining.
Alphare
November 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
WDE,
guys don’t do their nails.
You must know where Crowell gets his hair done.
Steve Spppppurrrrrierrrrr
November 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
Man, I’m pissed. My team couldn’t get it done this year.
StungByAYellowJacket
November 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
timthebrave
November 30th, 2011
3:07 pm
StungByAYellowJacket, thank god you don’t even get suspended for smoking pot at tech.
Amen!!!! LOL
StungByAYellowJacket
November 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
WDE
November 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
@StungByAYellowJacket really that’s only happened once in the last decade..
“YES”
Pat
November 30th, 2011
3:51 pm
@Alphare, I agree, how can SC be 5-0 in the SEC East and ranked 12th not be in this game, but UGA is 4-1 and ranked 14th.
Kevin
November 30th, 2011
3:55 pm
If non conference teams in pro sports can when championship, then why can it not happen in colloge. I do not believe in the wild card system, but it is the current system. The Big 12 does not play a true conf championship. If “if” LSU loses on Saturday, then wha. A a winner from the PAC 10 joke of a Conf Champ game, The weak ACC, or maybe the Big 10. None of those teams would stand a chance against Alabama the number 2 team or maybe even Arkansas. The BCS will decide for the country on who the champion is, and if it is not an undefeated LSU, we will argue and debate until next year.
Steve Spppppurrrrrierrrrr
November 30th, 2011
3:55 pm
Pat,
You are as dumb as alphare. We couldn’t get the ENTIRE job done. We royally screwed up.
Pat
November 30th, 2011
3:58 pm
Thanks Steve but enjoy the blow out on Saturday, since UGA has only played 2 decent teams and lost to both but at least beating terrible teams is what makes UGA so great.