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
Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris
November 30th, 2011
10:31 am
MARK BRADLEY…….I love your BCS pot stirring, love every article of it, please keep it up!!!!
Root for UGA!! BCS killer!!
williebkind
November 30th, 2011
10:32 am
Why is not the undefeated teams playing one another for the NC? There are two of them.
reality Gator
November 30th, 2011
10:32 am
Mark Bradley is so hard up for any victory by UGA that he has gone insane:
The nerve of this sports writer to say some crazy like this shows what a desperate program UGA is.
Mark, do you look at records UGA 8 straight wins came against 8 teams with a combine 12-51 in the SEC, there is not a sports writer in the Flordia would say something as dumb as this if Fl was in this situation, but I guess when your team as not won anything since Jimmy Carter was in office this is what you expect.””
open bids LSU by 30
History lesson
November 30th, 2011
10:32 am
In 1996 FSU beat Florida last game of the regular season. They were rematched in the Sugar and Florida whooped them. Know who is considered the 1996 champ?
Gbal
November 30th, 2011
10:33 am
Gary – Agreed that the two highest ranked teams should play it out, but if UGA beast LSU, my point is that I dont feel Bama and LSU should be the highest ranked teams.
GulfShoresDawg
November 30th, 2011
10:33 am
Bammer…last century when Bryant cheated worse than Camgate…heehee! You embarrassed us and all of college football…strippergate Mike Price…now here is your stellar record last decade…2000 3-8, 2001 7-5, 2003 4-9, 2004 6-6, 2006 6-7, 2007 7-6…now go kill an oak tree you trailer park trash
You got some guts
November 30th, 2011
10:33 am
Can’t believe a sports columnist has the nads to take on the BCS. I can’t recall ever hearing a anyone point to the unfairness of the BCS system. Credible. Compelling. Complete. And innovative.
GT FAN
November 30th, 2011
10:35 am
I hope UGA does win this game and it causes a mess with the BCS.
This might be the last time I ever say this but, GO DAWGS!
Wow that was hard to do.
Bammer
November 30th, 2011
10:36 am
Pick whatever stats make you sound better…even though you tee hee like a little girl. Check out the SEC history books you dunce. Bama is at the top of every column there. Where is Georgia? Still dreaming of 1980? Meanwhile Bama is adding more hardware to its’ trophy case.
Alphare
November 30th, 2011
10:36 am
BIGDAWG38,
have you bet your house on the dawg win yet? if not, you should hurry up because lots of more people betting their house on LSU win.
You are gonna end up with lots of houses this weekend after the game.
williebkind
November 30th, 2011
10:36 am
Realtiy Gator I did not know that LSU was known for its offense. I thought it won by its defensive prowess. UGA’s defense stacks up pretty against LSU’s offense. I will tell you like I talk about the BCS,”Lets determine the winner on the field of play.”
Gbal
November 30th, 2011
10:36 am
willie – Because they are not the two best teams according to our ranking system. Could make a case for OSU but I dont see Houston as a top 2 team even with a 11-0 record. The top 8 should be going to a playoff next week and that would be the only way to settle it.
I'm Onto You MB
November 30th, 2011
10:37 am
You only write this silly nonsense to stir up the delusional Georgia fan-base so that you and I can have a good chuckle at their expense.
That’s really kind of cruel of you Mark. Your grin can’t hide that devilish twinkle in your eyes.
MelvinH
November 30th, 2011
10:37 am
“Melvin H – Oh, I see. So what defensive postition are you comparing with Murray?”
If you don’t understand the concept of 11 on 11 match ups, there’s really nothing I can do to help you.
Carry on with your common opponents and qb comparison drivel. You’ll find out soon enough how out classed UGA is.
munsondawg
November 30th, 2011
10:37 am
@ reality gator
Learn to spell “Florida” right. You gaytors that dumb??
Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris
November 30th, 2011
10:39 am
@GT Fan
Thanks for the UGA props! Wouldn’t you love to get your offense going against a clueless Big 12 defense in a playoff?
munsondawg
November 30th, 2011
10:39 am
@GT Fan
Thanks!!!!!!!!
Time
November 30th, 2011
10:40 am
I got to laugh at these Bammer fans who on one hand say noone cares what “Mutts” think, yet spends his day on a blog of a newspaper from the state of Georgia, in a column about what could happen in a UGA game, running his trap about the irrelevant shouldn’t even be in the BCS according to his own coach’s words from a few years ago. Evidently he does care quite a bit.
And this notion that UGA played a weak schedule. Maybe so. But please, no more idiot Bama fans talking that up. You played Penn St out of conference. That’s your lone venture of a debately tough OOC game. While UGA played 2 top 25 teams out of conference. You idiot Bama fans should again just be quiet and hope the media doesn’t change it’s mind again about non conference champions in the NC. Also be thankful that unlike your team, UGA had the stones to go out and schedule at top 10 OOC opponent in the first game of the year. We don’t play that Boise game, we’re a one loss team heading into the SEC championship and you stinking Bama people would have NO chance.
GulfShoresDawg
November 30th, 2011
10:40 am
you can’t handle the facts! sit at home and cry baby cry…booyah! have some great Bama friends but you are a Bammer dudsucker…you are irrelevant and you can’t stand it! LSU and UGA are on the big stage, now go to your trailer and kiss your toothless wife…
BamaDAWG77
November 30th, 2011
10:40 am
Roll Tide.. What are you doing in here anyway?? Seems you got your feelings hurt that someone has made some good points about your beloved Tide!!!
twooten@gmail.com
November 30th, 2011
10:40 am
Alabama is one that doesnt belong in title game. Couldnt even win their conference, or even play in the conference title game. Sorry tide, you choked when you had your chance
GT FAN
November 30th, 2011
10:41 am
@Nom Nom Nom Chucks….Taylor or Norris
No. I do not wan to see my QB play another game this season. To be honest. Defense needs some rest to for sure.
BamaDAWG77
November 30th, 2011
10:41 am
Bama had their shot and BLEW IT in Tuscaloser…. MOVE ON!!!
Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris
November 30th, 2011
10:41 am
@reality Gator
hahahahahahah….you hired Charlie Weiss, hahahahahaha
coloradobulldog
November 30th, 2011
10:41 am
This is all I’m gonna say:
GA 24 Miss St 10
GA 45 Auburn 7
LSU 19 Miss St 6
LSU 45 Auburn 10
Bama 24 Miss St 7
Bama 42 Auburn 14
GulfShoresDawg
November 30th, 2011
10:41 am
Oh, Bammer, no hardware for the trophy case this year…you are irrelevant…
Ron Swanson
November 30th, 2011
10:42 am
@reality Gator
UGA is desperate? I have a great idea, lets have John Brantley not warm up before the game so that Grantham will be confused. Oh my word, John Brantley, a true game changer, how will any defense ever defend him? Sounds like to desperation to me.
Bammer
November 30th, 2011
10:42 am
Ummm…I guess if you think Atlanta is a bigger stage than New Orleans this year. I would go sit and my trailer and cry…but I have to go make hotel reservations for the French Quarter. Have fun in Orlando. You’ll have a lot of fun on “It’s a Small World” at Disney. Perfect for little girls.
Prove It!
November 30th, 2011
10:42 am
South Carolina is the best team in the SEC East. They proved it on the field of play. The SECCG this year is a joke.
reality Gator
November 30th, 2011
10:42 am
williebkind
I guess the 41 points they put up on Ark was done by defense?
Georgia has beaten all the botom feeders in the east and west incl gators, so this makes them match up with LSU, ha, ha,
GT FAN
November 30th, 2011
10:43 am
Yeah I think ALABAMA has no reason to be in the MNC game. Even if they beat LSU, LSU would still win the national championship with the AP voters.
LSU is way better than Alabama!
iTiSi
November 30th, 2011
10:43 am
I wish someone had some audio or video proof from ESPN in 2007 of at least one of those “turkeys” saying you should have to be conference champion to play for the national title. I heard Fowler(forgot his last name, use to be high school reporter) say on one of the college shows last night that they had done some checking and could find nobody saying that at ESPN. I would bet anything I heard someone there say that several times.
Ron Swanson
November 30th, 2011
10:44 am
South Carolina is the best team ever with 4 bowl wins!
BamaDAWG77
November 30th, 2011
10:44 am
South Carolina beating UGA was a fluke!! If South Carolina was the better team they would have won the East!
DawgDad
November 30th, 2011
10:44 am
Gary: I never said UGA deserved to play for the National Championship if they beat LSU. I said they would have as legitimate a claim to a #1 ranking as any other team at that point.
Take the BCS madness one step further. Let’s say Oklahoma State plays an undefeated LSU team in the BCS Championship game and loses by a FG in OT. By the current logic used for GETTING to the game LSU could still be voted the National Champion.
TheDixieDove.COM
November 30th, 2011
10:44 am
How Georgia can Force a BCS Playoff
[I'm taking a day off of politics.]
The football nation largely wants an NCAA playoff longer than one game and most are presently fed up with the SEC after five straight national championships. But this year could finally push Football Nation over the edge.
Not only ‘might’ the dreaded SEC win for a sixth straight time, but it is in fact guaranteed to win by virtue of holding the #1 and #2 spots in the BCS rankings. But it gets much worse, because even if LSU loses to Georgia in the SEC title game, they will still most likely play Alabama for the BCS crown. Both teams playing in the national championship game will be from the same conference and neither will have won their conference championship.
I think this is simply beyond the pale for Football Nation and believe me, SEC fans would like to see a four team playoff too.
Go Georgia!
juice sourcer
November 30th, 2011
10:44 am
“And what if they just saw the Tigers lose 35-14″…
….and what if they just saw cows fly!
Dawglasville
November 30th, 2011
10:45 am
Melvin H – I never doubted LSU. This team maybe one of the best college teams of all time. I never compared common opponents. All I said was our quarterback, tight end, and one of our linemen were better than yours. I don’t need you to help me. It takes two parties to effectively communicate a message, the sender and the receiver. I don’t think your message was clear. Please, continue to bask in the glory of your Tigers and your Saints.
BamaDAWG77
November 30th, 2011
10:45 am
GT FAN, I agree, Alabama is a media darling… Thats why they will back door in to the Nat’l Championship game.. Sad but true!
DawgDad
November 30th, 2011
10:45 am
I mean, if LSU loses by a FG in OT.
C from Marietta
November 30th, 2011
10:46 am
“Crowell is gonna have to remove his tampon and be a man.”
Really? How many downs of college football did you play LOL! Huh? I thought so. Your just being a jerk.
BullDogMike
November 30th, 2011
10:46 am
As bad as I hate to say this, and really wish I didn’t have to, but UGA CAN’T be allowed to win this game. The BCS will not allow an upset of this magnatude to screw up their perfect re-match plans for the MNC game. Now, LSU may run away with it for all we know. But I’m saying this…IF Ga. is close,or even ahead late..you will see all the calls necessary to make sure LSU pulls it out. This happened the last time LSU played the dawgs in Athens. UGA flagged for excess celebration after scoring go ahead TD very late in game. 15 yard penalty accessed on Kick off, and LSU ran one play up the middle and kicked winning FG. This is what will happen.. you can bank on it.!!
ARdawg
November 30th, 2011
10:46 am
Bama already had a shot and lost 9-6
GulfShoresDawg
November 30th, 2011
10:47 am
Anyone who has been to the SECCG knows it rivals the Super Bowl…it is much better than any of the BCS bowls…Fanfare and gala out strip dirty filthy New Orleans anytime…Need to permantly move the Suger to Atlanta! just sayin…
BamaDAWG77
November 30th, 2011
10:48 am
BullDogMike, I agree, we’ve seen it happen too many times.
Gbal
November 30th, 2011
10:49 am
You couple of idiots that keep bashing Mark for making a prediction that UGA will win…. Go read the article again. Like any game, it could happen and I am glad to have the chance to play the game but I dot see where Mark made this prediction?
He is just making the point that this sorry BCS system could take a current top ranked team that some say will play in the NC regardless, and fortunes could reverse.. How many times did he say unkilely?
Breaking! This just in!
November 30th, 2011
10:49 am
Alabama will refuse an invite to this years’ BCS national championship game. When asked, Coach Nick Saban said “Sure, we feel like we are one of the best teams this year, but we can’t in good conscience accept this bid because Georgia fans don’t feel it’s right.” He went on to say that “Georgia has established itself as the premiere program in the country, and even though the media, coaches and computers think we should go, if Georgia fans don’t agree with us going to New Orleans then by God we shouldn’t be there.”
oldfart
November 30th, 2011
10:50 am
UGA has the same chance that GT had against the Bulldogs last Saturday.
tmc
November 30th, 2011
10:50 am
NCAA, BCS & CFB Bowls are as corrupt as Boxing was 20 years ago.
Difference is people are more interested in CFB.
So that is why they get away with the garbage they have the last several years.
GulfShoresDawg
November 30th, 2011
10:51 am
Bammer, I like Disney World, ru a creaton?