Inaccuracies Found In Rankings. So Does BCS = BS?

Stop me if you've heard this before, but the BCS is a flawed system. Now it appears that said system may also have errors that can potentially go unchecked. Per this story from CBS's Jerry Palm, a glitch resulted in LSU and Boise St. switched in the rankings, which at the time had LSU 10th and Boise St. 11th when in fact the ranking should be the other way around. Here's more from the report:

Wes Colley's final rankings, as submitted to the BCS, were incorrect. The Appalachian State-Western Illinois FCS playoff game was missing from his data set. I will spare you some of the gory, mathematical details, but the net result of that omission in Colley's rankings is that LSU, which he ranked ninth, and his No. 10, Boise State, should be switched. Alabama and Nebraska, which he had 17th and 18th, would also be swapped.


Palm also goes on to say this regarding the BCS computer data:

This may not seem overly important, especially since neither team qualified for a BCS game either way. It may be important though because the Mountain West, Boise State's new home, is making an effort to become an AQ conference. This week's data -- the final regular season standings -- is part of the basis for making that determination. Every little bit helps, or at least it could.

But the bigger point is that nobody checks the BCS computer data. We should all be grateful to Colley for having a system that is open, accountable and verifiable. The BCS owes us an entire system that is open, accountable and verifiable.

Interesting to know that a system that dictates so much of the current college football bowl schedule and championship race is handled without anyone double checking the data. This may not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but it's does prove to every one's point that the BCS system is indeed flawed.

But at least they got the Championship game match up right this season, with undefeateds Auburn Tigers and the Oregon Ducks set to face off Jan. 10th 2011 at Univerizona of Phoenix Staduim in Glendale, AZ.

-ALR

College Football Bowl Schedule

The regular season of College Football has been decided and we are now approaching Bowl Season. The complete schedule of games can be viewed here, but I wanted to give a quick prediction on the BCS Games.

BCS National Championship #1 Auburn Tigers v #2 Oregon Ducks

After 13 games, this game is what the college football landscape tries to get to. During the college season, I have written a few times about the ease of schedule Boise St and TCU had to get to the championship game, but at the end of the season it did not matter because Auburn and Oregon posted undefeated seasons to get to the big game. Here is the tale of the tape...

Auburn is led by probable Heisman Trophy winner Cameron Newton. Cam has put up one of the best single seasons statistically in the history of the FBS, rivaling Tim Tebow of 2007. Newton has accounted for over 2500 passing yards, 1400 rushing yards and 20+ touchdowns both passing and running. Clearly offense will not be a problem for the Auburn Tigers, but defense maybe. The Auburn Defensive Secondary gave 3256 yards of passing offense this season, which put the Tigers in a few holes they had to dig themselves out of. Notably against Alabama who put up 377 yards and the first meeting against South Carolina who gave them 305 yards in the air. To me this begs of an offensive shootout, but I will get to that in a moment.

Oregon has a Heisman hopeful in LaMichael James, who led the Ducks in rushing with 1682 yards and 22 touchdowns. QB Darron Thomas wasn't too shabby either, accounting for 28 touchdowns and 2518 through the air. The Oregon offense was notorious for fast starts and then pulling away in the 4th quarter while the defense held its opponents to next to nothing. Honorable mention to the Oregon Duck mascot for doing as many push-ups as the scoreboard dictates.

Anyway, my prediction is Auburn in close offensive game. I think Cam Newton is going to have a Vince Young type moment, by winning the game in the final seconds.

Rose Bowl #5 Wisconsin Badgers v #3 TCU Horned Frogs

This game TCU has a chance to prove why they belong in the elite of college football this season. Their schedule was a tad weak, but they did what they were supposed to do and run right through it. TCU is transferring to the Big 12, so if they keep up their pace, they will get automatic bowl bids anyway, but a win against Wisconsin would do wonders for the resume.

Wisconsin won the Big 10 by virtue of a higher BCS ranking than Ohio State and Michigan State. They put up gaudy offensive numbers, scoring 82 against Indiana and 70 against Northwestern. A 3 headed rushing attack was the staple of the offense. Each running back had 10+ touchdowns and over 800 yards on the ground, amazing sharing the load like that.

My prediction is Wisconsin by at least 10 points. As good as TCU is, I think they will run into a culture shock against this Badger team.

Fiesta Bowl UCONN Huskies v #7 Oklahoma Sooners

This is one of those trap games for Oklahoma. The Sooners are in a position of if they win people will say, "They were supposed to take care of the Huskies...". If they lose, they will be the talk of the sports world, like they were when the Adrian Peterson led Sooners lost to Boise St. I do not envy the position the Sooners are in, but I think they will find a way to take care of business this year...

Orange Bowl #4 Stanford Cardinals v #13 Virgina Tech Hokies

Potential #1 NFL draft pick, QB Andrew Luck had a 3000 yard passing season and also threw 28 touchdowns for the Cardinals. In this day of the athletic QB who is run first/pass maybe, Luck proved that you can win in college football passing first and running as an option. I think that will be key, as the Hokies have proven to be vulnerable in the secondary when the bright lights are on. I respect what the Hokies have done, winning 11 in a row after a horrendous start, but I don't think Tyrod Taylor will be able to keep the points flowing against the Stanford defense. Prediction - Stanford Cardinals by 13+

Sugar Bowl #6 Ohio State Buckeyes v #8 Arkansas Razorbacks

Razorback QB Ryan Mallet as been another good NFL prospect this season, and I think he will perform well at the next level. In this game, however, I see the swarming Buckeye defense getting a hold of him and providing Terrelle Pryor and the offense with good field position enough times to get the win.

Well there it is...

- @lostherod is the Twitter handle, feel free to follow and debate on any sports topic

More Publicity, More Problems for Cameron Newton

Auburn University's Heisman candidate quarterback Cameron Newton is back in the news again for the wrong reasons, this time for allegedly cheating academically while back at Florida (see here for the report). Apparently Newton handed in a paper that was written by another student. After asked to resubmit the paper Newton turned in a paper that was purchased off the net. Cam apparently is better at ripping apart defenses than pulling a fast one on NCAA instructors.

Newton has already been in the news recently for reports surrounding his recruitment prior to attending Auburn, where it is rumored that his services were being offered for cash. These reports were preceded by a 2008 arrest for stealing a laptop while Newton was at Florida. Newton transferred to Binn College in TX before helping Auburn to a No. 2 ranking in the current BCS standings.

It seems as if the kid cannot stay out of trouble, which will not bode well or Newton's draft status should he consider to skip his senior season(which may be the best option for the 6'6 athlete). Whether or not these reports will hurt Newton's Heisman chances are unknown but they definitely won't help.

Make the jump for the money after the season Cam; then you can get paid for while doing whatever you want. Just try not to get caught.

-ALR

Los That Links 9-7-10 and 9-8-10 (REMIX)

Everyone loves an underdog, but is that love unconditional?

Case in point, Boise State. Remember when that little school from Idaho that took on the vaunted Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl back in 2007? The 43-42 overtime win that was capped off with a hook and ladder play, tying the game w/ seven seconds left. In OT, a fourth-and-2 TD pass from a reciever, then the Statue of Liberty two-point conversion where the light-skinned kid ran into the crowd and propsed to his cheerleader girlfriend. Great game, great story, the end...not really.

See, in the movies, the credits roll, the Celine Dion music plays, and the paying audience walks out of the theater satisfied. But in real life, Cinderella, doesn't just marry Prince Charming. She moves into the castle, orders servants around, nags the Prince about having babies and why he's always away, and only dresses in the rarest of fine silk.

She doesn't move back into the evil step-mother's house, and start the process over again.

But in college football, that's exactly what Cinderella has to do. The Boise State's of the world go back to zero, only this time, newer obstacles are placed in their way to prevent them from making it to the Royal Ball. Powerful teams with a Natl Champ shot won't schedule them. Pollsters make it more of a point to accentuate just how weak of a conference they actually come from. Any stumble they have along the way is treated as a nail in the coffin to any idea of considering them as best in the country.

Call it the consequence of raising people's expectations. Fast-forwad from 2007 to last night, and we have a pre-season No. 5 ranked Boise State defeating No. 10 Virginia Tech in a nail-biter, yet possibly losing at the same time. Boise State is no longer sneaking up on anybody, and for that, they must pay! Va Tech is the toughest school on Boise State's schedule, from a BCS conference (Big East), and the Bulldogs traveled to a Hokie-friendly environment to play, yet because of the final score, and remaining schedule, there is a real likelihood that another undefeated season will result in no National Championship for Boise.

Cinderella will return to her evil step-mother's house after a one night stand with Prince Charming, and she will have to complete her chores, again.

Is there a solution to this problem? Aside from a playoff, no. (And don't worry, I'm not campaigning for a playoff system in college football for the same reason I won't campaign for more money to be spent on education: it makes too much sense, and will solve too many issues to actually happen.)

Oh well, NFL starts Thursday night.

Los That Links

- Reggie Bush will have to give up his Heisman. And with that, college athletes will never be offered money under the table again.

- Would you rather watch an NFL game at the stadium, or at home. (Either way, prepare to pay up.)

- Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco will have a TV show together. Oh, you'll watch.

- Jay Mariotti can breathe a tad bit easier.

- In college football, there are "pimps", and there are "get pimped". If you aren't sure which one you are, you're "get pimped. Exhibit A: Georgia wideout A.J. Green.

Mark Ingram Out For Opener

According to this story on ESPN, reigning Heisman Trophy winner running back Mark Ingram recently had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will miss Alabama's season opener against lowly San Jose State. As anyone who follows college football is aware, star players play limited roles in season openers anyway so Ingram won't be terribly missed for this game. Expect to see sophmore RB Trent Richardson (who happened to rush for 109 yards in the championship game last season) get the bulk of the carries as the Crimson Tide roll over the Spartans. (bet you didn't know this was San Jose's mascot, did you?)

The redshirt junior Ingram decided to skip declaring for the draft last year to help Alabama make another run at the BSC championship and if minor, this injury will not have an effect on a title run. Healthy recovery, Mark. Roll Tide!

-ALR