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Posted 11/12/2007 at 06:12 PM
Between the Lines...
The college season is setting up for trouble as possible BCS scenarios play out. The current 1-2 has the intriguing match-up between LSU and Oregon playing out for the national title but it could get messy. Oregon has three games remaining and will be favored in all three match-ups. LSU has two regular season games remaining which they will be double-digit favorites in and a SEC championship game, likely against Tennessee or Georgia. The problems lie in the Big 12 where the current BCS #3, #4, and #5 reside. It is assuming a lot that Oklahoma will win its final two games as both opponents are challenging and both Kansas and Missouri will face some upset risk this week. But if Missouri and Kansas play in two weeks in a BCS elimination game and then the winner plays Oklahoma for the Big 12 championship in another BCS elimination game, Oregon could get bumped out by the victor. It certainly won’t sit well with the Ducks and the Pac-10 not to mention other potential one-loss teams such as West Virginia and Ohio State. The strength of the opponents and the recentness of games will likely be enough to shift some voters, especially if the Ducks provide any drama or signs of struggle.
It won’t please SEC backers but in our opinion LSU’s resume should come under a bit more scrutiny. The Tigers likely are safe if they win out as the voters are enamored with the dominating statistics that were greatly shaded by the one-sided results in the first three games of the season. LSU played a pretty light conference schedule with Tennessee and Georgia absent from the East division games and the toughest conference opponents Auburn and Florida both visiting Baton Rouge. Not to mention that LSU needed miraculous finishes to win games against Florida, Auburn, and Alabama and that the Tigers highly acclaimed defense has allowed over 31 points per game in the last four SEC games. The Tigers have the big trump card of the blowout of Virginia Tech but Oregon’s blowout win at Michigan was arguably more impressive and the Ducks played much more respectable opponents in two other non-conference wins facing bowl teams Houston and Fresno State. Ohio State faces stiff punishment for losing late in the season falling all the way to seven despite Illinois regarded as a stronger team than Colorado, California, Kentucky, or South Florida, the teams that have defeated the other one-loss contenders that now sit ahead of Ohio State. The Buckeyes likely took a bigger hit based on last year’s championship result. Good Luck.
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