BCS rankings distort which teams deserve berths most

Jim Guthrie Guthrie is 6-foot-9, runs a 4.3 40,
is the baddest mofo to come out of Sactown since Steve Sax and can
be reached at [email protected].

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, no …
Celine Dion’s Christmas Special hasn’t come out yet.
But it’s once again time for those pesky computer rankings to
sort themselves out and determine who will play for the National
Championship.

Or is it that simple?

A month ago, those darn electors thought they had it all figured
out, and Nebraska and Florida State would duke it out for the
title. Then, by a predictable twist of fate, the Oklahoma Sooners
came out of nowhere to beat Kansas State, the Cornhuskers and
claimed the top spot.

Then Miami had the nerve to go and defeat the Seminoles when
they had already lost to Washington and had no right vying for the
title.

So, Oklahoma-Miami, right?

The saga was furthered when FSU beat Florida on Saturday
vaulting them into the No. 2 spot in the BCS ahead of Miami and the
inevitable and all-encompassing controversy began.

So is it Miami or is it Tallahassee? Oh boy, here we go again
…

The nation turns its eyes once more to Florida to decide the
fate of our country (and in my eyes, this race is more important
… Bush sucks, though). This raises an important question … is
the BCS the best way to decide who plays for it all?

In the first two years of its existence, the BCS worked like
clockwork with matchups of the lone unbeaten teams in Tennessee-FSU
and FSU-Virginia Tech. This year’s Orange Bowl will be
interesting, however, because it will likely be between undefeated
Oklahoma and an opponent with one loss.

This raises the question of how the electors should pick the
other team.

Strength of schedule?

Scoring margin?

Computer rankings?

Somewhere, Bear Bryant is rolling over in his grave.

This leads to a trickle-down effect with the other two BCS
bowls. While Florida and Virginia Tech will probably get into
either the Sugar or the Fiesta Bowl, two spots still remain
at-large. One will probably go to either the ‘Noles or the
‘Canes, whichever team doesn’t make the
championship.

The other?

Some say Nebraska, which has two losses. Others say Washington,
which is already making reservations to head for the Roses in
Pasadena. And the lunatics are of course calling for Notre Dame,
who isn’t even in a damn conference.

Have I lost anyone yet?

Let me review:

Miami can make the championship if they destroy Boston College
on Saturday, thereby moving up in the Dunkel “Donuts”
Index and some sort of strength of schedule shenanigans that
include Auburn beating Florida.

The BCS electors will go crazy and collapse when the Seattle
Times ranks Oregon State as No. 1 and will end up putting
Appalachian State and Florida A&M in the Fiesta.

And, once again, the Pac-10 gets screwed.