August 4, 2008

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Who will be in the BCS Championship game?

The LSU Tigers have reported back to campus and Les Miles has held his annual talk with the Baton Rouge Rotary Club.  Though this time he had to share the spotlight with rapper, Snoop Dog.  I don't know how many points he made with old fans like me by rapping on stage with The Dog, but I have to think he made some points with the younger crowd, like those high school kids he is recruiting.  And I suspect that is a little more important than what an old guy like me thinks.

Last week we talked about the race for the SEC Championship.  This past Friday, USA Today (the coaches' poll) came out with their pre-season predictions.  Their top ten were Georgia, USC, Ohio St., Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, Missouri, W. Va., Clemson, and Texas.  The question every year is whether this poll is a reflection of where the coaches think these teams will finish or is it a reflection of where the coaches think they are today?  I think the obvious answer this year is the latter because there is no way these teams can finish this way.  When you realize that eight of the teams play other teams that are in the top ten, some teams will be eliminated.  The two exceptions are Clemson and W. Va.

The game of the year that everyone is waiting for is on September 13 when Ohio State travels to play Southern Cal.  Most people think the loser of this game will be eliminated from the BCS Championship chase.  However, let me throw this scenario at you.  Both of these teams are favored to win their conferences. What happens if the loser of this game goes undefeated the rest of the way and the winner loses a game somewhere down the line?  Could there be a rematch for the championship?  I personally doubt it, but I throw that out just as an example of how wacky this season will be. 

The SEC is sooo tough that I don't expect the conference to be able to get a team into the championship game this season.  I'll be surprised if the SEC champion doesn't have at least three losses.

I look for the BCS Championship game to come from the PAC 10 (USC) and the Big Twelve (Oklahoma).  I agree with Les Miles statement from last season that USC has an easier road than the other teams in the top ten. 

The Big Twelve will be very interesting.  I'll give their winner a slight edge over the other conference champions because they play a championship game and I don't expect their winner to have more than one loss.  I pick the Sooners, but don't count out Texas and Texas Tech in the south and Big Mo in the north.

Don't be surprised if the first big upset of the season occurs the first weekend with Alabama beating Clemson.  If this occurs, then the ACC will have no shot of landing in the championship game.  If the Tigers win, then give them a small chance but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

As far as West Virginia?  They will be good, but they have a new coach and, in my opinion, aren't as good as in the past.  If the Mountaineers couldn't make it last year when it was there for the taking, then they won't get it this year either.

The one thing you can say for certain is that football season is less than a month away and it will be a very exciting time for all of us who love college football.