BCS: Final Thoughts
It's the morning after and I find myself of two minds about the BCS results that put Florida in the championship game ahead of Michigan. On the glass if half empty side, if the championship game is supposed to be about the two best teams, then the result of the polls is crap. It just is. I mean does anyone think that Michigan would've dropped behind Florida in the polls had USC beaten UCLA? I don't. Florida didn't leap over Michigan in the human polls for any reason other than people didn't want to see a rematch.
As per usual, Michael Roseberg of the Detroit Free Press sums up my opinion better than I can.
As I wrote before and after the Michigan-Ohio State game, I don't like the idea of a rematch. Ohio State beat Michigan once. Why should the Buckeyes have to do it again? But voters were NOT asked to vote for which matchup they would like to see. They were asked to vote for the best teams in the country, in order.
So what we have (in my opinion) is the right matchup for the wrong reasons. And I can't even really blame the voters. In some ways they played oversight for a system that doesn't work. This is exactly what you get with this BCS BS.
On the other hand, part of me is also happy it's played out this way. In all likelihood Michigan would just lose to OSU again. We just don't have an answer for Troy Smith. Nobody does. And I don't really want to see that. Michigan has a much better shot at beating USC, and the Wolverines need a bowl win. Badly.
Also, I'll take a sort of perverse joy of seeing Urban Meyer get squashed like a bug under Tressell and Company's heel. Does anyone think Florida is going to beat OSU? I know I'm supposed to hate OSU and everything they stand for, but Big 10 is Big 10 and Meyer's schtick in the media the last few weeks pushed all the wrong buttons with me. There's a reason the cliche of, "be careful what you wish for," has stuck around. So congrats, Urban, you're going to get what's coming to you.
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Dan:
December 4th, 2006 - 16:16
A few years back OSU was supposed to be crushed the University of Miami juggernaut, and one blown call later OSU is celebrating a national championship. So I wouldn’t rule out UF all together
For the life of me, I just couldn’t see Michigan ever beating OSU. UM’s defensive line and linebackers could not match up to OSU’s speed. UM is still fielding the class, Big 10 defense. The type of defense that just doesn’t fly any longer. UF isn’t going to have that problem. Their defense will present an entirely new set of problems for OSU to solve. Florida’s big problem is their offense and lack of it.
Should be an interesting game. Possibly a blowout, but interesting none the less.
December 4th, 2006 - 16:49
I don’t think this OSU team will have the same big head issues that the Canes of 2002 had. I doubt we see any post game championship party fliers circulating in Glendale before kickoff. Miami also didn’t lose because of a call. They lost because they had 5 turnovers.
I agree that this Fla defense is good, and very different of Michigan’s in terms of style.
I also think this Fla defense has seen nothing comparable to the OSU offense all year long. OSU presents matchup issues all over the field.
Auburn, Arkansas, Tenn, LSU, Fla State…the Florida defense has hardly been tested like they will be tested in the title game. OSU is a complete offensive football team, which is what makes them different to the above teams, IMO. Run, pass, mobility, short yardage..they are tough to stop.
I am very curious to see how the OSU defense does when Meyer runs these weird formations and multiple reverse shifts against them.
I think if OSU can play good assignment defense they’ll be fine, but that was also part of the problem in the Michigan game.
I think it’ll be closer than many think, but I like OSU by 12. Say — 28-16.
December 4th, 2006 - 17:41
andrew – you’re right about that blown call in 2002. it was crazy that the refs didn’t call defensive holding against Miami on 3rd and 7 late in the game. Gamble was held twice by the same corner with no flag. Would have given them a first down and Miami had no time outs left. thanks for remembering!
December 4th, 2006 - 18:25
Andrew, I think you’re really selling Michigan’s dline and linebackers *way* too short. This was the number one run defense in the nation for a reason. They were allowing 30 rushing yards per game for the season heading into OSU. The fact that they gave up two 55+ rush plays for TDs was as big an anamoly in that game as OSU turning the ball over 3 times (only far more damaging).
Michigan’s secondary is the weak spot of their D. Which isn’t to say they’re weak, but they don’t measure up to the front seven, which has potential two or three first round draft picks in it. The secondary is what really got exploited against OSU, but that had as much to do with Troy Smith being OMG good as it did poor secondary play.
Anyway, most predictions I’ve made have not turned out this year. So Florida probably will do better than I expect. But my opinion is that OSU is never seriously threatened in the national championship game.
December 5th, 2006 - 10:35
http://www.buckeyefansonly.com/notcalled.html
People need to let the whole “bad call” thing go. It was a poorly officiated game from start to finish. The Gamble hold was criminal.
December 6th, 2006 - 08:45
That’s like the definitive Buckeye link, ashame we gotta pull that out every few months during discussions.