It's Playoff Time

The playoffs have begun in most Fantasy Football leagues around the country, but I'm ready for the start of a different kind of playoff.  I'm talking about an 8-team playoff system to replace the current BCS mess.

The Big 12 is partly to blame this year for the mess at the top of the BCS standings.  Texas beat Oklahoma (at a neutral site), Texas Tech beat Texas, and Oklahoma beat Texas Tech.  Rather than using a sytematic tiebreaker that takes results into account, e.g., total points for, total points against, margin of victory, etc., the Big 12 allows the BCS standings to serve as a tiebreaker.  This couldn't be more flawed if the Joker devised it himself.

The BCS standings have always had two major flaws.  First, the teams are ranked before the season even starts.  This makes it much harder for surprise teams to climb to the top of the standings.  Second, the BCS always punishes teams that lose later in the season more than teams that lose early.  Florida lost at home to an unranked team in September this year yet they will most likely play in the BCS championship game if they win today.  Meanwhile, Texas, which beat then Number 1 ranked Oklahoma on a neutral field in October has no chance to make the title game without help from Missouri today.  That's because Texas lost to Texas Tech in November.

Somehow the BCS voters and computers (hello, Skynet!) moved Oklahoma ahead of Texas last week, allowing Oklahoma to play in the Big 12 title game.  If Oklahoma wins tonight, they will play in the BCS title game.

I want to see Oklahoma play Texas again.

I want to see Alabama play USC.

I want to see Texas Tech play Florida.

I want to Penn State play Utah.

I want an eight team playoff.

Think of the excitement an eight team playoff would create in the new year.  It would be like March Madness, the Men's NCAA basketball tournament, only bigger.  Wouldn't the bowl games be more exciting if they were part of a single-elimination tournament?  Wouldn't office pools create interest among even non-football fans?  With conference bragging rights, and potential recuiting benefits, wouldn't the players and coaches be even more amped up?

It's time for a playoff system to replace the BCS.

A Traveshamockery! - Update

I'm pissed that the jackholes who vote in the AP and USA Today Coach's polls have elevated Florida over Michigan. Now Florida is going to play Ohio State (and get destroyed) in the National Championship game. It's a travesty, sham, and a mockery that the morons who vote would penalize Michigan for being idle. Florida was not impressive last night against Arkansas. That didn't stop CBS' commentators from slurping Florida and the SEC. Way to kiss ass to the conference you are in bed with, CBS.

Michigan had a more difficult road schedule this year, playing at Notre Dame, at Penn State, and at Ohio State. Three of Florida's four toughest games were played at the Swamp. The Big Ten conference plays more difficult out-of-conference games than the SEC. Michigan has better athletes on both the offensive and defensive lines. Florida won't even be able to stay close to Ohio State in January. I don't care what Florida coach Urban Meyer thinks.

At least ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski has some common sense.

The NCAA needs a division I playoff. The top four, or preferably, eight, teams should play in December and January. There would be no controversy and some of the top athletes would be better prepared for the longer NFL season. The BCS system has failed repeatedly; LSU, Auburn, and now Michigan, among others, have all been screwed over by the system.

I also think the Coach's poll should be abolished. Michigan was screwed over in the Coach's poll in 1997. The Wolverines were ranked #1 in both polls and beat a very good Washington State team led by Ryan Leaf. Nebraska, which also finished an undefeated season, leapfrogged the Wolverines in the final Coach's poll once coach-turned-senator Tom Osborne announced his retirement. The obvious swing in votes were driven by the same type of idiots who voted Florida over Michigan this week.

I for one, hope that the NCAA gets it right sooner rather than later.


Update: ESPN's Pat Forde also has a little common sense.