Also posted on Laz's Sports-O-Rama.
Looking at this from as much distance as possible, I don’t know how USC can jump ahead of Michigan in the most recent AP and USA Today poll. Yes, I am more fan than outsider, but let’s take a look at the situation strictly from cold, hard facts.
Michigan had one loss, a 3-point loss to the Number 1 team all season, while USC also had one loss, a 2-point loss at Oregon State, which did not even finish in the Top 25. The teams had one common opponent in Notre Dame. While it’s true that USC gave the Fighting Irish a real pasting last night, they did so at home, winning by 20. However, Michigan also gave Notre Dame a good spanking, beating them by 26 AT South Bend. Which win is more impressive: a win by 26 points on the road or 20 at home?
There are those who say the Pac 10 is a stronger conference and therefore Michigan’s in-conference wins mean less. The pollsters don’t agree. The Pac 10 has two teams in the Top 25, No 2 USC – disputed, mind you – and No. 21 California. The Big 10 has three teams in the Top 7 with a combined record of 34-2. While both conferences had fairly weak non-conference schedules, the Big 10 still won 41 out of 52 games, a 79 percent winning percentage. The Pac 10 had far fewer games outside of their conference but still won 23 of 31 games – a 74 percent winning percentage. Once again, the edge goes to the Big 10.
I will grant that USC had quality wins over Arkansas and Nebraska and a final strong win over Notre Dame, but they looked pretty weak during a four-week string of three close wins over Washington State, Washington and Arizona and then a loss at Oregon State. Michigan was never seriously challenged in any win with the exception of a 7-point win at Penn State – once ranked 15th in the country.
Slade441 attempts to make good points but doesn’t have the research to back up his arguments as are displayed in this intelligently written report. He does make sense in one of his recent posts of keeping the old-fashion bowl game schedule, which would have pit Michigan against USC in the Rose Bowl. That is the only way to really settle which team is better and then the winner of that game would end up playing a one-game playoff against, presumably, Ohio State to determine the national champ. I would be in favor of that.
While I expect Michigan to get hosed in the near-term rankings, I do think they will end up ranked Number 2 following USC’s humiliating defeat in the Fiesta Bowl against the Buckeyes. I just may end up getting the last laugh on this.
Of course this isn't the first time USC snuck ahead of Michigan. Who could ever forget the cheating Charles White in his fake touchdown during the 1977 Rose Bowl? There can be nobody alive who doesn't remember that, right?
9 comments:
Gatorman here, found you boys here dukin out again, get a life, Gators would have you for lunch. Sports-o-rama Laz, sounds like something from the 50's. Ok I will say it again incase you slade441 laz-boy didn't get the message before.
Gators are better than the Trojans (what a name) or the Wolverweenies. I will be a southern gentleman again, horsepucky to the BCS what a biased honey bucket that thing is. We, the Gators deserve a shot at Ohio State as much as these two squads.
Actually I agree that the Gators deserve more respect than they are getting. However, I watched the Florida-FSU game and it was pretty ugly. I not sure either team could beat Central Florida the way they were playing. But give them credit, they have one loss, a 10-pointer at 11th ranked Auburn. They also had quality wins at Tennessee (ranked 16th) and over LSU, ranked 5th.
Just the same, Michigan's lone loss was at OSU, the No. 1 team all year, and they had victories at No. 10 Notre Dame and at home over No. 6 Wisconsin.
If the Gators knock off Arkansas this weekend, they have as much of a case as SC or Michigan to play for the title. I just don't think they will beat Arkansas. We'll see soon.
Part of the back and forth between SC and Michigan fans has been going on for three decades so give us a little latitude to have some fun.
Well said Laz. I was kiddin around with you boys and you are right and we will beat Arkansas this weekend. We will take it to them in Atlanta! SC and Mich need to keep their noses clean, these other guys will not be pushovers. Glad to be part of yalls banter. -Gatorman
Give me a break! Floriduh does NOT deserve a shot at the Buckeyes, even if ucla beats USC tomorrow. If SC loses, Michigan should get another shot. They are better than Floriduh.
Is that all you guys do is whine? Michigan doesn't have the fortitude. Both yall schools don't have the KeeHoNees as you say out west. Look at the player stats and performance of all the special teams, offense and defense. Gators kick wool.
Keep whinning boys Gators are doing the gator-roll on those Razorbacks...Yep it's final boyz the Gators are have roasted the pig...What happened SC?..now the BCS has even more problems trying to figure this out, we can only wait and hope. With Urban leading the team and our Frosh-Percy makin some great plays, if we have the luck to be honored properly by the BCS we will be there to have us some buckeyes...
-Gatorman
Well well well....I think the Gators are going to have some Buckeyes...Michigan and USC will have to play with each other, that will be a nice one and you boys can banter the heck out a that one..Oh and I'm more than sure I will get a stompin from you guys if our gators get stuffed, will see.
-Gatorman
Hey Skip, who is Gatorman and how can we send a hitman to his house?
Unfortunately (or not!) the Gators won so what's the point? As I commented elsewhere, at least Michigan and USC will go at it in the Rose Bowl...on New Year's Day no less!
Post a Comment