Let's Talk BCS

The purpose of the BCS ranking system is to aggregately rank, from an array of statistics, the 25 best college football teams in the nation, ultimately arriving at the top two teams that will play for the national championship.

The BCS point system is computed as an average of three primary components: the Harris Interactive poll, the USA coaches poll, and a combination of six computer polls.

The Harris poll consists of 113 voters, each entitled to vote for how he or she believes the top 25 should be ranked. A #1 ranking counts for 25 points, a #2 ranking 24 points, and so on. Therefore, the total points possible for the Harris poll (113 x 25) is 2825.

So to calculate the Harris portion of the BCS formula, we take the point total accumulated from all 113 voters and divide that by the total points possible, yielding a percentange.

The USA coaches poll is calculated in the same manner. There are 62 total coaches voting, meaning the total points possible for the USA coaches poll is 1550. We divide the point total accumulated by each team, divide it by the point total, giving us a second percentage.

For the third and final portion of the BCS formula, we use six different computer polls: the Jeff Anderson-Chris Hester, the Richard Billingsley, the Wes Colley, the Kenneth Massey, the Jeff Sagarin, and the Peter Wolfe. To fully understand how each computer poll works would be absurd and unnecessary, but we do know that each poll factors, for the most part, the same statistics (strength of schedule is considered, margin of victory is not).

After all six computer polls are calculated, the highest and lowest are discarded, and the remaining four are averaged, giving us a third percentage. The Harris average, coaches average, and computer average are then averaged themselves, yielding the sacred BCS average. Now try to say that all in one breath.

In all my years as a fan, I have yet to encounter a sports institution so ridiculed and, for lack of a better way to put it, 'hated on' as the BCS ranking system. And with the history of laughable championship game results this system has produced over its years in existence, it's kind of hard to argue with the outcry.

BCS supporters probably believe the system offers a good balance between human subjectivity and mathematical objectivity. BCS critics, on the other hand, will argue that human subjectivity leaves too much room for bias, while using standardized computer polls on teams that don't even play the same opponents is inherently flawed. They will argue that instead of the BCS system, a playoff should determine who plays for the national title.

The truth is, in a sport like college football, both the BCS system and a playoff system are necessary.

The NBA, MLB, and NHL all have 30 teams. The NFL has 32 teams. These manageable numbers are easily conducive to a playoff system in determining which two teams will play for the championship. Division I college football, however, sports over 100 teams. With so many teams vying for bowl consideration, we have no choice but to implement a questionable system such as the Bowl Championship Series to determine the strength of each team relative to the rest. But while the BCS should be used as a ranking system that sets the match-ups for the playoff that should immediately follow, it is instead used as the only determinant for deciding which two teams will represent college football's best.

Here's what I don't understand. D-I NCAA basketball has hundreds of teams, and is forced to use a questionable ranking system, similar to how the Bowl Championship Series is used. But instead of allowing this arbitrary system to be the final say in whether UCLA plays Florida or Memphis plays Kansas in the finals, the powers that be of college basketball recognize the sacredness of the postseason in sports.

64 teams are forced to dance in an elimination tournament, leaving us with the two most deserving teams to contend for the title. Why can't college football adopt the same format? How many more championship blowouts must we endure before the coaches and voters realize that a playoff system is necessary in addition to the BCS?

Unfortunately for grossly overrated Alabama and Penn State, if a change is coming, it won't be coming this year. I pity these two teams because if either is granted the task of playing Texas for the national title, we will have another championship massacre on our hands. On the bright side, at least one team will be happy, finally having the overrated label lifted from them. Right Ohio State?

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A Trojan's Christmas List

With seven weeks in the books and eight to go, the USC football team is currently ranked 6 by the Associated Press and 4 by USA Today. And with a cream puff schedule left to be played, the Trojans will unfortunately have to rely on the missteps of other teams to have any hope at the title game. I know it's only October, but here are a few things I wouldn't mind Santa delivering a little earlier this year:

1) Texas loses to Missouri on Oct. 18.

After upsetting the top-ranked Sooners last week, Texas continues its minefield march this Saturday against the explosive Missouri Tigers. If Colt McCoy is able to lead his Longhorns passed the Tigers, the hard part of their journey will be over, as they will only have to contend with Oklahoma State, unproven Texas Tech, and middle-of-the-road Kansas (though we'll know what the Jayhawks are made of this weekend when they play Oklahoma, won't we?).

As it looks now, Missouri looks like our best hope to trip up the undefeated Longhorns, moving us one spot closer to the title game. And with the great Chase Daniel having been embarrassed last weekend by being picked off three times, he and his Tigers will be seeking redemption.

2) Alabama loses to LSU on Nov. 8.

Before Week 7, people were labeling LSU as the most overrated team in the top 5. I, however, will have to go with Alabama as the most overrated team in the top 5. Sure they toppled former #3 Georgia 41-30 in their matchup two weeks ago. But anyone who watched that game could easily question the legitimacy of that win.

Close to one of the worst halves of football Georgia could have played, they committed five penalities for 56 yards that resulted in Alabama scoring on all five drives (four touchdowns and a field goal) of the half. After starting their opening drive on their own 20 yard line, Alabama would never again start inside their own 35. In fact, two drives would open on Georgia's 48 and 33, as a result of a terrible punt and a Georgia fumble, respectively. Finally, Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson was a startling deviation from his normal self, playing an almost perfect half. Wilson was 10-11 for 139 yards and a touchdown in the first half. All of these factors would contribute to Alabama building what proved to be an insurmountable 31-0 lead.

Without this win, Alabama would be just another team peering into the top 10. And if these two teams were to meet again, I highly doubt that fortune would hand the game to Bama on a silver platter the way she did three weeks ago. So fine, after getting shredded by Florida 21-51, LSU didn't deserve the hype they were getting either, but this is my Christmas list, and LSU is my best shot at beating Bama.

3) Penn State loses to Ohio State on Oct. 25.

No team in the top 5 scares me quite like Penn State. I don't understand how Joe Paterno is still able to walk, but he walks, and coaches his team to dominant victory after dominant victory. With its current ranking of 3 by both the Associated Press and USA Today, and with Ohio State (laughing out loud as I am typing) as its biggest test remaining on the schedule, Penn State is easily the team with the best chance at the title game.

I know, it's sad.

Ohio State, the #3 team to open the season, for a while couldn't even decide who to play as their quarterback. But with Pryor having started the last two games, I think it's safe to say that they have opted to go with their freshman. The replacement of Boeckman with Pryor means the added threat of a quick, mobile quarterback. Unfortunately, this also means the Ohio State passing game will take a hit. In his two starts against Wisconsin and Purdue, Pryor has averaged just 120.5 yards of passing offense, with no touchdowns.

And while Penn State has been dominating, Ohio State has been doing the exact opposite, barely squeeking by opponents. I know it's outlandish to even suggest Ohio State has a chance against Penn State, but again, this is my Christmas list, and Ohio State is my only hope...

4) Oklahoma loses to Oklahoma State on Nov. 29.

A loss last week to a strong Texas squad was not quite enough for the AP voters to rank Oklahoma beneath USC. Therefore, I will be wishing for one more loss on OU's part. With remaining games against Kansas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State, Oklahoma has most reason to worry about Oklahoma State. And with its impressive victory over Missouri last week, it looks like Oklahoma State will be my darkhorse to beat the Sooners in the final game of the season.

Of course, if I am granted my first three wishes, this wish won't be necessary, as a USC Oklahoma championship game will likely be the result. That and the fact that I honestly cannot see Oklahoma State being nearly as successful against Oklahoma as they were against Missouri. Oklahoma actually has a defense.

5) To get buff like Jae Pee.

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