Now that the primary BCS standings have been launched and many of the nation’s high groups have performed six video games, what do we all know? EXACTLY what we knew earlier than the season began, NOTHING! Really, that is not fairly true, so let me clarify.
What we KNOW is that faculty soccer has a really flawed system. It combines the so-called human polls (this 12 months the brand new Harris Interactive Ballot and the standard Coaches’ Ballot) with laptop rankings and hopes to match No.1 versus No. 2 on the finish of the 12 months, in its nationwide championship sport. When the “system” truly will get it proper, it is usually by pure luck!
The human polls have all the time been extremely subjective and are open to loads of criticism. For many years, each the AP (not a part of the method) and the Coaches’ polls have opened the 12 months with a preseason ballot, although year-in and year-out, the foolishness of those preseason polls are well-documented. For simply the most recent instance, word that the coaches’ ballot had Michigan ranked No. 4 and Oklahoma ranked No. 5 in its preseason ballot. How about that for EXPERTISE!
As for the brand new Harris Ballot, does ANYONE aside from the BCS guys actually suppose it has any credibility? Do not lament the lack of the AP ballot although, because the writers’ had Michigan No. 4 and Oklahoma No.7 in its preseason ballot and just like the Coaches’ ballot, typically makes an individual scratch his bald head when making an attempt to grasp their weekly rankings. Think about this.
Notre Dame jumped from unranked to No. 10 within the AP ballot within the season’s first two weeks, after beating Pittsburgh and Michigan. In case you do not know, the Panthers and Wolverines are at the moment a mixed 7-7 in 2005 and had been simply 1-3 on the time ND ‘jumped’ to No. 10 (Michigan’s lone win had come over Northern Illinois and Pitt’s different loss was to Ohio U)! Simply this week, Texas Tech made it to No. 10 within the AP ballot (its highest-ranking since 1977) and No. 8 within the newest Coaches ballot. Only for the report, Tech opened the 12 months with three consecutive video games towards Florida Worldwide, Sam Houston State and Indiana State. You CAN’T make these items up!
Now to the pc rankings, those which might be alleged to be much less subjective. Regardless of Texas Tech’s near-ridiculous schedule, the Purple Raiders’ mixed laptop rankings within the first BCS standings got here it at seven. SEVEN! Are you kidding me? As compared, Michigan State which has performed Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State registered “zero” in all six BCS laptop indexes. Ever heard of the phrase, “garbage-in, garbage-out?”
So what does this all imply? There are seven unbeatens heading into this weekend’s motion and no less than one will fall on Saturday, as Texas Tech performs at Texas. If each USC and UCLA had been to stay unbeaten, one must lose when the 2 cross-town rivals meet within the Coliseum on December 3. If Georgia and Alabama had been to stay unscathed, these colleges would meet within the SEC title sport (additionally December 3), which means one other unbeaten would fall. Virginia Tech, which performs Thursday evening at Maryland, is the one unbeaten workforce that does not have one other present unbeaten workforce remaining on its schedule.
Are we headed for one more season through which we end with three unbeatens? Since solely two groups can ever meet within the BCS title sport (Rose Bowl), that tends to be an issue. Are you able to think about the screaming coming from the SEC if, for the second straight 12 months, a member of that convention finishes undefeated however will get neglected of the BCS title sport (bear in mind Auburn in 2004)?
How about this state of affairs? USC wins out, as does Texas, Virginia Tech and both Alabama or Georgia. USC unquestionably stays No. 1 however can Texas maintain on to its No. 2 rank within the BCS with just one ranked opponent left on its schedule (Texas Tech this week)?
Va Tech nonetheless has Boston Faculty, Miami-Fla and Florida State (ACC title sport?) remaining, a schedule that can absolutely increase the workforce’s laptop rankings, if not its Harris or Coaches’ ballot rank. As for the 2 SEC groups to stay unbeaten, Alabama must get previous Tennessee, LSU and Auburn earlier than the SEC title-game showdown, whereas Georgia would wish to beat Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech. Could not Va Tech and both Alabama or Georgia (Alabama appears a extra possible wager) overtake Texas by gaining on the Longhorns within the laptop rankings?
It does not appear too far-fetched and would not many really feel (particularly within the Pac-10) it could be “simply desserts” if Texas was denied a second straight Rose Bowl journey, this time for a national-title showdown with USC, after it leapfrogged Cal for its Rose Bowl bid in final 12 months’s last BCS standings.
Nonetheless, if USC and Texas each win out, I am unable to think about that MOST folks would not wish to see a USC-Texas showdown, that includes Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush towards Vince Younger? There are seven faculty soccer weekends remaining and lots can nonetheless occur, however would not or not it’s good if there was some type of playoff construction in place to keep away from the potential of any variety of ‘nightmare’ eventualities?
Subsequent week I will examine in on how faculty soccer’s 23 ‘new’ head coaches have fared in 2005.