College Bowl Series

[Anton Djamoos]

Since every single person is here is ridiculously savvy when it comes to all things sports, would someone be able to explain the BCS to me in terms I can understand? I'm not a complete moron, but I am still having trouble grasping the entire subject. I've tried reading numerous articles on it but it just seems like such a convoluted system that I need you guys to dumb it down for me if possible.

I ask because I have to do a project on this and argue for why it is a good system to use. I understand that it is the standard way of doing things and a way to measure a team's performance rather than to just judge them by their record. Other than that, I could use some help if you guys/girls want to just throw some random stuff out there for me.

Thanks.

[preppyak]

it's composed of 3 parts...the AP Poll...the Harris poll...and then the computer rankings.

For the two human polls, each coach/writer ranks teams 1-25, with a set amount of points being given for being in each place. For example, this year OSU was the clear cut #1, thus why they have 1.000 in each of those polls, because they got all the #1 votes. Then, each team underneath got their amount of points....and so on, and it's all divided by the most possible points a team can get (all 1st place votes).

The third part is the computer rankings...and I honestly am not sure what they use for that...but I imagine things like win percentage (which is a major part, since when Rutgers was undefeated, they were like 5th or 6th in the computer part), strength of schedule, margin of victory, etc...Again there, the computer decides it's top 25 and ranks it through points.

Then all 3 parts are averaged together equally...and the rankings are listed

Not sure how familiar you are with March Madness and college b-ball, but the computer rankings are exactly like the RPI...and the BCS is very similiar in general to what the tournament selection committee decides with. The major difference being that the argument in college b-ball comes from middle of the road teams not getting in, rather than the top 3 or 4 teams...which is the only reason the college b-ball system is legitimized, and the BCS struggles for credibility.

This is my understanding of it...and it probably lacks a lot of better detail, but hopefully it's a start

[xbrokendownx]

preppy is the man

[FondestMemory]

no matter how much you know about it, you can't argue for it being a good system.

thing's a joke. your report should just be about how they need to drop the c out of the name.

[Anton Djamoos]

Wow thanks I appreciate it preppy.

[histrionics22]

Wow thanks I appreciate it preppy.
You still need some potential arguments for it being a good system?

[fromwithin]

it's an awful system.

[Anton Djamoos]

You still need some potential arguments for it being a good system?
Yeah if you want to give me some.

[dekdog11]

well this is the 2nd year in a row that the bcs got it right with the national championship game. i really dont mind the bcs, and im a huge cfball fan.

[LeftWideOpen]

well this is the 2nd year in a row that the bcs got it right with the national championship game. i really dont mind the bcs, and im a huge cfball fan.

you cant say they got it right for sure, though. theres no way to tell who was better between florida and michigan. the decision was made by humans, not what happened on the field.

[dekdog11]

you cant say they got it right for sure, though. theres no way to tell who was better between florida and michigan. the decision was made by humans, not what happened on the field.

well...yea. but the bcs got it right in terms of that florida should play for the title over michigan. i just dont see how anyone can realistically say michigan deserves it over florida....even if osu does kill florida.

[histrionics22]

Yeah if you want to give me some.
A playoff system means likely a longer season. Even if there's a playoff, theres no guarantee you get the best however many teams there are (like in basketball). Every game counts in the regular season.

[LeftWideOpen]

well...yea. but the bcs got it right in terms of that florida should play for the title over michigan. i just dont see how anyone can realistically say michigan deserves it over florida....even if osu does kill florida.

this is your opinion. completely legit opinion, but who really knows? thats all im saying. Both teams have cases. they need to settle these things on the field, which could be done with a multi team playoff, and not in the polls.

i love college football, but with the number of teams who are finishing with similar records these days ..theres gotta be a new way to determine who is most deserving of the opportunity to play for a national title.

[FondestMemory]

Yeah if you want to give me some.

you could always use the one that teams proving their worth on the field is overrated.

or that it's better to have a championship be decided by voters than players.

or that it's good for the game to only give two teams a chance to play for a championship while other teams are deprived of the opportunity.

that's just a few. there are a ton more good reasons for it.

[leftstranded]

i feel bad for you anton. arguing for the system is a lost cause.

it's hard to tell who a true national champion is without a tournament. the bcs has gotten lucky in a few years with 2 undefeated teams. but that's not going to happen every year and you'll end up getting something like what happened this year. even though i don't think michigan should have gotten a second shot in the current system, i do feel that they should have had the chance to play in a tournament to determin the national champion

no need to get rid of the bcs system all together though. let it decide what teams get in

[preppyak]

yeah...the only real saving grace for arguing the BCS works is if it is used in the context of a playoff where it decides the top 8 or 16 teams (whatever they chose).

I mean, the only way to argue that the BCS works by itself is to admit that there is, regardless of how you work it, there is a human element to every poll and to every championship decision. In a sense, based on what teams get in to the NCAA tourney, it decides who gets what seed and who has to play who. Give Florida a different set of matchups, and perhaps they don't make the finals...who knows.

In this case though, the BCS incorporates the closest thing to consensus that their is, by having writers, coaches, and computers to make their decision equally. Realistically, though not directly, the way teams played during the season decides where they are at the end of the season...so, if Michigan had won their games, they'd be in the NC game. It's a weak argument at best, but you might be able to expand on it

[Talib Scottie]

yeah...the only real saving grace for arguing the BCS works is if it is used in the context of a playoff where it decides the top 8 or 16 teams (whatever they chose).

Yup, keep the BCS for that. There's much less controversy about if you are the 13th team (in a 12 game system) as opposed to the third team.

I think the BCS is the best system in regard to choosing the two teams however, it just sucks for that third team, sometimes the circumstances fall out of their hands.

[Flags of Dawn]

wisconsin got screwed.

[bigmike]

wisconsin got screwed.
uhh, no.

But that's for a different thread.

[Flags of Dawn]

uhh, no.

But that's for a different thread.
maybe not screwed, but we have a case.

[Talib Scottie]

wisconsin got screwed.

Okay, question... doesn't a committee chose the at-large teams?

Auburn deserves it over Notre Dame or Wisconsin. They beat Florida and LSU. True they lost to Georgia and Arkansas as opposed to Michigan and USC, but really... who did they beat? Who did Wisconsin beat?

But I'm guessing the logic is to not have 3 teams in the BCS bowls from the same conference.

[Flags of Dawn]

Okay, question... doesn't a committee chose the at-large teams?

Auburn deserves it over Notre Dame or Wisconsin. They beat Florida and LSU. True they lost to Georgia and Arkansas as opposed to Michigan and USC, but really... who did they beat? Who did Wisconsin beat?

But I'm guessing the logic is to not have 3 teams in the BCS bowls from the same conference.
yeah, basically they finished high enough in the BCS rankings to be in a BCS game, but because of OSU and Michigan, we dont get the chance to. The only thing is we didn't really play anyone other than at Michigan, which was a pretty good game.

[bigmike]

Okay, question... doesn't a committee chose the at-large teams?

Auburn deserves it over Notre Dame or Wisconsin. They beat Florida and LSU. True they lost to Georgia and Arkansas as opposed to Michigan and USC, but really... who did they beat? Who did Wisconsin beat?

But I'm guessing the logic is to not have 3 teams in the BCS bowls from the same conference.
Wisconsin cannot, by rule, be in a BCS game, I believe, so I'd assume it's the same with Auburn.

[Flags of Dawn]

Wisconsin cannot, by rule, be in a BCS game, I believe, so I'd assume it's the same with Auburn.
yea, they're penalizing teams for being in a good conference.

[bigmike]

yea, they're penalizing teams for being in a good conference.
Well, i'd give Auburn's spot before I'd give it to Wisconsin. But I don't totally mind it. I'm not sure it should be a rule, but without it, Boise St. get's squeezed out of their bowl game, which is essentially rewarding them for the last few years.

[dekdog11]

this is your opinion. completely legit opinion, but who really knows? thats all im saying. Both teams have cases. they need to settle these things on the field, which could be done with a multi team playoff, and not in the polls.

i love college football, but with the number of teams who are finishing with similar records these days ..theres gotta be a new way to determine who is most deserving of the opportunity to play for a national title.

yea...a plus 1 would have been fine for this season though i think.

[Talib Scottie]

I think the Boise State pick was a "here's your chance to prove you belong with the big dogs" sort of thing.

[FondestMemory]

I think the Boise State pick was a "here's your chance to prove you belong with the big dogs" sort of thing.

boise state wasn't picked. they earned a guarenteed spot.

if you're in a non-bcs conference and finish in the top 8 in the bcs, you're guarenteed a spot. if you finish in the top 12, you're eligible for an at large bid.

nobody picked boise state. they got that themselves.

[Flags of Dawn]

Well, i'd give Auburn's spot before I'd give it to Wisconsin. But I don't totally mind it. I'm not sure it should be a rule, but without it, Boise St. get's squeezed out of their bowl game, which is essentially rewarding them for the last few years.
yeah but who knows...next year Wisconsin could suck and we might not get the opportunity to even play in a bowl game. the BCS happens every year, so i dont understand why a team should be rewarded for what they've done in the past.

but yeah, i agree on auburn. the article i read was making some arguments for Wisconsin getting a shot instead of Notre Dame.

[Scott Weber]

I don't give a shit about the BCS, it's fine, whatever...but there should be a 4 team playoff. That's fine with me. Top 4 teams with seeding according to the BCS. One extra game for the champions. Not that big of a deal. Little/no controversey.

[AshesAshes]

I think the Boise State pick was a "here's your chance to prove you belong with the big dogs" sort of thing.

They deserve it for how good they have been the last few years and this year

[Talib Scottie]

They deserve it for how good they have been the last few years and this year

But if they get blown out I almost guarantee they won't be back next year unless they play somebody.

I'm just saying they still lack any sort of real respect.

I'm pulling for them myself, but from a voter standpoint, they're probably just like, alright go on...

[Talib Scottie]

boise state wasn't picked. they earned a guarenteed spot.

if you're in a non-bcs conference and finish in the top 8 in the bcs, you're guarenteed a spot. if you finish in the top 12, you're eligible for an at large bid.

nobody picked boise state. they got that themselves.

I thought they finished 9th, excuuuuuuse me. Wasn't aware they snuck into 8th.

[Anton Djamoos]

I just want to say thank you to all of you who have spurned good discussion about the BCS. My presentation went flawlessly and I have you guys to thank.

[livethesounds]

But if they get blown out I almost guarantee they won't be back next year unless they play somebody.

I'm just saying they still lack any sort of real respect.

I'm pulling for them myself, but from a voter standpoint, they're probably just like, alright go on...

I hope they can beat Oklahoma. Honestly i bet Oklahoma comes up a little lack luster and play down to Boise.

[thejetstolehome]

I hope they can beat Oklahoma. Honestly i bet Oklahoma comes up a little lack luster and play down to Boise.

i was expecting that sort of behavior from Oklahoma all year. i thought after losing their QB and having a semi-shitty start, they'd be done but they surprised me a lot. i think they'll win but i hope boise puts up a fight.

[histrionics22]

I just want to say thank you to all of you who have spurned good discussion about the BCS. My presentation went flawlessly and I have you guys to thank.
Good to hear.