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There's still some football. Bama vs LSU for Championship? (or not)

It's been a great day of sports on TV and I thoroughly wasted the day making sure my TV didn't move. (I watched it all day and it never moved.) Obviously, the day got a great start will our young Cats playing beyond their years in enduring and overcoming a great game by the Tarheels.

After the game, it was off to football. Three games to watch - LSU/Georgia, Wisconsin/Michigan State and Oklahoma State/Oklahoma. The first to confirm LSU is the baddest boy in the neighborhood, the second to see something close (boy, was it!) and the last to see a #3 team that wants to reach the Championship Game.

OSU's demolision of the preseason #1 Sooners was impressive. Granted, OU has fallen a long way from the preseason but the performance of OSU had me thinking: Wouldn't OSU against LSU be more entertaining than Bama against LSU? And maybe make the whole bowl season more interesting?

Star-divide

Initially, I was on board the "best two teams in the country matchup" camp of evaluating the teams to be in the game. I've done a 180 and now would like to go with the "just entertain me" camp. After all, this is sports, purpose: entertainment. Besides, LSU is #1, they earned it and there's nothing wrong with anointing a team #1 in the regular season. What good does a Bama/LSU matchup do?

We'll likely end up with Bama/LSU and that makes the most sense in the traditional view - they are the two best teams in the country, no argument. That's entertaining but wouldn't OSU/LSU be more entertaining. First, even I'm getting tired of the "SEC is best" mantra and think it needs a shot in the arm. Now we've gotten to the point where we'd only have a few cross conference games early in the season to compare our conference best against other conference best.

Conferences have different styles of play and I like to see how conferences compare at the end of the year. Putting two SEC teams at the top of the food chain takes our two best teams out of reach of that comparison. There would be some interesting games showing the defense of LSU against the offense of OSU then see if OSU had bodies capable of slowing down the irresistible force of LSU's offense.

Then send Bama into the Sugar Bowl (and restore some luster to that SEC trophy) to take on Stanford. That will sufficiently quite the West Coasters concerning their command of football (I know, USC is ineligible). These matchups would continue all the way down through the bowl pecking order. When you break up the Bama/LSU game the SEC will gain all the way down the line in the bowl matchups.

So it comes down to logic or entertainment. I like Bama and LSU (when I have to) and would rather them unleash their talents on other conferences, not each other.

Poll
Who would you like to see in the National Championship game?
Bama vs LSU - Definitely should be #1 against #2
30 votes
OSU vs LSU - Give us some more unknowns
40 votes

70 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 46 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Competitive Balance

Aug 2010 from Barking Carnival - 30 comments

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I know that the way they get there is different

but what about a UK vs Florida matchup in the NCAA tourney? Many people would tune it out but the best two teams should play for a national championship every time. Football needs a playoff system.

I am all for people expressing their opinions, as long as they back them up with facts.

by kywineman on Dec 4, 2011 1:19 AM EST reply actions  

Honestly, I want Miles vs Saban again.

LSU is the baddest boy. It probably wouldn’t change the outcome, no matter who they play, but I would love to see Saban figure out how this time.

With several injuries (1 critical) when OSU fans rushed the field, that might have sealed the SEC vs SEC matchup with the voters??

Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!

by a2d2 on Dec 4, 2011 8:16 AM EST reply actions  

Good point.

However, they get to see each other every year anyway. Having the two best SEC teams play each other leaves us with #3 and below going against other conferences best teams. Also, after SC, Arkansas and Georgia there is a drop off to the next level of SEC teams that might get waxed in their bowls.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 10:25 AM EST up reply actions  

So this is an ASoB-approved BCS debate?

What’s next? An authorized thread regarding the merits of pay-for-play or a discussion of whether or not Tubby should have been fired? Heh heh…just kidding.

My stance is this: If OSU wanted to be in the title game, it shouldn’t have lost to a 6-6 Big 12 team. It’s as simple as that.

This debate isn’t new; it just takes a different form every season. The bottom line is that people find a reason to complain about the BCS every year. That suggests a broken system. But is a playoff better? Maybe. I don’t know.

by mrmondaynite on Dec 4, 2011 11:15 AM EST reply actions  

Also, based on what we've seen,

LSU will probably beat whoever it is that the BCS selects.

by mrmondaynite on Dec 4, 2011 11:17 AM EST up reply actions  

That's what I said. '-)

Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!

by a2d2 on Dec 4, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions  

I agree.

Other than maybe an NFL team nobody can touch LSU; however, if Bama should play and win against LSU in a close game the debate will rage on. To me, I think LSU has demonstrated they are #1 and should move on to whip on some other conference champion.

Its much like the SEC basketball crown. I’ve always disagreed with the champ being the winner of the tourney. Some lesser team gets hot for four games and wins the crown (see Georgia 2008) or the best team has a key injured player during the tourney and you’ve got a debatable champ. Isn’t the best team the one that demonstrated excellence through more games and a broader body of work really the best team?

This really isn’t aimed toward reviving the football playoff debate, we’re just talking about the Championship game. I’d just like to see some fresh meat on display for the Tigers and stifle the anti-SEC folks a bit. Let the conference take on a couple of the other teams around the nation that are considered contenders. I’m confident LSU and Bama would prevail and it would, somewhat, justify the current system.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 12:43 PM EST up reply actions  

Gotcha.

It’s obviously a solid talking point. We’ll see what happens.

If we’re going straight up “entertainment,” however, give me OREGON-OSU. Final score: 65-59. Who cares who wins. If you like offense, that’s entertainment.

by mrmondaynite on Dec 4, 2011 2:09 PM EST up reply actions  

Heh

Just let them play first one to 100 wins, shouldn’t take very long. ;-)

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 4:14 PM EST up reply actions  

I'll bet you argued the exact opposite (like everyone on ESPN) when the issue was whether LSU should play in NC game in '07.

That LSU team lost to not 1 but 2 unranked opponents – a 7-5 UK and an unranked Ark team in the last game of the season. Georgia, who was also 2 losses and playing better than anyone in the country was argued by ESPN folk that they could not be considered for NC game b/c they didn’t even win the SEC East (not true, actually – it was a tie but UT won the tie-breaker due to a head to head win).

Now, we let ‘Bama play in the NC game against a team they already lost to AT HOME and ignore an OKL ST team that played a better schedule (5 ranked teams v. 3 for ’Bama for example) – of ’Bama’s only 4 teams with winning record, one was Ga Southern, a Div 1-AA(whatever it is called now) team.

I’m an SEC homer – but I think LSU is being screwed by having to beat a team it already beat once on the road again – and if it loses – it is like the first win never happened. Every game counts in college football, right? Well, not if you’re Alabama or LSU.

Look, I think Alabama and LSU are the 2 best teams, but ‘Bama doesn’t deserve another shot – it is unfair to LSU too. And it is unfair to Okl State which does have a better resume of wins that ’Bama. The SEC already has one team in the NC game. Insisting on 2 in this situation is wrong.

[If the two best teams were from the SEC east and SEC west, and they split two games (one regular season and one SEC champ game), then I could see the argument for the NC game rubber match. Not the case here. Just wrong.]

by JackBluto on Dec 5, 2011 4:20 PM EST up reply actions  

#1 and #2 should play.

In my view, that is Alabama and LSU.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Dec 4, 2011 12:27 PM EST reply actions  

Yeah,

I’m not saying OSU is a #2 team, just that there seems more to gain for the SEC and football in general if OSU faces LSU and Bama can go on to beat some other team.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions  

Not sure how the SEC gains.

Don’t really agree about college football in general.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Dec 4, 2011 3:12 PM EST up reply actions  

Well, I think it would help the SEC have a better shot

at sweeping the bowl games if LSU and Bama were in the mix of pairing for bowls. As to football in general, there is a lot of grumbling by the anit-SEC crowd fighting an all-SEC National Championship game. It would quiet them a bit and I think the bowl season would be a little more interesting for those outside the SEC since the other conference champions might find themselves pushed up a notch in level of bowls.

For instance, OSU going to the NC would allow the Fiesta Bowl to find some other team to participate and offer the opportunity of marquee match-ups. Also that would allow the Sugar Bowl to select Bama for another marquee matchup.

It just seems there is more opportunity for better match ups for bowl season and all of the hype wouldn’t be focused on a LSU/Bama rematch.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 4:24 PM EST up reply actions  

Well, that certainly reasonable.

I still think the BCS championship should be the top two teams, no matter who it helps or hurts, though.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Dec 4, 2011 6:31 PM EST up reply actions  

You think it is fair to make LSU beat 'Bama at 'Bama and again in a bowl game...

… and if they don’t sweep ‘Bama that bowl game is given greater weight and we pretend the first win didn’t happen?

Or that OSU, which has a higher computer ranking that ’Bama and more top 25 wins than ’Bama and beat the pre-season #1 by a bunch only to get snubbed by a team that did not even play in its conference championship game?

That is fair? That is BS – which is BCS without the C.

That is all. ;)

by JackBluto on Dec 5, 2011 4:24 PM EST up reply actions  

Sure.

Top two teams. That’s all I care about. Period. Exclamation point. End of story.

That is all.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Dec 5, 2011 6:53 PM EST up reply actions  

Fair?

We’re not talking fair, there isn’t a “fair” system – in place OR proposed. Someone will always get screwed and have a strong argument.

Ultimately, Bama/LSU is probably the right matchup – #1 and #2. Las Vegas agrees. They have Bama as a two point favorite over LSU whereas Oklahoma State would be an underdog by 10- 12 points to Bama or LSU.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 5, 2011 10:21 PM EST up reply actions  

I guess I agree LSU and Bama should play - but when the score is 12-15 and all field goals - not very entertaining

I love a high scoring shootout – BB on grass.

A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!

by KansasUKCat on Dec 4, 2011 12:39 PM EST reply actions  

I prefer good defense, but some offense.

These two teams have almost NFL-level defenses, and very good offenses. I’m not quite so sure this next game will be like the last one. Probably it will be more like 21-7 or something.

The “Basketball on grass” games rarely make it to the BCS championships. The old saw that “defense wins championships” has never been more true than today.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Dec 4, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions  

Oh that's true but yesterday's game between the Packers and Giants was a great game and high scoring and good defense

That is exactly the kind of game I enjoy watching – just me.

A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!

by KansasUKCat on Dec 5, 2011 4:32 AM EST up reply actions  

Just a little more fodder for the debate:

In this article the FoxSports writer points out OSU has beat more current top 25 teams (#10, #11, #17, #22 and #25) than Bama (#8 and #21). Also, Bama’s loss was at home while OSU’s was a double overtime away game right after news broke of the plane crash killing coaches from the women’s basketball team. In that game they did hold a 24 – 7 lead before Iowa State made their comeback. Iowa State went on to lose decisively at #9 OU then narrowly lose at #11 Kansas State where they won every stat but the score.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 1:01 PM EST reply actions  

LSU was allowed in a NC game despite two losses to unranked teams with only 7 wins.

UK and Arkansas.

And Georgia, which was probably the hottest and best team at the end of that year, was snubbed (and jumped in the final poll by teams that did not even play the last weekend) for the NC game. Why? B/c, according to the same talking heads that support Alabama this year, Georgia did not even play in the SEC championship game.

Huh. These guys could be politicians. Flip flop much?

by JackBluto on Dec 5, 2011 4:28 PM EST up reply actions  

LSu vs Bama for the Crystal Ball...

They are the 2 best teams and therefore should play for the title. I do not think it is a slam dunk that LSU wins again. At the very least, Bama played LSU evenly in the first game. 4n missed FG’s are why LSU is #1 and not Bama.

There are no Litmus Tests in football. The best 2 teams should play, regardless of who they are or what conference they reside in.

Slower Traffic Keep Right!

by SevenRings on Dec 4, 2011 1:05 PM EST reply actions  

I just think the best team has already become evident

and doesn’t need to validate their standing. If LSU plays Bama and loses by one point in OT then Bama gets the National Championship? Ugly scenario. Guess we’ll find out tonight how last nights pasting of OU by OSU effected the voters.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 1:32 PM EST up reply actions  

I think 'Bama and Oregon lost to LSU - LSU should get to beat someone else in the NC game.

If every game counts in college football because we don’t have a play off, then every game counts. That means LSU already beat ‘Bama and OU – they should get fresh meat – not allow a rematch to steal the first win as though it didn’t happen.

by JackBluto on Dec 5, 2011 4:30 PM EST up reply actions  

That is just a cliche that has never been true....
If every game counts in college football because we don’t have a play off, then every game counts.

Slower Traffic Keep Right!

by SevenRings on Dec 5, 2011 6:05 PM EST up reply actions  

I voted with an eye on entertainment...

so voted for LSU & Oklahoma. but as the question is written, with the NC on the line I think it should be Bama in there.
The cross conference play would be good, but every playoff scenario I see would at best limit the conference to two teams, And I don’t think we want to go there.

by blenheim bard on Dec 4, 2011 1:19 PM EST reply actions  

Maybe throw things in absolute turmoil

by having Bama play OSU for #2. (We definitely won’t see that matchup.) It really might come down to whether the voters think #1 has already been established through the regular season.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 1:35 PM EST up reply actions  

This year makes a good argument for the plus one.

Or even a 4-team playoff.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Dec 4, 2011 3:16 PM EST up reply actions  

I’m not sure how the plus one would be seeded with this field of teams. I guess the 4 team playoff would be Bama/OSU and LSU/Stanford?

What makes this year unique is the real uproar won’t take place until after the Championship game takes place and only if LSU loses. Otherwise, grumbling won’t be heard until this time next year – again.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 4:29 PM EST up reply actions  

I think the plus one ...

… would have just been a game between Bama and OSU, would it not?

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Dec 4, 2011 6:32 PM EST up reply actions  

I guess so.

Then we’d still get the LSU/Bama game. ;-)

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 9:27 PM EST up reply actions  

Likely.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Dec 5, 2011 6:54 PM EST up reply actions  

deja vu, jr. ,-)

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 9:13 PM EST up reply actions  

The inevitable happened.

#1Bama/#2LSU in NC and #3OSU/#4Stanford in Fiesta Bowl. Both should be great games to watch as those and the rest of the BCS bowls are announced. The other BCS bowls being Rose Bowl (#10Wisc/#5Oregon), Sugar (#13 Michigan/#11 Virginia Tech) and Orange (#23 West Virginia/ #15 Clemson).

Rose Bowl – should be entertaining

Sugar Bowl – Michigan? Really, #13 Michigan? And #11 Virginia? What was the crown trophy of the SEC has turned into a showdown of also-rans from also-ran conferences.

Orange Bowl – #23 vs #15 in a BCS bowl? This is an insult to football fans. I thought the Sugar Bowl trophy had lost its luster until I see yet another year of the worst BCS bowl being the Orange Bowl. The BCS system has turned what was once a premier bowl game not able to field a top 10 team (again). Will anybody watch, or care? There are a lot better “second tier” bowl game on tap than this stinker.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Dec 4, 2011 9:25 PM EST reply actions  

What a waste to have Boise State playing against a 6-6 team with a fired head coach

One missed field goal and they would be playing for the championship – what a downer for FB fans and Boise. Now an Arkansas vs Bosie game would be highly entertaining but so goes the bowl bs.

A man is nothing more than a summation of his scars!

by KansasUKCat on Dec 5, 2011 4:48 AM EST reply actions  

Agreed.

I would love hear to the excuses for LSU-Bama if Boise St had been undefeated (and they would be the last two years if they could find a field goal kicker).

But I assure you – even if Boise St had been undefeated, and despite UGa’s resurgence this year, ’Bama would have been in the championship game.

by JackBluto on Dec 5, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions  

And rightfully so.

Better team. Deserves it.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Dec 5, 2011 6:54 PM EST up reply actions  

A playoff would solve this

Dayman, Fighter of the Nightman, Champion of the Sun

@btcoop71

by btcoop71 on Dec 6, 2011 8:48 AM EST reply actions  

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