Poll: Who belongs in the title game?

ISUFan22 · 11-30-2006, 09:14 AM

Assuming the teams listed with games yet to play win out, who belongs in the title game to face Ohio State?

travman23 · 11-30-2006, 09:18 AM

I know some people don't want to see a rematch but after watching the OSU/Michigan game I don't doubt that Michigan is the 2nd best team in the country. What if that loss had come a month earlier? They are still the best 1 loss team in the country even if that loss was their most recent game.

ISUFan22 · 11-30-2006, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by travman23

What if that loss had come a month earlier?

IMO, that is the key. It's all the timing as far as where the voters are voting right now.

While I'm not excited about a rematch, I think it does put the 2 best teams together. And that is the goal of the BCS, right?

USC is getting too much credit for dismantling a not-as-good-as-most-people-think Fighting Irish team.

BryceC · 11-30-2006, 09:41 AM

I agree that Michigan might be the second best team in the nation, but it's not about that to me. They already had their chance. USC is playing great, and with the exception of what has to be considered a fluke win they could be undefeated. I think they deserve a shot more than Michigan deserves a shot x2.

VII_Fe · 11-30-2006, 09:46 AM

Wisconsin???

What about the Sooners who got screwed in Oregon.

Is much as I hate to admit it, USC is pretty good. Providing they beat UCLA, I believe they should go. If the right teams win Saturday (Arkansas and Nebraska) they will have already beaten 2 Conference Champs. With that being said I am pulling for UCLA and a rematch with Michigan.

bawbie · 11-30-2006, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

And that is the goal of the BCS, right?

Not really. The goal of the BCS is to make money, pure and simple.

Fatsow · 11-30-2006, 09:54 AM

Where's the hawkeyes?

travman23 · 11-30-2006, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by bawbie

Not really. The goal of the BCS is to make money, pure and simple.

Another reason an 8 team playoff would settle any controversy. If you seed OSU #1 and Michigan and USC either #2 or #3 then the only way you get to a rematch is by taking care of business on the field and not through a stupid computer calculation.

klerme · 11-30-2006, 09:57 AM

I disagree that Michigan is no. 2 - remember, the only good teams that they have beaten are Notre Dame and Wisconsin. As it stands now, looking at objective facts, I would put USC #2, Florida #3 and Michigan #4. The reason is simple if you look at the quality of the opponents that they have played throughout the year.

If USC wins, they will be 11-1 with a schedule consisting of 10 BCS Conference/ND BOWL ELIGIBLE schools with the other games being against 5-7 Washington and lowly Stanford. That means they had to beat decent quality opponents week in and week out.

Florida almost rivals USC's schedule in that if they beat Arkansas, they will be 11-1 playing 9 BCS Conference Bowl Eligible schools, including a stretch of 6 games in a row. BTW - Florida reminds me of the Ohio State championship team that beat Miami - they win ugly, but the key is, they win. They are well coached and have a solid defense and special teams to go with an offense that does just enough.

Michigan has played only 6 games against BCS Conference Bowl Eligible schools, including Iowa and Minnesota, with their longest streak of "quality" games being 3 in a row. That means they only had to show up with their decent game 1/2 of the season. Does anybody really believe had they played a quality opponent when they played Ball State that they would have won? In all honesty, Michigan is one of the schools I root for after ISU, but the facts speak for themselves.

If only the NCAA could learn the word "Playoffs" for D-1 FB.

cycloneworld · 11-30-2006, 10:06 AM

It should be USC as much as I don't like them.

They have beaten:
Arkansas AT Arkansas 50-14
Nebraska 28-10
Oregon 35-10
Cal 23-9
Notre Dame 44-24

Michigan has beaten:
Notre Dame
Wisconsin

Better resume IMO. Plus I still think you should win your conference before playing for the national title. Michigan had their shot, now let's let USC have theirs.

ISUFan22 · 11-30-2006, 10:17 AM

klerme, you make a phenomenal point. It is very difficult to dispute your logic.

I still think Michigan is the 2nd best team in the nation having watched them play - especially vs. OSU.

However, they haven't been battle tested weekly like USC and Florida.

Great post!

ColoradoClone · 11-30-2006, 10:36 AM

There's a flaw in arguments claiming Michigan must be number two because of the head to head they had with the team ranked number 1. That flaw is automatically assuming Ohio State is the best team in the nation. They haven't played the same schedule that USC has, or Florida has. Maybe they're better, or maybe they're not. However, if USC plays, and destroys Ohio State, can there be a logical argument that claims OSU is still the better team?

My point is, we know how close Michigan and Ohio State, but don't we need to find out how close USC, or Florida and Ohio State are?

clones_jer · 11-30-2006, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by ColoradoClone

There's a flaw in arguments claiming Michigan must be number two because of the head to head they had with the team ranked number 1. That flaw is automatically assuming Ohio State is the best team in the nation. They haven't played the same schedule that USC has, or Florida has. Maybe they're better, or maybe they're not. However, if USC plays, and destroys Ohio State, can there be a logical argument that claims OSU is still the better team?

My point is, we know how close Michigan and Ohio State, but don't we need to find out how close USC, or Florida and Ohio State are?

Exactly. That Texas win looks less impressive with every passing week. What happens if Florida or USC CRUSHES Ohio State? Maybe, just maybe the Big Ten was overrated this year ... maybe that big 1-2 matchup between OSU-MICH was really the 3-4 matchup which made it a good game. Personally I dislike all of the top 4 teams involved, but for proof of a champion I think you have to go with USC or Florida

ColoradoClone · 11-30-2006, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

Exactly. That Texas win looks less impressive with every passing week. What happens if Florida or USC CRUSHES Ohio State? Maybe, just maybe the Big Ten was overrated this year ... maybe that big 1-2 matchup between OSU-MICH was really the 3-4 matchup which made it a good game. Personally I dislike all of the top 4 teams involved, but for proof of a champion I think you have to go with USC or Florida

Right. Also, if you go with a rematch, and Michigan wins, then what the hell do you do. You have multiple 1 loss teams, including two that have played each other and beat each other. What a mess that would be. Michigan had a shot and lost. Give a shot to someone else.

CloneFan65 · 11-30-2006, 11:17 AM

With the tougher schedule, if USC beats UCLA they definitely deserve the chance to play OSU. If this happens I give USC a good chance. I didn't think OSU's defense looked that great against Michigan, so I don't think they can shut down USC. I'm hoping for this match-up. I think it could be a shoot-out.