Bleacher Report Liberty Bowl Preview, puzzling to say the least!!!!!

[isuchicago]

I like Tulsa and expect a good game.. but I think people put too much stock into 10-3/10-2/11-1 records from conferences like C-USA/MAC/Big East. I'm not talking about the article.

Kent St for example..they played 1 team from a tough conference. It was Kentucky, one of the worst teams in the SEC and they lost by 5 TDs. There should be a rule: If you lose by 5 TDs to Kentucky, you are not eligible to be ranked for the rest of the season..and yet they are.

Northern Illinois plays Iowa and Kansas. Splits the 2 in two close games against two awful teams..and they are ranked playing in a BCS game.

I actually rooted for the Boise State teams that I thought deserved a shot..these are not those teams. Not every team from a crap conference with a good record deserves that shot. Setting up for some horrible bowl games. Doesn't have much to do with tulsa, but that's been bugging me. I think the Big East fits that category now too. Watching Louisville get blown out by florida is not exciting.

[00clone]

Best part of the article ... picture of the cheerleader on the right margin.

Going to admit that I scrolled back to the top of the page to re-click the link cause I missed this.

Enjoyed it, still trying to decide if it was worth all that scrolling.

[alarson]

I shouldnt even comment on a BR article, but this is just one more case where it shows your average sports fan and\or writer has no clue as to the concept of strength of schedule. Yeah, sure, Tulsa has done some decent things.. against zero competition. And sure, iowa state lost 3 of its last 4, but those 3 were one top 30 team, one top 15 team, and one top 10 team, and it also conveniently leaves out that we won the game before that to #18 rated baylor)

Tulsa's top wins?
40 Fresno State
60 UCF (2x, a 2 point win and an OT game)
102 Rice
115 Houston
118 Marshall
146 UTEP
148 UAB
162 Tulane


Tulsa's losses?
#38 ISU
#68 Arkansas
#78 SMU

Iowa State's top wins
19 Baylor
26 TCU
(Also beat #71 iowa, #58 tulsa, #86 kansas, and 191 western illinois)
Iowa State's worst losses?
27 TTU
28 WVU
(4 other losses to top 15 teams)

Anyone who sees the data like this will come to a simple conclusion- the only reason tulsa has a better record is they have such an easy schedule. Tulsa beat TWO teams in the top 100! Two! For perspective's sake, there are I-AA teams ranked higher than 100 (including UNI). ISU never lost to anyone outside the top 30, and beat 2 teams in the top 30! (as compared to 2 in the top 100 and only one in the top 50 for tulsa) With tulsa's schedule, you might predict that ISU would run the table. Even Kansas would probably rack up at least 6-7 wins on that schedule. One would also predict that Tulsa would win no more games than we did, and likely lose more than that as there is no evidence they would beat teams like TCU and Baylor. TCU on our schedule might not even be bowl eligible.

[4Cyclones]

I shouldnt even comment on a BR article, but this is just one more case where it shows your average sports fan and\or writer has no clue as to the concept of strength of schedule. Yeah, sure, Tulsa has done some decent things.. against zero competition. And sure, iowa state lost 3 of its last 4, but those 3 were one top 30 team, one top 15 team, and one top 10 team, and it also conveniently leaves out that we won the game before that to #18 rated baylor)

Tulsa's top wins?
40 Fresno State
60 UCF (2x, a 2 point win and an OT game)
102 Rice
115 Houston
118 Marshall
146 UTEP
148 UAB
162 Tulane


Tulsa's losses?
#38 ISU
#68 Arkansas
#78 SMU

Iowa State's top wins
19 Baylor
26 TCU
(Also beat #71 iowa, #58 tulsa, #86 kansas, and 191 western illinois)
Iowa State's worst losses?
27 TTU
28 WVU
(4 other losses to top 15 teams)

Anyone who sees the data like this will come to a simple conclusion- the only reason tulsa has a better record is they have such an easy schedule. Tulsa beat TWO teams in the top 100! Two! For perspective's sake, there are I-AA teams ranked higher than 100 (including UNI). ISU never lost to anyone outside the top 30, and beat 2 teams in the top 30! (as compared to 2 in the top 100 and only one in the top 50 for tulsa) With tulsa's schedule, you might predict that ISU would run the table. Even Kansas would probably rack up at least 6-7 wins on that schedule. One would also predict that Tulsa would win no more games than we did, and likely lose more than that as there is no evidence they would beat teams like TCU and Baylor. TCU on our schedule might not even be bowl eligible.

Ohhhhh, so your going with facts, ok ok ok, I get it, but lets not let those get in the way from here on out, ok?

Very good post, with actual facts and stats!

[KMAC_ATTACK]

For perspective, you should read his bio....college basketball fan and is writing about college football while probably watching a BBall game...

He's not even a football fan, has no clue on how to evaluate the competition he's watching, purely a journalist having never even played ball....

Its ok - just a little misled is all, there will be a lot of people that simply look at records and say Tulsa is the better team. However, if you notice that ISU already beat them once and both teams have improved, it should be a similar game. Biggest problem for us will be Knott not in the game as he's obviously great against the runs and intermediate routes....

You can drop the writer a note here....

josh.schoch@yahoo.com

[DirtyDanchez]

Here's my bleacher report.......

Who the hell knows whats going to happen, hell both teams could lose 5 starters by the time the game kicks off, its a 30 day gap between games. Tulsa lost its best offensive player last year 3 days before the bowl game and nobody knew till kickoff.

[VeloClone]

Loving this comment:

Hasn't Baylor been a double digit under dog in their past 3 games and they've all three including a total butt whooping of kansas state? lol I wouldn't under estimate them! Also looking at their schedule...they haven't lost once by 10+ this year so saying they will lose now by 10 is a stretch especially while they're playing their best ball

Jantz, Cyclones Defeat Baylor, 35-21 - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports

There apparently is no math requirement to graduate at Baylor.