College Football chat....the BCS National Championship title hunt.

With college football onto week 11, and with the regular season near a close, debate and discussion about who should be in and who legitimately has a shot at going to the national championship title game is, and has already been, well under way. Having watched, admired, closely studied college football for well over 10 years now, I've seen many teams pass through and how these teams were built. I've come to understand and appreciate the skill, character, and strength that define many of the top teams in the nation. With the grandeur of age, as well as formidable schooling I received (I got my bachelor's in engineering from Michigan Tech), I've acquired a much better eye for figuring out and realizing the current potential for greatness in just about any top ranked team I watch (surely, I don't spend time watching mid-american or sun belt conference/ mid-major football ...and definitely nobody else considered much more "sub-par" than that. I'll stick with the power 6 conferences, thank you!).

So without further ado, I'll wheel down the top contenders who I find to have a legitimate shot at the BCS title picture, then address the various scenarios that may play out, and so finish by enlightening all reading who I currently believe should play in the national title game (like if it was to be played today!!).

[......Oh, and just like anyone else who has even had a remote interest in football or universities, I have a favorite team as well--actually I have two teams: U of Alabama and Ohio State. Regardless of that, since I am in fact quite open-minded, and more so look to logic and fairness, I have the ability to draw criticism to even those teams (and I surely will in the following feature!!).]

First, let's start out with numero uno:

#1 LSU . Everybody is aware that they just came off a HUGE, MEGA game with Alabama in a clash of #1 and #2. My thoughts on that game was that Alabama absolutely lost it on missed FGs (not quite sure how a top ranked team has a kicker that goes 1/4!!). As well though, McCarron really wasn't as productive as he needed to be by making a critical throw or play (i.e. the third down in overtime by just falling to the ground. Jefferson, on the other hand, did very well in the run/play action pass combo). I saw that Trent Richardson (Alabama RB) had a decent game getting some nice runs in which set Bama up for those FGs. A big hit came when Maze's pass was miraculously, and athletically so, intercepted just as the Alabama TE/WR was about to hit the turf in clear possession with the ball. It was just plain, good defense on their part. Overall, good defenses in the game of course as it was a low scoring game (LSU 9 - Bama 6 , FYI if you were living under a rock for the past week or so).

#2 Oklahoma State. I obviously didn't catch the game since LSU and Bama was on, like everybody else. However, since I was obviously dissatisfied with LSU coming away with the W, I shot over to ESPN3 to catch the end of that game. Luckily I did since I caught Kansas State deep in the red zone, down by a TD, with well under 1 min to go. With that, I saw Kansas State get several chances to get it into the end zone but saw those chances, one-by-one, go by the wayside and finding Oklahoma St. pull through. Although I haven't gotten the chance to see them at all this season (I sure will Dec. 3 when vs. Oklahoma), I've seen some of data and highlights that show me that this team really has an outstanding offense (2nd in nation to Houston). Their defense on the other hand is pretty lackluster giving up nearly 30 pts a game. I think this team is pretty good but I don't see them bypassing Oklahoma in December.

#3 Alabama. I've already discussed issues and successes of Alabama in LSU's section. Many agree that LSU and Alabama are the top two teams in the nation right now. I'll discuss more about Alabama later when talking about how they may find their way into the national champ title game.

#4 Stanford. The Cardinal. Stanford is well on their way to the national title game but first faces a stiff test against Oregon THIS weekend (11/12/11). If they can get through Oregon, they should be clear for landing! I strongly believe Stanford is much underrated. Jim Harbaugh's tough-nosed offense and strong defense is still evident in Stanford if you have seen the 49ers play this season --> FYI they are 7-1 in NFL. With Andrew Luck still at the helm, I really believe and like this smart playing football team playing against LSU, if they hold on, in the national championship game. They were pretty impressive last year against Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl with only one fault against the high-octane Oregon of last year. They should defeat a weakened Oregon team (Oregon is playing a battered n bruised Lamichael and Darron Thomas).

#5 Boise State. The National title picture for Boise State is looking pretty bleak right about now. They are contending with 3 undefeated teams and a weak popularity to get their shot at the title game. Besides that, if they get past TCU this week, they will go undefeated once again. The story on Boise State is very well known: A proven contender in BCS hunt (they beat Oklahoma in 2006 Fiesta Bowl) who, with senior Kellen Moore and a strong core of players, are a very good team needing many upsets in the next few weeks to get a jump ahead in the polls. You almost want to see it happen so we can have an indisputable argument for who should be in the title game. An unbeaten LSU/Stanford/Oklahoma State and Boise State.
ummm.....Houston, we have a problem! <--actually....NO! Houston may be undefeated as well...sure....but we aren't buying in!!...Boise has an outstanding track record over the past several years and proven competition against big name schools. For you critics, this is the dark side of college football that we can't see just one undefeated or none at all (with one/two loss champ) at the end of the season via having a playoff system.

I can go through and name off Oklahoma, Oregon, and Arkansas next but their national title hopes are all but dashed. (SEE WHY BELOW!!)




NOW, here is my take on the next couple weeks and who I like in the National Title game. This week hosts Stanford and Oregon. I see Stanford winning out with a battered Oregon team in LaMichael James and Darron Thomas. I see Oklahoma getting Oklahoma State on Dec. 3. LSU SHOULD beat Arkansas on Nov. 25th.

In fact, I'm going to have go out on a limb to say that #1 LSU IS GUARANTEED A SPOT AT THE NATIONAL TITLE GAME!...with a SOOOO seemingly imminent threat-for-losses against both Oklahoma State and Stanford from Oklahoma and Oregon respectively (or other teams?!?!...remember, it's college ball!!), even a one-loss LSU (by Arkansas) would still put them over the hump of Alabama (9-6 win), Boise State, and any other 1-loss teams. I clearly don't see voters putting Arkansas ahead of both LSU and Alabama in final BCS polls and SEC is the top conference right now.

#2 Oklahoma State is in the title game if they can hold off Oklahoma (thanks to #1 ranking in computers). If not, they must fall behind Oklahoma who is already out of the picture.

I think #3 Alabama is done since they need too many things to happen. They need Oklahoma State and Stanford to lose. Then they need to convince the media to play two teams from the same conference (LSU is in, remember) to play for the title game. They didn't do it with Ohio State and Michigan in 2006 since they voted on who they wanted to see in the game (a fresh matchup) versus the two best teams in the title game.

#4 Stanford need Oklahoma State to lose to get ahead in the polls since the computers are dragging them back. They first must jump that Oregon hurdle first. One step at a time, Stanford, one step at a time!

#5 Boise State is just simply out. They have a good argument if only one other undefeated team remains. If everybody loses a game, Boise State is going to have a field day!! (obviously, disregard Houston!!)

#6 Oklahoma is OUT!! A bad loss at Texas Tech is enough to make a argument that other 1-loss teams have a "better" loss. A win against Oklahoma State should help, but there is too much (as with Alabama) that needs to happen to get Oklahoma back into it...like getting Stanford to lose. In fact, I bet voters will keep Boise State ahead of Oklahoma just because of their 2006 Fiesta bowl accident.

#7 Oregon is OUT!! Yes, they do only have one loss to LSU, who is #1. That's supposed to give them the leg up if it's only LSU remaining undefeated at the end of the season. Both LaMichael James and Darron Thomas have been injured which severely hurts their chances against a powerful Stanford team which whom I've already considered they've lost to. Even though crazy does happen in college football, this is one time they are not going to make it!! End of story!

#8 Arkansas is another OUT!! Okay, so if they do beat LSU, they will go into a three-way tie with Alabama and LSU (if everybody wins except LSU against Arkansas...okay you get it!)...according to BCS protocol, I understand it is the highest ranked team who gets to play for SEC championship, and win there sending them to the title game! Voters are not going to put Arkansas ahead of LSU and Alabama, not since that EPIC defensive showdown between those two. Arkansas doesn't have that kind of showmanship of stretch and fortitude to capture the voters. They are out.

I can list off Clemson, Virginia Tech, and others but they 99.9% have no way into the title discussion.

Who I like in the title match is easy: LSU vs. Alabama! That was the title game we saw!!! It's not going to happen because I don't think both Stanford and Oklahoma St. are BOTH going to lose. Probably one of them; PLACE NO MONEY THAT THEY BOTH WIN OUT!




So with that, it's not who I like in the title match, but who I see in the national championship title match:

LSU vs. Stanford.



LSU is not going to lose the rest of the way and Stanford is going to win against Oregon...you can't be serious!! to say they lose to Cal or Notre Dame; That's like saying LSU loses to Ole Miss!


If you've read this far, THANK YOU!! PLEASE SEE MY OTHER POSTS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!