Monday, December 7, 2009

TCU vs Boise St.

Bowl Season is here After Championship Saturday I was intrigued to see what the bowl matchups would be to end the college football season. I’m not really one of those fans that will only watch the “intriguing” games. I tend to watch all or most of every bowl game that is played, from the New Mexico Bowl right through to the BCS Championship game.

At a later date I’ll have what I think about each contest, but today I’m annoyed by one of the Fiesta Bowl game between Boise State and TCU. I am happy that two teams from outside the Big Bowl Six were able to break up the party, but why do the teams have to play each other? The two of them played last year in the Poinsettia Bowl with TCU winning. While this may not be the case, it looks the BCS doesn’t want a team from outside the family beating one of their own.

All season long prognosticators have challenged the validity of TCU and Boise State continually calling out their strength of their opponents. Instead of having them test their mettle against Georgia Tech, Florida, or Cincinnati, they are playing each other for the second year in a row. I think that playing another school would be the best way to see how good these teams really are, and pave the way for eventually giving a mid-major team the chance to play for the championship. I do think the game will be a great one to watch, but I’d rather see Boise State’s powerful offense try to score on Florida. Or watch TCU’s vaunted defense attempt to stop the Ramblin Wreck’s triple option or Cincy’s 40-point a game offense. Any thoughts what you think the BCS is doing in having the two mid-majors face off?

7 comments:

Steve said...

If you were calling the shots for a BCS bowl, and your #1 goal is to make money, would you want TCU or Boise St? I'd so much rather have UF, Texas, Bama, Cinci, Ohio St, Oregon...etc. With that being said, I like TCU to put a beat down on Boise St this year.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely the BCS is protecting it's product. There are A LOT of people that stand to lose high ranking jobs and a piece of the pie if Universities smarten up and establish their own playoff. College football doesn't need the BCS, but the BCS does need college football. Here is a great article on the situation: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news;_ylt=AgJcAH7eFYqT0epWeR_AFMIcvrYF?slug=dw-ncaafplayoff120709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns


The book is supposed to be pretty solid. Lot's of information about University Presidents and there lack of knowledge in regards to athletics, and companies they have hired to report feedback to them. Personally, I think once ESPN gets their hands on the BCS, they leverage a playoff, because ESPN knows how to make a dollar. Hundreds of millions are being left on the table in the BCS format. The whole thing is a scam...

Nate said...

Not sure ESPN can even make the colleges do a playoff.

I will say I have seen some of the light however on the TCU Boise St. thing.

Outside of the BCS Championship, Boise St./TCU is the only other bowl game featuring two top five teams, and the only bowl game featuring two undefeated teams. If they were to play someone else, they would be playing an opponent lower ranked than them.

Anonymous said...

But a win doesn't legitimize either of them. Which is what the BCS wants. Squaring TCU against Boise St. pacifies the crowd because neither can knock off a big boy. If Cincinnati gets beat, which they will, you now legitimized the BCS system...which is garbage.

TCU vs. Boise St. was done to protect the system. If Tcu or Boise State, or better yet, both beat elie programs following a year when an undefeated Utah put it on Alabama, the system would become a laughing stock, and mid-majors would have major leverage on Capital Hill.

Nate said...

However, if one of them beat Iowa or Georgia Tech, they're ranked higher and undefeated and that's what they're supposed to do.

Anonymous said...

Disagree...if they beat Georgia Tech or Iowa, they make a stronger case for deserving a shot at the title. One is a BCS conference champion and the other took the Big 10 champion to overtime. Imagine TCU or Boise State beating Tech or Iowa by 3+ scores.

Now the winner of TCU v Boise State can only claim beating another highly touted mid-major. Protect the system at all costs...

Hopefully Cincinnati can pull the upset...not likely however.

Unknown said...

I heard Herbstreet on the radio today and he said that the Fiesta Bowl did this to themselves. Apparently, they CHOSE TCU above any at large team. Once every else got a chance to pick its at large berths the Boise St. was the only team left.

Wshile that may have been the "procedure," I have no problem believing in a few nods, winks & slight of hand with cash to make this happen.