This week I'm filling in for Sully on TOTW...College Football isn't really his thing, and the BCS mess seemed to be the most deserving of the Golden Plunger...

As my good friend B-Dub pointed out Monday, back in 2003 Nick Saban had this to say, "Anyone that doesn't win their conference has no business playing in the national championship game."

So, why hasn't Saban refused to have his team play in the BCS Championship game? His Alabama team didn't win their conference...Hell, they didn't even make it into the conference championship game? Why, because they lost to LSU!

Supporters of the BCS have always defended the system saying that it makes every regular season game count...Well clearly it doesn't, because LSU already beat 'Bama, yet some tool, Jeff Sagarin and his computer program have said 'NOT GOOD ENOUGH! PLAY AGAIN!' So if 'Bama wins, will LSU then get a rematch? No...This tool and his computer program have had Alabama playing in this game all year...

The theory of the BCS is to have the two best teams in the country play for the title...Play for the title, without a playoff...It has lead people to think that teams have to go undefeated, which is a tough thing to do...And it's pretty rare that you'll get two teams, and only two teams that will be undefeated at the end of the year...There have been many years where an undefeated is left outside looking in, because of the computer systems...We've even seen an undefeated team not in the game, while one loss teams play...There are so many flaws it's unreal...

No playoff is retarded...College football, while not "Pros" it is a major sport...Look at the championship winning teams from the past year in major sports...In a BCS type system, with no playoff, the Dallas Mavericks wouldn't have played for the NBA Championship...The Green Bay Packers wouldn't have played in the "Super Bowl"...The Boston Bruins wouldn't have played for the Stanley Cup final...The St. Louis Cardinals wouldn't have played in the World Series...

In all those sports, the regular season mattered...All those teams had to claw their way through it, and fight to get into the playoffs...Then they had to grind through playoffs to be the last team standing...But with college football, we have the BCS...The Bowl Championship Series...A bunch of bowl games that mean nothing, except for the money they generate, and one that means everything...But the games that are played, meant to decided who plays for it all, mean nothing...A Tool, and his computer program decide...

Supposedly strength of schedule is figured in...Every team has a weak opponent or two, and some teams that are thought to be better, but end up having a down year...Well, Alabama played 3 weak SEC teams, along with North Texas, Kent State, and D-2 Georgia Southern...That's 6 weak ass teams...Half their schedule...Looking at Oklahoma State's schedule, there are 4-5 weak games on there...Their one loss just like 'Bama's, a close game, an OT game, a conference game...But guess what...They won their conference, so once again let's look at what Nick Saban said in 2003...

"Anyone that doesn't win their conference has no business playing in the national championship game."


Later, The Beeze.

  Well ladies and gentlemen, here we are again for a Whip It Out Wednesday at YouGabSports (a couple of hours early). Gotta be honest with you folks... I'm pretty pissed off right now. At college football, at the Detroit Lions, and at Ndamukong Suh. So, without any further delay, I'll get this rant out of my head and into your ear-holes. Enjoy...

 First things first, the biggest bitch on everybody's list, our "National Championship Game" featuring a rematch of that 9-6 crapfest between LSU and Alabama. I can give you the usual, recycled message about how this is bullshit, how the NCAA and the BCS are nothing but a pathetic cash-grab... but honestly, anymore, I just do not care anymore. Does it piss me off... hell yes it does. I used to be a HUGE college football fan. Used to truly enjoy watching games, rooting for my favorite and against my least favorite teams... but honestly, any more, does any of it even matter? 

 Look at what we have this year. A rematch of what was, frankly, a God-awful football game for the national championship. A team that lost, at home, failed to even score a touchdown against the #1 team in the country is somehow #2... and somehow gets a shot at a national championship despite not even winning it's DIVISION... let alone its' conference championship. Alabama acutally BENEFITS from not playing in their conference championship game! A team that took care of its' business in rivalry games, especially against their chief rival in Oklahoma, sits at home and wonders what else it could have done to prove themselves worthy of the all-mighty SEC (aside from the obvious beat Iowa State thing). Honestly though, what does it say about the regular season, about a conference championship, when you hand a title shot to a team that did NOTHING to deserve that title shot while everybody who actually took care of their business gets a hearty pat on the back and a trip to a different bowl game? The whole thing is crap. 

  Honestly folks, I am DONE. I'm done worrying about it... I'm DONE giving a fuck about college football until something is done here. The BCS is a travesty, a mockery of what was a once great game. Fuck the NCAA, the BCS, and every coach in America who actually voted for Alabama over Oklahoma State. The only BCS bowl game I will actually watch this year will be Oklahoma State-Stanford... and as for the rest of these garbage bowl games, the only way I'll sit and watch them will be if I'm a guest at someone else's home and THEY happen to be watching said games. Bye bye college football... let me know when you get a fucking playoff and the sport is worth watching again.

  Now, on to the "big boys"... in some cities at least. Here in Detroit, we've got a group of petulant fucking children disguised as grown men putting on our unis. I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Raolia... the Lions' starting center for the past ten or so years... but I will agree 100% with his postgame statements after that embarrassing performance in New Orleans on national television Sunday night... GROW THE FUCK UP. Here are his sentiments after the game...

  Quick side note... LOVE the last "GROW THE FUCK UP" he threw in there for good measure. 

 Could NOT agree more. Look, these are grown fucking men on the field. It's bad enough you had the black eye on Thanksgiving with Suh stomping a Packers lineman after grating his face into the fucking turf. Now you get a guy throwing a ball at an opponent, shoving an official, and all kinds of other classless, clueless behavior on the field. Honestly if I'm Jim Schwartz, I take a long, hard look at sending a LOUD message to the entire roster. If it's me, I give Stefan Logan the axe. That's right, his ass is CUT... Monday morning as soon as the waiver wires open. The guy isn't that great a player... we grabbed him off the shit heap and there's another guy just like him waiting out there on that very same shit heap who'll come in and return kicks. That's all the fucking guy does... cut his ass. Show your guys you're not going to tolerate this shit... and if someone else steps out of line... if Pettigrew shoves another ref... suspend his ass. 

  Plain and simple, this team is in a playoff race right now. Lucky for you, the Bears are a fucking MASH unit right now without their starting backfield, and the Cowboys are, well, the Cowboys, and even the Falcons took a dump this Sunday. You're right where you were last week. Still on the outside looking in, but with a very beatable Minnesota team coming in and a wounded Bears team in front of you. It's pretty easy, if you go 2-2 over your next four, you SHOULD back into the playoffs. The Bears might not win again this year with the problems they have on offense. But if you keep playing and acting like a bunch of fucking clowns on the field, you are not only NOT going to make the playoffs, you are going to be a joke in the NFL once again. 

  As for Ndamukong Suh... the car accident by its self is not a big deal. Sure, you were driving like an idiot... but what we have here is this guy establishing a history of being a fucking liar. He lied about the stomp instead of manning up, he put on his fancy suit and headed to New York city to figure out just why everybody thought he was a dirty player, and now he's lying to police about a car crash. This guy is nearing pathological liar status the way he's going. Two things Suh... #1, quit doing stupid shit. #2- quit lying about it when you get caught doing stupid shit! It's a pretty simple formula. Learn it, know it, love it, and live it. 

  That's all I've got for ya tonight Gabbers. Thanks as always for reading and for any comments you leave on the way out. 

I don't want to see a rematch between Alabama and LSU. Granted the two best defenses in College football, but Bama didn't win their conference championship and lost to LSU. Oklahoma State should at least have a chance.
 

So, the "game of the century" wrapped up in overtime with LSU prevailing over Alabama by a score of 9-6. I'm not surprised in the least that it was a defensive battle, but the game really came down to Alabama only converting on 2 of 6 field goal attempts. With such a close game, there are going to be numerous people calling for a rematch come bowl season, but will it happen?

The Contenders

• LSU - As of right now, LSU is in the drivers seat following their win against the Crimson Tide. Unless the Tigers were to lose a game somewhere down the road, they're going to be playing for the National Title. 
• Oklahoma State - The Cowboys hung on to beat a tough Kansas State team by a score of 52-45. Kansas State had a chance to win it, but couldn't convert in the red zone as time expired. We already know their offense can outgun just about anyone in the country, but they have a tough test coming up against Oklahoma in three weeks. With Alabama's loss, the Cowboys are likely to move up to #2 in the rankings for the time being.
• Stanford - Stanford has the offensive capabilities being led by Heisman favorite Andrew Luck, but after a close call against USC last week in a triple overtime thriller, how will the Cardinals fare against the Oregon Ducks next week? 
• Boise State - The school voters love to hate. Boise doesn't play the strongest schedule by any means, but they've always come to play when it matters, especially in the bowl games. Will Boise State finally get some love from the rankings if the teams in front of the Broncos falter? 
• Alabama - Alabama isn't going to fall too far down the rankings with a loss to LSU, and people are definitely going to be calling for a rematch between arguable the two best teams in the country. That said, if Oklahoma State, Stanford, or Boise State remain undefeated, Alabama shouldn't vault over them. They still have an outside chance at the National Title. 
• Oklahoma - In three weeks they will play their biggest game against one of college football's best offenses in Oklahoma State. Can Oklahoma beat their in-state rivals? If they do, they'll surely receive a lot of love in the polls, but their story is the same as Alabama's. Even if they win, a one-loss team shouldn't vault over teams with no losses. 

In a few weeks, hopefully this will all be cleared up. That said, if teams like Stanford and Oklahoma State falter, this could become really messy.

Yes, like it or not Nebraska fans, you are Texas' little bitch.  You havent beaten the Bevos in a regular season game in fifty fucking years!  Fifty!  Then you skip out of the conference because big brother Texas wont let you have your way!  If you are talking as much shit as Nebraska's fans/alumni/administration were, you HAVE to win this game!  Well, they really could have won the game.  Texas didnt really outplay them.  Nebraska had FOUR dropped touchdown passes!  Not to mention at least three more drops that would have been in field goal range.  They played sloppy, couldnt catch, committed too many offensive penalties, etc, etc, etc.  The list goes on.  Nebraska played well enough to win this game by by 14 points.  They just didnt execute AT ALL!

It was nice to see Oklahoma finally play a complete game.  Iowa State was completely dominated that game.  They couldnt run the ball, and Austen Arnaud was under pressure the entire game.  Im not going to get too excited....after all, it is just Iowa State.....but it was nice to see that this young defense can turn in a performance like this.  We just might be the best team in the Big 12 after all.  We are definitely one of the top three, which is better than I thought after the Utah State and Cincinnati games.....

Do you think that maybe Texas is rethinking keeping Kansas in the Big 12 yet?  Kansas once again got pummeled, this time by by arch rival Kansas State.  The Jayhawks are lost on defense, and nearly as bad on offense.  They might not win another game....

I knew Wisconsin was a good team early on. They played like a great team on Saturday.  Some teams dont show up to play the number one team.  The Badgers certainly did.  They had Ohio State in a a two TD hole five minutes into the game!  Ohio State played well after that, but Wisconsin always stayed one step ahead and pulled out a hard earned victory.  This was Wisconsin's first victory over a number one team since 1981 when they beat Michigan. 

Its games like this that make you wonder if Christian Ponder is really as good as he/his numbers make him seem.  He committed four turnovers by himself.  Florida State better hope he doesnt do that against a good team.  Boston College was equally bad at the QB position.  Their freshman went just 9-24 passing, but, you know, he is a freshman.  What is Ponder's excuse?  Lapses in judgment like this game shouldnt still be happening to him!

Michigan State is 7-0 for the first time since 1966.  And you know what?  It is quite possible that they will finish undefeated too.  The only ranked team they have left on their schedule is Iowa.  The bad news?  That game is in Iowa City....

Well, so much for North Carolina State's strong start.  If they play like they did in the overtime loss to East Carolina, they are going to have problems reaching the six wins required for a bowl berth.

It was nice while it lasted for Syracuse.  Winning three straight is still an impressive feat for a team that has been as bad as they have for the last decade.  Im not saying Syracuse is done yet either.  I still think they make a bowl.  As far as Pitt goes, Im not sure they will.  They are the UCLA of the east coast.  You wonder how a team can look so good one week and so unbelievably bad the next. 

Clemson ended their three game skid in dominating fashion by pounding Maryland.  Call me a cynic, but maybe thats why I dont believe in the Terps.  Because they dont show up when they play good teams.

How in the world did Memphis win a game?  They looked really really bad.  Like Western Kentucky bad.

Lets see here.......Jerrod Johnson throws for 322 yards, doesnt turn the ball over, and Texas A&M still gets blown out?  The problems there might not be the players' fault.  Just saying...... 

Duke turns the ball over seven times, but only loses by 15 points.  Miami is not quite the juggernaut we all thought at the beginning of the season. On another note, Duke was happy about only turning the ball over seven times until they realized basketball hadnt started yet......

Rutgers may have won the game, but Im guessing not a whole lot of people cared.  For those of you that didnt watch, DT Eric LeGrand was carted off the field after making a hit on a kickoff return in the fourth quarter.  He still wasnt moving when they got him off of the field, and the prognosis is not good.  This has to be the worst win in school history.  Its sounding like LeGrand is paralyzed.  The extent of which is still not fully known.  Please join every college football fan in hoping/praying for a full recovery.  Or at least enough of a recovery that this kid can lead a fairly normal life.

108 combined points, 1036 total yards, 468 rushing yards, and 55 first downs.  You would say just another shootout in the Big 12 or WAC, right?  Wrong!  This was from a SEC game!  I thought they played defense in that conference!  These were the stats from the Auburn-Arkansas game, and I am betting that if Ryan Mallet hadnt gotten hurt in the first quarter, the numbers would have been even higher.  When the dust settled, the teams had set a SEC record for most points scored in a non-overtime game, and Auburn pulled away with 28 points in the last five minutes to put the game away.  The 65 points Auburn put up is a record for points in a conference game.  Oh, and I will say the officials in this game, including the one in the booth, need work because they should all be out of jobs after this game.  They got two critical calls wrong that went up to the replay booth, and once again, the officials may have changed the outcome of a game. 

The "We're Not Dead Yet" award goes to USC for throttling a Cal team still struggling to find an identity this year.  USC has the talent, and if they dont beat themselves with penalties, will finish the season in the top 25 for all the good it will do.....

Would the outcome of the game have changed if Denard Robinson was able to play the whole game?  I guess Michigan fans will just have to wonder what if....  Not that Tate Forcier isnt a solid QB, he just doesnt have the explosiveness that keeps defenses on their toes.  My thoughts?  I still think Iowa wins the game, but it would have been closer. 

Oklahoma State got their first win in Lubbock since 1944.  The thing that shocked me even more than that was that their defense held a Texas Tech offense  that is still pretty good to just 17 points.  If the Cowboy defense comes around, look out.  They will win the Big 12 south if that happens.....

Did anyone else realize that North Carolina hadnt won at Virginia since 1981?  That shocked me a bit, since UNC has had some good teams in the last ten years or so will superstars such as Hakeem Nicks and Julius Peppers. 

Ah, yes, the good old Gamecock choke.  It looked like South Carolina might avoid it as they jumped out to a 28-10 lead.  Kentucky had other ideas though.  Im not going to call this a letdown game though.  South Carolina came out strong, so its not like they were lagging early in the game and let Kentucky take over.  They just stopped playing after halftime.  For every great coaching job Spurrier has done there in Columbia, he has five clusterfucks like this.....

Things are not going so great in Gainesville.  The Gators have dropped three straight for the first time since 1988 after their loss to Mississippi State, at home no less, on Saturday.  Florida's offense was completely stymied by Mississippi State.  Who would have thought that the ten points the Bulldogs scored in the first would be enough to win, especially given Florida's huge plays on defense and special teams in nearly every game this year?  This was also the Bulldogs' first road win in this series since 1965.  Yep, Urban Meyer reached a depth of failure that the much-maligned Ron Zook never accomplished there.  He lost to Mississippi State at home, and lost two consecutive home games.  Something else the Zooker never did in the Swamp.

It may not have been pretty, but damn it, its a win!  LSU actually trailed for a while in the first half, but then took control of the game with their defense like they have in every game this season.  Dont look now, but LSU and Auburn are both undefeated heading into their game this weekend!

Well, so much for Air Force being ranked.......

Arizona may have won, but they lose star QB Nick Foles for at least two weeks.  He is definitely out against Washington and UCLA, and may miss the Stanford game as well.  This certainly chucks a wrench into Arizona's hopes in the Pac....

When will Boise State join a real conference?  No, the Mountain West is NOT a real conference.  It is more competitive than the WAC, but really?  With the unwavering support of ESPN and a willingness to schedule good non-conference games you would think that any BC$ conference with the possible exception of the SEC would be falling all over themselves to land the Broncos......

Im still trying to figure out why Oregon State would go for two in that situation.  If you really think you should have won the game, let it go to another overtime!  Then you would have to go for two anyway!

Most people love the Hawaiian Islands and cant wait to go back.  Not so for Nevada.  The Wolfpack have still never won there, and this time it spoiled their best season in 70 years.....

Games to watch next weekend while raking leaves:

UCLA at (2)Oregon (Thursday): The Bruins cant possibly spoil this, can they?

Penn State at Minnesota: Morbid curiosity may stop the clicker here.  Who is the worst of the Big Eleven underachievers?

Rutgers at Pitt: Can the schizophrenic Panthers finally win two straight?

Iowa State at (19)Texas: The Cyclones' brutal road schedule continues....

Syracuse at (20)West Virginia: Call me crazy, but I actually think the Orange have a chance if they can get out of their own way....

Notre Dame at Navy: Navy's defense has been pretty solid, but their offense is MIA.  Exactly the opposite of recent years.  The good news is that Notre Dame's D has been in a very giving mood this year.

Mississippi at (23)Arkansas: Ugh, Im through thinking the Rebels have a chance.....

(6)LSU at (4)Auburn: Wow, out of all of the great games the SEC has provided us with this year, this may be the best.  Can LSU muster enough offense to stay in this?  Can Newton have some success against this swarming defense? 

Arizona State at Cal: These teams are heading in opposite directions.  Can you tell which is which?  Can they??

(16)Nebraska at (14)Oklahoma State: Okay kiddies, remember what happened last time Nebraska strolled into Stillwater?  They scored 14 points quickly......then went on to lose by three touchdowns.  If they dont shore up their run defense, they are going to have a rough game against Kendall Hunter.  The good news for Nebraska is they have the best secondary in the Big 12 to try and find some way to cover the dangerous Justin Blackmon.

Gerogia Tech at Clemson: By some miracle, the Yellow Jackets are only one win away from bowl eligibility.  They may have a hard time getting that one more win though.  The easy part of their schedule is over.

(22)Kansas State at Baylor: Ditto for Baylor

(13)Wisconsin at (15)Iowa: This could be for a Rose Bowl berth if someone can trip up Michigan State.

Georgia at Kentucky: The Bulldogs have been playing much better lately, but the Wildcats just pulled a stunner.  This ought to be another good one in the SEC!

(1)Oklahoma at (11)Missouri: Missouri hasnt beaten Oklahoma since 1999.  That shouldnt change here....

Air Force at (5)TCU: Lets face it......this matchup looked more intriguing last week....

Washington at (18)Arizona: Its certain that Arizona will choke at some point.  Does it start here?

Stay tuned for my picks against the spread on Wednesday!  At first glance, I think I had another bad week....