OU is a six point favorite over LSU!!!!!!!!!!

[joeybee12]

Boy, do I want those odds!

When the oddsmakers wake up, do you think this will change????????

[okieinpain]

1. I would think it would be larger. more like 13. you guy's have go

to stop being sooner haters. believe me the sooners are really good, and after that butt kicking they will be very focused and angry. LSU does not stand a chance.

[JackDragna]

2. I wouldn't be so sure.

Oklahoma was blown away because K-State played very fast, physical football. LSU excels at that. Let's also not forget the game is practically being played in LSU's backyard. Oklahoma may still win, but to say LSU doesn't stand a chance is a little much. Okay, it's a LOT much.

[GumboYaYa]

12. LSU and OU had a common opponent this year.

LSU blew Bama out at Bama's place. OU needed a faked punt to pull out a close victory.

If I was OU, I wouldn't be buying trophy polish just yet.

[joeybee12]

3. Now, now, I don't hate the Sooners, I just think this is really

screwed, just like it's screwed that OU is going to the Sugar Bowl. Makes no sense whatsoever.

[Bertha Venation]

6. Sooner Hater?

Nope. Just a native Californian who knows that 'SC got screwed.

[kstewart33]

4. Not a Sooner hater but...

OU has no business being there. The only positive to come out of the BCS debacle is that the USC shutout provides the greatest impetus to date for a playoff system.

I saw the entire Sooner- KSU game, and Oklahoma was not only beat, they were obliterated in every aspect of the game. After such a humiliating drubbing, they belong in the runner-up bowl.

[okieinpain]

7. sorry, but you guy's just are not being objective. they all have 1

loss. if usc plays a bunch of weak teams, and no, I repeat no conference championship. how in the hell are they suppose to jump over OU, and LSU and get in the championship title game. it just does not make any sense.

[Bertha Venation]

8. hmmm....

:nopity:

I never said I was objective, BTW. :D

Enjoy the game!

[democracyindanger]

10. USC is a conference champion.

OU is not, in case you missed the game, NOT a conference champion because they got WAXED by Kansas State. EMBARASSED themselves on national TV. For all the talk about how they were a 'team of destiny,' they fell flat on their faces when it counted.

So, keep deluding yourself about your 3rd place team--They got caught looking past Kansas State, probably because they started believing their own press, and thusly blew it.

[underpants]

13. Exactly they are conference champs and OU is not

If you can't win your conference championship you should not be allowed to backdoor your way into the championship game *.

*Unless there are extenuating circumstances where the obviously best two teams are in the same conference but even then it would have to be an extreme case IMHO.

[GumboYaYa]

15. All true, but the Pac-10, ACC, Big East and Big -Ten (11)

all should have to play a conference championship game as well.

If OU had not had the championship game none of this would have happened. USC claiming a conference championship based on the regular season is not the same as LSU winning the regular season and also a championship game. Before the game on Saturday it was agony, knowing that no matter how good the season was, it could diappear in one game against a quality opponent.

I think the biggest tragedy here is that the AP and Coaches Poll did not put LSU #1. Of all the teams left, LSU is the one who got it done on the field against a quality opponent when it mattered.

USC can fault OU for losing, but personally I think a loss in a conference championship game against a quality opponent is at least equal to if not less damaging than a loss to a weak Cal team.

[democracyindanger]

19. Doesn't change the fact: OU=Chokers

"If OU had not had the championship game none of this would have happened." True. But they did. They choked. And they're rewarded for it by GIGO computer polls.

And if LSU played even a single fair quality non-con opponent, they probably would be #1. But Louisiana-Monroe? Arizona? Doesn't Western Illinois play 6-man?

OU lost when the pressure was on. They couldn't hack it. End of story.

[GumboYaYa]

20. Actually, LSU's schedule was much tougher than USC's.

LSU beat 5 top 25 teams and a top ten team twice. USC beat one top 25 team.

LSU had two bad nonconference games b/c teams backed out on them at the last moment. LSU also had Pac-Ten team AZ that hurt their SOS. Let's see USC schedules Auburn an SEC team and it helps USC's SOS, LSU books Pac-Ten AZ and it hurts LSU's SOS. That should tell you all you need to know about playing in the Pac-10 versus playing in the SEC.

Besides, LSU's schedule strength was stronger than USC's using the BCS rankings as well.

[underpants]

22. on PTI two weeks ago statboy said:

That USC's schedule was about thirty spots higher than LSU's. I think he said #40 and #70 or something like that. I had never heard that anywhere before or since but I think it is not just who YOU beat but at least one extension of who your opponents beat, possibly one more extension. I guess I need to brush up on that. I don't see how head-to-head USC could have had a tougher schedule.

:shrug:

[GumboYaYa]

26. LSU's SOS mad a big move over the last three weeks

with games against Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Georgia (all top 25 teams).

Also, a few key losses by Hawaii and Notre Dame hurt USC the last weekend.

[democracyindanger]

24. I don't know why

you're complaining. LSU is in the NC game. Whether it's as 1 or 2, they're still in it, and if they take care of business, they could end up with 1/2-a whole national championship. If they only end up with half, well, blame the BCS.

"Let's see USC schedules Auburn an SEC team and it helps USC's SOS, LSU books Pac-Ten AZ and it hurts LSU's SOS."

1) Not USC's fault that LSU scheduled the Pac-10 bottomfeeder;
2) East Coast Bias effects everyone, one way or another.

[GumboYaYa]

28. My only complaint is that your coach

is acting like USC is an undisputed #1 and both polls are actually very close between LSU and USC.

I call it big market bias and I think it is helping USC in the human polls right now.

[democracyindanger]

30. He's not my coach

I'm just representing for the Pac-10, because I'm still bitter about my Ducks getting the shaft in 2001 :)

USC's 'pageantry' and market size is definitely a factor, but those are only sniffles of a cold.

As far as the way Carroll's acting, well, they *are* the undisputed #1 in the AP and Coaches.

I will be cheering for LSU, btw.

[GumboYaYa]

32. LSU got 18 votes in the AP,

and a lot in the Coaches poll too, USC is not undisputed, tha's my point.

I really wish LSU and USC could resolve this on the field, but I'm looking forward to two really good bowl games.

[underpants]

34. The real "east coast bias" right now says:

Hey we threw them a bone with the Heisman last year they should be happy with that.

I have heard this expressed many ways around here. Just to let you know what is really on the minds of East coast fans.

[central scrutinizer]

37. east coast bias squared

Over rate the east coast teams, then when they knock each other off, it counts as a "quality" win. Underrate the west coast teams so a win doesn't count as much.

[joeybee12]

38. That's true--I pointed out that the ranked teams OU beat probably

do not have better records than the non-ranked teams USC beat.

[underpants]

21. I have to disagree

For the conference's that have a championship game it is much clearer who is the champ but let's not kid ourselves that that is the reason for those games. $$$$$-still aside from that it is each conference's choice, what if say FSU and UVa(stop laughing) had the same record-who goes? Well actually the AD's would vote if the tiebreakers don't take care of it. St.Bobbie is in a BCS game again this year due to their high ranking ALL year, for no apparent reason.

Also what they need to get rid of is the Coaches' poll. There is no way that Tressel, Stoops, Carroll, etc have the time or interest to figure out in mid-November if Wake should be #18 or #20 and WHAT ABOUT UTAH STATE ?!?!??(for example). That poll is compiled by the SID's and a lot of horse trading goes on there.

[GumboYaYa]

23. My point is that the system is not fair on a few levels.

I would love to see USC v. LSU. #1 V. #2 is clean and easy, but from OK's perspective it is nor so easy. I can see the argument that OK is being punished for a conference championship game when most other conferences don't even play that game. The other conferences need to schedule championship games IMO.

THose could help eliminate the need for playoffs b/c as you said we would know who was the best in each conference.

[underpants]

27. Okay right it should be USC vs. LSU

I was pretty sure you felt the same way.

The conference Championship games can be a plus as well as possibly a minus. ESPN said yesterday that UGa falling out of the top 10 didn't hurt LSU but I think that is only becasue of how the polls ended up. I would think that more often than not that last game against (usually) a ranked opponent helps more than the threat of maybe losing a game hurts. So to speak.

[GumboYaYa]

31. If LSU had lost out on the Sugar Bowl b/c

they lost points for beating UGA, I would be one upset puppy today.

There is no doubt that the system is imperfect on several levels. Everyone can find a reason to gripe.

As bad as it is, it seems like this year may be the best resolution of a bad situation. With USC number one in both polls (something I disagree with) they have a claim to the AP MNC. USC also gets to play in the Rose Bowl against a damn good Michigan team. This keeps the historical Rose Bowl matchup and elevates the Rose Bowl to its historical stature despite being in the BCS.

LSU and OU get to play in the Sugar Bowl for the Coaches Poll MNC.

At least we get the top four teams (IMO, no offense to K State fans) playing in the two most important bowls. If USC wins they deserve to split the title in my book, even though I think LSU would beat them head-to-head (and we can spend eternity debating that).

[RedEarth]

39. Gumbo...

When OU beats LSU by 50, do you think the Sooners will be number one in both polls? :)

GOOOOOOOOO SOOOOOOOOOOONERS!!!!!!!!

[GumboYaYa]

43. LOL, have you seen our defense play,

You guys aren't playing Colorado or K State this time. You would be lucky to score 50 on LSU in four games. Keep thinking that way and I'll buy you a beer in the Quarter after OU loses again.

Geaux Tigers!

What the hell is a Sooner anyway?

[RedEarth]

46. The defense looks like a bunch of high school kids...

OU might be able to hang a half of hundred on the Tigers by half-time! There is even talk that Stoops might just play the scout team in the Sugar Bowl, since LSU looks so weak.

A Sooner is....

During the late 1800s, land runs were held in what is now Oklahoma. The name, sooner, was used for those landrunners who snuck past the territory markers prior to the actual shotgun start in search of the best land areas. Much of northern and central communities in Oklahoma was established in a matter of hours. Norman is one of these communities, which is also the home of the University of Oklahoma, whose mascot is a sooner. http://www.travelok.com/

[GumboYaYa]

47. I think you guys should play the scout team.

I mean, hell, why should the starters get themselves all messed up before a night out in the French Quarter.

So in other words, a "Sooner" is a cheater. Nice name. :)

[RedEarth]

48. LOL...most of the Sooners came from ....guess where...

Louisana! Actually, they came from all over the country since it was land the government was giving away. My great-grandparents were in the Land Run and lived in a "cut-out" on the side of a river bank until they could build a one room house. Hard living back then.

Well, Gumbo the next few weeks will be interesting. Unless, the Sooners can get their focus back(like they had during the regular season)and not be distracted by all the talk surrrounding this game, it could be another long, long night. And, even if they do, I think the game is basically a toss-up since LSU has a damn good team.

[GumboYaYa]

49. I'm looking forward to it.

Like I said somewhere else on here, I'm just ectsatic that the Tigers are in the big game. Now we have to prove that we deserve to be there.

You won't hear a lot of smack out of me. I've seen OU play and I know how good you guys are. I remember LSU recruiting Tommie Harris in high school. He has turned out to be all that was advertised and more.

I find out in about thirty minutes if I have tickets to the game. I am dying to be in New Orleans for this one.

[RedEarth]

51. I'm looking forward to also....Good luck on the tickets!!!!!.....nt

[Redleg]

42. Not all conferences have a championship playoff game like the Big 12

EOm

[sleipnir]

11. YES!

Why do I feel that only okieinpain and I will have objective voices...or are we just biased to the Big 12?

Seriously, I agree, OU deserves to be there and I'd give them 14 points over LSU...

USC would be a better match up and thus a better game, due to their quick offense, but it's not going to happen.

[GumboYaYa]

16. I'll take that 14 points right now.

:)

[joeybee12]

18. I don't think the teams OU played were all that tough--

If you take won-loss records, you probably see that the Pac-10 teams match up nicely. It's just that the Big 12, or whatever the f**k they're in (I lost track after the Big 10 and the Big 8 added teams) is given preference by those who input the data into that stupid computer.

And if OU had one loss, but won their conference, and DIDN'T make it to the Sugar Bowl, you'd be crying bloody hell. Admit it!

The only way to clear up this mess is to have a play-off--there's no way around it.

[RedEarth]

29. joeybee...check this out

this site has information on strenght of schudule. Take a look.....



http://www.andersonsports.com/football/ACF_frnk.html

Showing Which Teams Have Accomplished the Most to Date

Oklahoma Edges LSU for #1, with
USC a Relatively Distant 3rd
With all due respect to #3 USC, the teams most deserving of invitations to the Sugar Bowl are #1 Oklahoma and #2 LSU
All 3 teams have 1 loss, and USC simply has not beaten anywhere near the caliber of teams that Oklahoma and LSU have beaten:
Based on teams' current rankings, Oklahoma and LSU have each played 2 games vs. better teams than USC's toughest opponent, and they have each played 5 games vs. better teams than USC's 2nd-toughest opponent
USC has not played a current top-15 team, and the Trojans are only 2-1 vs. the current top-40, despite playing #38 and #40
The best team USC has beaten is #18 Washington St., while Oklahoma has beaten #5 Texas, and LSU has beaten #12 Georgia twice
The 2nd-best team USC has played is #38 Cal, which beat the Trojans
Oklahoma and LSU have each lost only to a current top-25 team (#16 Kansas St. and #24 Florida, respectively), and they have combined for 9 wins over teams currently ranked higher than Cal
As the following list shows, USC has posted only 2 of the 10 best wins by these 3 teams (based on teams' current rankings): 1. Oklahoma over #5 Texas, 2. (tie) LSU over #12 Georgia (regular season), 2. (tie) LSU over #12 Georgia (SEC championship game), 4. USC over #18 Washington St., 5. Oklahoma over #19 Oklahoma St., 6. LSU over #20 Arkansas, 7. LSU over #23 Mississippi, 8. Oklahoma over #31 Texas Tech, 9. Oklahoma over #32 Missouri, 10. (tie) USC over #40 Auburn, 10. (tie) LSU over #40 Auburn
In sum, the Trojans' top wins are over much worse teams than the Sooners and Tigers have beaten, and the Trojans' loss is to a much worse team too: Oklahoma and LSU deserve to play in the Sugar

[joeybee12]

33. My point is not the rankings, but the win-loss records

Rankings themselves are subjective, so saying OU beat stronger teams is in itself subjective.

We need a play-off system.

And if OU gets stomped big-time in the Sugar Bowl, then it casts doubt as to whether the ranked teams they beat were that good to be even ranked.

[RedEarth]

35. I agree, we do need a play-off....

However, if you look at win-loss record, then OU and LSU should be playing for the championship. Both of those schools are 12-1 and USC is 11-1.

LOL...all the discussion about the BCS it sort of what makes college football fun....a somewhat imperfect system. Perhaps they planned it that way.

[joeybee12]

36. Yeah, but we ain't gonna get one anytime soon

Too much money to be got in the bowl games.

Anywya, it will be a split championship this year. The AP voters will not drop USC, especially since I'm sure most of them feel USC got robbed.

[GumboYaYa]

41. A bunch of LSU fans are pulling for Michigan, but not me.

I think you guys deserve a piece of the championship if you win and I want to see that happen.

I hope LSU wins its game and gets to share it with USC. As always, LSU has to take care of business on the field first (and so does USC).

Personally, having been a student at LSU during the dark ages of our football program, I'm happy to see our program argiung with the likes of USC and Oklahoma over who is number one. It's fun just to be in such good company.

Geaux Trojans! Geaux Tigers!

[Redleg]

44. You think the Pac 10 is tougher than the Big 12?

How many national champions have come from the Pac-10 the last decade?

[VermontDem2004]

52. OU played really tough teams

If you take won-loss records, you probably see that the Pac-10 teams match up nicely. It's just that the Big 12, or whatever the f**k they're in (I lost track after the Big 10 and the Big 8 added teams) is given preference by those who input the data into that stupid computer.

If you take won-loss records off of the Mac or Conference USA conferences and you will see they have better records then both Pac-10 and Big XII but that doesn't mean they are better teams, the Pac-10 was weak this year but it wasn't like this last year either. The Big XII is very tough from Texas, Texas Tech, Colorado(well not this year), Nebraska, Kansas State, and Missouri are very tough. The Pac-10 this year was not the same.

[MadHound]

45. Oh please, give it up already!

The Sooners played a much tougher schedule than USC. And USC still lost a game(to CAL, a bonafide marshmellow team). The Sooners lost their lone game in a conference championship game(something else USC doesn't have) against a strong opponent, KSU, who if they hadn't had their quarterback go down for four games could have been going to the Sugar Bowl themselves. USC plays a Charmin soft schedule, loses to a marshmellow team, and still whines that they aren't going to the big dance. Cry me a river. Tell you what Trojans, come on over to the Big Twelve, take on KSU, OK, MO, and NE, and see if you come out with only one loss. Somehow I doubt it.

[Bertha Venation]

5. "Why Couldn't We Blow Up the BSC?"

The Austin Lounge Lizards have a song called "Why Couldn't We Blow Up Saddam?" I think they should write a new one.

USC is # 1.

edit because I'm an idiot -- Austing?

[SEAburb]

17. USC should turn down Rose bowl invite

and force the BCS to take them to court. That would take this issue to higher level and may lead to the death of the BCS. If USC just quietly takes this, nothing will change.

[terryg11]

9. I would take OU by six

they have three weeks to prepare and get healthy (remember the Rose Bowl last year when everyone forgot about them?) so this should be a good bet. Nothing against LSU, I just think Oklahoma isn't going to lose two in a row nor let it stay close

[central scrutinizer]

14. the spread is based more on psychology

than anything else. The bookies don't want to take a bath so they try to estimate what number will make the money come in more or less equally on each side.

[RedEarth]

25. Until there is a playoff

all teams should play the same number of games(OU and LSU played 13, USC 12), and each conference should have a championship game. Then, even with a conference championship and the same number of games, a BCS system will still be needed to take into consideration a variety of factors, not the least of which is strenght of schudule.

After, this weekend I am somewhat surprised the Sooners are favored. At the best, I thought it would be a toss-up. Regardless, the system is what it is, and the Sooners will kick some Tiger ass.....I hope!

Booooooomer Sooooooooner!!!!!!!!!!

[Redleg]

40. Sounds about right- when OU beats LSU a lot of crow will be eaten

around here. OU deserves to play in the BCS championship game as much as LSU or USC.

[VermontDem2004]

50. This is why I don't follow favorites or lines

LSU has been an underrated team from the start but always felt they were one of the best teams in the country, I am predicting an LSU win but wouldn't be surprised if it went the other way.

[GumboYaYa]

53. 50% chance of rain tomorrow....

Come on Vermontdem you know you're thinking it, just commit now. LSU is gonna whip their asses; it's okay to say it out loud. :)