NCAA 2009

[Valmy]

I think Texas could definitely have been on the outside looking in.

Maybe.

What is up with you pumping Cincy over Texas anyway?  They played like shit in their game also and they would have been the ones to go if Texas had lost...

[Valmy]

I can't imagine the network that airs the Fiesta Bowl is happy about it either, the ratings won't be good.

You think?  That game has more sizzle than Iowa versus Georgia Tech.  Both Boise State and TCU have earned themselves lots of interest around the country people will tune in to see it.

[jimmy olsen]

I think Texas could definitely have been on the outside looking in.

Maybe.

What is up with you pumping Cincy over Texas anyway?  They played like shit in their game also.

The team they beat was #14 compare to #22 though.

[PDH]

I sure hope TCU just crushes them.  Next year TCU is a monster, senior laden...it will be tougher to play around with the BCS if they manage another undefeated year.  The MWC finishes with three top-25 teams...and again is lumped in with the WACholes.

[katmai]

I sure hope TCU just crushes them.  Next year TCU is a monster, senior laden...it will be tougher to play around with the BCS if they manage another undefeated year.  The MWC finishes with three top-25 teams...and again is lumped in with the WACholes.

You're all a bunch of Pac-10 wannabes

[PDH]

You're all a bunch of Pac-10 wannabes

No, that's BYU and Utah that want to be in the PAC-12 

[Valmy]

The team they beat was #14 compare to #22 though.

That certainly could be it.  He could have thought Nebraska isn't any good but I asked him not you.  I think Nebraska's defensive prowess has been well known all year.  Pitt being a choker just waiting to blow it was also well known.

I know why you hate Texas, they beat the USC Tims and now they have had Timmeh Jihad declared on them forever.

[katmai]

(BTW, 3-4 Texas fans and 0 fans of other Big 12 teams? What's up with that?)

The sorts of towns that have Big 12 schools outside of Austin have yet to discover the internet.

I root for Tech as my step-brother is a sophomore there.

[Valmy]

(BTW, 3-4 Texas fans and 0 fans of other Big 12 teams? What's up with that?)

The sorts of towns that have Big 12 schools outside of Austin have yet to discover the internet.

I root for Tech as my step-brother is a sophomore there.

Go visit him sometime.  Lubbock is something everyone must see before they die.

I mean honestly it is just a coincidence there is certainly no shortage of fans of other Big 12 schools.  Even Baylor.

[katmai]

Go visit him sometime.  Lubbock is something everyone must see before they die.

I mean honestly it is just a coincidence there is certainly no shortage of fans of other Big 12 schools.  Even Baylor.

I would have to go to Texas for that

[Valmy]

I would have to go to Texas for that

Well at least tell him you will visit a bunch of times and then not come.

[FunkMonk]

Everything is big in Texas.

[stjaba]

I think Texas could definitely have been on the outside looking in.

Maybe.

What is up with you pumping Cincy over Texas anyway?  They played like shit in their game also and they would have been the ones to go if Texas had lost...

I don't think they're any better than Texas. All I was pointing out is that they may have made the title game pre-modifed BCS, when the computer rankings were more significant. I don't think Texas deserved any no.1 votes, though, but I wouldn't have necessarily put Cincy over Texas, either. There's no doubt, IMO, Alabama is 1, especially if you view the poll as an objective measure of a team's quality right now as opposed to "body of work" or similar metric. I think Texas objectively speaking is better than Cincy, but I am not sure about TCU- haven't watched anything more than highlights from them. Under a body of work type ranking, though, Cincy should be ranked higher than Texas, IMO. TCU would have a good argument against Texas also.

The one thing that impressed me about Cincy compared to Texas is that they won on the road in harsh conditions against a balanced team. Nebraska may have a good defense, but their offense is horrendous, and Texas basically won by virtue of the fact that Nebraska's kicker fucked up the kickoff. Plus, Texas was playing in "neutral" site, in a dome, which is typically not too upset friendly. Still, as you point out, Cincy wasn't exactly dominating. Their last two games, their defense has been pretty porous, and they made of mistakes. If the teams met, I think Texas would probably beat Cincy, and Cincy would be a huge dog against Alabama as well. It will be intereresting to see what happens in the bowls.
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Re: TV Ratings

One of the crappier side effects of the latest incarnation of the BCS is that it produces crappy bowl matchups, especially now that there are 10(!) BCS bowl teams. That's definitely spreading the quality teams way too thinly.

As for the Fiesta Bowl, I think it's a relatively interesting matchup, and I disagree with "kids table" characterization. I think it's compelling because both teams are clearly very good- one is ranked 4th and the other is 6th. If I was TCU, I'd much rather play Boise State than 10th ranked Iowa, which was the other possibility. And even though it's a re-match, both teams are better than they were last year, and it's a bigger stage. The ratings probably won't be that great, but honestly, would having Iowa play instead of Boise State really have made a difference?

[jimmy olsen]

The ratings probably won't be that great, but honestly, would having Iowa play instead of Boise State really have made a difference?

No but if TCU played Florida and beat them that would make a difference.

[dps]

As for the Fiesta Bowl, I think it's a relatively interesting matchup, and I disagree with "kids table" characterization. I think it's compelling because both teams are clearly very good- one is ranked 4th and the other is 6th. If I was TCU, I'd much rather play Boise State than 10th ranked Iowa, which was the other possibility. And even though it's a re-match, both teams are better than they were last year, and it's a bigger stage. The ratings probably won't be that great, but honestly, would having Iowa play instead of Boise State really have made a difference?

I think it's a reasonable matchup just considering the game on the field, but I also have a very strong feeling that the sentiment that this came about in an attempt to make sure that a team from a BCS AQ conference didn't lose to a team from a "lesser" conference is correct.