MMBSD: What does it take to be #2?

To paraphrase King Nelly the first "What does it take to be #2?"

Well with only a few games remaining, the question of who The Ohio State University is playing is still very much up in the air. As of November 19, 2006 here are the teams that have a shot at playing in Arizona as ranked by the BCS

TEAM	Harris PTS	Coaches PTS	Computer %	COMP AVG	BCS AVG
Ohio State	2850	1575	1	1	1
M*ch*g*n	2600	1428	0.96	2	0.9263
USC	2621	1444	0.92	3	0.9188
Florida	2531	1407	0.87	4	0.8838
Notre Dame	2347	1285	0.82	5	0.8198
Arkansas	2345	1302	0.77	7	0.8065

It's important to realize two things in the BCS 1) For the Human Polls its not the rank that matters as much as the points (number of votes); 2) Strength of Schedule matters a great deal for the Computer polls. As such the big games left are

11/24 LSU at Arkansas

11/25 - Florida at FSU ; Notre Dame at USC

12/2 USC at UCLA

12/3 Florida v. Arkansas @ the Georgia Dome.

While Arkansas has the farthest to make up victories of LSU and Florida could, in theory, provide the opportunity to make their case. The blowout loss to USC is an anchor that they probably can't overcome though. Notre Dame is Notre Dame and therefore a big win on the road could give them a big boost but that boost in turn helps Lloyd Carr's club. That leaves USC and Florida with real chance of catching and overcoming the current number 2. Both will have huge prime time games, where all eyes will be on them. Both have regional blocks of voters that could be pressured into shifting the current #2 on down. As of now, if I was a betting man I think if USC can win out they will pass by that Team Up North. Only a few computer polls need to shift and a victory over the #5 Notre Dame team could do it. Of course nothing seems to have worked out the way it was supposed to this season. That said if I it was up to me (and unless Proposition #312 passes its not) I do not want nor think there should be The Rematch for the following reasons

1) The Maize (is that a real color by the way?) and Blue had their shot and while it was incredible game, they ultimately came up short. Another team should have a shot.

2) Having a rematch takes something away from that game. It should go down as the biggest game in the Greatest Rivalry™ and to have a take 2 seems to diminish the Classic that we all watched. This isn't Championship Boxing.

3) I do tend to side with The Sweatervest in that you should win your conference to be eligible for the BCS Championship Game. Few things annoyed me more than when Nebraska made the Championship Game after getting stomped by Colorado.

4) Winning against the same team in back to back games seems like a tall order. In fact, an impossibly tall order for any team. The team that won the game should be rewarded not punished with having to do it all over again.

5) I really don't want to hear the SEC whine about how they were screwed yet again out of a shot at the BCS. It would inevitably lead to further changes which would mean I'd have to actually watch the SEC in the Championship Game. They already hate California so let's not upset the delicate balance of nobody really hating the Midwest.

6) The Rose Bowl was the coolest of bowl games when I was a kid. There was just something special about the parade followed by the Pac 10 v. Big 10 that none of the other Bowl Games could match. Personally I wouldn't mind the traditional conference rivalry of the Rose played for the all the marbles (albeit in Arizona). Also I feel that a Big 10 team should always play in the Rose Bowl to defend the conference's honor. Since OSU's dancing card is filled, that leaves the Big 10's #2 to hold the fort down in Pasadena.

Random Note:

As a random note pay attention to who the last BCS bowl participant will be. There are four at large bids, three of which are basically filled: ND, Boise State and The Wolverines. That leaves one spot left for: The Big East #2: West Virginia, Louisville, Wisconsin, SEC Championship Game Loser, and LSU. In theory Rutgers could be up for the slot but I'm guessing no Bowl Game committee will say hmm you know what school will bring in lots of money, its definitely Rutgers. Assuming West Virginia beats Rutgers then my guess is that the last at large spot will go to West Virginia. Frankly, a West Virginia shoot out with Carr's kids sounds enjoyable enough in the Rose Bowl.