Gut reaction to the end of the regular season

1) LSU and Oklahoma State should play for the National Title

--Bama is really, really good. However, been there, done that. We know that LSU is better than Alabama, on the field; on Bama's field. Why do they need to prove it again? The one knock on the Pokes is a worse loss, but it was on the road, in double OT, after a tragedy in the school. This is not the only correct answer, but I strongly believe that this is what should happen to make sure the integrity of the regular season is upheld. Also, I want to see what the explosive Cowboy offense does to a stingy Tiger defense.

2) RGIII deserves the Heisman
--No, he's not the best pro prospect, or on a title contender, but he's had the best season of any college player this season. Stellar numbers, Heisman moments in key times, and leadership of a mediocre team to a 9-3 record. Ball is a close second, but he doesn't match up to Robert Griffin III. Don't give me Luck or Richardson. Their numbers pale when compared to RGIII and Ball. In fact, Richardson and Luck did it against worse competition.

3) Bama and Michigan just had the worst day ever!
--LSU blows out UGA which is helpful, and Houston loses which is kind of middling for UM, but the Ok State blowout of OU is a killer for Bama. That was the only thing that could prevent the rematch and I think it just may have. Speaking of bad news, Wisconsin squeaks by MSU....which means they both may be ranked ahead of Michigan....uh oh... TCU and almost certainly Clemson may jump the Wolverines....Yikes since Big Blue needs to move up 2 spots to even be eligible. I think there's a decent shot that Bama gets knocked out of the championship and Michigan will be relegated to the Capitol One Bowl (or lower). If OSU goes to the title, the Fiesta may desire another Big 12 team to replace the Sooners...which knocks UM out since TCU, Bama, and Stanford are more or less guaranteed the other at large spots.

BCS Predictions
Championship: LSU vs. Oklahoma State
Rose: Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Fiesta: Stanford vs. Kansas State
Sugar: TCU vs. Alabama
Orange: WVU vs. Clemson

My Heisman vote (if I had one)1) Robert Griffin III
2) Montee Ball
3) Trent Richardson (I can be swayed on this one)

Five Thoughts on the Week that was--Week 12

1) Chaos has doomed us to a rematch
All the rooting for the underdogs this past week has essentially sewn up an all SEC title. Are they the best teams in the country? Maybe. Is it definite? No. I will be rooting to absolute brutal chaos this weekend and next. If Arkansas beats LSU and the underdogs win in the conference title games, it's absolutely nuts. That being said, OU/OSU means significantly less; Oregon is out; Clemson is out. The only chance to avoid the punter's rematch is for Ok State to blow out Oklahoma and get lucky. I hope the voters avoid the rematch, but they may not have a choice. SEC is the best we have this year, but they don't stack up to the great teams of the decade let alone history.

2) The one problem of the BCS is that Bama's road to the title game is easier than LSU's (yes, playoffs dilute the season but rule changes could help).
Yes, I like the BCS in principle. I do not wholly support a playoff because I'd rather ensure that my title recipient deserves it (even if it excludes a team or two that also deserves it). A playoff allows teams to sneak away with championships (Steelers, Packers, Giants in football and Cardinals in baseball). The playoffs showed that a team can get hot and not necessarily be the best team but be crowned champion. This year's problem is that non-conference champion (Bama) has the easiest path to the title. They need not play an extra game because they lost at home to LSU. LSU is 'punished' with another game. I wouldn't be opposed to requiring BCS title participants win their conference. In regards to griping this year, there is only 1 team that can (potentially) complain about being 'left out': Houston. Everyone else has a loss so the remaining argument among 1-loss teams could have been avoided by winning all the games. Houston has a crap schedule so their argument is valid yet weak. Every season is a playoff is the argument for BCS apologists which isn't that bad an argument. Without the BCS, Oregon's game vs. USC is a seeding game, not an elimination game. Same with Bedlam (if they didn't suck last week). BCS requires your champion to be worthy while the playoff makes sure all worthy (and some unworthy) have a chance. It's a tradeoff that can't be solved with one system, but Bama's road being easier than LSU's is unfair.

3) RG3 finally had a Heisman quality moment/win
Andrew Luck was/is the Heisman frontrunner all year due to media hype and NFL potential. Is it deserved? For the NFL? Sure. For the Heisman? No. His stats are weak against a bad schedule. Many have pointed to Robert Griffin III as a potential contender but his low exposure and losses have buried him. Now he is resurrected by the upset of Oklahoma. Without the OU win, RG3 had no chance (fair or not), now.... He's right there. If the voters are fair, they should give him a second and third look. His stats are incredible against decent competition and he finally led his team to a HUGE win. I think it's time to jump off the Luck bandwagon. Hype shouldn't determine the greatest individual award in sport.

4) Urban Meyer will be the next coach at Ohio State in 2012.
Read between the lines. It's a done deal. Yes, he's denied 'being offered or accepting a job', but that doesn't mean that hypotheticals haven't been discussed and/or agreed upon in principle. Chris Spielman is his commentating partner so you know it's been discussed around the meeting room table. He will return home to Ohio to lead the Buckeyes in the next phase of success. ESPiN has even taken Meyer out of the 'field' and put him behind a desk due to the rumors. OSU must wait until the season is over to be fair to the coaching staff and players, but it's done. Fickell will be asked to hang around and we'll see what happens, but look for new excitement in Columbus.

5) Rivalries can make or break a season
OSU/Michigan, enough said. This season has been nothing but disappointment for the Scarlet and Gray but all wounds are healed by 1 game. If the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines, this year, Fickell's short tenure as head coach, and this senior class legacy will go down as a success. Without it, everything fails. Auburn can derail Bama's title dreams. The Cowboys can send the Sooners crying and stay in the hunt or be relegated to mediocrity. Gators vs. Noles is for Florida (and recruiting) supremacy. It's all that matters. In the NFL, the Superbowl is the only thing that matters. In college, the title matters, but for most teams who won't get that shot, the rivalry defines the season. So eat the turkey and cheer for your team. Let's break the 3000 day barrier for days since that school up north has beaten THE Ohio State University. It's all we have left....but it's enough.