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BCS will get a pass this year Wednesday, Nov 9, 2005 By Harry King LITTLE ROCK - Sure as shooting, those BCS muckety-mucks are going to slide this year. Either LSU or Auburn or the Eastern Division champion of the Southeastern Conference will get those guys off the hook by beating Alabama, leaving a tidy 1 vs. 2, USC vs. Texas, in the Rose Bowl. When the BCS rankings came out in mid-October, there was plenty of what-if to support those who favor bowl games plus one for the national championship. At the time, USC, Texas, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama, Texas Tech, and UCLA were unbeaten and 13-0 Auburn was still fresh. The landscape is much different now. Georgia was doomed to lose down the line when quarterback D.J. Shockley was injured 20 minutes into the Arkansas game and Texas Tech was overmatched against Texas. Last weekend, when No. 3 Virginia Tech at home against No. 6 Miami was supposed to be the only game of real significance, Arizona and North Carolina State contributed to the glee of the BCS folks. So good when somebody gets them riled, the Miami Hurricanes demolished Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and proved once again there is nothing better than a great defense with up-front people who are big and fast. The Hokies couldn't protect Marcus Vick and turned the ball over a half-dozen times. Until Miami 27-7, there was a theory that Tech would win out, handle once-beaten Florida State in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, and use that strength of schedule to boing Texas in the BCS standings. Just for grins, North Carolina State intercepted three Drew Weatherford passes and beat Florida State 20-15. Out West, UCLA's 38-point loss was stunning. The Bruins were supposed to lose to USC at the end of the season, but Arizona? With an eye on Airzona's 320 yards rushing, Reggie Bush and LenDale White will be arm-wrestling for carries vs. UCLA. Quickly, we're down to USC, Texas, and 'Bama. The Crimson Tide has had big problems on offense since Tyrone Prothro broke his left fibula and tibia trying to catch a fourth-quarter pass in the end zone during a 31-3 victory over Florida. That day, Alabama displayed all the ingredients for a run at the national championship. With Prothro on crutches, Alabama's offense scored one touchdown against Ole Miss and none against Tennessee or Mississippi State. Quarterback Brodie Croyle noticed, saying the defense is good enough for Alabama to win a national title, but that his group isn't "playing up to their standards." Kenneth Darby is a solid running back, but he is not the threat of Arkansas' Darren McFadden. Although Alabama's defense is splendid, Auburn and LSU are 1-2 in the SEC in scoring and teams don't get to 7-2 and 7-1 without pretty good defense. If Alabama reaches 12-0 and is squeezed out of the title game, maybe it's so the anguish of such a slap can be spread evenly through the state. It was just last year that Auburn and Tommy Tuberville were left out while USC and Oklahoma played for the trophy. Tuberville recently told the Montgomery Quarterback Club that the national media, led by ESPN, wants to see Texas' Vince Young against USC's Matt Leinart. "Last year, they wanted to see the two Heisman Trophy quarterbacks, Jason White and Leinart," Tuberville said. "After six or seven games, we were out of it." I can't imagine Texas losing to Kansas or Texas A&M or to Colorado in the Big 12 championship game. Same for USC against California, Fresno State and UCLA. Although Miami is only a botched field goal from perfect, nobody can squawk much about the title game if there are only two unbeatens. I'd love to see Alabama make the BCS people sweat; I just don't think the Crimson Tide can score enough. ----- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media Group's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
