Luke and I have come back with a new debate...but also a new format. Instead of debating back and forth (which became troublesome for both of us), we will simply provide our belief on a subject, without knowing what the other said. That's right, no response. No chance to jump on what the other has said. Of course, we may do it later in the comments or on the phone but not in the actual debate. So here's the latest installment.
WHO SHOULD REPRESENT THE BIG 12 SOUTH IN THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME? OKLAHOMA OR TEXAS?
Luke
Texas or Oklahoma? Only one to choose from, but which one is the correct choice? The correct answer is that you shouldn't have to choose, but that's a different question for a different day. With the system we have in place, only one can play in the Big 12 Championship game, and control their own destiny for the National Championship. My pick is the same as the BCS. The Oklahoma Sooners.The biggest argument going for Texas is their head-to-head victory against Oklahoma back in October. Unfortunately, recent history shows us that this point is moot. Let me take you back to 1993 when #2Notre Dame beat #1Florida St, then lost to #9 Boston College the week after. Florida State jumped the Irish in the polls and went on to win it all. Sound familiar? It should. Texas beat #1 Oklahoma but then lost to #7 Texas Tech. The nature of the NCAA beast is to lose early. Oklahoma lost earlier than Texas. The Longhorns had their chance but couldn't seal the deal against Texas Tech, a team Oklahoma later beat 44.
Once that argument is crushed, let's look a bit closer. Oklahoma has beaten Texas Tech (something Texas couldn't do), AT Oklahoma State (something no team had done this year), Cincinnati (the Big East Champ), AND TCU (currently ranked #11). Now the Sooners play Missouri in the Big 12 Championship. Win and they will have beaten all the big teams Texas has PLUS Cincy and TCU. If they lose, then Texas is in. Complain about the system all you want, but they got it right this year. As Jim Mora put it, PLAYOFFS??
Matt
Texas is 11-1. Oklahoma is 11-1. So who deserves to be in the Big 12 championship game? Well, both of them do. But since only one can go, I'm going with Texas. And remember this during my argument, we're talking about a conference championship game, NOT the national title game.Texas beat both Missouri and Oklahoma but yet are not in the title game? Seems wrong doesn't it? It's because it is. Texas' only loss came to Texas Tech on the road in Lubbock. A great game in which the Red Raiders won on an amazing touchdown with less than 10 seconds left. And this after Texas had beaten 3 straight ranked Big 12 opponents, including Oklahoma. That's right, Oklahoma's one loss is to the same team it beat out for the spot in the conference title game, Texas. And the Sooners were beat on a neutral field by 10 points, not by some game-winning TD or FG at the horn. Hmmmm, seems like the 'Horns should be there right?
But they're not and it's just wrong. Some may say it's because Oklahoma is playing better football right now. Too bad that doesn't mean they are the better team. If they were, they would have beaten Texas on that neutral field. Some may say they played a tougher non-conference schedule. Again, shouldn't matter since we are strictly talking Big 12 South champion and the 8 Big 12 games. In a perfect world, these two would get a rematch in Kansas City and this would be settled on the field. But since it's not, it leaves people like me wondering how bad of a system we must have when a team that has the same W-L record but a much better case to be in a conference title game doesn't get in. What a joke.
Posts
Matt your argument cant be made because it is a 3 way tie. Yes Texas beat Oklahoma but Texas Tech beat Texas. If Oklahoma wins this week vs. Missouri then you would assume Texas would get a BCS game. But wait, Texas LOST to Texas Tech meaning in your world Texas wouldn't get a BCS game. Remember even though Tech got blown out this is still a 3 way tie, not the 2 way tie everyone wants you to think it is. The Sooners earned their way in and so did Texas, but the computers vote Oklahoma, so we can't whine until a playoff is put in place.
ReplyDelete"Matt your argument cant be made because it is a 3 way tie."
ReplyDeleteActually, I think since it is a 3-way tie, it opens up any and all arguments to be made.
"If Oklahoma wins this week vs. Missouri then you would assume Texas would get a BCS game. But wait, Texas LOST to Texas Tech meaning in your world Texas wouldn't get a BCS game."
Not at all. My argument was strictly about which team deserved the Big 12 Championship spot. Don't apply it to BCS at-large spots. Because that's not an argument of just Texas or Texas Tech. It's an argument of a whole pool of teams from a lot of conferences. And we all know ultimately, polls don't matter (like how OSU will get in over Boise St.) and the bowls will pick the team that will travel better (which is Texas, not Texas Tech)
"The Sooners earned their way in and so did Texas, but the computers vote Oklahoma, so we can't whine until a playoff is put in place."
Oh we can whine all we want. If not, we wouldn't have a reason for college football live on ESPN everyday!
Barnes never needed a reason to argue, especially about sports. That being said, the Longhorns had their shot, but couldn't close the deal against Texas Tech. With that loss they took their destiny out of their hands. Are they one of the best college football teams?? No question. But so is Oklahoma.
ReplyDelete