The SEC West tiebreakers: Hold your breath and count to five

[Coach Hank Crisp]

Click here for link

The calls for an LSU-Alabama weren’t just immediate in the aftermath; they’d been raised even before the game began. (The thinking being that, since an SEC team is going to win the BCS anyway, why not make the title game at least interesting?) After prevailing in Tuscaloosa, LSU  shouldn’t need to prove it can beat Bama twice to be national champ, but that could well be its assignment. Which would be grossly unfair, but when has big-time college football even been fair?

Even more confusing: LSU can lose to Arkansas in Baton Rouge on Nov. 25 and still represent the SEC West in the Georgia Dome. This is due to a complicated-but-sensible SEC tiebreaker. Were LSU to lose that game and finish in a three-way tie with the Tide and the Razorbacks, the Tigers would still get the West nod as long as they don’t fall more than five BCS spots behind Alabama. The SEC rule in question:

The tied team with the highest ranking in the Bowl Championship Series Standings following the last weekend of regular-season games shall be the divisional representative in the SEC championship game, unless the second of the tied teams is ranked within five-or-fewer places of the highest ranked tied team. In this case, the head-to-head results of the top two ranked tied teams shall determine the representative in the SEC championship game.

If Alabama is No. 1 in the Nov. 27 BCS standings to LSU’s No. 7, Alabama would represent the West, head-to-head be hanged. If Arkansas should beat LSU and nose ahead of the Tigers in the rankings, Alabama would likewise prevail. Because Arkansas would then be the second-place SEC team in the BCS standings, and Alabama beat the Hogs on Sept. 24.

Here we pause to consider Arkansas’ possible plight. Should they beat LSU, the Razorbacks could make the case case that they’re playing the best football in the nation’s best league, but they’d surely be blocked from playing for the SEC title. And the team Arkansas just upset would not, provided LSU stays ahead of Arkansas in the BCS standings, which could well happen. (As we speak, the Tigers are No. 1 to the Hogs’ No. 6.)

[crtuneman]

If Arky beats LSU then it would be a no brainer that they would be ranked ahead of LSU. I would be surprised if LSU lost to Arky and then remained ahead of them in the poll.

[McBaman]

We need Arky to beat LSU decisively so that ranking them ahead of the Whos is a no brainer.  Probably a longshot, but possible.

[SUPERCOACH]

I am rooting for LSU to win, and Oklahoma State to lose.  I want to play LSU again.  That game did not turn out the way it was supposed to.

[Coach Hank Crisp]

BFeldmanCBS Bruce Feldman
Oddsmaker had line for OU-OSU even last wk. Now: OSU -2 1/2 vs OU, per DannySheridan bc of how Pokes shut down a tm that hung 41on OU.
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Sheridan is less impressive everytime he speaks. Last 3 games teams killed TT's TT. Shutdown?

[Crimson Legend]

I'm sure it isn't possible, but what if the second and third place teams are tied in the BCS poll?

[pmull]

I'm sure it isn't possible, but what if the second and third place teams are tied in the BCS poll?

Head coaches play rock-paper-scissors. Best two out of three wins.  

[Guest]

Username:
Password:
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

There aren't any users online.

Loading Tweet...