Illinois defeats Ohio State

[Marvelmania]

I feel for Kansas. They are such a good team.

[theantiquetiger]

AP Poll out:

1 LSU (40) 9-1 1,590 2
2 Oregon (22) 8-1 1,574 3
3 Oklahoma (1) 9-1 1,471 4
4 Kansas (1) 10-0 1,439 5
5 West Virginia (1) 8-1 1,340 6
6 Missouri 9-1 1,336 7
7 Ohio State 10-1 1,184 1
8 Georgia 8-2 1,130 10
9 Arizona State 9-1 1,122 9
10 Virginia Tech 8-2 1,013 11
11 USC 8-2 924 12
12 Texas 9-2 859 15
13 Hawaii 9-0 827 14
14 Florida 7-3 814 17
15 Clemson 8-2 613 20
16 Virginia 9-2 539 23
17 Boise State 9-1 533 19
18 Boston College 8-2 527 8
19 Tennessee 7-3 488 22
20 Illinois 8-3 390 NR
21 Cincinnati 8-2 305 NR
22 Kentucky 7-3 283 24
23 Michigan 8-3 237 13
24 Wisconsin 8-3 182 NR
25 Connecticut 8-2 127 16

[saildog]

I totally understand that Hawaii has the softest schedule around,but that's not there fault,they were given that and they are making the best of it.So you have to kind of feel for them

These things have a way of resolving themselves, somewhat.

Boise State went through the same criticism last year and they got their chance to make a statement (Even though they beat my Sooners, I have to admit that was an awesome game and they came to play. However, beating last year's Sooner was a lot easier than it would have been to beat last year's Gators.). In retrospect, some people have come around to the possibility that Boise State had a legitimate argument that they deserved a shot at a National Title despite being from a non-BCS conference.

If Hawaii wins out they will have a similar chance to earn some respect for going undefeated despite a soft-schedule and you know they have to be considering the possibility after what BSU accomplished. "Hindsight's 20/20", but it could make the road a little easier for Hawaii...provided they win out.

[theantiquetiger]

I totally understand that Hawaii has the softest schedule around, but that's not there fault, they were given that and they are making the best of it.So you have to kind of feel for them

Hawaii is not part of a BCS Conference, and they do play a major roll in picking their schedule. A few years ago, Tulane went 12-0 and finished somewhere around #7. This is the same scenario, Hawaii should have picked a couple major powerhouses (ie USC, Org, etc), and I could see it if they were still undefeated.

Coaches Poll is out:
1. LSU (35) 9-1 1,457 2
2. Oregon (13) 8-1 1,407 3
3. Oklahoma (4)
9-1 1,366 4
4. Kansas (7) 10-0 1,344 5
5. West Virginia (1) 8-1 1,238 6
6. Missouri 9-1 1,194 7
7. Ohio State
10-1 1,145 1
8. Arizona State 9-1 1,042 9
9. Georgia 8-1 1,005 10
10. Virginia Tech 8-2 923 11
11. Texas 9-2 844 14
12. Hawaii 9-0 842 12
13. Southern California 8-2 814 15
14. Florida 7-3 686 18
15. Boise State 9-1 556 19
16. Clemson
8-2 548 20
17. Virginia 9-2 547 21
18. Boston College 8-2 505 8
19. Tennessee 7-3 306 24
20. Kentucky 7-3 304 22
21. Illinois 8-3 271 NR
22. Penn State
8-3 262 25
23. Michigan
8-3 259 13
24. Wisconsin
8-3 226 NR
25. Cincinnati 8-2 163 NR

[saildog]

It's cool SD. No apology needed at all. These discussions are all in good fun. I probably should have put a smiley in there.

These kind of discussions are so much more fun around a campfire with some cold brews. It's easier to take statements the way they were intended when face-to-face.

[toys2cool]

I totally understand that Hawaii has the softest schedule around,but that's not there fault,they were given that and they are making the best of it.So you have to kind of feel for them

[Marvelmania]

It's cool SD. No apology needed at all. These discussions are all in good fun. I probably should have put a smiley in there.

[saildog]

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_BC...pionship_Game:
'LSU's claim to the title was not the product of BCS politics. Their #1 ranked defense held the country's most prolific offense, which had averaged 45.2 points and 461 yards per game, to 154 total yards and just one touchdown until the closing minutes of the game. Heisman Trophy winning QB Jason White, who completed only 13 of his 37 passing attempts for a mere 102 yards, was sacked seven times and intercepted twice."

That is 52 yards rushing and 102 yards passing for OK, compared to LSU's 159 yards rushing and 153 yards passing, and LSU ran six less plays than OK. OK's 2.2 yards per play vs LSU's 4.9 yards per play.

Looked like a butt whipping to me.

Fair enough.

[saildog]

I was being sarcastic DUH! And while the game you're discussing may not have been a butt whipping (agreed) they did win and that's what goes down in the books. This has been one of the craziest years in college football in a long while.

I'm sorry. It was probably obvious that you were being sarcastic and I missed it.
It's just that I have heard a lot of "sportscasters" wondering the same thing: "Where's the love for Hawaii?" and I can't believe anyone would even consider them given their schedule. I should have stopped to think that no member here could be a half-wit like those that make that argument. (You know I went back and looked and it was Damian I was responding to, but I'll go ahead and apologize to you both.)

As to LSU's winning that game being what was important, I went out of my way to make that point. I hold no grudges against LSU for winning that game, in fact, I couldn't believe Oklahoma got to play for a National Championship that year since they didn't even win their conference. LSU winning was at it should be since it would have been ridiculous to have a National Champ that wasn't even a conference champ.

[theantiquetiger]

^^^ a one touchdown win is not a butt whipping.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_BC...pionship_Game:
'LSU's claim to the title was not the product of BCS politics. Their #1 ranked defense held the country's most prolific offense, which had averaged 45.2 points and 461 yards per game, to 154 total yards and just one touchdown until the closing minutes of the game. Heisman Trophy winning QB Jason White, who completed only 13 of his 37 passing attempts for a mere 102 yards, was sacked seven times and intercepted twice."

That is 52 yards rushing and 102 yards passing for OK, compared to LSU's 159 yards rushing and 153 yards passing, and LSU ran six less plays than OK. OK's 2.2 yards per play vs LSU's 4.9 yards per play.

Looked like a butt whipping to me.

[Marvelmania]

Illinois defeats Ohio State

The no love for Hawaii has something to do with their schedule. That's what happens when you play powerhouses like Charleston Southern, Idaho, New Mexico State, UNLV, San Jose State, Fresno State, and New Mexico State.

Hawaii 45
Louisiana Tech 44

LSU 58
Louisiana Tech 10

Hawaii 52
Utah State 37 (The most points the winless Aggies have scored all year)

Boise State 52
Utah State 0

Boise State will end the speculation about Hawaii on November 23rd.

I was being sarcastic DUH! And while the game you're discussing may not have been a butt whipping (agreed) they did win and that's what goes down in the books. This has been one of the craziest years in college football in a long while.

[thunderbolt]

^^^ a one touchdown win is not a butt whipping.

[saildog]

(even though they still went to the NC and got their butt whipped by us).

On second thought, while LSU was the better team and deserved to win, can we call a 21-14 victory a "butt whipping"?

[theantiquetiger]

I just realized LSU won the SEC West tonight without even playing a SEC game. Bama, Auburn, and ARK lost today, making LSU the Western Division Champs!!

[saildog]

We already had it once this year for two weeks before Kentucky took it from us.

I was aware of that fact. It was a big part of my point.