Not Impressed
Looks like CBS sportsline columnist Dennis Dodd will not vote USC No. 1.
``It almost made the stomach turn to hear muted speculation about No. 5 USC possibly gaining a split title in the AP poll. The Trojans would have to leap past the winner of the BCS title game.
``Let's break this thing down, shall we? Florida lost by one at home to an Ole Miss team that is playing in the Cotton Bowl, then steamrolled the opposition. Oklahoma lost a top-five matchup with Texas, then steamrolled the opposition. USC lost to a bunch of Beavers who got 65 points hung on them at home with the Rose Bowl berth on the line. Oregon State then proceeded to scrape together a field goal and shut out Pittsburgh 3-0 in the Sun Bowl.''
While not an SC fan or grad, this "journalist" is whacked. SC beat up on the two best teams in the Big 11 and after its loss to Oregon State (led by a defense directed by a former Cal State Northridge Defensive Coordinator), the Men of Troy "steamrolled its opposition." They were not treated "fair by the bleepin' writers."
Just more Southeast and East Coast Bias!!
Well, I mean, if Ole Miss went to the Cotton Bowl they're clearly pretty damn good. Any team that lost to a team with that qualification deserves the National Championship.
that guy-who is one your favorites-has always been a biased SEC hack; has no love whatsoever for West Coast and USC.
I don't think SC deserves to be #1 anyway, but this columnist is awful.
Losing at home is a lot different than losing away.
I try not to get caught up in the "Who's No. 1?" hoopla in college football, because it's nothing but hypothetical until a playoff system is implemented. I think most of us would agree that Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and USC are the top four teams. That being said, I'd like to bypass bloggers/sportswriters completely and ask coaches of the top 25 teams which of the Final Four they'd want to coach. I'd lay money (if I had any) that USC would be the choice of at least 15 of the coaches.
Dennis is going to look like a fool if Texas loses to Ohio State. By the way, if I'm not mistaken Mike Riley has taken Oregon State to something like five straight bowl games and won them all. I'd take Oregon State over Ole Miss on a neutral field.
Don't have aproblem with his logic, just his attitude and lack of respect to another pedigreed one loss team.
There will never be a playoff. The lower divisions have one because there is no other choice. No one would watch or sponsor a Richmond-Appalachian State bowl game. What if there is an 8 team playoff? Who could afford to travel and attend 3 more games on short notice? Believe me a #5 ranked USC would not be hosting the #4 team in LA or San Diego. Try the deep South and maybe Texas the next game. ESPN tipped its hand with the Plus One yesterday based on a BCS ranking after the bowl games are played. USC would sill be screwed with the marriage to Big 10 Penn St at #8 in the BCS.
That Ole Miss team playing in the Cotton Bowl lost to Wake Forest and South Carolina, and got its 8-4 record by scheduling 7 home games, one against something called Samford. Oregon State's 9-4 record came against tougher competition, an honest 6 road games, and no FCS games. Oregon State lost to Stanford, but its other losses were to #6, #7 and #15.
Wolf & Dodd = Frick & Hack
I'd say Ole Miss looks better than OSU based on the Cotton Bowl