BCS 2.0
So, the grand poobahs of the sport done away with the hated Bowl Championship Series and replaced it with a system that:
- Plays several big money bowl games
- Plays a championship game in a bowl
- Is going to release weekly rankings beginning in the middle of October.
- And just this week, has added a bowl so that the have-nots of college football can have automatic access to the big money. We knew that was coming.
Yep, those sure are big changes. The only difference is a couple more big money bowls and that the championship game participants will be two of the other bowl winners. This is more like a “Bowl Championship Series” than the actual Bowl Championship Series, and gets more like it every week. They should just call it BCS 2.0.
There are only a couple games this week that have any potential for BCS impact. The Big Ten gets underway with favorite du jour Nebraska hosting Wisconsin. West Virginia hosts Baylor in its first ever Big 12 conference game. Notre Dame and USC are both off. Alabama, Oregon and LSU might as well be.
I'm 19-12 overall on my picks this year, 12-19 vs the spread (in case you wondered why I don't bet).
Ohio State (+3) at Michigan State -- The Spartans have stunk for two weeks in a row. Their defense will have their hands full with the Buckeyes' Braxton Miller. MSU needs to find help for Le'Veon Bell
Baylor at West Virgina (-11, cover) -- Two teams that love to light up the scoreboard and play just enough defense to make it stick. I like the Mountaineers defense better.
Tennessee at Georgia (-14, cover) -- Georgia has been the most impressive team in the East division so far. They have laid waste to all comers, including that road win at Missouri. The Vols have had two tough weeks in a row, and this figures to make it three.
Virginia Tech (-7) at Cincinnati -- The last time the Hokies went on the road in the Big East, they got embarrassed at Pitt. Cincinnati is a lot better foe, but Virginia Tech can't play that badly again.
Texas (-3, cover) at Oklahoma State -- The Longhorns offense has been clicking with sophomore David Ash at the helm. They put up 66 at Ole Miss last week. The Cowboys aren't sure who they will play at QB. Starter Wes Lunt was hurt a couple weeks ago. JW Walsh has filled in and may have to go this week.
Wisconsin at Nebraska (-12) -- The Badgers switched quarterbacks last week, going with Joe Stave instead of Danny O'Brien. Their offense did seem a little better against UTEP. Montee Ball has been cleared to play after suffering another concussion last week.
Upset of the Week: Minnesota (+7) at Iowa -- One of the great trophies in college football, Floyd of Rosedale (he's a pig), is at stake this week. You wouldn't know by this line which team is undefeated and which is 2-2 and lucky it isn't worse.
