Conference USA Bowl Outlook

[PonyKai]

Yeah.

[Charleston Pony]

a 1 loss SEC champion that survived 9 SEC games to come out on top would have every right to complain if they weren't one of the participants in the title game. I acknowledge TCU as a quality football program, but do not see them going 12-1 playing the schedule LSU or Auburn has

But if they were playing that schedule they would...be in the SEC, recruiting SEC caliber players. Give Matt Foley an entire roster of SEC caliber recruits and watch what he can do.

but for the fact we are discussing whether TCU would deserve to play Oregon for the National Chamionsip ahead of a 1 loss SEC team....THIS YEAR!

[PonyKai]

So basically the argument is telling them they have to accomplish something, then intentionally deny them the tools to do so, and when they accomplish the feat anyway, say go pound sand. They just beat the #5 team in the nation on the road by six touchdowns. Utah had won 21 straight games at home. Their defense is disgustingly dominant and they're about to go undefeated two regular seasons in a row. They absolutely deserve the right to play for the national championship this year.

The argument that they shouldn't go because they don't play the SEC's schedule is a complete farce. They have to play a schedule without a team littered with 4/5 star recruits and national Top-100's and multiple systemic disadvantages they have to overcome. Yes, they recruit very well, but not nearly at the level of Florida, Alabama, Texas, and LSU who have to "play that schedule." They play a weaker schedule with many fewer tools at their disposal, and it isn't even their own fault. They make every single attempt possible to better than own schedule, and this year, against their schedule, they have absolutely dominated from start to finish, no questions asked, in a very impressive manner.

Oregon wasn't nearly as dominant in disposing of a very weak Washington team, LSU would have 2 losses if Tennessee knew how to count, Alabama has two losses, Auburn just played Chattanooga and gave up +20 points to them. TCU has done absolutely everything it can do, and so long as they dominate the next two games as they should, they ought to play for the title.

Now, of course, Auburn still has three games left including the championship game...13-0 beating the second best team in the SEC ought to, and will carry a lot of weight.

[Charleston Pony]

meanwhile...applying that same logic...how do you favor TCU over Boise? As I recall, Boise has beaten everyone they have been "allowed" to play and have been doing it longer than TCU. For good measure, they beat TCU last year and those teams rosters haven't dramatically changed.

So...only one of Oregon/Auburn go unbeaten and TCU and Boise are both unbeaten. What is the "fair" decision under those circumstances? Pretty easy to make an argument that Boise deserves a shot at the title before TCU

Bottom line is that this is what keeps college football entertaining...but make no mistake...the BCS is very much concerned about viewing audience and that doesn't bode well for either Boise or TCU getting a shot.

Oregon against either TCU or Boise would likely be a disaster from a ratings standpoint.

[mrydel]

TCU and Boise will play each other again and it will not be the Championship game.

[PonyKai]

I would love to see them have to play each other again, I just hope enough people care to recognize it for the total complete farce that it is.

[RE Tycoon]

I disagree with the notion that a TCU or a Boise won't draw a crowd. If one or both were to get into the National Championship game, the media coverage would be off the charts and the novelty factor will be there (America loves an underdog story), at least the first time it happens.

Now say SMU is fortunate enough in 5 years to be where TCU is today and we are in the discussion for the National Championship game, but TCU has crashed already, Boise has done it once or twice, then I believe the novelty factor will have worn off and the unwashed masses will not care as much.

[PonyKai]

Boise State couldn't draw 35,000 playing at home against Oregon State with College Gameday there. TCU regularly outdraws them by thousands. I don't think they can, or will draw that great of a crowd in the near future.

[Stallion]

well that's partly because their stadium, although it looks large, only holds 33,500. In fact until 2007 it only held 30,000.

[PonyKai]

True.

[CalallenStang]

I know attendence for that game was 34,871...might be off on the last digits. If they would have drawn many more if the stadium was bigger, then looks like I'm pretty wrong in saying that. Although, Ford Stadium "holds" 32,000 but you could easily cram 36 or 37k in there. Isn't our TCU record setting attendence 35,4 or 7 something?

SMU has many SRO options (the hill, etc.). Boise has pretty much no SRO options.