AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 29
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Georgia-Florida IS a BCS elimination game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nobody asked me but…
1. Say it with me: Georgia-Florida IS ABSOLUTELY a BCS elimination game: I’ve had some people take issue with my statement that Saturday’s showdown between No. 6 Georgia and No. 8 Florida is a BCS elimination game. “But Tony,” they plead, “Look what happened to LSU last year!” Yes, LSU did get into the national championship game with two losses (11-2) last season. But understand that the stars had to be perfectly aligned for LSU. No. 1 and No. 2 both had to lose on Championship Saturday and LSU had to jump from No. 7 to No. 2. When you have five undefeated teams in the BCS Top 10 and three SEC teams in the top eight with one or no losses on Nov. 1, the odds are against the SEC champion having two losses and getting into the game. I know the loser of this game wants to hold out hope. But the fact is that the winner in Jacksonville stays in the BCS hunt and the loser starts making plans for the Outback Bowl.
2. With a win, Georgia can and SHOULD jump over Southern Cal: I know the human pollsters just love Southern Cal, which is ranked No. 5 in the BCS Standings. But if No. 6 Georgia can beat No. 8 Florida on Saturday, the Bulldogs have a real chance to jump over the Trojans into the No. 5 spot. By beating LSU and Florida in consecutive weeks, the Bulldogs should pick up some votes from the humans. The computers will certainly smile on Georgia if it beats Florida while frowning on Southern Cal, which has Washington (0-7) this week. Washington is a 43-point underdog whose coach just announced that he’s stepping down. No matter how badly the Trojans beat the Huskies, it won’t, and shouldn’t, help. If Florida beats Georgia and No. 7 Texas Tech loses to No. 1 Texas, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Gators jump over Southern Cal into the No. 5 spot.
3. David Cutlciffe is not coming back to Tennessee: Should Tennessee make a change at head coach, and that is beginning to look more likely by the day, there has been speculation that David Cutcliffe, who served two terms as the Tennessee OC and is now the head coach at Duke (4-3) might return. It’s understandable that Cutcliffe’s name would come up. Here are the numbers: With Cutcliffe calling the plays, Phillip Fulmer’s teams were 85-19. With somebody else calling the plays, the record is 65-31. But it’s not going to happen. Cutcliffe and Fulmer are very close. The only way Cutcliffe comes back is if Fulmer gave his blessing and convinced him that it was for the good of the program. I know this has become a cutthroat business, but there is still a little loyalty left out there. Isn’t there?
4. Texas has impressed me: The Longhorns and Colt McCoy still haven’t faced a really good defense. In fact, the best defense in the Big 12 belongs to Texas, and it’s ranked No 43. But you have to be impressed after watching Texas beat No. 1 (at the time) Oklahoma, No. 11 Missouri, and No. 7 Oklahoma State on consecutive weeks. Now Texas has to go on the road to face No. 8 Texas Tech (8-0). If Texas wins that will be four victories over four teams ranked in the Top 11 on four consecutive Saturdays. Three of the four will have been undefeated at the time that Texas won. I don’t think they keep records on this but it must be one of the best four-week performances ever by a team.
5. Florida State is a year ahead of schedule: When I went to visit Florida State this summer, the conventional wisdom in Tallahassee was that 2008 was the setup year for making a serious run at the ACC championship in 2009. But Florida State has finally found its identity with a tough, physical running game and another good defense built by Mickey Andrews. Georgia Tech will have its hands full with the Seminoles on Saturday. If Florida State wins the ACC championship and Penn State slips into the BCS title game, do Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno walk out the door together? Not a chance.
