Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Matchup Comparison Rating: the BCS comparison

We're coming down the home stretch now and it's time to apply our rating system to the BCS bowls left on the schedule. These are the big boys and should prove to be exciting contests, but before we begin we once again take a look at the TNL rating system the MCR:






Fiesta Bowl
West Virginia (10-2) vs. Oklahoma (11-2)
Jan 2nd, 8:00 PM – FOX

Is there really a team in all the bowl games that has had a worse ending to the season than West Virginia? All the Mountaineers had to do was beat lowly Pitt in Morgantown and their ticket was punched for the BCS championship. Unfortunately they ended up on the short side of a 13-9 decision and then watched their coach Rich Rodriguez head for Michigan two weeks later. The Sooners are no stranger to disappointment, after destroying the number 1 team in the land 38-17, Oklahoma watched as LSU passed them by for a shot at the title.


On the field both teams have dangerous offenses ranking 11th and 2nd in points scored. West Virginia gets it done on the ground with the dynamic combo of Steve Slaton and Pat White who have combined for 2238 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns on the ground to lead the 4th best rushing attack in football. Oklahoma boasts the nation's most efficient passer Sam Bradford who has completed 70% of his passes for 2879 and 34 touchdowns. The Sooners also use tailback Allen Patrick to keep defenses honest.

+1 two prolific offenses
+1 top 5 rushing attack
+1 probable high scoring shootout
+1 redemption factor for both teams

MCR 4 (Viper/Shelby Cobra)

Orange Bowl
Kansas (11-1) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)
Jan 3rd, 8:00 PM – FOX

Two teams the need no help in the motivation department are Kansas and VT. A year after the tragic on-campus shooting, Virginia Tech has come to together as a team and a community and are looking for their first 12 win season. For Kansas it's been a storybook year and they are itching to prove that their soft schedule has nothing to do with their stellar record.


On the field what could be better than the Hokies stellar defense against the nation's most prolific offense? Kansas scored 44.3 points per game and brings 3259 yard and 32 touchdown thrower Todd Reesing to the mix. Kansas is 6th in total yards and 16th in passing yards, but Kansas isn't all passing they also bring to the game running backs Brandon McAnderson and Jake Sharp who have combined for 1,838 yards rushing and 23 scores. Virginia Tech on the other hand has allowed 15.5 points per game second-best in the nation behind Ohio State who is in the championship game. This one has all the makings of a great matchup.

+1 best offense in the land
+1 one of the best defenses in the land
+1 kick-ass quarterback
+1 two teams that pride themselves on special teams play
+1 two 11-win teams

MCR 5 (Super Atomic Hot Wings)

BCS National Championship
LSU (11-2) vs. Ohio St (11-1)
Jan 7th, 8:00 PM – FOX

All Ohio State had to do after their last game was sit at number 5 and watch everyone above them lose. There are a lot of storylines for the Buckeyes in this game, they are making their second straight trip to the championship game and are trying desperately to erase the image of the pummeling they got from Florida last season after a long layoff between their last regular season game and the bowl game. This season it's been the same thing all over as they have a long layoff and face the SEC's best team in LSU. The Tigers moved from seventh to second and were rewarded for their inclusion in the fastest conference in the universe.

Both LSU quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux are mobile something that gives Ohio Sate fits. But the Buckeyes come into this game with the nation's best scoring defense giving up only 10.7 points per game and have allowed only two rushing touchdowns all season. On the offensive side of the ball Ohio State will look to efficient passer Todd Boeckman who completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 2,171 yards and 23 touchdowns and running back Chris Wells who chipped in 1463 rushing yards. Neither team has a 1,000 yard receiver so don't look for either team to light things up.

+1 two good defenses
+1 revenge factor
+1 Big Ten clubfoots vs. fastest conference in the universe
+1 best scoring defense in the land


MCR 4(Viper/Shelby Cobra)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

How could you leave out the International and GMAC Bowls!!

Oh right, because there's nothing below "A Woman's Heart."

Nick said...

No, this the BCS edition. Those aren't BCS bowls, not that playing a game in Toronto in January isn't the real goal of every team when the season begins.

Galen said...

Honestly guys I planned on skipping them because even a “1” can’t describe crappy games like that after watching wall to wall football for almost two weeks straight. It's like going out to eat and ordering a turkey sandwich after eating a week of leftover turkey and I couldn't find anything positive to say about Ball State.