Crying in Baton Rouge

To continue with the College Football theme and the “what if” scenarios that are an enjoyable jaunt for the mind, I will discuss another possible outcome that will leave one University’s Football Nation crying foul.

Again, I focus on the LSU Tigers, my father’s Alma Mater. So far they have torn through the College Football 4 month long playoff. They won at #2 and on a neutral field against the #3 team in the nation and have topped 4 other ranked teams and play another the day after Thanksgiving when they battle with Arkansas.

The Bayou Bengals can claim without much argument (if they finish the regular season undefeated) that they are in fact the #1 team in the nation. But then the college postseason chaos can really start...

Let’s now run through a hypothetical that was brought up by my cousin, who not so surprisingly is a student at Alabama.

WHAT IF:

LSU runs the table by beating Mississippi and Arkansas. Georgia also finishes off their season with two more wins and are slated to meet in the SEC Championship Game on December 3^rd in the Georgia Dome. Georgia is a much improved squad from the beginning of the year when they lost their first two games of the year.

What if Georgia, with Mark Richt still on the hotseat, pulls of the upset and takes down the Tigers.

Alabama ends their season with wins over Georgia Southern and Auburn and finishes 11-1 with their only loss coming to then #1 LSU in overtime.

Oregon ends their season beating USC and Oregon State and then the Pac 12 Championship game against UCLA (possibly 6-6?).

Oklahoma State beats Iowa State but then loses to Oklahoma.

BCS Standings 11/18: BCS Standings 12/4:

#1 LSU #1 Alabama

#2 Oklahoma State #2 Oregon

#3 Alabama #3 LSU

#4 Oregon #4 Oklahoma

LSU would likely be left out of the BCS National Championship Game, which you could say might be correct because they lost the last game of the year, didn’t win their conference Championship, etc. However, they would be the #3 team in the Nation and would have beaten both #1 and #2.

Another wrinkle as I’ve read through the BCS Selection rules is that because Georgia would have the SEC’s automatic qualifier and Alabama would be the SEC’s “At-Large” selection, LSU would not even be allowed to play in a BCS Game. Ouch. Let the BCS whining begin.

SEC Football 3 Headed Monster

I know that we’ll understand how this all will play out in the next few weeks but let’s play a game called what if….

What if the #6 Arkansas Razorbacks go into Baton Rouge and upset #1 LSU the day after Thanksgiving.

Not at all that far fetched, as LSU when playing against good offenses has given up 27 points to Oregon and 21 points to West Virginia. The Razorbacks’ offense puts up similar numbers to those two potent offenses. Arkansas ranks 13^th in Points and 11^th in Passing Yards in the Nation.

The chaos that would follow would leave three SEC West teams with identical records.

Alabama 11-1 (7-1 SEC) Loss at Home in Overtime to LSU

Arkansas 11-1 (7-1 SEC) Loss at Alabama by 24

LSU 11-1 (7-1 SEC) Loss at Home to Arkansas by X

The first question to sort through would be which team is invited to play Georgia (maybe South Carolina) in the SEC Championship Game. It would likely be Alabama by a hair based off of BCS rankings. As Alabama would likely be #2, LSU #3, and Arkansas #5.

This reminds me of 2008 Big 12 (remember when they had 12 schools). Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech all in the Big 12 South finished 11-1 with each loss coming from one of the others. Oklahoma, with their loss coming earlier in the season and to slightly high ranked team was invited to the Big 12 Championship game where they stomped an over-matched Missouri squad. UT and TT were left at home with Texas Tech not even being invited to a BCS game.

If LSU does finish the SEC season undefeated they will have made a case for being the most deserving #1 team having beat the best team from the Pac 12, Big 12 and the other two best teams in it's own conference.

#2 Alabama – Road – By 3 in Overtime

#3 Oregon – Neutral Field – By 13

#16 West Virginia – Road – By 26

#17 Florida – Home – By 30

#20 Auburn – Home – 35

#25 Mississippi State – Road – By 13

Still to be Played and Possible Post Season Games:

#2 Oklahoma State? - Neutral Field

#6 Arkansas – Home

#14 Georgia? – Neutral Field