"Nitemare" Scenario brought up by Rice fan

[Harry]

Nightmare Scenario

I just realized something pretty awful about BCS rankings being used as the tiebreaker in the event of a 3-way division tie where the only losses are to each other (so records vs. common opponents are the same, etc.).

Assume for a moment that Rice loses to NT on Thursday, NT wins out, Rice wins out after this week, and Tulane wins out except for the game vs. Rice. Assume further that none of the three teams crack the top 25 in any 2 of the computer polls (since the highest & lowest computer rankings are thrown out) - no points given from the computers.

If no voting members of the Harris poll or other coaches rank any of the three in the top 25, there will be no points there either.

Each of the three team's head coaches are voting members of the coaches poll. Even a 25th place vote for the coaches' own team would jump that team up above the rest if the other coaches didn't follow suit. (See Iowa in the current poll - they're getting one vote in the coaches' poll, which moves them in front of Georgia Tech & USC which have better computer rankings.)

In addition, if Marshall or MTSU is the East Division winner, their coach will be in the position of being able to pick his opponent in the same manner.

Worse still, the poll used will not be the final poll, so the ballots will still be secret. Using BCS standings as a tiebreaker seems to be opening the door to immense temptation.


To sum up: Let's win Thursday so we don't have to worry about it. (and change the rules for next year!)

Read more: http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=657412

[GOMG2013]

Assuming unt is 9-3, we should get votes. Especially if ball state is ranked or getting votes.

[UNT90]

Assuming unt is 9-3, we should get votes. Especially if ball state is ranked or getting votes.

That won't happen. We have a huge perception hurdle to overcome.

And that may help us in the scenario played out by that Rice fan. Let ECU pick us to play. After all, they know Tulane can beat them, and they won't want Rice, so...

[foutsrouts]

That won't happen. We have a huge perception hurdle to overcome.

And that may help us in the scenario played out by that Rice fan. Let ECU pick us to play. After all, they know Tulane can beat them, and they won't want Rice, so...

I think we likely would get votes at 9-3, if only because of the Mac respect factor around the country. Cart before the horse, but it sure would be nice to get 14 games this year.

[SSP]

OMG! I hate TULANE SO MUCH. I KNEW this would come come back and bite us.

With that said... lets go back to concentrating on winning every week and then we can shoot our hate back at Tulane again (if they don't screw themselves at their next couple away games.......). They aren't so tough without their striped posse fan club.

Edited October 29, 2013 by SSP

[Andrew]

If we had beat Tulane and finished 10-2 I could see a vote but at this point we would have to dominate these last games... And get lucky

[JesseMartin]

If our only loss was to UGA, we'd probably be ranked in the 20s. If we had 2 losses to UGA and Ohio, we'd probably be around the mid 30s. With 3 losses, even if we win out, a lot of other teams would need to beat each other up for us to even get a vote or two. That first weird week with all the upsets and random FCS wins was our best shot at getting a vote before those 3 losses came into play. However, if we go to the championship game and win, and are 10-3, then there's a good chance at some votes or even cracking the top 25. But we have to beat Rice first...

[jdennis82]

Very interesting perspective BUT...

9-3 is far from "Nitemare"

[VideoEagle]

That won't happen. We have a huge perception hurdle to overcome.

And that may help us in the scenario played out by that Rice fan. Let ECU pick us to play. After all, they know Tulane can beat them, and they won't want Rice, so...

Yes, the perception is the problem with general fans. It is far less so with coaches. If (and it's a BIG IF) we get into that sort of situation and a coach is using his Top 25 votes to pick his opponent, I can't imagine them choosing based on fan perception instead of looking at some film.

That said, I couldn't imagine La Tech preferring to sit at home over going to a bowl game agains ULM either!

[rws69]

Assuming unt is 9-3, we should get votes. Especially if ball state is ranked or getting votes.

Ball State got votes on all major polls this week.