Who do ya think should be number two? USC or LSU???

[SmileyBoy]

Don't you think it's about damn time that I stop thinking of things to rhyme???

:crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy:

But seriously, after number one Oklahoma (11-0) there are two other 10-1 teams remaining in the top-five in the BCS: USC and LSU. Who do you think should be the number two team after Ohio State lost today??

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Whoever OU will beat, LOL.

n/t

[Ohio Dem]

2. If LSU can run the table, then LSU.

Considering they play a conference championship, they have a tougher road, although I will say USC wouldn't be undeserving, either.

That's what happens when a team loses a game - they have to rely on fickle voters, incomprehensible computers, and other teams. Both teams' fans can make a pretty convincing case as to why it should be their team and not the other, but we have to go with the system we have. That's my biggest gripe about the BCS system - leaving one or the other one-loss team out of the race entirely.

My Buckeyes were in the same boat until today.

[SmileyBoy]

3. I believe the BCS bowls should be replaces with an 8-team playoff.

This is what I think would be a good temporary solution: Keep the BCS standings at the last half of the year, but reduce it to a top-eight. The eight ranked teams would be placed in their respective seeds, 1 playing 8, 2 playing 7 and so on.

The other bowl games would be kept intact, but the five BCS bowls (I think they're Rose, Fiesta, Orange, Sugar and Cotton) and two additional present bowls (seven total games in playoff) would be dismantled in terms of name ONLY, would be played in the same respective cities and stadiums, resulting in the interim 8-team playoff system.

Then, like I said, the BCS standings would then be used for the purpose of playoff seeding.

[Ohio Dem]

4. Works for me except for one thing.

Playing the playoffs in the existing Bowl sites is unfair to northern teams, in my opinion. Let those bowls be filled with teams not in the top eight, and have cities bid for the playoff games. Have one in Cleveland or Detroit. Have one in Pittsburgh or NYC. Have them spread across the country.

[Awsi Dooger]

5. LSU probably cannot overcome the game vs. Western Illinois

Similar to when Miami scheduled McNeese St for the 2000 opener, by necessity when East Carolina wimped out of a scheduled game in the Orange Bowl. LSU receives zero BCS points for the Western Illinois game, and that will cripple the Tigers in the BCS formula.

Come on, Buckeye fans, at least threaten some consistency of argument. Last week several posters here were gung ho to insist that Ohio St deserved the BCS nod over USC because of the strength of schedule component. And If you're going to use a conference championship game as a requirement or bonus, why wouldn't that have vaulted LSU to the same plateau, or above, Ohio St?

Here is LSU's non-league slate this year:

* home vs. Louisiana-Monroe
* at Arizona
* home vs. Western Illinois
* home vs. Louisiana Tech

Add to that joke quartet a game vs. one of the weakest SEC teams in recent history, Mississippi St.

USC's non-Pac 10 schedule was ambitious in comparison, including a road opener vs. a preseason top 5 foe:

* at Auburn
* home to BYU
* home to Hawaii
* at Notre Dame

Granted, none of those teams met expectations, but there were never any expectations for Louisiana-Monroe, Western Illinois or Louisiana Tech. It's as close to a Kansas St-caliber slate as I've seen.

I believe the BCS formula criminally overrates strength of schedule above poll consensus. And I'm admittedly arguing as a USC alum. The current setup definitely rewards something akin to what Ohio St has done lately -- schedule name-brand but beatable non-league teams at home. LSU may pay the price for not understanding that, once the BCS method was put into play.

[sasquatch]

6. USC and Oklahoma

It'll be a shoot out I can guaranteee that:)

[Awsi Dooger]

7. There has been a prop in Las Vegas for about a month

Oklahoma vs. the field in the Sugar Bowl at the Mirage properties. Oklahoma has been anywhere from a 9 to 11 point favorite, depending on who the likely opponent was. Last week, when Ohio St was in position to get in the title game with a win over Michigan, the number immediately rose from -9 1/2 to -11.

Now that USC is the frontrunner, I'm sure that will plummet below 10.

Agreed, sasquatch, the game sets up as a track meet on turf with all the skilled athletes. Over/under will likely be very high 50s to low 60s.