Official BCS National Championship Game Thread!

That's an really interestinsg take because I've noticed that too, even with HD channels. My TV seems to have the best picture and sound on ESPN and Fox channels. CBS is second. ABC and NBC broadcasts on my set aren't up to snuff. Why is that?

 

I have no idea, you'd think that since ABC is ESPN's sister network, the quality of their video and sound should be better...YOu could easily see that if you kept changing channels between the Outback Bowl (ESPN) and Capital One Bowl (ABC).

 

Two weeks ago I felt that OSU had just as much of a chance at blowing out LSU that LSU had of blowing out OSU, and that the most likely outcome would be a hard-fought game down to the wire. Now that Michigan's win over Florida is reality, I'm not exactly sure how that changes how I feel.

Michigan and Ohio State are bellwethers for the status of the Big Ten. Last bowl season, when #1 OSU got blown out by #2 Florida in the Fiesta and #3 Michigan got stomped by #8 USC in the Rose, most people came away from that with the belief that the Big Ten was over-ranked, a belief that was solidified further when #5 Michigan lost to Appy State in their first game of this year. Now that an unranked Michigan team took down #9 Florida (similar to how an unranked Oklahoma team took down #6 Oregon in the 2005 Holiday Bowl), people are starting to take the Big Ten seriously again.

So how do I feel that effects LSU?

1. Part of me thinks that OSU's chances of blowing out LSU is lessened, being that LSU players have now been given a reality check to not take OSU too lightly.

2. But another part of me thinks the Michigan win over Florida has boosted OSU's confidence. Before the Michigan win, there were OSU players who subconsciously doubted they could win on the 7th. Now those subconscious doubts have been wiped away. Also, OSU and Michigan have a huge rivalry, the two schools are extremely competitive. Now that Michigan has made a big statement by beating Florida, it will motivate the OSU player to make just as big as a statement against LSU. Finally, the reputation of the Big Ten itself is at stake here. Michigan's win over Florida could be written off as random, but a win by Michigan over SEC Florida and a win by Ohio State over SEC LSU would be huge for the reputation of the Big Ten.

 

I mostly agree with what you've laid out here...as the buckeyes and wolverines go, so does the big ten, but...

If LSU was taking the buckeyes lightly up until the UM/FLA game, then it's too late for them to do too much about it now. Most of the game prep is out of the way, and if(very big if here, as I don't think they have taken us lightly) they sleepwalked through it because they were overconfident, it will reflect in their play, regardless of realizing too late that perhaps they should've prepared better. just a thought, as i don't think it has too much bearing on the outcome...unless...nah...

 

It is game week. National Championship GAME WEEK and the hype is really starting to grow for this game. I am getting more and more fired up as the time goes by.

I am proud for our team, our state and everyone involved. Just getting to this game is a huge accomplishment, and if our Tigers pull off the "W" it'll be even bigger. HUGE!!!

:geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige
Bring home the :crystal: !!!!

:crystal: :geaux: :crystal: :geaux: :crystal:

 

I just don't get why some people are making such a big deal out of the UM/UF game with regards to NCG....It has nothing to do and if it does, then they also should look at the Rose Bowl (USC killed the team that beat OSU), Outback Bowl (SEC/Big10 game), Fiesta Bowl (Speed does make a diffrence) and tonight's Orange Bowl (VT played LSU).

 

Fine, let me re-word what I wrote.

This is what wrote: "Part of me thinks that OSU's chances of blowing out LSU is lessened, being that LSU players have now been given a reality check to not take OSU too lightly."

This conveys more accurately what I was trying to get across: Les Miles was born and raised in Ohio. He has a great deal of love for the Big Ten and Ohio State and how great they are. Miles went to Michigan and played lineman for Wolverines in the biggest glory years of the Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry. Miles stayed with Michigan as a coach for many years. I guarantee you Miles has not been letting our boys take Ohio State lightly. However, I'm sure some of our boys still subconsciously felt that OSU wasn't as good as Coach was making them out to be. With this Michigan win, those subconscious thoughts have been wiped away, and there is no reason that LSU should "not show up" on the 7th, like Ohio State did last year against Florida.

 

Since we're gonna keep having this discussion, let's just point out the SEC's 6-2 record and the Big Ten's 3-4 record this bowl season.

 

Not sure which discussion you're referring to. The big ten has underperformed to be sure, in several cases. However, given the opportunity to defend the big ten I would synopsize this way.

Mich State, the #6 B10 team, almost beat the ACC #2, with FOUR costly int's.

Indiana, was overmatched, and defensively underperformed.

Purdue, :dis:

Wisconsin,the B10 #4, almost beat SEC runner up Tenn, in one of the ugliest games I can remember, again with TO's proving costly, as Wisky had one too many to win.

Mich was an underdog, Penn state was favored and won. This was about what I expected from the big ten this year, so depending on you're definition, though a little dissapointed, I'm not surprised and fail to see how this has any bearing on the NC game.

We all knew the SEC was good, now their showing it, until Monday night:yelwink2: (JK)

 

Well, the main thing is that, like you agreed earlier, Michigan and Ohio State are bellwethers for the status of the Big Ten. Those are really the only games that really matter when you are talking about the average person's perception of the Big Ten.

But sure, if you want to get technical about it, I would focus on these two games:

1. Wisconsin v. Tennessee -- Wisconsin (who was 5-3 in the Big Ten) had a solid performance against Tennessee (who was 6-2 in the SEC), just like Wisconsin's performance against SEC teams has been solid over the last three years (last year Wisconsin beat Arkansas, year before that Wisconsin beat Auburn, year before that Wisconsin barely lost to Georgia 21-24).

2. Michigan State vs. Boston College -- It was very impressive how a unranked team that went 3-5 in the Big Ten did against #14 Boston College. Not has only Boston College shown they are on the level of #5 Virginia Tech (the first time they played, BC had 317 yards, VT had 265 -- the second time they played, BC had 389 yards, VT had 300), but Boston College had the #1 rush defense in the entire nation (holding opponents to 68 rushing yards per game). Yet Michigan State rushed for 172 yards against them. Interestingly, the only team that has held Michigan State to under 142 yards rushing this year was Ohio State (who held MSU to 59 rushing yards on 28 rushing attempts).