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Here are some comments on several (American) sports and sports teams.

BCS versus Playoff

It’s become pretty clear that to determine a true NCAA football champion, there must be a playoff and not rely of the top two ranked teams from a computer ranking. I would suggest a 4-game playoff, but a an 8-game playoff would be needed to satisfy everyone completely. Every year, there’s controversy over the “true” national champ, and I’m tired of it! Currently, the top five teams in the college football rankings all have one loss (Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and USC), so who’s to say which two should play for all the marbles? Let them decide that on the field with a playoff.

Lowly Detroit Lions

So the Detroit Lions NFL football team is 0-12. They are becoming very close to being the first 0-16 team in history. Only one team has gone 0-14, and they had an excuse–it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their very first year of existence (1976). The 1980 Saints started 0-14, and last year’s Dolphins lost their first 13 games. The Lions themselves started the 2001 season 0-12 before finally beating the Vikings (who they play tomorrow!).

U of M football and basketball

So I won’t talk about my alma mater’s horrendous football season, but at least the Michigan Wolverine basketball team is finally doing well. They upset two teams already early this season–fourth ranked Duke and the week before, fourth ranked UCLA.

Bay Area Sports

So I’ve been living in the Bay area for 1 1/2 years now, and am still easing into the area’s professional sports teams. I did go to a San Francisco Giants baseball game this past summer, and am looking forward to a Golden State Warriors basketball game. I do have tickets to a San Jose Sharks hockey game in January (they’re playing the Detroit Red Wings).

I have very mixed feelings about Florida playing Ohio State in the NCAA national football championship game in January. I like the Gators, don’t get me wrong. And they had an outstanding season. They did win a very tough SEC conference title and should make it a good game against OSU.

But, there are three reasons why I believe University of Michigan got robbed of a shot at the biggest game of the year:

• U of M’s only loss is to Ohio State, the #1 team, and it was only by 3 points and at Ohio State.
• U of M was ranked number 2 in the last two months of the season, and only went to number 3 because they weren’t scheduled to play any games. Florida was, and they won. Is it Michigan’s fault they didn’t have another game to play to prove themselves? No!
• The real reason why Florida took the #2 rank from Michigan is because many voters didn’t want to see a rematch between OSU and U of M. Is the possibility of a rematch a valid reason to discredit a football team? No! Historically, a team never jumps ahead of another in the polls when the higher ranked team is idle. Michigan got screwed.

So my team Michigan, ranked #2, won its football game this past Saturday. But the old maize ‘n’ blue won just barely to Ball State, a team that was an underdog by over 30 points! And U of M’s nemesis Ohio State, ranked #1, also won in a close game. I know both teams played under their ability, so my question is: do they deserve to keep their rankings?

OSU received all votes for #1 both in the AP and USA Today polls, even thought they played relatively poorly, and there are other undefeated teams in the country ranked lower, such as the Louisville Cardinals and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (yes, Rutgers!). Louisville (#3) and Rutgers (#15) are also undefeated, but have much more momentum at this point of the season.

Shouldn’t Louisville and Rutgers be ranked higher? Do Michigan and Ohio State deserve to be #1 and #2? Let’s hope U of M and OSU are just saving their best for their annual season-ending meeting, this year bigger than ever! Go blue!

Rutgers #1?