04/18/24
December 22, 2011
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Houston (-7) at INDIANAPOLIS (40): I haven't consulted a calendar yet, but what lasted longer -- Indy's losing streak or that Kardashian marriage thing? Texans 26, Colts 16.
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:52 PM on December 22, 2011
Bad news.
posted by yerfatma at 12:56 AM on December 23, 2011
Watch #8 Boise State comply with the ultimate bowl bid shaft by taking on unranked 6-6 Arizona State
That's #7 Boise State, and that felt like shitting on Dennis Erickson's coaching grave before they even buried him. Let's count the number of bowl games between now and the Orange Bowl where it'll be worth asking "what if Boise State had been one of the competitors?"
posted by etagloh at 02:43 AM on December 23, 2011
That's # 8 Boise State in the AP Top 25 poll. Both previously and as of today.
I saw them listed alternatively as 7 or 8 in different polls, and conservatively chose to go with 8 rather than push my point to the limit.
I had not realized they were going to let Dennis Erickson coach the bowl game after terminating him earlier this season.
There are indeed some bowl games that would cause one to wonder how Boise State would fare against a higher quality opponent. Such as the Outback Bowl. Teams like Georgia and Mich. State would be tough opponents for BSU. In my mind, not primarily on a skill basis, but rather physicality and depth. Those large, well established programs have remarkable depth on their rosters.
But my primary concern is with Boise State's designated postseason fate compared to that of other bowl bound teams that are ranked far lower. A team such as #20 Houston will play Penn State - a Top 25 opponent from a major conference with a record of 9-3. ASU was barely bowl eligible at 6-6, and was no match for BSU.
I feel badly for Boise State. They have far less margin for error than most other notable programs. One razor thin shortfall during the season and they go from being wunderkinds to lepers.
If I were the Idaho equivalent of T. Boone Pickens, I would quietly get rid of the blue turf at the BSU stadium and go with a more conventional surface. That rug still makes BSU look like a cheesy stepchild in the minds of some college football decision makers.
posted by beaverboard at 09:25 AM on December 23, 2011
Think what would happen if Boise State were allowed to play one of the NCAA'$ "chosen schools" and won ... would poke a huge hole in the BCS balloon a prove once and for all that it's singular purpose is $$ and has nothing to do with sport.
posted by cixelsyd at 09:52 AM on December 23, 2011
Teams like Georgia and Mich. State would be tough opponents for BSU.
They already beat Georgia at the start of the season, but yes to the Spartans or a team like Nebraska. The MWC's #1 bid meets the Pac-12's #5 bid, which is why it's BCS or bust for Boise State. All the good bowls are taken.
posted by etagloh at 01:24 PM on December 23, 2011
Today's the day:
Watch #8 Boise State comply with the ultimate bowl bid shaft by taking on unranked 6-6 Arizona State, whose season went off the rails so bad that they fired Dennis Erickson. What, Akron wasn't available?
If Boise State had gone undefeated, who would they have gotten to play -- Tulsa?
My favorite "theme" bowl this year has to be the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, featuring two teams that have sent their coaches to the unemployment line.
Then there's the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, featuring two teams that have struggled all year just to break even.