Chris Dufresne takes a look under the BCS hood

It's dangerous to look too deeply into the machinery of the first Bowl Championship Series standings, but, of course, that's not going to stop me.

I didn't have a chance to get into all the nuances in today's web and print story, not that I would even want to.

But here are some observations:

-- Texas is No.1 in all six BCS computers.

Anyone have a problem with that? I don't.

-- Alabama is a solid No. 2, ahead of No. 3 Penn State.

I would not have had any problem if Penn State would have opened at No. 2 instead of Alabama. I'm just not sure what all the fuss is about Alabama ... yet. The Crimson Tide started the season No. 24 in the Associated Press poll and jumped to No. 13 after a season-opening win against Clemson.

This is one of the best arguments yet for not releasing polls until October. Clemson was a fraud. The Tigers are 3-4 now, and have chased off Coach Tommy Bowden, yet Alabama doesn't have to give back its 11-point poll bounce.

Alabama played a great half at Georgia, winning, 31-0, but lost the second half, 30-10.

It will be interesting to see if Penn State jumps to No. 2 if it beats BCS No. 9 Ohio State in Columbus this week. Alabama plays at unranked Tennessee. After that, though, Alabama will have the schedule advantage, starting with Nov. 8 at LSU.

-- The Pac-10 has ONE team ranked in the BCS top 25 -- that being USC at No. 5. Yet, there are FIVE schools from non-BCS conferences ranked in the top 21. Amazing.

-- How Ohio State is No. 5 in the BCS computer average is really a head-scratcher. Getting blown out by USC, 35-3, really seems to have helped the Buckeyes' strength of schedule cause. Of course, USC beating Ohio State by that score has helped the Trojans to a No. 10 computer ranking.

-- One-loss Ohio State is No. 4 in the Colley Matrix, one of the six BCS computers, and one-loss USC is No. 10. Again, the final score was USC 35, Ohio State 3.

-- Defending national champion Louisiana State has played Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida and South Carolina, yet is getting killed in the BCS computers. LSU is tied with Northwestern for No. 19.

So far, it appears that LSU's "meat-grinder" non-conference schedule of Appalachian State and North Texas is off-setting the strength of the SEC. LSU's Sept. 6 game against Troy (not USC), was postponed to Nov. 15 because of Hurricane Gustav.

-- Chris Dufresne

Comments

[andre moreau]

Granted LSU has played a dull, lame non-conference schedule, but let's be fair--the entire Pac-10 is dull, lame and pathetic. Certainly no boost to power ratings! Get a grip.

[Berto]

Why should any college football fan care one iota about the BCS? It is the worst fraud in all of sport, anywhere. Why do we let computers decide who the "national champs" when we have perfectly good athletes and coaches that would gladly settle it on the field? No one disputes the NFL champ or the D1AA, D2 or D3 champ because the playoff system justifies a champ. Until we have playoff system the "BCS Championship" is worthless.