It's Official! Ducks Are #1

[MickZagger]

Nope. Whittle went to the Rose Bowl with Graziani. Akili's running back was Saladin and his top receiver was Patrick Johnson.

[video=youtube;Bx3fX6C6Fak]

Ahhhh....You're older than I am. Your memory is much more clear.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Whittle was more of the Akili Smith era if I remember correctly. Saladin was part of the now defunct XFL. At the time he was the best RB that had ever played for the Ducks.

Except for that Ahmad Rashad fellow. (who was a taliback in college before becoming a standout WR in the NFL)

 

[MickZagger]

Except for that Ahmad Rashad fellow. (who was a taliback in college before becoming a standout WR in the NFL)

Yeah, I meant to add in the word arguably.

Bobby Moore was a stud at Oregon, way too small to play RB in Minnesota though. Always nice to have Fran Tarkenton throw you the ball.

 

[THE HCP]

My dad was at UofO while Ahmad was there. During spring break one year him and his friends walked out of a concert at the MC and guess who was cuffed and being stuffed in a cop car for breaking into cars trying to steal stereos in the parking lot......... Ahmad Rashad! HAHAHA! I have worked with him a couple times and it was tough not laughing at him! (He was a arrogant prick anyway, so screw him!)

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

Sad to say, but I think I agree with you. It is so tough to do. I'm pissed because the USC game is the same night as our game against the Knicks in NYC! I may have to call in sick!

Don't waste your time with the Ducks on that USC game, it will ruin your night. Easier to come back and just see how much the Ducks lost by. I've sort-of seen that USC game as their only obvious loss on the schedule and the rest of the games they through the UCLA game they SHOULD win unless they weren't that good this year.

So even as a fan of the Oregon schools, I have to remain impartial and be honest that the BCS got it right, BSU and Oregon should be undefeated given their easy opponents thusfar and don't deserve to be up there on top. BSU doesn't have anyone left, so they will only fall, and Oregon will deserve #1 if they beat USC. But then Auburn might deserve it later if they beat Alabama.

 

[MickZagger]

My dad was at UofO while Ahmad was there. During spring break one year him and his friends walked out of a concert at the MC and guess who was cuffed and being stuffed in a cop car for breaking into cars trying to steal stereos in the parking lot......... Ahmad Rashad! HAHAHA! I have worked with him a couple times and it was tough not laughing at him! (He was a arrogant prick anyway, so screw him!)

That happens when you're best friends with Jordan.

 

[MickZagger]

Don't waste your time with the Ducks on that USC game, it will ruin your night. Easier to come back and just see how much the Ducks lost by. I've sort-of seen that USC game as their only obvious loss on the schedule and the rest of the games they through the UCLA game they SHOULD win unless they weren't that good this year.

So even as a fan of the Oregon schools, I have to remain impartial and be honest that the BCS got it right, BSU and Oregon should be undefeated given their easy opponents thusfar and don't deserve to be up there on top. BSU doesn't have anyone left, so they will only fall, and Oregon will deserve #1 if they beat USC. But then Auburn might deserve it later if they beat Alabama.

I don't care what the haters say, but beating Stanford (the 12 team in the nation) is much better than any wins that Oklahoma, BSU, TCU and Auburn have done to date.

It was a convincing 21 point win as well.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I don't care what the haters say, but beating Stanford (the 12 team in the nation) is much better than any wins that Oklahoma, BSU, TCU and Auburn have done to date.

It was a convincing 21 point win as well.

Oklahoma's 30-point win over Florida State was arguably more impressive than Oregon's 21-point win over Stanford. OU was up by 27 at half and 37 entering the 4th before letting up. Much more dominant overall, IMO.

Auburn's win this weekend over Arkansas was also comparable to the Stanford win, and they also have a win over South Carolina (another top-20 team). By all rights, they should probably be ranked ahead of the Ducks too.

 

[MickZagger]

Oklahoma's 30-point win over Florida State was arguably more impressive than Oregon's 21-point win over Stanford. OU was up by 27 at half and 37 entering the 4th before letting up. Much more dominant overall, IMO.

Auburn's win this weekend over Arkansas was also comparable to the Stanford win, and they also have a win over South Carolina (another top-20 team). By all rights, they should probably be ranked ahead of the Ducks too.

I'll give you Auburn. They have a great team and a stud quarterback and playing in the SEC is tough. They still have to play Alabama in Tuscaloosa though. Count that up as a loss.

But, Oklahoma had trouble putting away Utah St, Air Force and Cincinnati. 3 games they won by the hair on their chinny chin chin. All against unranked teams. Oregon's won in much more convincing fashion. The Ducks closest game was an 11 point win @ Arizona St.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

I don't care what the haters say, but beating Stanford (the 12 team in the nation) is much better than any wins that Oklahoma, BSU, TCU and Auburn have done to date.

It was a convincing 21 point win as well.

True. I wasn't trying to "hate". So please don't misinterpret my vague generalizations I'm making.

Since the BCS can't include margin-of-victory, and the BCS is ultimately what drives the final standings, I try and think of things in simple terms and without looking at margins.

So really the quick way to look is to see what games a team has been an underdog for and won. Oregon hasn't been a dog (even to Stanford) to the best of my knowledge, so they are just going through the schedule par-for-the-course winning the games they were supposed to win.

Oklahoma has won games against a couple top 20 schools in Texas and Florida State, then they get extra pts for how difficult the schedules were of those opponents (Texas and FSU). They've also beat Air Force. So it's not only about having a decent schedule in quantity, but also how hard the schedule has been for those teams they beat. As where Oregon has Stanford under their belts, but that is really their only top-20 team so far to date, and Stanford themselves don't have a big chunk of top-ranked teams they've played (same with ASU, and of course Portland State's opponents drive down Oregon's numbers).

So in the end, yes, convincing win at home against Stanford, and the human polls help compensate for Oregon just going through the motions mathematically and winning the games they should win against opponents that haven't done a whole lot outside of losing to Oregon. The human polls look at the Stanford game and help move them up to #2 in the BCS.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'll give you Auburn. They have a great team and a stud quarterback and playing in the SEC is tough. They still have to play Alabama in Tuscaloosa though. Count that up as a loss.

But, Oklahoma had trouble putting away Utah St, Air Force and Cincinnati. 3 games they won by the hair on their chinny chin chin. All against unranked teams. Oregon's won in much more convincing fashion. The Ducks closest game was an 11 point win @ Arizona St.

I wasn't really talking about the entire schedule--I was only addressing your contention (essentially) that the Stanford win is easily the most impressive on the resume of any unbeaten team. Clearly, given the examples I provided, that is not the case.

If I were to rank the unbeatens, based on their overall performances to date, I'd go Auburn, UO, OU, BSU, MSU, LSU, TCU, Utah, Mizzou.

 

[MickZagger]

Missouri/Oklahoma should be a great matchup this weekend.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Missouri/Oklahoma should be a great matchup this weekend.

Auburn/LSU too. Two more unbeatens off the radar--that can only help Oregon's computer rankings!

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

Auburn/LSU too. Two more unbeatens off the radar--that can only help Oregon's computer rankings!

Great point that I think SO many people miss out on.

While I like Jaynes and Chad and all on the morning MSP, they get so out-of-context on things like the BCS just trying to get listener responses from those that are nieve to math and don't understand it, that it really does a disservice to their listeners, who should really be told how it works and why Oregon fans don't need to worry about the BCS.

And of course the reason is what you mentioned. Oregon is 8th in the computers, but when Auburn/LSU play each other, one will fall out of the top-10 and Oregon will move up a spot. Then when Oklahoma plays Missouri, one will fall out and Oregon will move up another spot. Additionally, both Utah and TCU are ahead of Oregon on Richard Billingsley's computer and will cancel each other out as well. So Oregon will leap ahead of everyone by due to their computers going up and up. So all they have to do is win and it will resolve itself mathematically.

So good point PtldPlatypus, I don't think people understand how much those other top computer teams playing each other impacts Oregon's ability to move up into #1 in the coming weeks.

 

[RR7]

I'm still shocked at how awful the rankings are on some of those computers. I believe one of them has Stanford in front of Oregon. That makes TONS of sense.

 

[MickZagger]

So does Oklahoma's BCS rankings go down now that Texas got exposed by a horrible Iowa St team?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Is it possible for Auburn to jump Oregon in the BCS now? The BCS loves the SEC and Auburn just beat the number 6 team.

 

[MickZagger]

Is it possible for Auburn to jump Oregon in the BCS now? The BCS loves the SEC and Auburn just beat the number 6 team.

LSU is probably the worst #6 team there has ever been. I could make an argument that LSU isn't even ranked at the end of the year.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

LSU is probably the worst #6 team there has ever been. I could make an argument that LSU isn't even ranked at the end of the year.

They were still ranked number 6 and unbeaten when Auburn beat them. I could see Auburn jumping Oregon. And Auburn might be the better team too.

 

[MickZagger]

They were still ranked number 6 and unbeaten when Auburn beat them. I could see Auburn jumping Oregon. And Auburn might be the better team too.

lol, Auburns not better than Oregon.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

lol, Auburns not better than Oregon.

They have the best player in the country, a great freshman running back and a good overall team. If they aren't better, it's really close.

 

[MickZagger]

They have the best player in the country, a great freshman running back and a good overall team. If they aren't better, it's really close.

Best player in the country?

When they lose two games he still going to be the best player in the country?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Best player in the country?

When they lose two games he still going to be the best player in the country?

I don't think they will lose two games. They will beat Alabama and there's no one else on their regular season schedule that has a chance. But yeah even if they did lose 2 games he would still probably be the best player in the country. How many times have you seen Auburn play?

 

[Wheels]

I like Newton.. A LOT. But his pocket presence leaves a lot to be desired IMO.

 

[MickZagger]

I don't think they will lose two games. They will beat Alabama and there's no one else on their regular season schedule that has a chance. But yeah even if they did lose 2 games he would still probably be the best player in the country. How many times have you seen Auburn play?

They're going to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa? Right.

They'll lose in the SEC tourney as well. I've watched Auburn probably about 3 times, Newton is good, but not as good as some are making him out to be.

 

[Natebishop3]

OU is about to go down.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

Is it possible for Auburn to jump Oregon in the BCS now? The BCS loves the SEC and Auburn just beat the number 6 team.

No. Mathematically Oregon could have been neck and neck with Oklahoma if they had blown out Missouri and TCU had lost. The second TCU won, Oregon had a slight lead on them. When Oklahoma lost, Oregon has then got a big lead on the next closest team, which is actually going to likely be LSU. LSU and Auburn will be fighting out 2nd/3rd votes and knocking each other further down while Oregon will be largely on top.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

No. Mathematically Oregon could have been neck and neck with Oklahoma if they had blown out Missouri and TCU had lost. The second TCU won, Oregon had a slight lead on them. When Oklahoma lost, Oregon has then got a big lead on the next closest team, which is actually going to likely be LSU. LSU and Auburn will be fighting out 2nd/3rd votes and knocking each other further down while Oregon will be largely on top.

What? How will LSU move up...

 

[MickZagger]

Again, I'm hearing that they have the BCS like this:

1. Auburn
2. Oregon
3. Boise St
4. TCU
5. MSU

Thats according to Brad Edwards. I just don't get it.

 

[Natebishop3]

Again, I'm hearing that they have the BCS like this:

1. Auburn
2. Oregon
3. Boise St
4. TCU
5. MSU

Thats according to Brad Edwards. I just don't get it.

I don't think it's fair for a team to be able to jump that many spots over the consensus #1 in every other poll. How did USC hold the #1 for all those years?