Why I Love the BCS

I'm the guy. The one guy in America who loves the BCS. The one guy who thinks it's fair and that it works and that it's better than whatever system you're proposing.

And the evidence is all around you. 

Right now, LSU is undefeated. One of its vanquished, Alabama, sits in second place, awaiting an LSU stumble. The Tigers have yet to defeat #3 Arkansas and #13 Georgia to remain in the title hunt. (This is irrational, of course. The voters have no understanding of the concept of a game-and-a-half lead. LSU should be free to lose one of its games and remain #1, since it would have the same number of losses as its closest competitors, but against a more impressive schedule. But that's a fight for another day.)

In other words, despite slaying every foe that's challenged them, including two top 10 opponents, the Tigers are still in must-win mode. Why? Because the BCS is just a two-team playoff.

Suppose we had an eight-team playoff instead -- as many BCS-haters demand. Where would the intrigue be now? LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Oregon, Stanford and Boise State would have locked up spots in the playoff. The LSU-Arkansas tussle (and the LSU-Alabama showdown before it) would be irrelevant. Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State wins this weekend would pretty much cement the field. You could attempt to make a desultory case for undefeated Houston (signature win: a four-point home decision over UCLA) ahead of Oregon, but that's at least a four-beer argument. ZZZzzzzz.

The uncertainty and excitement fomented by a two-team playoff based on the whims of voters is vastly more fun. And it trickles down. I can tell you firsthand that the prospect of the home state Clemson Tigers being one ACC win from the Orange Bowl is mouth-watering here in South Cackalacky. (Don't worry: they'll Clemson it up.) I'm sure the possibility of BCS bowl appearances for traditional also-rans like Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, Boise State, Stanford and Oklahoma State are thrilling the hometown crowds.

So hooray for the BCS, the ignorant voters, the mis-programmed computers, the lack of head-to-head action. When every regular season game feels like a playoff, you've got the right formula.

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