Here are the early picks on the 2007 College Football Bowls.

What a crazy year it's been.  Just when you thought that you might have some clue of what the future would hold, or semblance of normalcy, college football throws yet another monkey wrench or two into the mix.  With both West Virginia AND Missouri falling last night, the only sure thing is that Ohio State is returning to the BCS title game.  Who they'll play against is anyone's guess at this point.

 

My system thinks that despite the boneheaded loss to Pitt last night, that OSU should play border rival West Virginia anyway.  I think that would be a great game, although I'd question the national appeal of the game.  ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit thinks LSU would be a better opponent, and it's hard to disagree, but if that were the case, then why did the voters put them down so low last week after losing to Arkansas?  It's a big slap in the face of Georgia and Virginia Tech to have LSU leapfrog them both, especially after VT blasted Boston College to win the ACC championship.  It's also extremely hypocritical of the voters to change their minds in such a big way just to setup a game they want.

 

The bottom line is that college football itself has proven why there needs to be a playoff.  There are roughly 10 teams at this point that could legitimately run the table in a playoff format, but to limit it to only two of those teams is entirely unfair to the rest, who will be relegated to consolation BCS games, like the Rose Bowl.

 

To the NCAA:  Step in and end this BCS nonsense.  We, the fans, want a playoff and if you'll just listen to the masses, you'll see that we have figured out how to have your cake and eat it too.  No one loses unless you continue to stick your heads in the sand and pretend that there isn't a problem with equity in Div I-A bowl games.

 

It's the final regular season week of the year, and there's tons to be determined, including who will play for the MNC.  West Virginia and Missouri are in the driver's seat, but both need to win to punch their ticket to the BCS title game.

 

Games of the week:  West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh and Missouri vs. Oklahoma.  Win and you're in.  Lose, and Ohio State fans will be grinning ear to ear.

 

 

Updated 11/26/07 due to error in scores

 

West Virginia remains #1, and the polls will likely follow suit this week (ahem....play catch up? )  Missouri moves up to #2 following a fairly dominant performance against Kansas, despite the final score.  Ohio State remains at #3, Georgia moves up to #4,  and last but not least, USC bolts up to #5 after pasting Arizona State in Tempe.

 

If OSU can't move up into the title game, the Rose Bowl is still bound to be a heck of a game -- maybe even more compelling than the title game, and a heck of a 2008 preview for both teams, as there's a good chance they will start next season #1 and #2.  Should be a great matchup in LA when they meet again at the beginning of the 2008 season.