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Final BCS Standings Show Why It's Better to Lose Early Than Late

By Ed Bagley

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Published: 22Dec2008
Word count: 530
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Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

The Florida Gators will remember their 4th game of the season when they hosted Mississippi and were upset 31-30 after winning their first 3 games. The Oklahoma Sooners will remember their 6th game when they hosted Texas and were upset 45-35 after winning their first 5 games.

Florida would go on to win its next 8 games and then beat Alabama 31-20 to win the SEC Championship and a spot in the BCS National Championship Game Jan. 8 in Miami. Oklahoma would go on to win its next 6 games and then beat Missouri 62-21 to win the Big 12 Championship and the right to face Florida in the National Championship Game. Both teams are 12-1 going into the National Championship.

The Texas Longhorns will remember their 9th game of the season when they traveled to Texas A&M and were upset 39-33 after winning their first 8 games. Texas would go on to win its next 3 games and then watch helplessly as Florida and Oklahoma won conference championships and rose in the BCS Standings to determine who would play in the National Championship Game.

While Florida, Oklahoma and Texas all had a rightful claim to be in the NCAA's final game, Texas became the odd man out despite beating the Oklahoma Sooners on their own turf.

The final, cumulative BCS Standings showed Oklahoma with a BCS Average of 0.976, Florida at 0.948 and Texas at 0.930, with a mere 18 one-hundreds of a point separating Florida and Texas. The BCS Average is calculated by averaging the percent totals of the Harris Interactive and USA Today polls, and 6 different computer ranking services.

So what looked like a phenomenal win for Texas against Oklahoma early on really meant absolutely nothing when push came to shove. Florida's last game win over a then No. 1-ranked, 12-0 Alabama team meant everything

As has been the case in most years, teams can lose a game early in the season and still come back to qualify for the National Championship Game, but a team that loses a game late in the season pays a terrible price. Florida, Oklahoma and Texas all finished the regular season at 11-1.

The strong finish by both Florida and Oklahoma scored points with the pollsters. Florida won its last 8 games and SEC Championship by an average score of 49-13. Oklahoma won its last 6 games and Big 12 Championship by an average score of 59-29, and averaging more than 60 points in its last 5 games. When you combine their scores to finish the season, Florida and Oklahoma beat opponents by an average of 108-42. It is doubtful that the National Championship Game on Jan. 8 will be won by a score of 9-3.

With this year's Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford of Oklahoma facing off against last year's Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow of Florida, expect some sparks to fly. Bradford has thrown for 4,464 yards with 48 TD passes against 6 interceptions. Tebow has thrown for 2,515 yards with 28 TD passes against 2 interceptions.

Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on college football, including: "So Who Are the Current Worst Coaches in Division 1-A Football in the Nation?" "So Who Are the Current Worst Players in Division 1-A Football in the Nation?" "Tulsa the 19th Best Team in Nation? You Must Be Kidding and Here Is Why" Find my Blog at: http://www.edbagleyblog.com http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html

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