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No one thinks they will run the table unbeaten - it's the same reason all the "experts" except one at cnnsi.com are calling for USC to make it to the National Championship game. They think Texas, Iowa and Cincy will all pick up losses, which is possible. Rest assured, a one-loss Iowa team is doomed and an undefeated Iowa team still needs Texas to lose.

Iowa still has MSU, Ohio State, Minnesota and a few others to face. Beat them and you're in business. Keep your powder dry and cheer for the Hawkeyes. Don't worry about everyone else.

The only thing I don't get is why posters refer to Iowa and Cincinnati as if they were mid-majors. If Iowa is good enough, and fortunate enough to win out, they deserve very serious consideration for the NCG.

The problem with Iowa is they are not named Ohio St. or Penn St. That nasty little word PRECEPTION. Just like every season starts with pretty much the same teams ranked. This team is suppose to be first every year and that team is suppose to be average and those should be at the bottom. I think the same problem is in most of the confrences. So I don't think it is just an Iowa thing. Ask Cincy.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 10:23 PM ET  10.23 by tHogg

The only thing I don't get is why posters refer to Iowa and Cincinnati as if they were mid-majors. If Iowa is good enough, and fortunate enough to win out, they deserve very serious consideration for the NCG.

Iowa is hurting from the same thing that initially dropped then from the polls and allowed Cinci to get rankd ahead - the well publicized 1 point win against FCS Northern Iowa. Withoutthat, they would be ranked inthe top 4, wrestling with USC for #3.

Cinci suffers from their OOC schedule.

If both win out, based on previous voting habits, they will be ranked 3rd and 4th, moved ahead of USC and Boise.

Iowa could easily jump Texas in the BCS.

Right now, if the voting polls were Texas 3rd and Iowa 4th, Iowa would be 3rd in the BCS. If the season ended with Texas 2nd and Iowa 3rd, Iowa has a good chance of getting an invite to the title game with a boost from the computers.

...but this is a lot of if's - I don't see 4 undefeated majors in the FBS future.

Thanks all, that does help makes a little more sense of things. I guess part of my issue is a relative lack of knowledge or understanding regarding how the BCS standings come about. So I'm off to the great Google to learn more about that.

I do have to say one thing that has started to really bug me about College FB is that winning isn't good enough. Now you have to win big or it might as well be a loss. So it's better to play far inferior non-conference teams (which is what Florida does) and run the score up rather than play much more difficult non-conference teams (which is what USC has done) and win a close game. I don't blame Florida - you do what it takes to succeed in the present system. And I know, I know, the BSC is flawed. It's just becoming a bit of a joke to me how flawed it really is. Just had to get that off me chest. No matter - I'll keep watching Iowa win these really close games, which is much more entertaining than watching Florida blowing out teams they have no business playing.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 10:44 PM ET  10.23 by hawksr1

The problem with Iowa is they are not named Ohio St. or Penn St. That nasty little word PRECEPTION. Just like every season starts with pretty much the same teams ranked. This team is suppose to be first every year and that team is suppose to be average and those should be at the bottom. I think the same problem is in most of the confrences. So I don't think it is just an Iowa thing. Ask Cincy.

Yep. (well, 'perception' but that's a typo)

If it was PSU or tOSU that was 6-0 right now they'd be in the thick of the NCG talk.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 12:11 AM ET  10.24 by MNBearsFan

I do have to say one thing that has started to really bug me about College FB is that winning isn't good enough. Now you have to win big or it might as well be a loss. So it's better to play far inferior non-conference teams (which is what Florida does) and run the score up rather than play much more difficult non-conference teams (which is what USC has done) and win a close game. I don't blame Florida - you do what it takes to succeed in the present system. And I know, I know, the BSC is flawed. It's just becoming a bit of a joke to me how flawed it really is. Just had to get that off me chest. No matter - I'll keep watching Iowa win these really close games, which is much more entertaining than watching Florida blowing out teams they have no business playing.

Again, yep.

And Florida's not gonna change anything as long as the voters continue to keep them top ranked while they slide thru a soft schedule every year.

Imagine this:
Iowa was preseason ranked 25-30 'ish. Pretend Iowa played Florida's schedule. Same opp's. Same scores. 6-0.
Do you think Iowa would be #1/#2 right now? Would they even be in the top 10?

Iowa probably deserves to be #2 or#3 at this time but how it ends is thie only thing that really matters.

What Prove It wrote in Post 4 is accurate and thorough about how things will unfold, except perhaps the prediction of no undefeated FBS.

IF Iowa runs the table (not a certainty), and IF Texas loses a game (ain't ready to concede it'll happen), Then Iowa is an undefeated BCS conference champ. Who are you going to put in the NC game ahead of them?

Texas has 6 games left, 3 of them against teams that wre, or have been, ranked. Gotta take care of those games, plus the conference championship game (prob'ly a rematch with Kansas). Then this discussion doesn't matter.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 12:38 AM ET  10.24 by Crazy Rabbit

Yep. (well, 'perception' but that's a typo)If it was PSU or tOSU that was 6-0 right now they'd be in the thick of the NCG talk.

PSU would be hearing over & over how they hadn't beaten anyone and the schedule was horrible and they were overrated.

Happened that way last year.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 12:55 AM ET  10.24 by Crazy Rabbit

Pretend Iowa played Florida's schedule. Same opp's. Same scores. 6-0.Do you think Iowa would be #1/#2 right now? Would they even be in the top 10?

Of course not. Florida earned it's street cred by winning the NC. However tehy did drop to 2.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 07:42 AM ET  10.24 by PSUinHolidaySpirit

PSU would be hearing over & over how they hadn't beaten anyone and the schedule was horrible and they were overrated.

True. But at least with Mich and tOSU remaining, they'd have a chance to improve their sos and, hence, the perception.

Cinni is going to lose
Texas no
Iowa -1 loss

Texas championship
Iowa not

On to the eye candy. Daniella is excited about the Olympics coming to her home town.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 12:11 AM ET  10.24 by MNBearsFan

Thanks all, that does help makes a little more sense of things. I guess part of my issue is a relative lack of knowledge or understanding regarding how the BCS standings come about. So I'm off to the great Google to learn more about that. I do have to say one thing that has started to really bug me about College FB is that winning isn't good enough.

The way CFB is structured, with such a limited number of games and relatively few non-conference games to provide common opponents for comparison between conferences, subjective perception always has been an important issue, especially regarding not just winning, but how your team performs in games. Winning, on its own, has never been "enough". Losing to weaker teams is, naturally, not good, but only barely squeaking by them is almost as bad.

At the end of the season, IF Iowa runs the table, they have a great shot at being in the NC game, but a lot of football remains between now and then. It's a bit early to start griping about how the system is unfair to your team. Wait and see ...

Welcome to the NCAAF board, MNBearsFan, but I suggest you lurk some more before posting again. Get a feeling for how things go on this board. And check out the "Hello Newbie!" thread - currently on page 2 of the board posts.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 12:55 PM ET  10.24 by JRM74

On to the eye candy. Daniella is excited about the Olympics coming to her home town.

Nice to see you're in a good mood, JRM! Keep the candy coming ...

Marvin "Salty" McNutt is a great receiver, I don't know why Stanzi doesn't pass to him more often, Don't know why O'Keefe doesn't use him more often.

Iowa isn't ranked higher because no one believes they can run the table. I can't say I blame them so far. Iowa's schedule is murder. There's certainly perception involved, but IMO, it's because most pollsters don't see the need to rank them higher and talk about them for the NCG when they're nearly certain that Iowa will lose eventually. Really. Who could run the table with Iowa's schedule? At PSU, at Wisconsin, at MSU, at Ohio State. Home against Michigan and Arizona (who's in 2nd place in the PAC 10 at the moment with their only other loss to the team that beat USC). SOS is absolutely NOT the reason Iowa isn't ranked higher.

If they win out, they'll be in the NCG. Still an IF since they have their 4th tough road game remaining, against OSU. But the same murderous schedule that's keeping them down a few notches in the polls now will work FOR them if they win out. No one plays more tough teams on the road than Iowa this year. Support your team, the rankings will take care of themselves.

QUOTE(#19):

Originally posted 01:27 AM ET  10.25 by realmakoi

Iowa's schedule is murder.

Murder might be a strong word.

Miami's sched is murder.
Washington's sched is murder.

Iowa's schedule is fairly tough though. Their problem is all these close calls. Same with Florida.
A great team should not struggle with average competition week after week.