And this is where stupid gets you

The current system of determining a so called “national champion” is indisputably stupid. If there were any doubt , 2007 has proved it beyond all argument.

For a system based on a series of popularity contests (polls) and arcane, non-transparent mathematics (computers), failure was always a possibility. Moreover, for a system based on virtually undefined criterion, failure was inevitable.

By “undefined criterion”, I suggest there is no commonly held definition of what it is the BCS title game is trying to achieve. Are we trying to place the two “best teams” in the BCS title game? The two “most deserving”? The two with the “best resumes”? Some incoherent and unable to be articulated combination thereof?

If we are looking for the “best teams”, it certainly will not happen this year. Indeed, in a field of 119 competitors of varying talent and schedule strength, it is unlikely it ever has. But has it ever been more obvious than it is this year? Consider the three teams most likely to be competing for the thoroughly artificial national title, and their cumulative schedule strengths –

21. Missouri
46. Ohio State
48. West Virginia (includes Pitt game)

Essentially the national “discussion” has us pitting two of these three against each other in the faux national title game.

At this point last year (prior to the SEC Championship game), the Gators had the toughest schedule in the nation. Other contenders such as USC and Michigan were highly ranked at 5th and 3rd, respectively. Ohio State's 2006 SOS was a relatively poor 39th, which places them still 7 spots better than this year’s squad.

Is this what we want, a “national title” game against 3 contenders that are essentially untested?

To Missouri’s credit they are going to play Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship, which will bring their overall opponent’s record to 0.59200, which in turn should place them about 11th overall. However, if they lose to Oklahoma (widely expected), we are looking at a national title match-up between teams that played the 46th and 48th toughest schedules.

Pathetic.

The Mountaineers or Buckeyes as mythical national champions will answer no questions, nor prove any points. Which, in this year of manifest unpredictability, may be just about what we and this stupid system deserve.