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 Friday, December 13, 2002
Advantage, no one
By Jack Arute
Special to BCSfootball.com
Comment to Jack Arute.
There were no real surprises in this week's BCS rankings. If you are a Miami fan, even your poll average of 2.0 couldn't outdo the Hurricanes' computer ranking, which averaged a full 1.43 lower than the team you beat (Florida State). But before Coral Gables goes crazy, consider this:
|  | | Ed Reed is the leader of Miami's very talented secondary. |
If Miami should be ranked ahead of Florida State, then shouldn't Washington be ahead of Miami? After all, the Huskies did the same for you as you did to FSU.
Then again, what about Oregon? Didn't the Ducks handle the Huskies?
Oklahoma has basically put a full straightaway between themselves and Florida State. The Sooners' poll and computer rankings are absolute at No. 1. While their schedule strength is 12 places (.48 points) easier than FSU's, that is not enough to make up the 4.14-point difference in the polls, computers and losses.
I would caution the Sooners, however. It is difficult, at best, to beat the same team twice in one season. That looks to be the scenario they will face come the first weekend in December at Arrowhead Stadium. Oklahoma would face Nebraska that day if the Cornhuskers can march through Manhattan, Kan. Saturday and leave the Little Apple with a win. Should K-State beat the Huskers, OU must still do the "double" against those feisty Wildcats in a virtual home game.
That is of course, if the Sooners can get by a rapidly improving Texas A&M Aggie squad this weekend in College Station.
So who has the decided advantage heading into the BCS stretch run? No one.
This week's big loser has to be the Virginia Tech Hokies, who went from the penthouse to the outhouse with an injured quarterback to boot. Va. Tech's loss to the Hurricanes not only dropped the Hokies from national title contention, but puts them in jeopardy of missing out on a $12 million BCS bowl payday. The Big East's BCS bid at this point is in Miami's pocket. The best the Hokies can hope for is a big-time upset of Miami by Pitt, Syracuse or Boston College. If the sky doesn't fall, the Hokies will be relegated to a non-BCS bowl and a financial shortfall hovering around $8 million.
Maybe Michael Vick's new nickname should be the $6 million man.
Jack Arute writes a column every Monday for BCSfootball.com.
Comment to Jack Arute:
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Florida State's Davy Ford breaks one loose for an 82-yard touchdown run.