Scheduling Patsies Works (Except When It Doesn't)

Dan Wetzel does have a point: large, successful college programs schedule patsies. Nice job. We can read a schedule, too. Ooh, look! Oklahoma, one of the programs cited for its bravery, has both Tulsa and D-1AA Idaho State on its schedule. Smell the bravado coming off those epic matchups (won by a combined score of 109-0).

The notion of some teams being “cowardly” in scheduling games against D-1AA competition is tossed around frequently without considering something more important than even BCS standings: the bottom line on a program’s P&L statements. Sure, it pays in some instances to schedule patsies, but occasionally it doesn’t, as undefeated 2004 Auburn found out the hard way when they missed a title shot due to having The Citadel and UL-Monroe on its schedule.

The BCS implications -- touted by Wetzel as the primary reason for scheduling cupcake teams -- are a side effect of scheduling teams who will give you a home game’s revenue without the inconvenience of having to go elsewhere. Right now, Florida or Texas can sit at home and rake in the cash knowing they can rely on a.) the perceived strength of their conference schedules, and b.) the added bonus of the conference schedule to bolster their rankings. USC may be significantly braver in scheduling, but they have to be in order to garner attention on a playing field tilted towards the south and east, voter-wise.

Sadly, another grand theory about the BCS inducing cowardice comes down to mundane economics. They don’t call it the dismal science for nothing.