Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Yes, a voter operating under the name of Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban did vote the Oklahoma St. Cowboys No. 4 on his or her final Coaches Poll ballot, with the Stanford Cardinal coming in at No. 3. So did Big 12-turned-SEC coach Gary Pinkel, along with Stanford's David Shaw. Every other SEC ballot, including Les Miles', ranked Alabama ahead of OSU.
Of course, the ultimate SEC conspirator is whoever handled Air Force coach Troy Calhoun's ballot and slotted the Arkansas Razorbacks ahead of No. 5 OSU.
That SEC (and Air Force!) voters acted in their own self-interest isn't the problem. It's that they had the opportunity to do so. Coaches of competing football teams get to choose which teams make which postseason games. We shouldn't be surprised when they choose themselves.
If the rankings were based on Big 12 ballots, the Cowboys would've come in second. Even the ballot of Tommy Tuberville, a longtime SEC man who's now Texas Tech's coach, has Alabama No. 3.
Don't get mad at Alabama for being voted into the national championship game. Don't get mad at the SEC. Your favorite team and your favorite conference would've leapt at the chance to do the same thing. It's the system, friends, and it can be changed.
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Jason Kirk:
Coaches Poll: Nick Saban Voted Oklahoma State No. 4, As He Should've
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Comments
Computers tell the truth.
Not only was OSU more worthy based on their wins and strength of schedule alone despite losing to an unranked team. But the computers don’t even take into consideration that it would’ve been a rematch!
Incredible, terrible preconceived biases and agendas have made this happen. And it is sad.
by Crosseyes on Dec 5, 2011 3:51 PM EST reply actions
Get real
At the time the games were played, Alabama played 5 teams inside the top 25. Oklahoma State has played 4.
If you look at the records of the opponents of Alabama and Oklahoma State, Alabama opponents have a +23 record, Oklahoma State opponents have a +18 record.
In total offense, Alabama is ranked 30th, Oklahoma State is ranked 3rd.
In total defense, Alabama is ranked 1st, Oklahoma State is ranked 107th.
In PPG scored, Alabama is ranked 16th with 36.00 PPG, Oklahoma State is ranked 2nd with 49.33 PPG.
In PPG allowed, Alabama is 1st with 8.83 points, Oklahoma State is ranked 61st with 25.83 points.
If you go by averages, the average Alabama game is 36-9, the average Oklahoma State game is 49-26.
Alabama’s average margin of victory is 27 points, Oklahoma States is 23.
Alabama has allowed less than 10 points in 7 of 12 games this season, Oklahoma State has allowed less than 10 points in 1 of 12 games this season.
by WhitePhoenix48 on Dec 5, 2011 6:18 PM EST up reply actions
And according to the Sagarin rating
The strength of schedule argument goes to Alabama who is 2nd, and OSU 3rd.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a rematch or not. The BCS national championship pits the 2 best teams in the nation, 1 & 2.
by WhitePhoenix48 on Dec 5, 2011 6:24 PM EST up reply actions
Bama is so dirty
And first, you shoud never look at ypg as a cue for defensive ability. OSU also leads the country in turnovers. And Bama has played a easier schedule, it is where you end up, not where the teams was when the game was played. And if you look at the +/- of the wins, its Bama + 12 and OSU + 12.
So dirty. Just lose, Bama, and make the rest of the world happy.
Google's homepage celebrates too much shit.
by meatybob on Dec 5, 2011 8:49 PM EST reply actions
Where do you get your stats?
Alabama’s opponent’s combined record is 84-61. (23)
OSU’s opponent’s combined record is 81-63. (18)
Per final BCS ranks:
Alabama has played 4 top 25 teams and beat 3.
OSU has played and beaten 4 top 25 teams.
Each team’s 1 loss:
Alabama’s only loss was to #1 undefeated LSU by 3 pts in OT. LSU never scored a TD. (6-9)
OSU’s only loss was to an unranked (now 6 loss) Iowa State by 6 points in 2OT. ISU put up 37 points.
The final Sagarin ratings which rank strength of schedule have Alabama 2, and OSU 3.
And ignore YPG? You want to ignore stats? That doesn’t even make sense.
by WhitePhoenix48 on Dec 6, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
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