Should Boise State Play For the Championship?

First of all, let me begin by saying that Boise State has been one of the top 2 teams in my rankings for 6 consecutive weeks. In contrast, last season they spent only one week at #2 in my rankings, and that week was in October. They dropped down to #7 by the end of last season. There were two games in particular last year that showed a little weakness in Boise: Their 28-21 win at Tulsa, and their 45-35 win at Louisiana Tech. This season, the closest they have come to looking weak was in their 49-20 win over Louisiana Tech. In fact, Kellen Moore, the quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate, has only played through the 4th quarter twice all season, both in close wins over quality opponents.

The biggest reason that most people give for leaving Boise State out of the championship is their strength of schedule. While it's obvious that playing a WAC schedule is much easier than playing an SEC or Pac-10 schedule (see my listing of conference strengths), Boise State is the only team in the BCS Top 20 who scheduled more than one nonconference game against opponents in the top third of college football teams. While the weak conference schedule is out of their control, they do what they can with the part of their schedule they can control.

The problem will come if Auburn is able to finish the season undefeated, with wins over Alabama and South Carolina to close the season. If the two strongest conferences each produce an undefeated team, can one really be left out for a team from a weaker conference? I don't believe that they should be. But if Auburn slips up, like they probably will against Alabama, I don't believe Boise State should be left out.

Two recent examples from other leagues show why they should be allowed in. In 2008, the Arizona Cardinals were the best team in a very weak NFC West division, a division that was so weak that many were calling the Cardinals the worst team ever to make the playoffs. Yet they somehow managed to win the NFC Championship and come within one score of winning the Super Bowl. Another example is the Butler Bulldogs basketball team from earlier this year. They were the best team in a weak Horizon League, and nobody thought they'd go very far in the NCAA Tournament, yet they advanced to the Championship game and came within one score of beating Duke for the title. Obviously, strength of schedule isn't everything. The teams performance in each game is also important, and Boise State has stood strong in that category all year long.

NBA Performance of the Night:
Chris Bosh, Heat, who torched the Suns for 35 points and 6 rebounds, miles above his previous 14 point average, while leading Miami to their first win over a team with a winning record.

NBA picks (11/18):
Clippers at Pacers - Pacers by 8
Suns at Magic - Magic by 7
Nuggets at Trail Blazers - Trail Blazers by 3