Oklahoma has survived the country’s best six team division
despite the fact that they played the three best teams in the conference
(besides themselves of course) away from home.
They have the best win for any contender in the country in their shutout victory
over perennial top 5 program Texas.
Their non-conference schedule compared that of to would-be usurper Auburn? There
is absolutely no comparison. Oklahoma’s includes preseason top 25 team Oregon,
and current top 25 team Bowling Green. Auburn’s includes the Citadel.
Oklahoma is 11-0, but still, two losses are haunting Oklahoma’s BCS title
chances. A year ago, “the greatest team ever to put on cleats” was shockingly
demolished by Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game. Oklahoma was then
the controversial pick to oppose LSU for the national championship.
However, the story truly begins when the Sooners were “pounded” (according to
Michael Wilbon of Pardon the Interruption) by seven whole points in the national
championship game. Losses in the last two games one season ago cost Oklahoma one
national championship, and might cost Oklahoma a second national championship
this season.
Last year’s blown second chance is being called in with a high interest rate.
Oklahoma has not been given a single chance to defend itself against charging
Auburn. When Oklahoma defeated No. 22 Texas A&M on the road, they “struggled”
according to the caption on a Sportscenter teaser. When Auburn scored a victory
against a 6-5 Alabama team with a losing SEC record, they supposedly passed a
test.
They simply responded as a team of destiny, while Oklahoma apparently responded
with complacency. After all, Auburn outscored Alabama 21-7 in the second half of
their game.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma limped home with a 28-7 run in College Station, where the
crowds are as quiet as the space between Lee Corso’s ears.
Oklahoma’s road win over No. 23 Oklahoma State was apparently not a show of
character, but rather a show of weakness.
Even Oklahoma’s win in Dallas against the Texas Longhorns is being discounted.
There is no way to ignore the sixth rated Longhorns any longer. That the win
happens every year is no reason to discount a neutral site win over a top 5 (BCS)
team.
But none of this really matters to voters or television analysts. All that
matters to them is that Oklahoma was “hammered” (this time it’s Chris Fowler) by
seven points in the national championship game a year ago.
My one question for them, from one analyst (joking) to another (wish I was
joking), is “where is the analysis?” Do I really have to rely on Jeff Sagarin to
give me an unbiased look at what these football teams have done?