October 12, 2004

Tigers fans start donning other caps

The first BCS rankings of the season are due out on Monday. If the mock BCS rankings are any indication, Auburn looks to be weighing in at number four. That's a nice little Sugar Bowl date, but they don't hand out championship rings for just winning a nice BCS bowl - you gotta get to the Orange Bowl. Yes, it's early to be having this talk, but that's the fun of it.

If you want to get to the National Championship game, you have to win a lot of games. Recent history tells us you better win all of them, plus your conference championship game (with a few notable exceptions). But "just" winning isn't enough. BCS history tells us that you also need a little luck and a lot of help - sometimes from your friends & sometimes from your enemies.

Tiger fans will be donning several hats this week. First hat on the docket is the big red of the feisty U of L. Louisville gets a shot at knocking off Miami on Thursday night. The Cardinals won't be favored, but it should be an interesting showdown. Louisville does a great job of protecting the ball and throwing down field. The Hurricanes haven't given up a passing TD this year. Miami has already beaten better teams and should have some confidence, but...will they be over confident?

If your Tommy Tuberville, you've got no choice but to root against Miami - even if that means rooting for the same guy that Auburn's President & AD flew to Louisville to interview for your job last fall. But, ya gotta hang a loss on Miami, and this is the best scenario for the Tigers.

Next up for Auburn is Florida State-Virginia. Given that Miami still plays UVa later in the year, the best outcome from the Tigers perspective would be a Virginia loss against the 'Noles. If you let UVa sneak into the mix, then they're one little Miami win away from possibly leaping over you. Can't let that happen - gotta root for Bobby Bowden.

Since your already wearing some variation of garnet, might as well throw your love to Arizona State against Southern Cal this week. When you look at the USC schedule, the only potential hiccups are ASU this week, maybe Mike Stoops's defensive genius for Arizona, and possibly Touchdown Jesus. That's it. Doesn't look too promising. You either hang a loss on the Trojans this week, or you root for them to blow out everyone else so that the #1 slot is solid. A split debate on #1 doesn't help Auburn, unless their on the #2 side of it. Nope, you get a Trojan loss or you root for them the rest of the way.

In the coming weeks, Auburn fans need to call up their Oklahoma State buddies and hang an "L" on Bob Stoops & company. Oklahoma is very good, but they've struggled against Oklahoma State. The Cowboys still haven't found it just yet, but they are always ready for OU. This year's game means more than just bragging rights, too - it's a chance for the unbeaten Pokies to head to the Big XII title game.

That's it, Tiger fans. The formula is in place. Win the remaining games, plus the SEC title game. I'll admit it's way, way early to start having this conversation, but AU is two losses from the BCS title game. The Plainsmen need two losses from the likes of USC, OU, and Miami to punch their tickets to the Orange Bowl. A loss by all three? Well, that would be just to perfect.

Posted by Kevin Donahue

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1. colby says:

   posted on October 13, 2004 04:06 PM — link

   I don't think any more than 2 of those four teams will win out. They never do. History has shown that we don't go into the bowl season with 4 undefeated major conference teams. We're lucky to get two. If Auburn wins out (and I still think that's a big "if") they'll be right where they need to be. Sure they can root against the other three, but in the end, I think two undefeated teams will be a nice surprise and a change from the pattern of having all the one-loss teams in the hunt.