OSU - Michigan 11.18.06

OK, a couple of things here.

1. Before the game on the CBS show, Craig James said something to the effect of whoever lost this game should not play in the National Championship in January. Later, during the call of the game, color commentator Bob Davie made the same point and added that it was his national championship, right there and then. I couldn't understand this logic before the game was even played, let alone after a 42-39 game WHEN PEOPLE ARE STILL SAYING THIS! Look, there is nothing you can tell me to make me think that the two best teams in the country shouldn't be playing in the national championship, and there is nothing you can tell me to make me think that UM and OSU aren't the best teams in the country. Yet this is what some of these "pundits" will WANT you to believe. I don't know if it's SEC or Pac-10 bias that's making these people say these things, because I don't even think there's a logical case AGAINST having a rematch.

Here are the facts: 1) Michigan has one loss -- to the #1 team in the country by THREE points on said #1 team's turf. Now, in my book, and according to most Vegas bookmakers, home-field advantage equals three points. THREE POINTS. So yep, I'm gonna make the argument that home-field advantage won this game for the Buckeyes. I don't know, do you think for certain that OSU goes into Ann Arbor and wins? I don't see that. 2) USC, the team who would sneak by UM if this craziness comes to pass, lost to UNRANKED Oregon St. OK, USC had a slightly tougher overall schedule than UM, but every one of their wins over ranked opponents was at home. (Yeah, that's right, the kid's doing a little research for this entry.) Fortunately, USC will lose at home to Notre Dame on Saturday, which will end this USC silliness. 3) Blah blah blah Florida and blah blah blah Arkansas, bottom line: these teams would be DESTROYED by either OSU or UM on a neutral field. Who wants to see the SEC in the national title game anyway? Oh, and Notre Dame? The same Irish who got the shit pounded out of them AT HOME by UM, 47-21? Those guys? Yeah, thought so.

So here's what it boils down to: the Craig Jameses and the Bob Davies of the world say that a loss to Ohio State by three points in Columbus should take Michigan out of the national title picture. I say BOOLSHIT! And sorry Bob Davie, but last time I checked, they didn't hold national championship games in Columbus, OH with 100,000 screaming fans pulling for the Buckeyes.

Put these teams on a neutral field and we'll see what happens. Michigan's earned the right.

2) The game itself was a good game. Not great, good. So I thought it a bit premature when I saw the "Instant Classic" tag. To me, great games don't end with one team running out the clock/kneeling with the other team unable to stop the clock. Great games don't hinge upon a stupid personal 15 yard penalty that gives the winning team a first down and the means to score an insurance TD. Great games have an exciting onside kick situation (if it's needed), and either the underdog recovers it or at least there's a little drama as to who will recover. There was none of that drama in this game. This was a good game.

Sure, there was a lot of scoring, there was a lot of back and forth, there was a lot of an excited Brent Musberger. But it wasn't great, and it left me wanting more. I guess that's my point here in this inaugural post. I want one more game. On a neutral field. Give us a rematch.