The Big East Champion Will Be....(tie breaker question)

[robbgmaier3]

Since it looks like Rutgers is going to get beat, I'm wondering if this is worse for WVU than the obviously reduction in their computer numbers. I'm nearly certain that if Rutgers/Lousville/WVU all had one loss then WVU would be the Big East champ by virtue of the presumably highest BCS rank. Now the tie would be just between WVU and Louiville.....does the Big East use the head to head tie break or is WVU going to be awarded the title even though they lost to the other 1 loss team? That would be unsavory. Does anyone know for sure? I just tried a google search but got mostly crap.

[cthomer5000]

I think technically, as in regarding the conference, it would be a 3-way split. But the rep would be the higest BCS ranked team, which I imagine Louisville is now in the driver's seat in that dept.

[Young Drachma]

http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/bige/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/tiebreak

[Young Drachma]

If Rutgers somehow beat West Virginia, they would get the Big East BCS bid.

Otherwise, it's Louisville's bid.

[robbgmaier3]

I can't believe I'm going to have to rout for Pitt next week. Gawd hep me

[General Mike]

If Rutgers wins out, Rutgers wins the Big east.

If Rutgers beats Cincy, and loses to West Virginia, Louisville wins the Big East.

West Virginia wins if they win out and Louisville loses again.

[WVUFAN]

It'll be strange seeing WVU be ranked higher in the BCS than Louisville, but not get the auto bid.

I can see them getting an at-large bid, though.

[Joe]

its possible they can get one. Michigan, ND, and Boise will get at large bids. The last spot I'd say is likely between them and the florida/arkansas loser.

[cthomer5000]

well, who knows... maybe getting whooped by Cincy will be some sort of strange motivation and they'll be able to beat West Virginia and stil claim the BCS bid.

[Young Drachma]

I tend to think that's what going to happen. They've come too far now to just suck on a big egg and I think it would impact Schiano's staff and their credibility if they did just choke the rest of the way out (Syracuse notwithstanding) because you have to prepare those kids for games like that and doing interviews all week on national TV -- even if it will help recruiting -- when people are skeptical isn't the way to do that.

So I hope that loss was a huge gut check for them, because they still have a chance to play in a real bowl on national TV and to redeem themselves from being shellacked last night.

[timmynausea]

I'd be surprised if Rutgers stayed within 2 TDs of West Virginia.

[Ragone]

I'd be surprised if Rutgers stayed within 2 TDs of West Virginia.

careful, you saw how that ended the last time it was predicted

[sooner333]

its possible they can get one. Michigan, ND, and Boise will get at large bids. The last spot I'd say is likely between them and the florida/arkansas loser.

LSU and Oklahoma have legit shots as well, I would say.

[Joe]

LSU and Oklahoma have legit shots as well, I would say.

Yes. Although, LSU would have to beat Arkansas on Friday. A 3 loss LSU team won't get a BCS bid.

[Buccaneer]

I still don't get it. If RUT beats WVU, they will share the BE championship with Louisville, which make sense. But RUT would get the auto because of...what? Despite losing to RUT earlier, Louisville would still be higher in all of the polls. And doesn't RUT's loss to Cincy count somewhere?

[molson]

I still don't get it. If RUT beats WVU, they will share the BE championship with Louisville, which make sense. But RUT would get the auto because of...what? Despite losing to RUT earlier, Louisville would still be higher in all of the polls. And doesn't RUT's loss to Cincy count somewhere?

The Big East has a very specific tiebreaking procedure. If two teams are tied for the championship, the head to head winner goes to the BCS, period, nothing else is considered. Only if there are 3 teams tied, and they're all 1-1 against the other teams does BCS ranking come into play:

hxxp://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/bige/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/tiebreak.pdf

[cthomer5000]

I still don't get it. If RUT beats WVU, they will share the BE championship with Louisville, which make sense. But RUT would get the auto because of...what? Despite losing to RUT earlier, Louisville would still be higher in all of the polls. And doesn't RUT's loss to Cincy count somewhere?

Yes, Rutgers' Cincinnati loss counts in the conference record. Both teams would have 1 loss, and Rutgers would have beaten Louisivlle head-to-head. Very easy tiebreak, Rutgers wins the conference (by any common sense measure) in that scenario.

[Young Drachma]

Louisville only has 1 loss in the conference. Rutgers would have 2 losses, as would West Virginia, so...Louisville advances. If Rutgers wins now, Louisville and Rutgers will both have just 1 loss, that's when the head to head comes into play and Rutgers gets the BCS berth. That's why the Cincy loss was so devastating.