Week 12 TV Schedule

It would be easy to say only one game matters this weekend, but that would be oversimplifying things. This week’s schedule has a number of quality games.

The obvious: The winner of the OSU/Michigan game will play for the national title. Both teams have done what it takes. They’ve rumbled through their conferences, and they each have a high quality non-conference win. Both teams are very talented, well coached, have strong defenses, and quality QB’s. It’s a rivalry game with everything on the line. It’s everything ESPN hoped the USC/Notre Dame game would be and more.

With the parity in the ACC, as usual, there are several games of interest. Clearly, the Pack/UNC game comes first here. After that, VPI/Wake is the match-up with the most at stake.

In the SEC, the big one is the Iron Bowl. Anything can happen in this one, and after a slow start Bama is improving while Auburn is starting to stumble. Both teams have played twelve in a row through tough SEC schedules, and the injuries are starting to take their toll, especially on the Tigers. The SEC East is done, but three teams could still represent the West. With a win over Mississippi State, Arkansas, could lock up the division this weekend.

Out West, the Pac 10 should be decided after Saturday. A Cal win followed by a USC victory over Notre Dame could really throw a wrench in the BCS.

One final comment about something that should be clarified with many in the media. I’ve heard several analysts use the phrase “under the rules they were given� when referring to Rutgers going undefeated and being deserving of a spot in the national title game. Nowhere in the BCS rules does it state that the teams have to go undefeated to play in the national title game (see 2003), nor does it state that all undefeated teams play in the national title game (see 2004), in fact, I don’t believe the rules refer to number of losses at all (please correct me if I’m wrong). The rules simply say that the two teams with the highest BCS rankings play in the national title game. If a one loss Florida, Arkansas, USC, or Notre Dame team is among the top two in the BCS rankings, then they will have earned the spot “under the rules they were given� regardless of whether Rutgers is undefeated.

Note that I’m not arguing that the rules are right or even logical. I’m just saying that false statements stated as fact don’t change the reality of the situation. These statements only change the public’s perception of reality. Much like the overused “proved it on the field phrase�, which is tossed out virtually any time Herbstreit or other analysts want to put an argument to bed without having to use logic or reason.

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7 Responses to Week 12 TV Schedule

  1. wvillepack 11/16/2006 at 12:14 PM #

    With the talent on board, we should be done with the season. We should be looking at two easy wins against in-state rivals to wind up a successfull season..There should be excitement in the air in Raleigh.

  2. cfpack03 11/16/2006 at 12:27 PM #

    ^That’s a bold statement. Any State fan should know we always play down to our competition, at least, we have for the past 7 years.
    I think we will win both, but they’ll both be won by 7 or less. I hope I’m wrong

  3. ruffles31 11/16/2006 at 12:57 PM #

    Is Alabama really on the upswing? I thought they just lost to Mississippi State a couple of weeks ago, who had lost 23 straight SEC games.

    As the ESPN the Hyperbole channel just told me, the OSU-Michigan game is the biggest regular season game EVER!!! Hmmm, what about OU-NEB in 1971, TX-ARK in 1969, etc.

  4. Pack84 11/16/2006 at 2:21 PM #

    You mean tOSU and Michigan are playing this weekend? I had no idea………….

  5. Redwolf 11/16/2006 at 2:54 PM #

    Speaking of ESPN, the ECU vs NCSU game is to be televised on ESPN-U. This will be the fourth NCSU football game televised on ESPN-U and there are five NCSU basketball games scheduled for ESPN-U. There are many other ACC games on ESPN-U. None of these games are on Time Warner Cable as they do not carry ESPN-U and say they have no plans currently to carry it. Direct TV carries ESPN-U. I would think that Time Warner has more subscribers than any other tv provider and would not want to deprive their customers of viewing these games. Carrying ESPN-U should boost their viewership and thus their advertising revenue. As I have done, I urge you to contact Time Warner to request they carry ESPN-U. Maybe some of you know someone in Time Warner management or others you could contact to help with this situation.

  6. CaptainCraptacular 11/16/2006 at 5:31 PM #

    *I think we will win both, but they’ll both be won by 7 or less. I hope I’m wrong*

    I hope you are not wrong about winning both. I’d take 2 Ws even if it were by one point each.

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