As we all know, six computers rank and score teams for the BCS and comprise one third of the BCS formula for determining a teams BCS rankings. At stake are millions of dollars and determines who participates in the coveted BCS Bowls and the MNC game.
There are several issues with the computer component of the system. Many believe they are skewed towards the six AQ conferences particularly the SEC. Although the six computer polls deny this, there is no way to prove it one way or another. Five of the six polls refuse to release their formula for ranking teams, calling the formula proprietary property.
Colley is the only poll offering transparency in how its formula works and that is where the error that effected the BCS final standings was detected. The error is believed to have impacted the rankings done by the other five computer polls.
The error was caught in the Colley data by BCS guru Jerry Palm. What Palm discovered missing the Colley data was the Appalachian State blowout over Western Illinois in the FCS play offs. It is surprising to think the FCS play offs would effect the BCS rankings, but they did.
This time there was no serious damage, no one was wrongly excluded from a BCS Bowl and loosing millions from the snafu. What it did do was wrongly place LSU over Boise State in the standings. Since the goof up was discovered, Boise State is now ranked 10th over and 11th place LSU.
What is disturbing is that the error took place and that it took an outsider to find it. Apparently there are few if any safeguards if any to protect teams from these errors. Add in that five of the computers wont allow their calculation formula to be seen and one must wonder, are there more errors we dont know about?
Over the thirteen year period the BCS has existed, were there any teams that were unfairly excluded from the Bowls or the MNC game?
The BCS is very flawed, this just adds to the fire of the critics demanding a play off.
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