Instead of watching a couple mediocre college football teams battle for the rights to the Idaho Potato Bowl Championship this weekend we should have enjoyed the first round of the College Football Playoffs. Those who are against a playoff system are simply against the concept and don’t think about the entertaining mathcups the system would produce.Not to mention, there would probably be 10 teams in playoff contention toward the final weeks of the season instead of the two or three that we’ve been accustomed to under the BCS system.
Here’s what we should have witnessed this weekend:
#5 Oregon 41#12 Virginia Tech 27
Unable to stop the 3-headed monster of LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and Darren Thomas on the offensive end, Virginia Tech is forced to turn to the passing game a little too early and end up playing directly into Oregon’s game. Logan Thomas does make his first impression in what should be a formidable 2012 Heisman Trophy run but the lack of carries for David Wilson is what ultimately kills Frank Beamer’s squad. James finishes with 187 yards and 2 TDs on 23 carries to go along with 2 receptions for 28 yards and another score. Thomas finishes 24-40 for 346 yards and three scores but most of the yardage comes when the game is out of hand.
The most exciting moment comes when the Ducks run a double-reverse and Barner hands off to a sweeping James late in the second quarter for a 76-yard touchdown scamper, putting the Ducks up for good, 28-13.
#11 Baylor 45#6 Arkansas 41
Down by three points with under two minutes to go, newly crowned Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III gets an opportunity to put the finishing touches on his stunning season and doesn’t disappoint. After converting a 4th-and-12 in his own territory by escaping a sack and diving for the first down, Griffin finds Kendall Wright for a 15-yard touchdown pass as time runs out. A multitude of players introduce themselves to a national audience including Arkansas studs QB Tyler Wilson and WR/KR Joey Adams and Baylor WR Wright, who holds every receiing record in the school’s football history. A shoot-out from start to finish, this game is played clean as each team only commits one turnover apiece and highlights are abundant.
Adams dazzles the NFL scouts in attendance with two return touchdowns, one punt and one kickoff to begin the second half. Griffin III finishes 32-42 for 418 yards and 5 TDs but Terrence Ganaway continue to be the unsung hero for Baylor, rushing for over 150-yards for the third straight game and the fifth time this season.
#7 Boise State 27#10 Wisconsin 20
Wisconsin comes into this game favored by 3.5 points with most of gambling America convinced that they will run directly over the Broncos and into the 2nd round of the playoffs. What they don’t realize is that Boise State’s defensive line is athletic and 
explosive as any team in the country and they step up to the challenge of playing against the Badgers road-grating offensive line. The Broncos hold Montee Ball and James White to a combined 130 yards on 38 carries and get to Russell Wilson on multiple play-action plays. Kellen Moore steps up and delivers in the fourht quarter, ultimately putting Boise ahead to stay with 6 minutes to play after a long touchdown drive culminated by Doug Martin 8-yard TD run. After a Wilson interception, the Boise kicking game comes through and nails a 48-yard field goal to push the lead to seven.
The highlight of the night comes with Wisconsin driving late in the fourth quarter when Jerrell Gavins steps in front of a Wilson pass and makes a spectacular one-handed catch on the 13-yard line and returns it to midfield before Ball saves a touchdown that would have put the game out of reach. It leads to a field goal that puts the Broncos up seven.
#9 Southern Cal 31#8 South Carolina 28
In what becomes the most physical 1st round matchup of the day, Southern Cal’s young defense steps up and silences the “other” USC by cutting a fourth quarter drive short, giving Matt Barkley the chance to put his team in field goal territory and win. The most evenly matched of the first round games, it goes off as a “pick ‘em” with Southern Cal given a slight edge considering this game is played in Columbia, SC. The Gamecocks lack of elite quarterback play comes back to bite them as Alshon Jeffery finds himself open on multiple occasion but finishes the game with 4 receptions for 48 yards, his seventh game of the season with less than fifty yards despite being one of the most talented athletes in the country. Southern Cal’s two big-time receivers, Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, both go over 100 yards for the game and open America’s eyes up to what could be the best team in America next year if Barkley were to come back to school and viewers are thankful that the Trojans postseason ban is lifted once the NCAA comes to their senses and figures out a reasonable playoff system.
The individual battle of the night takes place on the lines, with stud freshman DE JaDaveon Clowney matching up against unanimous top-3 NFL Draft pick LT Matt Kalil. Clowney does record a sack by chasing Barkley down from the backside on a broken 
play, showing his freakish athleticism, but he is kept in check by Kalil’s strength and perfect technique for most of the game.
Driving for the go-ahead field goal with under two minutes left and the scored tied at 28, Gamecocks QB Conor Shaw gets crushed from the blind side by LB Chris Galippo and the football flutters into Dion Bailey’s arms on the SOuthern Cal 30-yard line with 1:12 left in the game. With no timeouts left, Barkley puts on a clinic and getsthe ball into the red zone on a mix of short passes to Lee and two deep outs to Woods on the sidelines before giving way Andre Heidari for a 28-yard field goal to remain perfect inside of 30 for the season.
Next Week’s Matchups:
#11 Baylor @ #1 LSU
Robert Griffin III goes up against the best secondary he’s ever seen while the LSU defense faces the most dynamic quarterback in the country.
#9 Southern Cal @ #2 Alabama
Trent Richardson get an opportunity to pound his way through a Southern Cal defense that has had some issues against the run while Matt Barkley faces a defense that hasn’t had a problem against anyone.
#7 Boise State @ #3 Stanford
Kellen Moore takes on Andrew Luck in a battle of the winningest QB in the history of college football and the future #1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
#5 Oregon @ #4 Oklahoma State
They better warm up the scoreboard in anticipation for this one, as these teams combine to average over 95 points per game.
And the BCS is the best we can come up with? Give me a break! - Fireman Mike
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