Waiting to pounce on the BCS & Tennessee

By Stephen Baker CPKSports.com Senior Writer

I have never made any secret of my hatred of the BCS. Going into its fourth year, the much-maligned NCAA football creation faces its biggest threat yet, an LSU win over Tennessee.

First off, why is Tennessee such a clear No. 2? They are second in both polls, but if you average the computer polls, Nebraska is No. 2, not the Vols. Colorado has two losses, but they also have played the second toughest schedule in the nation according to the NCAA's own numbers. And what of Oregon? They are the best team in the best conference, but they are being punished aside because they don't win by enough points. In fact, they have played in six games decided by a touchdown or less. What of undefeated BYU? What about once-beaten Illinois and Maryland? Are they being punished for the sin of too little preseason hype?

Heck, this isn't even the nightmare scenario. If Grant Noel could have put up better numbers than 4-18 for 81 yards and four picks, Miami would be in the logjam as well. And then we wouldn't know either team right now.

Nonetheless, Tennessee is No. 2. And everybody knows it, and nobody has that much of a problem with it, not even me. If they lose, however, expect all hell to break loose. Particularly since right now, it looks as if Nebraska would go to the Rose Bowl with an LSU victory. That's right; a team that couldn't win its own conference would play for the national title. Let the playoff-supporters come out of the woodworks then.

I can't even pretend to be objective about this game. A Tennessee loss means we are one step closer to a playoff and for that reason alone, I would root for the Tigers. Frankly, that won't matter to me one bit on Saturday. I went to LSU, I was at the Auburn game this weekend, and I'm still contemplating making the drive down to Atlanta to root on my team.

I'd like to tell you objectively who should win, what the matchups are, and how each team looks right now. But, I honestly can't. I'm too busy smoking a victory cigar and humming "Hey! Fighting Tigers."

LSU-Auburn is not a traditional rivalry. They play in the same conference and normally square off every season, usually towards the beginning of the SEC schedule. It often passes without national attention, as Florida and Tennessee play a much better-known game the same day. However, in the past 10 years, this game has gone from just part of the schedule to a pretty vicious hate-fest.

An "earthquake" in 1988. Six interceptions to blow a three-touchdown lead in 1994. A game-saving interception to garner revenge the next year. Auburn's athletic center burning to the ground in 1996. Cecil the Diesel racking up 220 yards of rushing in a loss. A 41-7 drubbing in 1999 kicked off with a fake field goal on the first possession and closed with Auburn players smoking victory cigars in the middle of Tiger Stadium. And Coach Tuberville called a time out with 10 seconds left to have his starting running back plow in for a meaningless touchdown last year.

This year's events and accusations? Auburn's players began the game by stomping on the eye of the tiger logo on midfield, drawing a 15-yard penalty. LSU took advantage by calling for an onside kick. However, the game will be remembered by LSU fans for a halftime altercation between kicker David Duval and the Tiger Band. Duval kept practicing field goals as the band marched out on the field for its halftime show, he wouldn't leave and so a tuba player threw an elbow at him. Duval then tried to punch the tuba player but missed. Towards the end of the game, both teams engaged in flagrant cheap shots.

Bad blood. Even the bands hate each other, but our tuba player can beat up their kicker. And we're going to Atlanta. Laissez les bon temps roullez!

Article courtesy of CPKSports.com