JimBob
11-03-2008, 06:56 AM
Unraveling the Big 12 South
By MIKE STRAIN WORLD SPORTS EDITOR
11/3/2008
Last Modified: 11/3/2008 3:15 AM
OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA STATE have a chance to win the Big 12 South. And it's possible that the Bedlam game Nov. 29 could determine a berth in the Big 12 championship.
But both OU and OSU have two games left before Bedlam, and the Big 12 race could turn into a wild scramble. If the Sooners or Cowboys win their final three games, they would claim at least a share of the South title. Would they receive a berth in the Big 12 championship? Maybe.
If Texas loses once, then OU and OSU would control their own destinies: Win three, and go to the Big 12 championship. But if Texas wins out, the South champion could be decided by the fifth tiebreaker — BCS standings.
A myriad of scenarios exist, and some are complicated; but they share a common theme for OU and OSU. Both need to win all three games to have a real shot. Here's a look at how the race stacks up heading into the final weeks of the season:
Texas Tech (9-0 overall, 5-0 Big 12, No. 2 BCS standings)
Easy path: Win final three games and finish season undefeated.
Complicated path: Lose to either OU or OSU. Finish in a three-way tie for South title at 7-1, with Texas and either OU or OSU. Tiebreaker would be the highest ranked team in BCS standings. Tech might be in trouble in this tiebreaker, because Tech would have a late-season loss to either OU or OSU.
Remaining schedule: Saturday vs. OSU; Nov. 22 at OU; Nov. 29 vs. Baylor.
Oklahoma (8-1 overall, 4-1 Big 12, No. 6 BCS)
Easy path: Win final three games, and Texas loses one of its final three. In this scenario, OU would either win the South outright or would own a head-to-head tiebreaker with Texas Tech.
Complicated path: Win final three games and finish in three-way tie at 7-1 with Texas and Texas Tech. Tiebreaker would be BCS standings, and OU might have a good chance because of a late-season win streak that included two games against highly ranked opponents.
OU fans rooting for: A Texas loss. If no Texas loss, then Texas Tech winning every game except in Norman.
Remaining schedule: Saturday at Texas A&M; Nov. 22 vs. Texas Tech; Nov. 29 at OSU.
Oklahoma State (8-1 overall, 4-1 Big 12, No. 9 BCS)
Easy path: Win final three games, and Texas loses one of its final three. In this scenario, OSU would either win the South outright or would own a head-to-head tiebreaker with Texas Tech.
Complicated path: Win final three games and finish in three-way tie at 7-1 with Texas and Texas Tech. Tiebreaker would be BCS standings, and OSU might have a good chance because of a late-season win streak that included two games against highly ranked opponents.
OSU fans rooting for: A Texas loss. If no Texas loss, then Texas Tech winning every game except this week.
Remaining schedule: Saturday at Texas Tech; Nov. 15 at Colorado; Nov. 29 vs. Oklahoma.
Texas (8-1 overall, 4-1 Big 12, No. 4 BCS)
Easy path: Win final three games and hope Texas Tech loses twice. Longhorns would own tiebreaker advantage against teams besides Tech.
Complicated path: Longhorns win all their games, and Texas Tech loses once. Texas' only hope would be a three-way tie at 7-1 with Tech and either Oklahoma or Oklahoma State. Tiebreaker would be BCS standings, and Texas might be in trouble, because either OU or OSU could finish the season on a big win streak, including triumphs over two highly ranked foes.
Remaining schedule: Saturday vs. Baylor; Nov. 15 at Kansas; Nov. 27 vs. Texas A&M.
Big 12 Tiebreakers
If two teams are tied, the head-to-head matchup determines division champ. If three are tied, the following is used:
1) The records of the three teams will be compared against each other (head-to-head competition among three teams.)
2) The records of the three teams will be compared within their division.
3) The records of the three teams will be compared against the next highest placed teams in their division in order of finish (4, 5 and 6).
4) The records of the three teams will be compared against all common conference opponents.
5) The highest team in the first Bowl Championship Series standings following the completion of Big 12 regular season conference play shall be the representative.
6) The team with the best overall winning percentage (excluding exempted games) shall be the representative.
7) The representative will be chosen by draw.
By MIKE STRAIN WORLD SPORTS EDITOR
11/3/2008
Last Modified: 11/3/2008 3:15 AM
OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA STATE have a chance to win the Big 12 South. And it's possible that the Bedlam game Nov. 29 could determine a berth in the Big 12 championship.
But both OU and OSU have two games left before Bedlam, and the Big 12 race could turn into a wild scramble. If the Sooners or Cowboys win their final three games, they would claim at least a share of the South title. Would they receive a berth in the Big 12 championship? Maybe.
If Texas loses once, then OU and OSU would control their own destinies: Win three, and go to the Big 12 championship. But if Texas wins out, the South champion could be decided by the fifth tiebreaker — BCS standings.
A myriad of scenarios exist, and some are complicated; but they share a common theme for OU and OSU. Both need to win all three games to have a real shot. Here's a look at how the race stacks up heading into the final weeks of the season:
Texas Tech (9-0 overall, 5-0 Big 12, No. 2 BCS standings)
Easy path: Win final three games and finish season undefeated.
Complicated path: Lose to either OU or OSU. Finish in a three-way tie for South title at 7-1, with Texas and either OU or OSU. Tiebreaker would be the highest ranked team in BCS standings. Tech might be in trouble in this tiebreaker, because Tech would have a late-season loss to either OU or OSU.
Remaining schedule: Saturday vs. OSU; Nov. 22 at OU; Nov. 29 vs. Baylor.
Oklahoma (8-1 overall, 4-1 Big 12, No. 6 BCS)
Easy path: Win final three games, and Texas loses one of its final three. In this scenario, OU would either win the South outright or would own a head-to-head tiebreaker with Texas Tech.
Complicated path: Win final three games and finish in three-way tie at 7-1 with Texas and Texas Tech. Tiebreaker would be BCS standings, and OU might have a good chance because of a late-season win streak that included two games against highly ranked opponents.
OU fans rooting for: A Texas loss. If no Texas loss, then Texas Tech winning every game except in Norman.
Remaining schedule: Saturday at Texas A&M; Nov. 22 vs. Texas Tech; Nov. 29 at OSU.
Oklahoma State (8-1 overall, 4-1 Big 12, No. 9 BCS)
Easy path: Win final three games, and Texas loses one of its final three. In this scenario, OSU would either win the South outright or would own a head-to-head tiebreaker with Texas Tech.
Complicated path: Win final three games and finish in three-way tie at 7-1 with Texas and Texas Tech. Tiebreaker would be BCS standings, and OSU might have a good chance because of a late-season win streak that included two games against highly ranked opponents.
OSU fans rooting for: A Texas loss. If no Texas loss, then Texas Tech winning every game except this week.
Remaining schedule: Saturday at Texas Tech; Nov. 15 at Colorado; Nov. 29 vs. Oklahoma.
Texas (8-1 overall, 4-1 Big 12, No. 4 BCS)
Easy path: Win final three games and hope Texas Tech loses twice. Longhorns would own tiebreaker advantage against teams besides Tech.
Complicated path: Longhorns win all their games, and Texas Tech loses once. Texas' only hope would be a three-way tie at 7-1 with Tech and either Oklahoma or Oklahoma State. Tiebreaker would be BCS standings, and Texas might be in trouble, because either OU or OSU could finish the season on a big win streak, including triumphs over two highly ranked foes.
Remaining schedule: Saturday vs. Baylor; Nov. 15 at Kansas; Nov. 27 vs. Texas A&M.
Big 12 Tiebreakers
If two teams are tied, the head-to-head matchup determines division champ. If three are tied, the following is used:
1) The records of the three teams will be compared against each other (head-to-head competition among three teams.)
2) The records of the three teams will be compared within their division.
3) The records of the three teams will be compared against the next highest placed teams in their division in order of finish (4, 5 and 6).
4) The records of the three teams will be compared against all common conference opponents.
5) The highest team in the first Bowl Championship Series standings following the completion of Big 12 regular season conference play shall be the representative.
6) The team with the best overall winning percentage (excluding exempted games) shall be the representative.
7) The representative will be chosen by draw.