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Second-Chance Bowl? Possibly

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By JOEY JOHNSTON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 19, 2007

When the No. 5-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers trudged off the turf at Raymond James Stadium on Sept. 28, as USF fans stormed the field following the Bulls' 21-13 upset, it would have been the longest of long shots.

When the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes were smothered by Ron Zook's Illinois Fighting Illini on Nov. 10 at the Horseshoe, as the college football world absorbed yet another shocker, it would've been silly to hope for another opportunity.

But here we are.

West Virginia - No. 3 in the BCS standings, back in the national championship race.

Ohio State - No. 5 in the BCS standings, back in the national championship race.

In this craziest of seasons, why should we expect anything other than, well, a crazy finish?

Let's take it to another step.

How about the "Second-Chance Bowl" - West Virginia vs. Ohio State at the BCS Championship Game on Jan. 7 in New Orleans?

Yes, it could happen.

Without much trouble, actually.

No. 1 LSU, already champion of the SEC West, must face Arkansas (and running back Darren McFadden) on Friday afternoon, then either Tennessee or Georgia in the Dec. 1 SEC Championship Game at Atlanta.

Could LSU go down? Of course.

No. 2 Kansas and No. 4 Missouri will play Saturday night to decide the Big 12 North - one of them gets knocked out, guaranteed - and it's not a stretch to see the winner falling to either Oklahoma or Texas at the Dec. 1 Big 12 Championship Game.

Could the Kansas-Missouri winner slip up? Of course.

Which leaves us with our "Second-Chance Bowl" - West Virginia vs. Ohio State - and more BCS train-wreck controversy than we have ever witnessed.

Ohio State (11-1) might actually be in the best position. Regular-season games have ended for the Buckeyes, so they can't be beaten. Worst-case scenario? The Rose Bowl. Not bad.

West Virginia (9-1) can clinch the Big East championship by defeating Connecticut (9-2) at home on Saturday, then hosts its annual rivalry game with Pittsburgh (4-6).

First, though, the primary BCS focus shifts to Saturday night's game between Kansas (11-0) and Missouri (10-1). Despite all the speculative possibilities, the Jayhawks and Tigers know that two more victories should get them to New Orleans.

"We believe that your ship doesn't come in," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "You have to swim out to it. I don't believe in that destiny stuff. You have to earn your way in life."

Not an easy task. Especially this season.

This Week's Key Games

USC (8-2) at Arizona State (9-1) - Thanksgiving night game will shape direction of Rose Bowl bid.

Arkansas (7-4) at LSU (10-1) - LSU has won SEC West but can't drop this Friday afternoon game.

Texas (9-2) at Texas A&M (6-5) - Longhorns can capture Big 12 South with victory and OU loss to Oklahoma State.

Boise State (10-1) at Hawaii (10-0) - The surviving Cinderella team needs top-12 BCS finish for likely Sugar Bowl bid.

Connecticut (9-2) at West Virginia (9-1) - It's the de facto Big East Championship Game.

Virginia Tech (9-2) at Virginia (9-2) - Winner faces Boston College at the ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville.

Missouri (10-1) vs. Kansas (11-0) - Winner of neutral-site game (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City) goes to Big 12 title game.

Tennessee (8-3) at Kentucky (7-4) - The Vols, who can clinch SEC East, have 22 consecutive wins against UK.

Oklahoma State (6-5) at Oklahoma (9-2) - National title hopes gone, but Sooners can still clinch Big 12 South.

Oregon (8-2) at UCLA (5-5) - Oregon fighting for Rose Bowl without QB Dennis Dixon; UCLA coach Karl Dorrell fighting for his job.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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