To know list: 5 ways to beat tryptophazzzzzzzzzzzz …

Sporting News, The, Dec 1, 2003

A pivotal game for LSU, which is 10-1 after beating Ole Miss (see story on page 14), is Florida State at Florida on Saturday. The Tigers are rooting hard for Florida, the only team to beat them this season, because a Gators win would bump up the Tigers' strengthof-schedule score. If the Gators win and LSU--which plays at home against Arkansas on Saturday, with the SEC title game looming-wins out, LSU would leapfrog USC by leading the Trojans in at least six of the seven computer polls. I believe in this scenario, there's a solid chance six of those polls would favor the Tigers.

Another pivotal Saturday game is Alabama at Hawaii, which matches a team on LSU's schedule against a team on USC's. The better LSU can do in strength-of-schedule, the less help it will need from the computers.

The Trojans are rooting for Arkansas, Hawaii and Florida State. If the Seminoles beat the Gators but LSU wins out--likely beating Georgia in the SEC title game--the Trojans still could be safe. By beating Georgia, LSU could knock the Bulldogs out of the BCS top 10, costing itself quality-win points. In that scenario, the Tigers would have to lead the Trojans in all seven computer polls to go to the Sugar Bowl. I believe at least one of them would favor the Trojans.

Of course, the Trojans had better beat Oregon State or none of this other stuff will matter.--Jerry Palm is the publisher of CollegeBCS.com. For more insight, visit his website.

(4) MORE BCS MADNESS

One wild what-if

Of all the scenarios and all the crazy crunching of numbers, this will knock the BCS bus sideways: Kansas State could win the Big 12 championship and not play in a BCS bowl game. How in the wide, wide world of the BCS could that be, you ask? Should a strange turn of events happen--beginning with red-hot quarterback Ell Roberson leading K-State over Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game--the Wildcats could be relegated to the Holiday Bowl. If Oklahoma and Texas finish in the top six of the BCS standings, they would be guaranteed a spot in the BCS bowls and bump K-State. Under the BCS guidelines, only two teams per conference can qualify for BCS games. It's not as far off as you might think. OU wouldn't drop much with a loss, and Texas should beat Texas A&M by a gazillion. All we need now is a K-State win over the Sooners in the Big 12 title game, perhaps another key loss here or there ... and, well, who knows? See, piece of cake.--Matt Hayes

(5) NAME OF THE WEEK

Ha Seung-jin

Last January, when SFX Sports, one of the world's biggest sports agencies, went to South Korea to give a two-day tryout to a 17-year-old and declared him to be potentially better than Chinese center Yao Ming, many eyebrows were raised. SFX signed 7-3 center Ha Seung-jin, who is still in high school but plans to attend Yonsei University, home of South Korea's top college basketball program. Of course, two league sources say, it's very likely that Ha will put his name in for the NBA draft and attempt to become the league's first Korean player.