ESPN favors Buckeyes and Sooners

The Espire revealed the picks of its college football staff and the majority favors the two BCS whipping boys - Oklahoma and Ohio State. The rest of the college football world might have a major power down. Both are 0 for their last 2 championship games with different levels of embarrassment. Given the recent history, what is the majority at ESPN thinking?

Ohio State - loaded with talent and experience. The USC game might be make or break for the Bucks in the eyes of the voters but Ohio State might be a trendy pick for two reasons 1) never underestimate the power to prove the doubters wrong and 2) Terrelle Pryor figures to play the role of Tim Tebow of 2006 and the Ryan Perrilloux of 2007. Ohio State would rather host USC but they are playing the Trojans as they break in new faces on offense and Sanchez might still be favoring the knee. If Ohio State can escape LA with a win, they only have to guard against the upset in the Big Ten.

Oklahoma - strong in the trenches, solid QB and tons of skill players. OU has inexperience concerns at LB and at corner. Nic Harris is one of the top safeties in the country and Lendy Holmes is versatile enough to move from safety to corner depending on the need. If the Sooners' defensive line lives up to its potential, it will take a lot of pressure off the back 7. The Sooners have a favorable schedule. The toughest opponents in terms of talent are at neutral sites (Texas) or at home (Tech, Kansas). Oklahoma's main concern is consistency and avoiding the road upset.

Those selections probably are as much as process of elimination as anything. Ohio State likely would need to be undefeated. Oklahoma would likely need to be undefeated as well. If Georgia or Florida has one loss, the SEC would get preferential treatment in a comparison of equal loss teams from other BCS conferences. The guess is that the Espire's majority thinks Ohio State will beat USC (surprising) and will cruise through the weak Big Ten....Oklahoma will take advantage of its favorable schedule, shake their upset plague and once again beat Missouri...the SEC is just too tough....West Virginia will lose at least one game in the Big East or perhaps at Colorado or at home vs. Auburn.

The fact that most college football fans probably don't want to see that matchup makes it more likely. The college football gods don't care what you think. They like to tease and throw curves. They like to create controversy in the form of too many teams with no losses, one loss or even two losses. They like to create mass chaos which pretty much sums up last year and especially the final day of the regular season.