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Originally Posted by beer bacon
MU beat both KU and Illinois, MU finished ahead of both teams in the BCS, and both of those teams are going to BCS Bowls while MU plays an 8-4 team. There is no justification.
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Sorry, I couldn't make it through the whole thread, but this quote seemed as good as any to offer my two cents.
There is no justification for it, but there doesn't have to be beyond the national championship game (whichitself is debateable this year about the participants).
Here is why KU is in and MU is out. Forget the "travels better" argument, the "number of losses" argument or the "head to head" objections. Its about perception. Its not about the perception of who is the better football team. Its the perception of who will appear to really be excited about being there. It goes like this:
MU had a chance to play for the national championship if they won. They got beat....badly. So now, any BCS game other than the national championship looks like a consolation prize. So, you say, what about West Virginia? They were in the same boat. The difference, of course, is that their game was not a conference championship game. They already won their conference and were guaranteed a BCS spot, regardless. If WVU hadn't had that guarantee, I bet you anything they would have been Gator Bowl bound.
All this, because after the MNC gets the top two, the BCS games are not comitted to anything but their tie-ins. Illinois only benefits because OSU backed into a better offer. KU goes because the Orange Bowl is something to get thrilled about, not because its something they have to "settle for".
Now, I'm not saying MU wouldn't have preferred going to a BCS game rather than the Cotton Bowl. But its hard to overcome the perception that MU would regard an Orange Bowl invitation as much more than:
"Well, it takes the sting out of not being in the National Championship game a bit."
This as opposed to KU going:
"YES! YES! YES! ORANGE BOOOOOWWWWWLLLLLLL!"
That's why. Its got nothing to do with your accomplishments, it has to do with your perceived gratitude. Again, I'm not saying this would have been MU's reaction, but I'm sure that's what Orange Bowl officials guessed it would be, and that is all that matters in this system.
-HH