what has BC done to be ranked better than USF?

[Jihme]

they didnt play like garbage against a low-level (ranking) FAU team

[Don Toro]

not struggle against a team in the Sun Belt.

They struggled against a I-AA team... MUCH worse.  Ask Michigan about that.

They struggled against the #2 I-AA team in the nation... and an INTRA-CITY rival.  If FAU was "up" for the USF Game, imagine UMass playing in the same city as BC and how much that would mean...

Michigan lost to the defending national champions...

some of the better I-AA teams could beat a lot of I-A teams, and even some BCS teams.

---

USF has not looked GREAT on offense this year... our defense has won most of our games.  Teams that look ugly all year don't get the benefit of winning...

Image, when it comes to the polls, is a big part of where we are placed.

Yeah, and All Mighty App State still lost to another I-AA team. Rivalry or not, they are still a I-AA team. Plus, I don't think the media went through all the trouble to research how good that I-AA team was, and I bet even fewer people outside the NE knew this was a "rivalry" game. They are 6-0 so I'm sure that helps as well.

[charlie11]

UMass is in Amherst, MA on the other side of the state. Thats where I am originally from. There is a UMass-Boston but thats not who BC played. I agree that just cause they are 1-AA does not not mean they are week. Just win and the rest will work itself out.

not struggle against a team in the Sun Belt.

They struggled against a I-AA team... MUCH worse.  Ask Michigan about that.

They struggled against the #2 I-AA team in the nation... and an INTRA-CITY rival.  If FAU was "up" for the USF Game, imagine UMass playing in the same city as BC and how much that would mean...

Michigan lost to the defending national champions...

some of the better I-AA teams could beat a lot of I-A teams, and even some BCS teams.

---

USF has not looked GREAT on offense this year... our defense has won most of our games.  Teams that look ugly all year don't get the benefit of winning...

Image, when it comes to the polls, is a big part of where we are placed.

[Don Toro]

they didnt play like garbage against a low-level (ranking) FAU team

You are right, they saved their garbage playing for a I-AA school.

[DouBULL]

they are also 6-0 vs. our 5-0 FWIW

[smazza]

usf needed to put a spanking on fau and they didnt

teams ranked hi have higher expectations

like it or not bulls need to justify high ranking every week

[Carolina_Bull]

If FAU played Umass 10 times, FAU wins all ten.

BC's rep, conference affiliation and their proximity to the big apple are why they jumped USF.

[Guest]

Local rival yes, but not intra-city; Amherst is about an hour and a half from Chestnut Hill.

True, I forget that Massachusetts is such a tiny state... and that Amherst isn't right outside  Boston, but halfway across the state.

Still, it's intra-state... and that has an impact (see also USF @ FAU, UCF @ USF)...

[MikeG]

I don't understand why we keep saying our offense played like garbage. They put up 35 points. They had some big runs. There were a few big pass plays. It may not be the most explosive offense ever but it is at least effective. We get enough points to win the games so far. No team just runs down the field possession after possession. And when your team as a lead, you tend to work the clock and hold back on dramatic/dangerous plays. It seems like we are bit less explosive as a result. But you play whatever offense will get you the W.

I recall some games about 5 or 6 years ago where everyone was whining that we didn't throw the ball enough. This was despite the fact that we could run on the team at will and control both the ball and the clock. As the saying goes-- the best defense is a ball controlling offense. I think we need to lighten up on the "garbage" comments and learn to understand that ultimately winning the game is the priority. This isn't WWE -- it isn't staged-- it is a game where you use your strengths against an opponents weaknesses. Before that game, FAU was giving upa 4.6 yard per carry average against the run--- so you run the ball-- alot.

[BiggTipp]

who cares what BC does...USF doesnt play them this season...but I think there is a game this weekend against UCF right?