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The return of a missed field goal by Auburn's Chris Davis to beat Alabama on Saturday may be, as we speak, the "play of the century" in college football. Since we're only fourteen seasons into the century, Price Per Head football bettors would imagine there will be more plays of the century to come.
But do you remember that discussion we were having about the BCS a couple of weeks ago? Well, the scenario we described could well happen.
As Auburn now lines up for its SEC Championship game against Missouri on Saturday, a contest where Auburn is favored by 1.5 points in the college football betting odds at WagerHome.com, there exists the very real possibility that Auburn could lose to Missouri and leave all the BCS people in a quandary.
You see, Auburn, Alabama and Missouri are the #3, #4 and #5 teams in the BCS Standings, in that order. It is very conceivable that Auburn, having won on a miracle against Georgia two weeks ago, and ending an intense rivalry game like they did against the top-ranked, undefeated, two-time national champions, may not have a whole lot left in the emotional tank. PPH football bettors know that there is a big difference in beating a team like that in a rivalry like that and Missouri chalking up a win over Texas A&M, regardless of how important it was.
If Auburn loses, Missouri would obviously get the SEC's automatic BCS bid, and we're not 100% sure what bowl they would be going to (we'll get to that in a moment). But what would you do with an 11-1 Alabama team in that case? Would they get the SEC's at-large bid (undoubtedly the conference will have two teams), or would you conclude that Auburn had earned that bid with the Iron Bowl win, thus leaving 'Bama out in the cold?
WagerHome customers may be asking themselves - how in the world could Alabama be left out in the cold? Well, if you place enough value on that defeat, they can. But it is almost a given that the Tide would leapfrog Auburn in the BCS Standings.
Of course, an Auburn victory would almost guarantee that the Tigers will be in the Sugar Bowl against somebody. It has been projected by Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel that they would face Central Florida, the representative of the American Athletic Conference. Such a scenario would leave the other SEC spot for Alabama, which would play Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
So one week after losing one of the biggest heart-breakers in school history, Alabama players and fans might be rooting for Auburn. That's a crazy picture for Price Per Head sportsbook bettors to consider.
Or wait a minute - might it be better for the Tide if Auburn lost? The team that can really screw things up here is Michigan State, which is a 5.5-point PPH football betting underdog to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game. If the Spartans, who have the #1 defense in the country, win the game, Ohio State drops. If Auburn has already lost, they will drop too, and Alabama, if they are not passed by Missouri (admittedly not likely), could actually find itself playing Florida State for a national title (we assume that the Seminoles, a 29-point favorite at WagerHome.com against Duke in the ACC title game, will take care of business). Otherwise, maybe Missouri gets a chance to extend the SEC's streak of national champions to EIGHT.
If Auburn wins and Ohio State loses, the War Eagle will be stomping all over Pasadena on January 6 against FSU, and Alabama rooters certainly aren't going to be able to deal with that.
They may be very unhappy, in whatever case, come to think of it.
And that, in turn, will make a whole lot of 'Bama haters VERY happy indeed.
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