Big 12 or Big 10?

The dust has started to settle and it looks like the Big 10 in now the Big 12 and vice versa.   The Big 10 will finally get to have it's championship game with Nebraska now on board.  Weather they pick up any more teams is speculation and rumor right now.  But, the excitement of a championship game and the revenue it will bring will be spectacular.  There is one catch with a championship game, it elminates champions. 

 What I mean by that is simply this:  There have been times in the Big 12 and the SEC where a team destined to play for the National title failed to do so because it lost this championship game.  It also makes for bad BCS matchups.  For example, let's say Penn State wins it's division with a 9 and 3 record.  And plays the winner of the other side that has maybe Ohio State and 11-0 and Wisconsin at 10-1. If Ohio State wins in this scenario, they go to the title game and Wisconsin who is probably a top 5 goes to a very good BCS game.  But, if Penn State pulls of the upset, Wisconsin is going to a much lower bowl and a much less appealing matchup of a 10 and 3 going against maybe an undefeated Boise State.

The new Big 12 on the other hand has what the Big 10 used to have.  Everyone plays everyone.  This will really help with the southern division of the Big 12.  For years, they have been the better half of the division.  Oklahoma State has been 3rd in the south many times and most likely the 3rd or 4th best in the conference.  But, wound up being treated like the 5th or 6th best team.  Also, teams won't get caught playing a tougher or easier scheduale.  There have been years when you had to play 3 teams in the other division. And, that year those were the 3 better teams while your division opponent played 3 easier teams.

The Big 12 says it's satisfied with what it currently has.  But, there is still time to add teams to the conference, which I think it well.  Houston and TCU have been mentioned.  And, in all fairness, would make a better conference than Nebraska and Colorado.  Compare TCU to Nebraska and TCU wins hands down in football. Colorado has been very disappointing while Houston had been building. 

As far as basketball goes, the Big 12 got better by simply eliminating 2 terrible basketball programs.  RPI is a factor and both those schools would hurt everyone else's RPI.  The Big 10 picks up Nebraska who will continue to be at the bottom of the league in basketball.  That just helped the rest of the Big 10 in the fact that whoever plays Nebraska will pick up wins.  The same can be said for the PAC 10 with Colorado.

There will still be changes to be made.  As you read this, Utah has been given a formal invitation to the Pac 10.  I think this change is going to be good for football and indifferent to basketball.  If anything, the smaller sports may get more recgnition.