[george]

But if you read analysts around the country, they'll tell you MSU passes the eye test.

Can someone clarify what the "eye test" is?  Is it the same eye test that picked USC to win it all last year?  Or the same eye test that says how every year is going to be Georgia's year to win the SEC?  It seems to me to largely be used in the case when there's no argument to be made based on results but the speaker still feels "in their gut" that the team deserves the benefit of the doubt.  In a lot of cases this keeps perennial powers in the top 25 even when they don't deserve it.  For example, when Pac 12 AP #22 loses to Pac 12 AP #12 the results end with 12=>12 and 22=>NR.  But make those teams from the SEC and suddenly 12=>6 and 22=21 because both teams pass the eye test.

To be clear -- I think MSU is a very good team.  But I don't think it's because of some eye test.  It's because they only lost one game all year.  Sure, we can argue about strength of schedule, but as we know, it is not easy to win day in and day out no matter who your opponent is.  I'm no fan of the BCS, but in this case they got it right.  The Pac12 winner is meeting the B1G winner in the rose bowl.  I think that MSU deserves to be ranked higher because they have a better record.  But at the end of the day, we'll know which team is better (unless of course the losing QB pulls a Matt Leinart in the post-game interview.)

[george]

But if you read analysts around the country, they'll tell you MSU passes the eye test.

Can someone clarify what the "eye test" is?  Is it the same eye test that picked USC to win it all last year?  Or the same eye test that says how every year is going to be Georgia's year to win the SEC?  It seems to me to largely be used in the case when there's no argument to be made based on results but the speaker still feels "in their gut" that the team deserves the benefit of the doubt.  In a lot of cases this keeps perennial powers in the top 25 even when they don't deserve it.  For example, when Pac 12 AP #22 loses to Pac 12 AP #12 the results end with 12=>12 and 22=>NR.  But make those teams from the SEC and suddenly 12=>6 and 22=21 because both teams pass the eye test.

To be clear -- I think MSU is a very good team.  But I don't think it's because of some eye test.  It's because they only lost one game all year.  Sure, we can argue about strength of schedule, but as we know, it is not easy to win day in and day out no matter who your opponent is.  I'm no fan of the BCS, but in this case they got it right.  The Pac12 winner is meeting the B1G winner in the rose bowl.  I think that MSU deserves to be ranked higher because they have a better record.  But at the end of the day, we'll know which team is better (unless of course the losing QB pulls a Matt Leinart in the post-game interview.)