Ah, they changed it to top eight, that’s much more reasonable. I still hate Notre Dame though.
Wait - let me pipe up. Those stats are pretty shaky until Louisville actually plays anyone (the same problem that West VA is having). I mean, look at the teams they’ve played: Kentucky, Temple, Miami, K State, MTSU, Cinn, and Syracuse. Not exactly powerhouses.
MTSU is 4-3, but they haven’t beaten any of the decent teams they’ve played. Kansas State and Cinn are only batting .500 at 4-4. KY is 3-4, Syracuse is 3-5, and Temple is a joke at 0-7.
And please - don’t talk to me about Miami. This is not the Miami of yesteryear. This is a team that hung a whopping 20 points on Duke. DUKE. This is a team that put up a mere 14 against Houston. HOUSTON. This is not an offensive machine.
So, I can accept that playing those teams, Louisville’s defense is 8th overall. What I can’t accept is that that in any way means that Louisville has an amazing defense or is a great team. They have a great offense that apparently ANYONE can be installed into (considering their injury list). But they’re not a great team - and I don’t think that W. VA is really showing their stuff by beating them.
My personal feeling re: the W. VA - Louisville game? 70ish-30ish W. VA. The defenses just don’t enter into it.
Let me just chime in to, while I’m typing — I think that W. VA is a REALLY good team. Slaton and White are amazing. And there are some decent receivers in the mix as well. Their defense is a little suspect, but the offense really takes the pressure off of them. And let’s face it - they run that spread offense to a T.
The real objection to West Virginia is not that they are NOT good - it’s that it’s tough to compare them to teams that are playing a decent slate in-conference. Do I think that West Virginia would be 7-0 playing an SEC East schedule or a PAC-10 Schedule? Maybe, maybe not - but it would be a whole helluva lot tougher getting to 7-0. Do I think that Oregon or Cal or Florida or Auburn or Tennesee or Georgia or Arkansas or Wisconsin or Texas or Nebraska or Georgia Tech or VA Tech or Clemson or hell, Iowa would be 7-0 against West Virginia’s schedule so far? Yes. Absolutely yes.
I don’t think that really takes anything away from how good West Virginia is (4th in the BCS!) — just takes something away from the luster of their 7-0 start.
Agreed re: the hate.
There is a top 12 rule though - it applies to non-BCS Conferences (CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, WAC). If one of these conference champions is ranked in the Top 12 of the final standings then they get an automatic BCS berth. They could also qualify by being in the Top 16 AND being ranked higher than the champion of a BCS-conference. (Only one team per year gets to get ushered in this way).
Fine, I tried. So, Florida’s stats against their mighty Out of Conference schedule (to boot: Southern Miss, Central Florida, Western Carolina) somehow count, but despite the fact that they beat a U of Miami team, Louisville gets penalized?
Well, I’m a grad but I didn’t particularly like the school. Do I get a pass? 
We played Tennessee, Auburn, and LSU, all of whom are better than anyone Louisville has played. We also played Alabama, probably about as difficult a game as Miami. Florida has better stats against a much tougher schedule.
Pass granted, as long as you tell people this every now and then!
Seeing how that’s all I know about you, pass granted.
Oregon State 33 - USC 31. Crisis averted!
Goddamn, Motherfucking, Cocksucking Two-Point Play!