Oh, another roundtable! This one is hosted by CollegeGameBalls, and takes a look around the general college football landscape. Also, I'm switching the order of the questions, as listed as the CGB site, because I want this first question before the jump. Let's get to it:

ESPN is aggressively bidding on the rights to the BCS when Fox’s contract expires after the 2009 season.  My half baked theory is if they do win the rights they will push for a +1 system. Lucrative television deals have landed ESPN in bed with each of the BCS conferences. The revenue a playoff would generate could be a huge motivator for the four letter to be the common denominator and unifier among the conferences that finally helps them all to see the light of why a playoff would be good for college football.  Help expand upon or debunk this theory.

Well, first, ESPN will be the TV network showing the BCS starting in 2011. Some have proclaimed this will stop a playoff. I think there is little logical basis for that conclusion. The main reason is that ESPN loves the bowls, as does everyone else making money off of that, and they won't want to see that end.

While that is true, I'm going with CollegeGameBalls on this one. ESPN will not want to stop the bowl system, but it will certainly want to extend the current system, and be able to broadcast more important (and moneymaking) football games. Thus, ESPN will be in a great position to push for a plus one (or even the top 8 teams going to their own playoff), and will do everything in its power to make this happen. It simply adds to their revenues, and in even greater degrees. ESPN the corporation is in this to make money, and a plus one system helps them out.

And this makes a playoff more likely. Let's face it, Fox sucks. They know jack crap about marketing college football. ESPN has been in the sporting business for a long time, and have done wonders with Monday Night Football. If they make the BCS even more profitable, and want a plus one because it's more profitable, the NCAA, corrupt and worthless as it is, will come around eventually. I don't think the bowl system will ever go away. I think that above average teams should have some type of reward, and the midlevel bowl games can provide just that. And the top level games can be expanded a little, making everyone money, and making us fans happy. Score one for capitalism.

By now everyone has heard that if there is a three way tie in the Big 12 South the highest ranked team in the BCS will play in the Big 12 Championship Game. That means the humans (66% of the BCS Poll) will determine the Big 12 South representative. Let’s assume Oklahoma sinks the pirate ship at home next week. Try to sway the pollsters by arguing which team you think should face off against the Big 12 North.

I'm gonna hafta go with Texas, barring a blowout in Oklahoma's favor this weekend. And the reason is simple, Texas is the only team that will have won a game against the other top 2 not at home. They beat Texas at home on a neutral site. They barely lost to Texas Tech, on the road. If Oklahoma wins, I think it shows just how important the home field advantage is, and Texas' win over Oklahoma is the most impressive, assuming all 3 teams finish 11-1. I also think they have the best defense of the other 2.

Rivalry week is around the corner. How do you think your team will fare? Feel free to talk a little or a lot of trash.

Uneasy. I am not looking forward to facing the Rodgers brothers. Jacquizz doesn't go down, and James is fricken fast. Oregon has had trouble with small backs all season long, and I have no reason to think that will improve. They have also had issues with sputtering offense. The Ducks have been explosive as hell, but have also faltered mightily, and put their defense in very bad positions. This almost cost Oregon two games, against Stanford and Arizona. If this continues against OSU, which has been great at ball control all season, that is a recipe for disaster.

Oregon could pull everything together, and has been improving, but I just have no idea what we'll see in 2 weeks.

And now for a little fun… Assemble your dream announcing team.  Pick a play-by-play announcer, color commentator, sideline reporter and for the hell of it celebrity guest that drops on by.

Honestly, as long as the announcing team isn't ignorant or obnoxious,I don't usually care. I want to learn something every now and then, and not get annoyed. When the announcing team exists for itself, then it is a failure.

For the play-by-play, I gotta go Kieth Jackson ("Here comes Howry!"). Great voice, and when he was in his prime, he was very very good. For color, I don't know...Herbstriet? I haven't heard him all that much, but he seems to be doing a pretty good job. And I would have no sideline reporter, or celebrity guest. Screw them, they're annoying and fairly useless.