I want to like college football. I really do.

The bands. The crazy fans. The mascots. The one-foot-in-bounds-for-a-catch thing.

But, I just can't.

I can't put my finger on why. Oh, wait. Yes I can.

The Bowl Championship Series.

I know what you are thinking. "Oh, great, another column about how the BCS is bad and ruining life as we know it on this planet.'"

But you would be, well, yeah, you are correct.

The BCS is one of the most evil things ever concocted, right behind Spam, the High School Musical movies and the Circuit City commercials with the flat screen TV with long, thin legs talking sexy-like. Does that creep out anyone else besides me?

While it's not exactly the fault of the BCS that the Big 12 decided to use its formula to break a tie and thus jilt Texas for Oklahoma in its championship game despite the fact the Longhorns beat the Sooners earlier in the season, its negative influence is felt all around college football.

Imagine if the NFL — or any other legitimate league for that matter — used a bank of computers to decide who makes the championship game.

It probably would go over about as well as Plaxico Burress' explanation for shooting himself in the leg.

I'm not Stephen Hawking, so I don't profess to completely understand the complexities of the BCS formula.

But if applied to the NFL season, the results would cause a mutiny in a few cities, such as Pittsburgh.

The New York Giants would be No. 1. That's fair. The Giants are arguably the best team in football right now.

Picking the New York Football Giants' opponent in the National Championship game is where it gets tricky.

The Tennessee Titans? Sorry. Thanks for playing. Your strength of schedule takes a hit because of wins over "FootballChampionship Subdivision" teams Cincinnati, Detroit and Kansas City.

The Titans' AD should have scheduled more quality opponents.

How about the Steelers? They are high in the power rankings (i.e. polls) and the popular opinion is they have played a tough schedule.

Um, think again. The Black and Gold have beaten only three teams with winning records and two of those teams are at 7-5. Their three losses have come against the Giants (11-1), Indy (8-4) and Philadelphia (6-5-1).

The BCS formula kicks the Steelers to the curb, too. Don't fret, Steelers fans, you always have the Fiesta Bowl against the Titans to get jazzed about.

So, who would play the Giants in the BCS Championship Game?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yes, the Bucs because they are high in the power rankings (fourth) and have wins against five teams with winning records.

Yawn.

There is only one way to save college football. To quote Jim Mora Sr.: "Playoffs! Playoffs! Playoffs!"

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.