Around the Big Ten: Jay Bilas unveils his College Football Playoff (no Alabama, no Ohio State), Kirk Herbstreit looks confused

Few – if any – know college basketball like Jay Bilas. The man has forgotten more about college hoops than everyone in attendance at Madison Square Garden for the State Farms Champions Classic on Tuesday night has ever learned.

But with all due respect, stick to the court for this one.

With the new College Football Playoff rankings set to be unveiled on Tuesday night, ESPN had a bit of fun and asked the highly-respected Bilas for his top four teams this season on the gridiron. Bilas started off strong with Georgia at the top spot. Can’t argue that.

Then he has Cincinnati. OK, certainly open to debate but not a choice above reproach.

Oklahoma is next, again not a bad choice but the Sooners have beaten only one team currently with a winning record. But still, Bilas is doing OK.

Bilas said the Bearcats and Sooners are there because “they haven’t been beaten.” That completely ignores strength of schedule or recent form but Bilas is at least putting together some logic.

Even if Herbstreit, seated next to him, is beginning to get that queasy, uncomfortable feeling of a party guest sitting through a middle schooler’s rendition of ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.’

Then the hoops maestro, with Herbstreit seated next to him, offers up Oregon, who beat Ohio State in the second week of the season. His rationale is “and because Oregon beat Ohio State at ‘the Shoe’ – I’ve put Oregon up there.”

No matter that the Buckeyes have been on a roll in recent weeks. Or that Alabama at 8-1 has been a juggernaut all season outside of one game and play in the toughest conference in college football.

Here’s Herbstreit and his simply puzzled look:

So no Alabama, no Ohio State in the top four. Madness.