We seem to always start w a "handicap" PLAYING A VERY STRONG TEAM

Most National Champs start with a weak team so as to tune up and give themselves a BETTER chance.

IMHO it is a bad coaching decision to start w a huge opponent. Yes, NATIONAL HEADLINES, but we are no longer using the computers of the BCS. At seasons end, the decision makers (sports politicians - HUMANS) will not FULLY consider the individual loses of a team....each conference will be trying to put their team in the playoffs. So an early loss IS A HANDICAP.

Remember when USA had to play the Olympics (basketball) with College Players while everyone else used PROS ??? No one consider the STRENGTH or CALIBER of competition... only WINS OR LOSES determined the trophy. The same when starting w a strong opponent and losing

Great for publicity and hype but a handicap for the team.

Maybe in THEORY it does not matter, but IN REAL LIFE it does.