Monday, October 27, 2008

Scoping out the BCS

Very little movement at the top of the ranks, but lots of shuffling in the ACC and the Big East. Those conferences, plus Texas and Alabama, will have to answer some serious questions in November.

This is going to be a mess in the home stretch, but at least Ohio State’s hopes for another chance to lose in a big bowl are close to being dashed.

On to the picks...

Top 2: Texas, Alabama

Conference champs/leaders:
Big 12: [Texas]
Big 10: Penn State
SEC: [Alabama]
ACC: Impossible to figure out. Florida State?
Big East: Tough to say. West Virginia? But South Florida and UConn are ahead in the polls.
Pac 10: USC

Non-automatic conference in Top 12: Utah

No. 3, 4: Oklahoma

Eight automatic bids. Looking at the two at-large spots are Georgia, Florida, Boise State, Ohio State and TCU. Barring collapses of Texas and/or Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Mizzou can't get in. Hand bids to Georgia and Boise State.

If they were played today:
(Automatic placements are not labeled; guessed placements are marked as such.)
BCS Championship: Texas-Alabama. Same matchup three weeks in a row, same outcome: Texas wins.
Orange Bowl: Florida State-West Virginia (guess). The murkiest of BCS bowls. Both of these teams are improving, but their BCS hopes are hanging on by a thread. Need to win out. Oh -- FSU takes this one.
Sugar Bowl: Georgia (guess)-Boise State (guess). Sticking with this pick. And Georgia still wins.
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma (guess)-Utah (guess). Wouldn’t want a Boise-OK rematch. Here, Sooners should roll.
Rose Bowl: USC-Penn State. These two play up and down to their competition. But JoePa gets the W.

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