Sep 21 2008
BCS Game Projections for Sept. 21
There wasn’t a lot of movement in the top 10 this week. Only Auburn lost and the Tigers lost to fellow top-ten and SEC rival LSU. Therefore, there isn’t a lot of change in the BCS projections this week.
Pacific-10: #1 USC (2-0): The Trojans were off Saturday. USC will play at Oregon State (1-2) Thursday in its conference opener. I like USC’s schedule so far. Starting Aug. 30 with their first game, the Trojans had 14 days off before their second game, 12 days before their third game, and nine days before their fourth game. I wonder if they’ll play any differently later in the season when they don’t have 10 days between contests.
Big 12: #2 Oklahoma (3-0): The Sooners had a bye last week. They’ll host #24 Texas Christian (4-0) Saturday. Oklahoma’s schedule isn’t the most difficult. The Sooners play Texas in Dallas Oct. 11 but they play Kansas and Texas Tech at home. The hardest road game on paper is probably Oklahoma State in November.
Southeastern: #3 Georgia (4-0): The Bulldogs traveled to Tempe and disposed of Arizona State (2-2), 27-10, Saturday. There’s no rest for Georgia though as #8 Alabama visits Athens this week. The SEC started to sort itself last week and the process will continue into December.
Automatic At-Large: #4 Florida (3-0): The Gators trounced Tennessee (1-2) in Knoxville, 30-6, last week. Tim Tebow showed he’s a better passer now than he was last season. Florida hosts Mississippi (2-2) Saturday.
Big 10: #9 Wisconsin (3-0): The Badgers were off last week before they start conference action. Wisconsin travels to rebuilding Michigan (1-2) Saturday. The Badgers might be tempted to look past this week because home dates with #14 Ohio State (3-1) and #12 Penn State follow.
Mountain West: #11 Brigham Young (4-0): The Cougars began their conference slate by smashing Wyoming (2-2), 44-0, yesterday. BYU is off this week. The Cougars travel to Utah State (1-3) Oct. 3. The Aggies’ record isn’t great but their losses have come to surprisingly good UNLV (3-1), then-#18 Oregon (3-1) and #20 Utah (4-0). Utah St. will play hard against its in-state rival.
Big East: #13 South Florida (3-0): The Bulls squeaked past a game Florida International squad (0-3), 17-9, Saturday. Pollsters were not impressed and dropped USF one place. The Bulls play their last non-conference game this week. USF travels to North Carolina State (2-2), which defeated #23 East Carolina (3-1) at home yesterday.
Atlantic Coast: #16 Wake Forest (3-0): The Demon Deacons defeated Florida State (2-1), 12-3, in a hard-fought contest last week. Following the win in Tallahassee, the Demon Deacons host the Naval Academy (2-2) Saturday.
There are six potential at-large teams looking for two spots.
#5 Louisiana State (3-0, SEC)
#6 Missouri (4-0, BIg 12)
#7 Texas (3-0, Big 12)
#8 Alabama (4-0, SEC)
#10 Texas Tech (4-0, Big 12)
#12 Penn State (4-0, Big 10)
Since Georgia and Florida are guaranteed BCS slots, LSU and Alabama aren’t eligible. The Rose Bowl must replace USC, which heads to the championship game. Texas was a tremendous draw there a few years ago so the Longhorns will be picked again. This choice leaves Missouri and Texas Tech ineligible.
The Fiesta Bowl must replace Oklahoma, which is slated for the championship game. Florida, featuring Tebow, is the best team on the board and is the pick. Now the Fiesta Bowl chooses an opponent for Florida. Penn State is the only at-large still available so the Nittany Lions are the choice ahead of USF and BYU.
The Sugar Bowl would likely choose USF, leaving BYU to the Orange Bowl. Therefore, the BCS game projections of Sept. 21 are as follows:
BCS Championship: USC vs. Oklahoma
Rose: Texas vs. Wisconsin
Orange: Brigham Young vs. Wake Forest
Sugar: Georgia vs. South Florida
Fiesta: Florida vs. Penn State
