Oct 07 2009
BCS Game Projections for Oct. 7
There wasn’t much movement in the Associated Press poll this week since Florida and Texas were idle. Only #8 Oklahoma, which lost at Miami, 21-20, fell from the top 10.
Southeastern: #1 Florida (4-0)
Tim Tebow was glad to have an open date last week. He isn’t yet cleared to play but he’s expected to receive the greenlight from doctors in time for Saturday night’s game against #4 LSU. The Gators will need their quarterback and spiritual leader to win in Baton Rouge under the lights. The Tigers are dominant in home night games.
Florida’s remaining schedule
Oct. 10: At Louisiana State
Oct. 17: Home vs. Arkansas
Oct. 24: At Mississippi State
Oct. 31: Vs. Georgia in Jacksonville
Nov. 7: Home vs. Vanderbilt
Nov. 14: At South Carolina
Nov. 21: Home vs. Florida International
Nov. 28: Home vs. Florida State
Big 12: #2 Texas (4-0)
The Longhorns had a bye last week. They have one more tune-up–Saturday against struggling Colorado (1-3)–before the showdown in Dallas with Oklahoma.
Texas’ remaining schedule
Oct. 10: Home vs. Colorado
Oct. 17: Vs. Oklahoma in Dallas
Oct. 24: At Missouri
Oct. 31: At Oklahoma State
Nov. 7: Home vs. Central Florida
Nov. 14: At Baylor
Nov. 21: Home vs. Kansas
Nov. 26: At Texas A&M
Automatic At-Large: #3 Alabama (5-0)
The Crimson Tide wore down Kentucky (1-4) and dispatched the Wildcats, 35-7, in Tuscaloosa. This week’s opponent, #20 Mississippi (3-1), promises to be a sterner test.
Alabama’s remaining schedule
Oct. 10: At Mississippi
Oct. 17: Home vs. South Carolina
Oct. 24: Home vs. Tennessee
Nov. 7: Home vs. Louisiana State
Nov. 14: At Mississippi State
Nov. 21: Home vs. Chattanooga
Nov. 27: At Auburn
Atlantic Coast: #5 Virginia Tech (4-1)
The Hokies outlasted a game Duke squad, 34-26, in Durham Saturday. Virginia Tech must play #22 Georgia Tech (4-1) next week. The Hokies shouldn’t overlook their upcoming opponent, Boston College, though.
Virginia Tech’s remaining schedule
Oct. 10: Home vs. Boston College
Oct. 17: At Georgia Tech
Oct. 29: Home vs. North Carolina
Nov. 5: At East Carolina
Nov. 14: At Maryland
Nov. 21: Home vs. North Carolina State
Nov. 28: At Virginia
Western Athletic: #6 Boise State (5-0)
The Broncos handled overmatched UC Davis on their blue field. Pollsters were not impressed as BSU slipped a spot in the poll this week. The Broncos are off this weekend. They’ll face Tulsa, which is having trouble finding its form, next Wednesday.
Boise State’s remaining schedule
Oct. 14: At Tulsa
Oct. 25: At Hawaii
Oct. 31: Home vs. San Jose State
Nov. 6: At Louisiana Tech
Nov. 14: Home vs. Idaho
Nov. 20: At Utah State
Nov. 27: Home vs. Nevada
Dec. 5: Home vs. New Mexico State
Pacific-10: #7 USC (4-1)
When sufficiently motivated, the Trojans are as strong as any team in the country. USC was ready to play at California (3-2) Saturday. The Trojan defense was dominant and quarterback Matt Barkley seemed to be a veteran instead of a true freshman. USC won, 30-3. The Trojans are off this week before heading to South Bend next week to battle Notre Dame (4-1).
USC’s remaining schedule
Oct. 17: At Notre Dame
Oct. 24: Home vs. Oregon State
Oct. 31: At Oregon
Nov. 7: At Arizona State
Nov. 14: Home vs. Stanford
Nov. 28: Home vs. UCLA
Dec. 5: Home vs. Arizona
Big East: #8 Cincinnati (5-0)
The Bearcats dismissed an inspired Miami University (0-5) team in Oxford. The RedHawks fought hard in the annual cross-state game. Cincinnati did well in the first quarter and coasted the rest of the way en route to a 30-21 victory. The Bearcats are off Saturday. Cincinnati visits South Florida (4-1) a week from Thursday.
Cincinnati’s remaining schedule
Oct. 15: At South Florida
Oct. 24: Home vs. Louisville
Oct. 31: At Syracuse
Nov. 7: Home vs. Connecticut
Nov. 13: Home vs. West Virginia
Nov. 27: Home vs. Illinois
Dec. 5: At Pittsburgh
Big Ten: #9 Ohio State (4-1)
The Buckeyes methodically dismantled Indiana (4-1) last week. OSU likes its conservative style of play and it works well against most Big Ten opponents. The Buckeyes should continue to play to their strengths Saturday in Columbus against Wisconsin (4-1).
Ohio State’s remaining schedule
Oct. 10: Home vs. Wisconsin
Oct. 17: At Purdue
Oct. 24: Home vs. Minnesota
Oct. 31: Home vs. New Mexico State
Nov. 7: At Penn State
Nov. 14: Home vs. Iowa
Nov. 21: At Michigan
At-Large: #11 Miami (3-1)
The Hurricanes rebounded smartly from their first defeat by holding off Oklahoma, 21-20, Saturday. Jacory Harris looks like a fine quarterback. Miami completed the toughest season-opening stretch in the nation with three wins. More people would have predicted zero wins than three a month ago. The Hurricanes face two inferior teams–Florida A&M and Central Florida–before resuming ACC action in two weeks.
Miami’s remaining schedule
Oct. 10: Home vs. Florida A&M
Oct. 17: At Central Florida
Oct. 24: Home vs. Clemson
Oct. 31: At Wake Forest
Nov. 7: Home vs. Virginia
Nov. 14: At North Carolina
Nov. 21: Home vs. Duke
Nov. 28: At South Florida
At-Large: #12 Iowa (5-0)
The Hawkeyes were sloppy Saturday against Arkansas State (1-4) after a quick start. Iowa registered a 24-21 win in Iowa City but must play better to defeat up-and-coming Michigan (4-1). The Wolverines will be motivated after being stunned by Michigan State (2-3) last week.
Iowa’s remaining schedule
Oct. 10: Home vs. Michigan
Oct. 17: At Wisconsin
Oct. 24: At Michigan State
Oct. 31: Home vs. Indiana
Nov. 7: Home vs. Northwestern
Nov. 14: At Ohio State
Nov. 21: Home vs. Minnesota
The other teams in the at-large pool are:
#4 Louisiana State (5-0), SEC
#10 Texas Christian (4-0), Mountain West
#13 Oregon (4-1), Pac-10
#14 Penn State (4-1), Big 10
The BCS Championship Game would pit Florida against Texas. USC and Ohio State are projected to meet in the Rose Bowl. The Sugar Bowl would choose Alabama to replace Florida. Since two SEC teams would be included, LSU is now ineligible. The Fiesta Bowl, lacking any eligible Big 12 teams to replace Texas, would choose Miami. The Hurricanes would draw a national following to the game.
The Sugar Bowl would take Cincinnati. The Orange Bowl would select Iowa next. Finally, Boise State heads to the Fiesta Bowl. The BCS game projections for Oct. 7 are as follows:
BCS Championship: Florida vs. Texas
Rose: USC vs. Ohio State
Sugar: Alabama vs. Cincinnati
Fiesta: Boise State vs. Miami
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Iowa
