Oct 13 2009
BCS Game Projections for Oct. 13
Please note that this projection is the last one that uses the Associated Press poll. The first BCS standings will be released Sunday. Starting next week, I will project conference leaders into the BCS games. The BCS standings will serve as a tiebreaker.
Southeastern: #1 Florida (5-0)
The Gators weren’t pretty at #10 LSU Saturday but they won, 13-3. Tim Tebow seemed rusty after missed most of two weeks’ practice due to the concussion he suffered against Kentucky (2-3). However, the Gators remain on track. Ryan Mallett could help derail Florida though. Arkansas (3-2) has a good offense; 13 points will likely not be enough to win.
Florida’s remaining schedule
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
Automatic At-Large: #2 Alabama (6-0)
The Crimson Tide methodically dismantled Mississippi’s (3-2) vaunted quarterback Jevan Sneed and limited the Rebels to a field goal in a 22-3 win in Oxford. Alabama impressed the voters. The Tide leaped Texas to claim the second spot in the AP poll. That means Alabama would play Florida in the BCS title game. In actuality, the teams will meet in the SEC championship game should both teams continue to be undefeated. Alabama’s next game against #22 South Carolina (5-1) will be interesting.
Alabama’s remaining schedule
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
Big 12: #3 Texas (5-0)
The Longhorns needed most of the first half to get going against Colorado (1-4). Texas trailed, 14-3. However, the Longhorns shook off the rust and won going away, 37-14. Pollsters weren’t impressed with the performance though and dropped Texas out of the projected BCS championship game. Saturday’s long-awaited clash against #20 Oklahoma (3-2) will help spark voters’ interest again.
Texas’ remaining schedule
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
Atlantic Coast: #4 Virginia Tech (5-1)
The Hokies humbled Boston College (3-2), 44-7, Saturday. VT has a big conference game this week against #19 Georgia Tech (5-1). The Yellow Jackets love the option offense, which will force the Hokies to play disciplined defense for 60 minutes.
Virginia Tech’s remaining schedule
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: #5 Boise State (5-0)
The Broncos enjoyed a bye last week. They’ll play at Tulsa (1-4) Wednesday. BSU is back at fifth, its highest-ever poll standing.
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: #6 USC (4-1)
The Trojans were off last week. So was #25 Notre Dame (4-1), USC’s next opponent. The renewal of the classic rivalry will be held at South Bend this year. The Fighting Irish could use a signature win to boost their BCS hopes. The Trojans must win to keep national championship aspirations alives.
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 Ten: #7 Ohio State (5-1)
The Buckeyes humbled Wisconsin (4-2), 33-14, Saturday. OSU rose two places in the AP rankings. The next few games, starting with this week at rebuilding Purdue (3-3), don’t figure to test OSU as much as will next month’s contest at Penn State.
Ohio State’s remaining schedule
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
Big East: #8 Cincinnati (5-0)
The Bearcats rested this week. Cincinnati battles #20 South Florida (5-0) in Tampa Thursday in a key conference matchup.
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
At-Large: #9 Miami (4-1)
The Hurricanes were sloppy at the start against Division I-AA Florida A&M. However, Miami’s talent proven to be superior and the Hurricanes won convincingly. Central Florida is Miami’s next opponent.
Miami’s remaining schedule
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: #11 Iowa (6-0)
The Hawkeyes edged Michigan (4-2), 30-28, in a thrilling game at Iowa City. Iowa maintains its position at the top of the league. Wisconsin will try to get back on track Saturday against the Hawkeyes. Madison is usually a tough place to play so Iowa must get over its emotional win quickly.
Iowa’s remaining schedule
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:
#10 Louisiana State (5-1), SEC
#12 Texas Christian (5-0), Mountain West
#13 Oregon (5-1), Pac-10
#14 Penn State (5-1), Big 10
The BCS Championship Game would pit Florida against Alabama. USC and Ohio State are projected to meet in the Rose Bowl. The Sugar Bowl would choose Miami to replace the lost SEC squads. Since two SEC teams would be included, LSU is now ineligible.
The Sugar Bowl would then choose Iowa. The Orange Bowl would select Cincinnati next. Finally, Boise State heads to the Fiesta Bowl. The BCS game projections for Oct. 13 are as follows:
BCS Championship: Florida vs. Alabama
Rose: USC vs. Ohio State
Sugar: Miami vs. Iowa
Fiesta: Texas vs. Boise State
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati
