Nov 23 2009
BCS Game Projections for Nov. 23
LSU lost to Mississippi by wasting the last 30 seconds after recovering an onside kick. The game ended, 25-23, with LSU (8-3) at the Mississippi (8-3) six-yard line. Therefore, the Tigers drop to 15th in this week BCS standings. There’s not much practical difference since LSU couldn’t get a BCS berth anyway, considering two SEC rivals remain at the top of the standings. The at-large bids will be interesting until Dec. 6, when bowl matchups are officially announced.
Southeastern: #1 Florida (11-0)
In a surprise to no one, the Gators dismantled Florida International (3-8), 62-3, Saturday. Florida, in essence, had a bye before meeting its long-standing but currently suffering rival, Florida State (6-5). The Seminoles are in turmoil in the wake of defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews’ impending retirement and whether coach Bobby Bowden will follow his friend into the sunset. The Gators, meanwhile, mustn’t look past FSU toward the SEC Championship with Alabama.
Florida’s remaining schedule
Nov. 28: Home vs. Florida State
Dec. 5: SEC Championship Game vs. Alabama in Atlanta
Automatic At-Large: #2 Alabama (11-0)
Hardly a stunner that the Crimson Tide demolished Division I-AA Tennessee-Chattanooga (6-5), 45-0. Alabama travels Friday to Auburn (7-4) for the Iron Bowl. The Tigers will want to ruin their in-state rival’s national title hopes but the Tide figure to be too strong for Auburn to handle.
Alabama’s remaining schedule
Nov. 27: At Auburn
Dec. 5: SEC Championship Game vs. Florida in Atlanta
Big 12: #3 Texas (11-0)
The Longhorns thrashed reeling Kansas (5-6), 51-20, last week. The Jayhawks have a lot of issues, starting with head coach Mark Mangino’s alleged treatment of players. Nonetheless, Texas led, 27-6, at the half and never gave Kansas a chance in the second half. With the win, the Longhorns clinched the Big 12 South division and a spot in the conference title game next week against North division winner Nebraska (8-3). First though is the annual clash against sagging Texas A&M (6-5), played this year in College Station on Thanksgiving night.
Texas’s remaining schedule
Nov. 26: At Texas A&M
Dec. 5: Big 12 Championship Game vs. Nebraska in Arlington
Mountain West: #4 Texas Christian (11-0)
The Horned Frogs struggled for most of the first half at Wyoming (5-6). The score was 10-10 midway through the second period. However, TCU scored 35 unanswered points to win convincingly, 45-10. The Frogs clinched the Mountain West crown with the victory. New Mexico (1-10) won its first game of the season last week. TCU may look past the Lobos a bit but the Frogs are too good to suffer a monumental upset Saturday. TCU will almost certainly cinch a BCS bid with a win.
Texas Christian’s remaining schedule
Nov. 28: Home vs. New Mexico
Big East: #5 Cincinnati (10-0)
The Bearcats were off last week. Cincinnati faces Illinois (3-7) Friday. Before the season, this game seemed like it would be a lot more competitive. At least the Illini also had a bye. So both teams will have the same amount of time to prepare. The Bearcats have the better team though. Next weekend’s with Pittsburgh looms.
Cincinnati’s remaining schedule
Nov. 27: Home vs. Illinois
Dec. 5: At Pittsburgh
Atlantic Coast: #7 Georgia Tech (10-1)
The Yellow Jackets had a bye last week. GT’s next opponent, Georgia (6-5), lost Saturday in heartbreaking fashion. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ beloved mascot, Uga VII, died suddenly last week. There will be an interim mascot in Atlanta Saturday but the Yellow Jackets seem to be too strong anyway. Clemson won the ACC Atlantic Division last week so GT will have a rematch with the Tigers next weekend in Tampa.
Georgia Tech’s remaining schedule
Nov. 28: Home vs. Georgia
Dec. 5: ACC Championship Game vs. Clemson in Tampa
Pacific-10: #8 Oregon (9-2)
The Ducks trailed Arizona (6-4) by 10 points in the fourth quarter and needed a touchdown with six seconds left in regulation to extend the game to overtime. However, Oregon prevailed in double overtime, 44-41, and left Tucson in firm control of the conference race. Coupled with Stanford’s (7-4) 34-28 loss to #22 California (8-3) and #16 Oregon State’s (8-3) 42-10 thrashing of Washington State (1-10), what had been a convoluted situation is now quite simple. The winner of next week’s Civil War is the Pac-10 champion and will go to the Rose Bowl.
Oregon’s remaining schedule
Dec. 3: Home vs. Oregon State
At-Large: #9 Pittsburgh (9-1)
The Panthers had a bye. They would give almost anything to erase the Sept. 26 loss at North Carolina State (4-7). Without that blemish, Pittsburgh would be in the hunt for the BCS title in addition to the conference crown. As things stands, the Panthers must defeat West Virginia (7-3) in Morgantown Friday–always a tricky matchup–before hosting Cincinnati with a lot at stake. Pittsburgh has proven it can struggle on the road. Doing so again in the Backyard Brawl would be a crushing blow.
Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule
Nov. 27: At West Virginia
Dec. 5: Home vs. Cincinnati
Big Ten: #10 Ohio State (10-2)
In typical fashion, the Buckeyes weren’t stylish Saturday against Michigan (5-7). However, OSU made few mistakes. Wolverine quarterback Tate Forcier committed five turnovers. OSU didn’t have to be pretty to beat Michigan for a school-record sixth consecutive time, 21-10. With the win, the Buckeyes are the outright Big Ten champions and await an opponent at the Rose Bowl New Year’s Day.
Ohio State’s remaining schedule
Jan. 1: Rose Bowl in Pasadena
At-Large: #13 Penn State (10-2)
The Nittany Lions used a 28-point third quarter to break open a close game with Michigan State (6-6) and win the Land Grant Trophy in East Lansing, 42-14. PSU finishes tied for second in the conference with Iowa. Admittedly, the Lions’ best win is against Northwestern (8-4). The fact remains that of the potential BCS at-large candidates, PSU has the best name recognition and national following. Beyond the championship game pitting the top two teams, bowls are about money. The Lions mean more money than Iowa or Boise State, the best alternatives.
Penn State’s remaining schedule
January: Bowl game to be announced
The other teams in the at-large pool are:
#6 Boise State (11-0), Western Athletic
#11 Iowa (10-2), Big Ten
#12 Oklahoma State (9-2), Big 12
#14 Virginia Tech (8-3), ACC
As projected now, the BCS Championship Game would pit Florida against Alabama. Ohio State and Oregon are set for the Rose Bowl. The Sugar Bowl would pick Cincinnati to replace the SEC squads.
The Sugar Bowl would then choose Penn State. Since there are now two Big Ten teams, Iowa is ineligible. Pittsburgh would head for the Orange Bowl. Finally, TCU comes to the Fiesta Bowl. The BCS game projections for Nov. 23 are as follows:
BCS Championship: Florida vs. Alabama
Rose: Oregon vs. Ohio State
Sugar: Cincinnati vs. Penn State
Fiesta: Texas vs. Texas Christian
Orange: Georgia Tech vs. Pittsburgh
