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octothorp · 11-05-2007, 10:35 AM

Every year I complain about the BCS, but this year I'm trying not to be too critical of it and just appreciate it for what it is. Of course, it helps that I usually cheer for the Ducks, and they're looking pretty good right now. With just a few weeks left, here's the top 10 in the BCS Standings:

Ohio State
LSU
Oregon
Kansas
Oklahoma
Missouri
West Virginia
Boston College
Arizona State
Georgia

Still a lot of big games remaining and a lot of room for movement. Here's how I see them finishing:

LSU: A tough schedule thus far, and they've got more quality wins than anybody else in the country. They've been just barely winning the last few weeks, but with an easy schedule the rest of the way, they should be able to coast. There's some talk that even if they win out, Oregon, or Kansas, or both could still pass them. Maybe on the computers, but I think that the voters will respect LSU's schedule. That talk will be enough to ensure that they come out focused on racking up points in the last few weeks.
Oregon: A last-second, goal-line fumble away from being undefeated and likely the top team in the country. The thing that hold them back is that, beyond the early season rout of Michigan, all of their big games have been at home. Currently the only top-10 team to have beaten another top 10 team. Big wins by Michigan and Arizona in the final weeks will be good for Oregon's schedule-strength. I'm worried about the Oregon State game as a possible trap.
Kansas: I think they'll run the table, finishing with a home win over highly-ranked missouri. With that being their only win over a quality team, it'll be too little too late to bump them up into the top two in the minds of the voters (unless that Missouri win is a major rout), but they'll be second with the computers.
Oklahoma: Strength of schedule holds them back. At this point the only way they're gonna move up is if one of the teams above them loses.
Ohio: Obviously if I'm picking them to finish fifth, I'm picking them to lose one of their remaining games: that final game against Michigan in Michigan. Still a quality season, but not the big win on par with the other one-loss teams. Computers will favour Ohio for fourth, voters will go with Oklahoma.
Arizona: One big game remaining, at home against USC. They need that win to avoid tumbling down in the rankings. I think they'll get it. Pac-10 has been wild this year, and I don't think anyone saw Oregon and Arizona finishing ahead of USC, Cal and UCLA.
Georgia: They're in a good position to get a big bump over the next couple weeks, with two very winnable games against ranked teams at home. I expect them to beat both Auburn and Kentucky.
Michigan: They're playing great football right now, and a home victory over previously undefeated Ohio will be a fitting conclusion to a season that began so disasterously.
Connecticut: A weak schedule so far, but a game on the road against West Virginia in the last week of the season will allow the Huskies to demonstrate their worth.
Missouri: loss to Kansas will drop them, and if things shake out as I've described, tenth will be pretty much a toss-up between them and West Virginia. I went with Missouri simply because their loss would be to a better opponent.

Dropping out of the top 10: West Virginia, Boston College. The former I explained above with a loss to UConn. And I think that BC loses once more, on the road to Clemson.

11-05-2007, 10:35 AM	#1
octothorp Franchise Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: not lurking Exp:	BCS Standings Every year I complain about the BCS, but this year I'm trying not to be too critical of it and just appreciate it for what it is. Of course, it helps that I usually cheer for the Ducks, and they're looking pretty good right now. With just a few weeks left, here's the top 10 in the BCS Standings: Ohio State LSU Oregon Kansas Oklahoma Missouri West Virginia Boston College Arizona State Georgia Still a lot of big games remaining and a lot of room for movement. Here's how I see them finishing: LSU: A tough schedule thus far, and they've got more quality wins than anybody else in the country. They've been just barely winning the last few weeks, but with an easy schedule the rest of the way, they should be able to coast. There's some talk that even if they win out, Oregon, or Kansas, or both could still pass them. Maybe on the computers, but I think that the voters will respect LSU's schedule. That talk will be enough to ensure that they come out focused on racking up points in the last few weeks. Oregon: A last-second, goal-line fumble away from being undefeated and likely the top team in the country. The thing that hold them back is that, beyond the early season rout of Michigan, all of their big games have been at home. Currently the only top-10 team to have beaten another top 10 team. Big wins by Michigan and Arizona in the final weeks will be good for Oregon's schedule-strength. I'm worried about the Oregon State game as a possible trap. Kansas: I think they'll run the table, finishing with a home win over highly-ranked missouri. With that being their only win over a quality team, it'll be too little too late to bump them up into the top two in the minds of the voters (unless that Missouri win is a major rout), but they'll be second with the computers. Oklahoma: Strength of schedule holds them back. At this point the only way they're gonna move up is if one of the teams above them loses. Ohio: Obviously if I'm picking them to finish fifth, I'm picking them to lose one of their remaining games: that final game against Michigan in Michigan. Still a quality season, but not the big win on par with the other one-loss teams. Computers will favour Ohio for fourth, voters will go with Oklahoma. Arizona: One big game remaining, at home against USC. They need that win to avoid tumbling down in the rankings. I think they'll get it. Pac-10 has been wild this year, and I don't think anyone saw Oregon and Arizona finishing ahead of USC, Cal and UCLA. Georgia: They're in a good position to get a big bump over the next couple weeks, with two very winnable games against ranked teams at home. I expect them to beat both Auburn and Kentucky. Michigan: They're playing great football right now, and a home victory over previously undefeated Ohio will be a fitting conclusion to a season that began so disasterously. Connecticut: A weak schedule so far, but a game on the road against West Virginia in the last week of the season will allow the Huskies to demonstrate their worth. Missouri: loss to Kansas will drop them, and if things shake out as I've described, tenth will be pretty much a toss-up between them and West Virginia. I went with Missouri simply because their loss would be to a better opponent. Dropping out of the top 10: West Virginia, Boston College. The former I explained above with a loss to UConn. And I think that BC loses once more, on the road to Clemson.