5 Teams in the BCS Top 25 That Are Peaking at the Right Time

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Timing is critical in college football.

After all, teams can play the game of their life against an FCS team, but that won't help much in the ultimate goal of winning a national championship.

However, putting together a critical drive at a key time can make all the difference in the world. There are several of these teams who are currently rising at the sight of the regular-season finish line. 

Who are they? Read on.

No. 13 Clemson Tigers

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Unlike last season, Clemson has not yet suffered a late-season meltdown. In fact, the Tigers are playing as well as they have all season, as they easily handled an upstart Duke team in Week 10.

Unfortunately, they need Florida State to lose to either Virginia Tech or Maryland if they want a shot at the ACC title game.

On the other hand, Clemson may not need to reach the ACC championship game to gain a BCS at-large bid. A win against South Carolina at the end of the season would go a long way in securing that prize.

No. 9 Louisville Cardinals

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Right now, Louisville gets the least attention of any unbeaten team still out there.

Still, the Cardinals have managed to avoid the upset bug that has bitten both Cincinnati and Rutgers of the Big East. 

Unfortunately, there's almost no way for Louisville to rise high enough in the final BCS rankings to gain access to the BCS National Championship Game due to its relatively weak strength of schedule. However, the Cardinals have a good shot to prove their salt against a team like Florida State.

No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs

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After Aaron Murray's fantastic four-touchdown effort against Ole Miss, Georgia is a win against Auburn away from taking the SEC East title and a date with presumably Alabama in the SEC title game.

If the Bulldogs can win out against Auburn, Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech as well as avoid getting blown out by the Tide in the SEC title game, a Sugar Bowl bid is a very good possibility.

And who knows? Should Georgia pull off the upset of Alabama and one of the three other teams ahead of the Bulldogs fall, they could very well find their way to the BCS National Championship Game.

Likely? No. But certainly a possibility.

No. 3 Oregon Ducks

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While Oregon's defense may not be clicking on all cylinders, giving up 615 yards and 51 points to USC, the offense is an unstoppable as ever, racking up 730 yards and 62 points against USC.

I'm not sure that Oregon has the strength of schedule to catch No. 2 Kansas State should it run the table, but a rematch against USC in the Pac-12 championship game would certainly help.

Besides, Kenjon Barner's fantastic 321-yard and five-touchdown effort against the Trojans may be enough for the Ducks to claim their first Heisman Trophy winner.

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide

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Alabama fans had the first reason to sweat all year long, as LSU gave the Crimson Tide all that they could handle.

But AJ McCarron, T.J. Yeldon and the Alabama offense stepped up in a perfect example of a two-minute drill to come up with the winning touchdown.

This is obviously the greatest victory of the year for the Crimson Tide. Not many coaches can say that they've pulled off a come-from-behind win in Death Valley at night against a Top 10 LSU squad.

That's yet another feather in Nick Saban's cap.