BCS Championship Breakdown: Which Contenders Will Make it to New Orleans?

Missouri (9-1)
Marquee Wins: Illinois, Texas Tech, Texas A&M
Record Against Ranked Teams: (2-1)
Remaining Schedule: at Kansas St., at Kansas, Big 12 Championship (TBD)
Bottom Line: Two losses to the Sooners will keep the Tigers out of the hunt.

Missouri has a better resume than Kansas but as indicated above, it still won't be enough.  Oklahoma looms in the wings waiting to pounce on the Tigers again in the Big 12 Championship game should Missouri advance this far.

Oregon (8-1)
Marquee Wins: Michigan, USC, Arizona St.
Record Against Ranked Teams: (2-1)
Remaining Schedule: at Arizona, at UCLA, Oregon St.
Bottom Line: Oregon will be in the National Championship.

It won't be easy, but Oregon will win out.  The in state rivalry game with the Beavers will be the most important Civil War game in recent history.  Dixon will be Heisman-like and carry his team to the remaining three victories and on to New Orleans for the BCS National Championship Game.

LSU (9-1)
Marquee Wins: Virginia Tech, Florida, Auburn, Alabama
Record Against Ranked Teams: (5-1)
Remaining Schedule: Ole Miss, Arkansas, SEC Championship
Bottom Line: LSU will fall just short.

With 5 wins and only 1 loss against ranked teams, LSU boasts the best resume of any team in the national title hunt and deserves its #1 ranking.  The Tigers' brutal schedule will include a total of 8 games against ranked teams when all is said and done.  LSU should easily slide past Ole Miss and Arkansas.  While the McFadden vs. LSU's #1 Defense matchup will be interesting to watch, it should be no contest.  Then all the Bayou Bengals have to do is win the SEC Championship—a very tall order.  The opponent will be either Tennessee or Georgia.  Georgia has turned a new leaf and looks very dangerous.  The Vols appear to be the better option for the Tigers, but it will be no easy task.  Quarterback Matt Flynn's numbers have been merely OK all season, and LSU is due to for a misstep.  LSU will lose a tough game in Atlanta and come up one game short of the national championship. 

Oklahoma (9-1)
Marquee Wins: Texas, Missouri, Texas A&M
Record Against Ranked Teams: (2-0)
Remaining Schedule: at Texas Tech, Oklahoma St.
Bottom Line: Thanks to a loss by LSU, the Sooners are in.

Oklahoma is the best team in Big 12.  Plain and simple.  Quarterback Sam Bradford has a ridiculous 180.36 QB rating with 28 TDS and 6 INTs while completing 70 percent of his passes.  He may even challenge Oregon's Dixon for the Heisman.  And the defense isn't that bad either.  All the Sooners have to do is win out and wait for LSU to fall.  Then they will take their place behind Oregon in the BCS standings.

So there you have it—Oklahoma vs. Oregon, January 7, 2008 in New Orleans.  And if you don't remember the last time these two met, click here to refresh your memory.  The Sooners will be chomping at the bit for some revenge.

Note: Record Against Ranked Teams statistic tabulated by rank of opponent at time of contest.

*Edit (post Dixon injury)

I wish I had never written this article, but it's here. Given that my entire prognostication was contingent on Oregon's Dixon staying healthy and Heisman-like, it appears that this article is worthless. Dixon is hurt and the Ducks are out. That'll teach me to try and predict 2007 college football. Clearly I have much to learn. Since the the matchup is incorrect, I'd like to propose that unlikely West Virginia takes Oregon's place in the title game. I told you it could happen. The stars are beginning to align.

Oklahoma vs. West Virginia BCS National Title Guess #2

But actually what I would love to happen is for everyone to lose again. How fun would it be to try and figure out what two loss team deserves to play for a national title?

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