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With Week 10 in the books, the number of undefeated teams falls to six. The chances of finishing undefeated are good for a couple of teams, and tough for the others. In order of ranking, let's examine the chances for finishing undefeated...

Who Can Finish the Regular Season and Conference Championships Undefeated?

by Larry Burton (Senior Writer)

13

490 reads

Preview/Prediction

November 02, 2008


With Week 10 in the books, the number of undefeated teams falls to six. The chances of finishing undefeated are good for a couple of teams, and tough for the others. In order of ranking, let's examine the chances for finishing undefeated.

 

Alabama

Games remaining: LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn, and Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Biggest hurdle left to jump: Florida. Odds of finishing undefeated going into the bowls: Even money

 

Penn State

Games remaining: Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State. Biggest hurdle left to jump: Michigan State. Odds of finishing undefeated: fantastic.

 

Texas Tech

Games remaining: Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Big 12 Championship Game. Biggest hurdles left to clear: Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. Odds of finishing undefeated: two to one.

 

Utah

Games remaining: TCU, San Diego State, Brigham Young. Biggest hurdle: TCU. Odds of finishing undefeated: three to one.

 

Boise State

Games remaining: Utah State, Idaho, Nevada, Fresno State. Biggest hurdle: Fresno State. Odds of finishing undefeated: even money.

 

Ball State

Games remaining: Northern Illinois, Miami (Ohio), Central Michigan, Western Michigan. Odds of finishing undefeated: fantastic.

 

Larry's fearless predictions

Penn State rolls into the BCS game undefeated and plays Alabama. (Alabama doesn't get first billing because I'm less sure of them.)

Texas Tech falls to Oklahoma.

Utah falls to TCU.

Boise State finishes undefeated.

Ball State finishes undefeated.

Then comes the bowl season. Alabama will dispose of Penn State (provided the Tide make it to the game) and will be the only undefeated team in college football, winning the BCS Championship Trophy.

Boise State and Ball State fall to superior teams in bowl games when they have to play outside a cushy schedule.

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13 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Isaac Luber 8 months ago

    Larry, PSU would beat Bama. Second, TTU will lose, so I agree. Third, UF will beat Bama in the Championship game. 4th, UF's win will propel them to #2 and PSU to #1. PSU and UF, the two best teams in the Nation, will play for all the marbles. Read my article about it for my full explanation.

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  2. Larry Burton 8 months ago

    Yeah, I saw it.... But you've drank too much Kool-Aid! Penn State is good, but is behind Bama and Florida both. They haven't played a real smash mouth team yet. Hey, no smack talking, you know I love and respect Penn State, but it's not their year this year.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      It is their year this year. Also, we played Ohio State, who is more smash mouth than any SEC team. Wisconsin is a hard-hitting team, no matter what their record is. If you read my response to a comment made on my article by herb, you will see why PSU is the best team in the Nation. I don't drink Kool-Aid, I look at stats, records, schedules, and how teams have performed in order to come up with good assumptions on what will happen and how teams will play against each other. Don't be so quick to drink the Bama kool-aid, they still have LSU and UF in the Championship game.

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  3. Larry Burton 8 months ago

    Isaac man I love your posts, you're great, but Ohio State smash mouth. People outside the Big Ten think they're a bunch of push over pussies... C'mon man... SEC teams don't even have to slow down to run over them, they're not even a speed bump. Ohio State may can get after some teams, but Ohio State? Please man...

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Ohio State only chokes in big games like the NC game. I'm sure if they played LSU or UF in the regular season it would be a much better game. Ohio State being demolished by USC was unacceptable, but they will get revenge in the Rose Bowl. Anyway, regardless if teams score on them or not, they're a smash mouth team. They hit hard and play hard.

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  4. robert carola 8 months ago

    Hey Larry,

    Not soooo fast on the Tide roll Tide not sold on there offense over the last three weeks. Penn State is really hitting it on all strides and should be able to spread the field on anyone. Texas Tech is piss poor on defense and won only tough game played this year at home against Texas. Texas Tech will have two losses before the year is over.

    I truly believe that Florida is tops in the SEC and will be the only team to play Penn State to the wire on a neutral site. Speed kills and both Penn State and Florida are quick and have the ability to shift their offensive lines that allow their skill players to break for huge gains.

    USC, OK, GT, LSU, SC, WVU, GA just can not compete against that speed

    When I look at Alabama they look great on paper but they just get very few style points. It could be my disdain for Nick Saban that clouds my ability to be arbitrary. I am excited to see what Alabama does the rest of the season and they could very well prove me wrong.

    UTAH had a strong out of conference schedule and if they go undefeated I hope they get a shot to play a school in a BCS bowl that would break them into the top five. I would like to see the Pac Ten merge Utah and Boise state into their league so that it would bone up the leagues strength of schedule while taking some of the scrutiny off the BCS system.

    Isaac,

    Penn State beat the Miami Hurricanes which was the best team period. Miami was quicker and Penn State out played themselves to steal the National Championship. I have a hard time understanding how you say that Penn State chokes?

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Robert, I was saying that Ohio State chokes in big games, not Penn State. I said PSU doesn't choke in big games, and also, that Miami team was amazing and we still won...cause WE ARE...PENN STATE!!!

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  5. robert carola 8 months ago

    Fuck'in with ya man but they were great that year. Joe Pa than do I dare say it ok I will The Bear Byant. This comment is going to tear someone's ass up but the facts are the facts.

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  6. Iceman 8 months ago

    Penn State best in the nation? I think not, the big ten is overflowing with cupcake teams and for the last 2 years, got blown out in bowl championship games by better teams in the sec, how will this year be different?

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Penn State has the speed to match-up with a Big 12 or SEC team, and the talent, and the stats, and the discipline. They are better than any other team. Also, DON'T COMPARE THEM TO OHIO STATE!!! THEY ARE NOT AN OHIO STATE CHOKE TEAM!!! THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE PSU ACTUALLY WINS IN BIG GAMES AND IN NATIONAL TITLES!!! NO TEAM IS BETTER THAN US THIS YEAR!!! WE ARE...PENN STATE!!!

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  7. Mark Willis 8 months ago

    good article larry...isaac, penn st. has played nobody (including ohio st.) and will only play in national title becuz of sympathy votes for paterno

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  8. Clayton 8 months ago

    Alabama will be crushed by Florida in the SEC Championship. They are no were near their level.

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  9. Iceman 8 months ago

    If Texas tech and florida win the rest of their games, they will be playing in the national title. The voters will push Florida over penn state because Florida actutally played real football teams this year.

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