BCS Rankings 2013: 5 Biggest BCS Impact Games of Week 11
Week 11 has been circled on calendars since the preseason, and what looked in August like the best weekend on the schedule has materialized in just that—and then some.
Starting on Thursday night, with a historic duo of pre-weekend games, Week 11's slate pits some of the best teams in the country against opponents truly capable of knocking them off, which is rare for programs that powerful.
For Alabama, Oregon and Baylor—three undefeated teams who have made things look easy so far this season—getting out of Week 11 unscathed might be the engine that fuels a national title run. But doing so will be much easier said than done.
To prepare for the weekend, Bleacher Report's resident BCS guru, Sam Chi, has ranked the five most impactful games on the schedule. Here's a quick look at each.
5. Auburn at Tennessee
1 of 5
If not for the logjam of undefeated teams at the top of the poll (or the emergence of Jameis Winston), Auburn would probably be the story of 2013.
The Tigers went 3-9 last season. Three and nine! And in the span of less than a year, new head coach Gus Malzahn has them ranked Top 10 in the country, controlling their fate in the SEC Championship race.
Tennessee has been like Jekyll and Hyde this year: listless on the road but frisky and upset-hungry at Neyland Stadium. Even without starting quarterback Justin Worley, Malzahn thinks the Vols and their dominant offensive line are a threat.
"I'll agree...that is one of the better offensive lines that we've played," Malzahn said, according to Joel Erickson of AL.com. "They're a veteran group. They're big, they're physical, and I think they're very talented."
Auburn's defense is vulnerable in the back seven, masking some of those weaknesses because of tremendous play up front from Dee Ford, Carl Lawson and Gabe Wright.
If Tennessee's offensive line can keep that group out of the backfield, it will provide freshman quarterback Joshua Dobbs with a much better chance to lead the upset.
4. UCLA at Arizona
2 of 5
After back-to-back losses at Stanford and Oregon—about the most forgivable losing streak a team could possible endure—UCLA got back on track with a win over Colorado in Week 10.
Still, the Bruins have their work cut out for them in the Pac-12 South race, where they still look up at Arizona State and have little-to-no margin for error.
Their championship conquest continues in Tucson this week, where a 6-2 Wildcats team that nobody is talking about awaits them thirsty for revenge.
"We have a bone to pick with them," said Arizona safety Jourdon Grandon, according to Daniel Berk of the Arizona Daily Star. But that might be putting it too lightly.
UCLA beat the Wildcats 66-10 in Los Angeles last season.
3. LSU at Alabama
3 of 5
LSU's trip to Alabama—annually one of the biggest and most meaningful games on the schedule—is only the third biggest impact game of the week, telling you everything you need to know about the next few days of college football.
The Tigers played Alabama closer than any team besides Texas A&M last season, and they have consistently given Nick Saban more trouble than any other program since he arrived in Tuscaloosa.
Even though Vegas is giving LSU more than 10 points, Crimson Tide guard Anthony Steen is not expecting them to walk in and roll over.
"We know it’s probably going to come down to two or three plays," said Steen, according to Andrew Gribble of AL.com. "If they have two good plays and an 80-yard pass and an 80-yard run, then we might lose. But if we have two or three good plays then we might win."
You got that right, Anthony. And we can't wait to watch it.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
2. Oklahoma at Baylor
4 of 5
Baylor gets its truest test of the season against Oklahoma on Thursday night, going up against Bob Stoops and a 7-1 Sooners team that—oddly enough—might be flying under the radar a little bit.
OU probably has the best defense that Baylor has seen this season, though the unit is a bit banged up heading into Week 11's game. That lack of depth could be the difference against a high-octane offense that tries its best to keep up the pace and wear you down.
"That [tempo] puts us in our rhythm," said quarterback Bryce Petty, according to Andy Staples of SI.com. "That's when we can dictate what [the defense will] do."
Head coach Art Briles will try to make that dictation against a good Oklahoma secondary, and if he's successful, the Sooners' chances will fall on the capricious right shoulder of quarterback Blake Bell.
He'll need to play the best game of his life on Thursday.
1. Oregon at Stanford
5 of 5
Stanford was the only team capable of slowing down the Ducks last year, stymieing them on their own home field en route to a 17-14 overtime victory.
Oregon is out for revenge in Palo Alto, once again entering the game with an offense that is firing on all cylinders but running into a potentially immovable object.
Still, Ducks all-purpose back De'Anthony Thomas is unfazed, saying in a video from GoDucks.com (via College Spun) that he, "feels like we should put up 40 (points)."
If they can do that—especially against a Stanford offense that leaves something to be desired—the Ducks will be golden and in line for a spot in the national title game.
But that is a very big "if."
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
