10 Teams That Got Screwed By Boise State Football's Win
With Boise State's thrilling victory over Virginia Tech last night, the Broncos put them firmly in control of their own destiny.
The only hurdle is seemingly a matchup with Oregon State that should determine whether or not Boise State runs the table. If they do, there's no way a team with back-to-back undefeated seasons, regardless of being in the WAC or not, shouldn't be playing for a national title.
As Boise State starts to put a chokehold on a spot in the big game, other teams suffer because of it and with that in mind, here are the 10 teams that lost the most with the Broncos' win last night.
#10: Florida State
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Florida State has a solid schedule on its hands. Two matchups against teams currently ranked in the top 10 and two more against teams in the lower 15.
Running the table plus an ACC championship victory would really put Florida State in a good position to compete for a national title but that won't happen. Working in a new coach in Jimbo Fisher will show at times during this season, even if he was part of the Seminoles' staff for years.
Florida State is still trying to rebuild its program and I'm not sure why they were ranked so high to start the season, but despite how much I respect the Seminoles' schedule, I just don't like the actual team enough to put them higher on this list.
#9: Penn State
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The Nittany Lions have the recipe for a national championship schedule.
Penn State plays Alabama on the road this Saturday while playing host to Iowa and traveling to Ohio State later in the season. That's three huge matchups against three teams currently in the top 10 of the polls.
However, the problem is that the Nittany Lions will likely lose all three of those games. Working in a true freshman in Robert Bolden will slow Penn State down a bit, something it and its fans expected.
The fact of the matter is that the Nittany Lions would have to be a total cinderella story to try and make the national title game and I don't see it happening.
#8: Georgia Tech
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Georgia Tech has a nice little setup going on their schedule to try and run the table and make a play for the national title.
Only one team on its schedule is currently ranked in the Top 10 (Virginia Tech, and it certainly won't be that way for long). There is a scenario in which the Yellow Jackets could run the table but even if they did, I certainly wouldn't put them in the national title game.
For one, the ACC is one of the weaker BCS conferences and having to play those teams isn't as hard as going through the SEC or Big Ten.
Also, I'll be blunt and just say that there's no way Georgia Tech runs the table and even a one-loss ACC champion would not make the big game. It's just too weak of a conference and too weak of a schedule to make the Yellow Jackets a serious contender.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
#7: Wisconsin
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Wisconsin has a rough patch in its schedule as it plays host to Ohio State and then travels to Iowa in back-to-back weeks.
Two wins there could really do wonders for the Badgers' national standing and ranking in the polls. The problem is, there's no way that Wisconsin wins both of those games. In fact, I'd bet on them losing both before I bet on them winning both games.
One loss may have kept Wisconsin somewhat alive—maybe. But the Badgers, even if they ran the table, would really require a little help to get into the big game.
The fact that Wisconsin is playing absoluetly no one out of conference doesn't help either. Sorry Badgers fans, Austin Peay is not a quality opponent.
#6: Iowa
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Iowa has a good chance to compete for the Big Ten title, I just don't think it has a shot at the national title.
The Hawkeyes play three teams currently in the top 25 including a marquee matchup against Ohio State toward the end of the season—something that could boost Iowa in the minds of the pollsters.
However, there is no way a one-loss team from a conference other than the SEC is making the national title game and I believe Iowa will have one or two losses when its all said and done.
I can see Iowa being an at-large pick to a BCS bowl or playing on a New Years Day game at the end of the season, but I think a national title slipped away from the Hawkeyes' grasp.
#5: Nebraska
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Nebraska may very well run the table, the problem is, there's no one on the Cornhuskers' schedule to help boost their profile in the polls and in the BCS standings.
The lone matchup against a team currently ranked in the Top 25 is against Texas and I believe the Longhorns will lose a couple of games as Garrett Gilbert adjusts to being the starting quarterback.
Yes, Nebraska will play in a conference title game and get another quality win there (hypothetically), but I just don't think it will be enough to put it over teams that will have played against tough opponents.
Sorry Nebraska, it looks like you won't be leaving the Big 12 with a national championship under your arm.
#4: Oregon
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While the Ducks looked amazing in a 72-0 beatdown of New Mexico on Saturday, the fact of the matter is, Oregon just doesn't have the schedule to make the big game now that Boise State will likely run the table.
USC and Oregon State are the only opponents that are currently ranked in the polls and there is no way that either are going to be strong enough to boost the Ducks' profile this year, especially USC.
The Pac-10 just isn't a strong conference this year and Oregon is more likely to end up back in the Rose Bowl than packing its bags for Glendale.
#3: Miami
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The Hurricanes have a killer schedule, playing five teams currently ranked in the Top 25—including a matchup with No. 2 Ohio State this Saturday.
If Miami were to somehow run the table, it would have a high degree of difficulty to go along with that record but I'm not sure it's enough now that Boise State has the inside track towards a national title.
To be honest, I don't see the Hurricanes running the table anyway. I like Miami's team a lot but to win all of those games is a lot to ask of one team.
I respect the way the Hurricanes have scheduled and they way they've played under Randy Shannon but I just don't see how Miami can play for a national title without a Boise State loss along the way.
#2: Ohio State
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The Buckeyes have found their way into the national title game over the past few years with a bit of dispute about how good they really are.
With each passing failure in a big game, critics asked if Ohio State really belonged, if the Big Ten could stand up and compete with conferences like the SEC and if the lack of a conference title game hurt the Buckeyes.
Ohio State went a bit toward silencing those voices with a 26-17 victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl and looked poised to make another run at the title game.
However, I don't like the Buckeyes' odds of doing that with their schedule and only one spot left in the national title game for all intents and purposes. It's a tough road to go, starting with Miami this Saturday.
If Ohio State makes the national title game, they'll have earned it.
#1: TCU
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The other BCS buster will need the Broncos to fall against Oregon State or hope for a massive upset somewhere along Boise State's schedule to get a shot at a national title.
There is no chance that both the Broncos and the Horned Frogs will both make it to the big game and with no real opponent left on TCU's schedule, it looks like TCU fans will have to settle for a different BCS bowl game.
The BCS sucks and this is a big reason why: The Horned Frogs are going to go undefeated and not play for the national title. But who needs a playoff anyway?
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
