BCS Rankings 2010: 10 Schools Who Made Biggest Week 6 BCS Case
I hope you were firmly planted in your couch this weekend because there were some exciting college games. We all now know of the surprising upset of Alabama at the hands of South Carolina.
But what does that mean for the top programs and their cries for a BCS berth?
Here we will break down the top 10 teams and their claim to a BCS title shot.
10: South Carolina Gamecocks
1 of 10
The Gamecocks have one of the harder schedules in the SEC and have proved they can handle it. Their only loss to Auburn will go largely unnoticed if they can win out the rest of the season. Their upset of Alabama now has college pundits take notice of this program on the rise.
Lead by Stephen Garcia behind center, the Gamecocks put up enough points to be considered among the elite. It is extra encouraging knowing they only give up 18 points a contest with the mammoth programs they have already played.
9: LSU Tigers
2 of 10
LSU is not want for weapons. They tout so many that coach Les Miles decided to go to a two quarterback shuffle this past weekend. They tout a phenomenal defense and a superb rushing attack. Their greatest weapon however may just be their coach.
Never afraid to think outside of the box, Les Miles proved once again that he is as crafty as anyone out there. As the Tigers lined up for a game tying field, Miles pulled the rug out and decided to fake an attempt and had holder Derek Helton throw a pitch to Josh Jasper. The play was successful for a first down. LSU then whittled their way to the goal line where they punched in the win. The play typifies the LSU coach as someone who does not settle for a tie.
8: Auburn Tigers
3 of 10
Cam Newton is the catalyst to an explosive offense. He has already thrown for over 1,000 yards this year and 12 touchdowns. The glaring hiccup in Auburn's title hopes is their schedule. Their lone victory against a ranked opponent came in a nail-biter against South Carolina.
The next two weeks will go a long way to show if Auburn is the real deal and if their offense can carry them into January. Next up for them is battle tested Arkansas followed by LSU. The only upside to those two games is that they are at home.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7: Alabama Crimson Tide
4 of 10
Saturday's loss to South Carolina showed that Alabama is susceptible to a potent offense. This is contrary to their consistent weapon, which was a stout defense. The Gamecocks had their way with Alabama's fifth ranked defense. The hope is that they can shore up their deficiencies in the next two weeks.
The Crimson Tide should still take care of Mississippi and Tennessee despite their recent stumble. If they figure things out enough to then get an away victory against LSU, they will again be in the national title spotlight. Things may be looking grim, but Alabama is far from out of the race.
6: Oklahoma Sooners
5 of 10
It is hard to say, but the Oklahoma Sooners hope for a first or second place finish in the polls is largely not up to them. The rest of their schedule is relatively easy. They will need big missteps from the likes of Ohio State, Oregon, and Boise State.
That being said, Oklahoma has only relented an average of 22 points per contest this season. This against the spirited running game of Air Force and the unrelenting passing of Florida State. There is much to like for Sooner fans.
5: Nebraska Cornhuskers
6 of 10
Nebraska is good. If defense wins championships then pencil in the Cornhuskers for the title game. The tough defense has only allowed 12 points per contest. Naysayers will point to the pitiful opponents they have played. In the end, this may be what see Nebraska looking at the BCS title game from the outside.
Their upcoming game against Texas should have had more gravitas than it now does. With a stumbling Longhorns team on the way down, the game comes into the must win category for Nebraska.
Nebraska shouldn't lose any ground in the coming weeks, and a consistent effort from them should go a long way to put them in the discussion. A win against Oklahoma State could bump them in the top four in the BCS.
4: TCU Horned Frogs
7 of 10
Andy Dalton is simply amazing. He showed this past weekend that he can deliver pinpoint passes and drive this potent offense.
Mark your calendars for November 6th. If the Frogs can stay unbeaten until then, their season will come down to an away game against another stellar touchdown machine in Utah. A win against the Utes will put TCU front and center in the BCS chatter.
3: Boise State Broncos
8 of 10
There is not much to not like about the Broncos. Well, save their horrid blue carpet they play on. This small conference team has shown this season that they can win the big game. They took care of a then No. 10 Virginia Tech and got a victory against a formidable Oregon State team.
The rest of their schedule may have helped their gaudy numbers but they should still be respected. Anytime you score close to 50 points a game and give away only 14 your doing something right. Lead by the ever precise Kellen Moore, 14 TD'S and one INT, Boise State is right where they want to be this time of year.
2: Oregon Ducks
9 of 10
For once, the Pac-10 has some legitimacy. The fall of Troy has put other conference teams in the national spotlight. No team has gained more from the Trojans demise than Oregon.
Oregon has been tested early in games and then, like all good teams, regroups and finishes off their opponent. This past weekend was no different. Winning just 15-14 in the first quarter on the road to Pac-10 bottom feeder Washington State, Oregon showed poise and power by finishing of the remaining quarters 28-9.
If quarterback Darron Thomas comes back healthy with a shoulder injury, look for Oregon to continue to find the end-zone.
1: Ohio State Buckeyes
10 of 10
There you have it. Buckeye faithful finally got what they and many pundits believed they deserved, a spot clearly atop the collegiate heap. They did so on a week where they quietly took care of their lesser Hoosier opponent. It will take a grandiose misstep for them to relinquish the No. 1 spot.
If they can come out of Wisconsin unscathed next week, their only formidable opponent left will come against No. 15 Iowa. Boasting one of the best players in the game in Terrelle Pryor, this might just might be OSU's year.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
