BCS Rankings: 5 Undefeated Teams Likely To Drop Before the Season Is Over
The first BCS Rankings of the year were released yesterday and Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops had to be satisfied. As expected the undefeated Oklahoma Sooners, Oregon Ducks, and Boise State Broncos filled out the top three positions.
Seven different undefeated teams as well as a few one loss teams such as the Alabama Crimson Tide and Ohio State Buckeyes will be knocking on the door waiting for those teams occupying the top positions to slip up. Fortunately for these teams, with the season only at the half-way point there will be plenty of opportunities for the top teams to fall.
Whether it is a tough schedule, not enough talent to compete, or simply bad luck, most of the remaining undefeated teams will lose at least one game.
Here are those teams which are most likely to drop before the season is over:
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Once again, Oklahoma State is beating teams by throwing up ridiculous amounts of points and hoping that their defense will hold. The Cowboys have the third ranked passing game in college football with 361 yards through the air per game as well as the number two offense averaging 49.5 points per game.
The defense, however, is another story. Oklahoma State's defense has allowed 27.2 points per game, good for 73rd in division I. Eventually, the strategy of all offense and no defense will catch up to the Cowboys and their undefeated record.
Speaking of their undefeated record, Oklahoma State may be undefeated, but they have beaten some less impressive opponents. The Cowboys have not faced a ranked opponent yet, and their biggest victories have been at home against Troy and last week at a .500 Texas Tech team.
Consequently, the remaining schedule poses a daunting task for the Cowboys. Out of six remaining games on the schedule, the Cowboys face four ranked opponents including No. 1 Oklahoma, as well as Texas, Kansas State, and Nebraska. Additionally, three of those six games, including two against Texas and Kansas State will be on the road. Add in a Big 12 Championship game, and it appears Oklahoma State has little chance of holding onto its undefeated record for the entire season.
11. Missouri Tigers
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The Missouri Tigers deserve praise for starting the season undefeated. While only beating mediocre competition, they have performed admirably at a high level thus far this season. However, there are several obstacles between the Tigers and an undefeated season.
The first lies in the lack of a strong rushing attack. The Tigers have averaged 131.8 yards per game on the ground this season, which puts them at 84th overall in division I. Perhaps more important, the lack of a true number one running back has hindered the ground game. With Henry Josey, De'Vion Moore, and Kendial Lawrence each receiving around one-third of the carries, no true number one running back has emerged in the backfield. Consequently, the Tigers's running game has lacked the true rhythm needed to control games against tough opponents.
Secondly, and way more importantly, is the schedule. Missouri faces their first ranked opponent this season in number one Oklahoma. Even if the Tigers manage to upset the Sooners at home, Missouri will have to travel to Nebraska the next week. With Kansas State, as well as a Big 12 Championship game on the horizon as well, it will be improbable, if not impossible, for Missouri to survive the season without a loss.
9. Utah Utes
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The Utah Utes are used to being underestimated. Just ask Alabama two years ago when Utah came out of nowhere to defeat the Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl.
The Utes are at it again, starting the 2010 season with six straight victories to lead the Mountain West Conference. Utah is led by a high-octane offense that ranks fourth in college football with 45.8 points per game as well as a staunch defense that allows only 14 points per game.
The knock on Utah thus far is the quality of opponents. Despite a victory over No. 15 ranked Pittsburgh, the combined records of Utah's vanquished opponents is a disappointing 10-30. With no real test to date, the 2010 Utah Utes could surprise many by finishing undefeated once again; however, they could easily fall apart as well.
One thing is for sure: the date November 6th looms on the horizon.
That is when the TCU Horned Frogs pay the Utes a visit. One of these teams has to lose. Since at the moment TCU appears to be the better team, Utah unfortunately is more likely to drop before the season ends.
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7. Michigan State Spartans
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If one had to guess who would be leading the Big 10 after seven games, Michigan State would not be the most likely answer. However, this is the case as Michigan State has defeated both Wisconsin and rival Michigan on its way to seven wins and zero losses.
Yet, several question still surround this Spartans team. Coach Mark D'Antonio is still not fully recovered from a heart attack suffered earlier this season. The Spartans have not impressed through the air, ranking only 47th in yards in the passing game. Most importantly, the Spartans have only one true road victory this season which came in Ann Arbor against Michigan.
As a result, three of Michigan State's five remaining games come on the road against tough Big 10 opponents. In the next two weeks, the Spartans will have to travel to face a one-loss Northwestern opponent and then go to Iowa to play a ranked Hawkeyes team. While the Spartans are lucky to avoid Ohio State this season and do not have to play in a Big 10 Championship game, their undefeated record will be vulnerable at least for the next two weeks.
6. LSU Tigers
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The LSU Tigers have already been through a tough schedule beating three ranked opponents including North Carolina, West Virginia, and Florida. Now, the real test begins.
LSU will travel next week to face No. 4 Auburn in a difficult matchup in which LSU will undoubtedly be the underdog. Even if LSU manages to unseat the War Eagle, the Tigers will play host to the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide two weeks later. With another trip to ranked Arkansas scheduled to end the season, as well as the eventual SEC Championship game, LSU faces the most daunting schedule of any team in college football.
If the schedule was not enough, LSU does not seem to be performing at the same level as its undefeated rivals. LSU's 113th ranked passing game can best be described as anemic and does not have one true quarterback leading the offense. A two point victory against Tennessee as well as a 14 point margin of victory against the three ranked opponents does not bode well for the Tigers.
If LSU does manage to retain its undefeated record throughout the entire season, it will be an unbelievable accomplishment, not only because of the actual record, but also because of the opponents they would have beaten to get to that point.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
