BCS Rankings 2010: The 10 Most Underrated Teams
The latest 2010 BCS rankings were just released after an exciting weekend of college football.
Michigan State and Missouri both lost, paving the way for a team like Alabama to make a late season run at a national title.
It also opened the door for the non-automatic qualifiers like Boise State and TCU, although the Horned Frogs actually jumped the Broncos this week.
But for any of these teams to make it, one of the top two teams, Oregon or Auburn, must lose one of its remaining games.
Also, as usual, the BCS standings don't completely reflect the skill of the involved teams.
There are 10 clearly underrated teams, and here they are...
No. 2 Auburn
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The No. 2 team underrated?
Auburn is an undefeated SEC team with the current Heisman leader and has beaten Mississippi State, South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU, and Ole Miss.
They're ranked behind Oregon, who as good as they are, have only had to beat a few notable teams in Arizona State, Stanford, and USC.
The Tigers will make the National Championship if they win out so this isn't exactly tragic, but right now they are the clear No. 1.
Also, they were number one last week and won convincingly.
How do they move down?
No. 25 North Carolina State
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After beating Florida State last week, the Wolfpack proved they were for real.
They're now the favorites in the Atlantic Division of the ACC, and could get a rematch with Virginia Tech (who they lost to a few weeks ago) in the conference championship game.
NC State hasn't played all that tough of a schedule, but outside of their slip-up against East Carolina and the tough loss to the powerful Hokies, this team has taken care of business.
But the real crime here is that they are ranked below Florida State.
The Seminoles might be more talented, but they were just beaten by the Wolfpack.
Whenever two teams both have two losses, the winner of their head-to-head matchup should clearly be ranked higher.
I'm not sure how the BCS could justify that.
No. 21 Baylor
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Baylor's resume isn't great, but it's certainly better than that of No. 21 ranked team.
They control their own destiny in the Big 12 South, and with a legitimate heisman contender at quarterback, it shouldn't shock anyone if they beat Oklahoma and/or Oklahoma State later this year.
They do have one bad loss to Texas Tech, but other than that, they lost to No. 3 TCU.
Cut the Bears some slack.
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No. 20 Mississippi State
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Mississippi State is the hardest team to figure out in the BCS.
Their best wins aren't so impressive, beating Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky.
But they've only lost to No. 2 Auburn and No. 10 LSU, and their one of a very small number of teams with no bad lossess.
Their ironically weak SEC schedule hasn't given them a chance to prove anything, although their next two games, which are against Alabama and Arkansas, will.
The Bulldogs could be the SEC's third best team—but we just can't know yet.
And for the record, they own the nation's 15th-best rushing offense and 13th best scoring defense, so don't be surprised if they burst onto the scene late in the season.
Or, they could lose to Alabama and Arkansas, proving that they just can't beat a good team.
No. 18 Arkansas
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Arkansas is basically in the same boat as Misssissippi State, with no bad losses (Auburn and Alabama), but no marquee wins.
Just like the Bulldogs, the Razorbacks could be the SEC's third-best team, but they're going to have to prove it on the field.
Fortunately, they'll get the chance this weekend against No. 19 South Carolina.
No. 13 Stanford
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Stanford is a one-loss team whose loss came to the No. 1 team in the country.
So theoretically, they could be the second-best team in college football.
While that isn't likely, my point is that the Cardinal have beaten everyone on their schedule except for the BCS No. 1 Oregon.
But they are still ranked behind teams with unacceptable losses, like Nebraska, who was beaten by Texas.
No. 10 LSU
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Again, this is a one-loss team in a power conference whose loss was completely forgivable (a seven-point loss at Auburn).
They don't have any great wins, but the Tigers' schedule is no cakewalk, either.
And don't forget, if they win out (including a win against Alabama this weekend), there's no reason why this team couldn't get into the National Championship discussion if Auburn were to slip up badly.
No. 22 Virginia Tech
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Virginia Tech is the class of the ACC, and in past years, that would probably merit them a top-10 ranking by default.
But the ACC's down year is dragging the Hokies down with them.
The obvious eyesore on Tech's resume: a loss to FCS James Madison.
As bad as that loss is, it came on a short week after losing an emotional, tight game against current-No. 4 Boise State.
And the loss to Boise was more than acceptable.
It's hard to ignore the loss to James Madison, but when you do, you realize that the Hokies could easily be a top-10 team.
No. 9 Wisconsin
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Wisconsin has beaten good teams, and doesn't have a bad loss. That's something not too many teams can say.
The Badgers manhandled No. 11 Ohio State, and took out No. 16 Iowa. They also beat Arizona State.
Their one loss came against a Michigan State team who was rolling, and even after last week's loss, is still ranked No. 14.
The Big Ten is really strong this year, with four legitimately good teams, yet it's clear top team is only ranked No. 9? How does the Big 12 have two teams ranked above them?
I couldn't tell you.
No. 14 Michigan State
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How are the Spartans the third-ranked Big Ten Team? (behind No.9 Wisconsin and No. 11 Ohio State)?
It's completely fair that they are behind the Badgers, who have beaten Ohio State AND Iowa, but Michigan State has proven way more than the Buckeyes.
Ohio State has beaten no one.
They took out a Miami team that was supposed to be good, but isn't (they just lost to Virginia), and other than that, their best win came against Illinois.
Michigan State, on the other hand, beat No. 9 Wisconsin, giving them an argument to be ranked higher than the Badgers.
The Spartans may still be the Big Ten's top team, and they are certainly in the top two.
So how are the Buckeyes ahead of Michigan State—let alone even in the conversation?
Bonus: Unranked Oregon State
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Fans love to bash teams for not going out and playing good teams, but when Oregon State does just that, they wind up unranked.
The Beavers, who already play a tough in-conference schedule, played current No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 TCU in the non-conference season. They played both pretty tough, but lost to each.
Can you fault them for losing to the two of the top-four teams in the country?
Also, they lost to Washington, but that loss came in double-OT after a failed two-point conversion.
And don't forget, the Beavers took out current No. 15 (and then-No. 9) Arizona.
This is a really good team (even after losing James Rodgers) who is being hurt by losing to two really good teams.
Finally, don't be surprised when they give both Stanford and Oregon a run for their money.
BCS Rankings: Week 10
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For a look at this week's BCS rankings, click here.
Also, did I miss anyone?
Was I off on any of my selections?
Let me know what you think in the comments.
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud
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