BCS Rankings Week 3: Who Would Win a Playoff Between Current Top 16?
Through the years that the BCS has been around, the debate has raged about a playoff system needing to put in place.
We've talked about teams being left out that shouldn't be or bowl games that don't have the right teams matched up. Everybody just wants a fair and balanced bowl system.
Now, while there may be a few rules here and there about who can be included and who can't, we're going to skip the formalities and just go with the top 16 teams in the BCS poll.
This is going to look a little bit like what you would normally see in the NCAA Tournament, so maybe that will give us a good glance into what a playoff might look like if the BCS finally gives in and lets it happen like so many fans want it to.
This is in no way a look at where each of these teams will finish but, if the season did end today, here's how a playoff system would look and who would be the national champion when it's all said and done.
Round 1 No. 15: Iowa vs. Oregon
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Since these games will be played on a neutral field, Oregon won't have the home field advantage of playing at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
Still, with the explosive offense, they'll be able to outscore Iowa and move on.
Oregon 41, Iowa 24
Round 1 No. 14: Arizona vs. Auburn
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Arizona has the unfortunate honor of ending up against the Auburn Tigers. Though the Arizona defense has shown something a time or two, they won't be able to slow down the Tigers' offense with Cam Newton and company and they won't be able to outscore this offense.
Auburn 35, Arizona 21
Round 1 No. 13: Michigan State vs. TCU
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Not only is the TCU offense able to put up points but their defense is able to keep points off the board. It's what has gotten the Horned Frogs to the unbeaten, and third ranked, point they are today.
Against Michigan State, their defense will have trouble early on but will get a hang of the Spartan offense. So much so that the TCU offense will start to run away with it.
It won't be a blowout, but the Frogs will move on.
TCU 37, Michigan State 26
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Round 1 No. 12: Stanford vs. Boise State
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This won't be a time for head coach Chris Petersen to get cute. The Boise State football team will need poise and concentration to get a win in this one.
This will be a tough Stanford team to crack especially under head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Andrew Luck, not to mention running back Stepfan Taylor.
However, Boise State will get a few big defense stops that they'll need and turn them into late points. Broncos move on.
Boise State 27, Stanford 24
Round 1 No. 11: Missouri vs. Utah
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The Utah Utes are another team out of the Mountain West that has been putting up points this season. It's also not the first time the Missouri Tigers have met a MWC team, having almost been beaten by one, San Diego State, a few weeks ago.
Utah will handle this game and will pull away late for the win.
Utah 34, Missouri 22
Round 1 No. 10: Ohio State vs. Alabama
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This is one game that everyone will tune into, and why shouldn't they?
The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Those two names alone are enough to draw just about every college football fan there is.
Ohio State has Terrelle Pryor but Alabama has the defense to counter that. They also have the offense to put up points and they'll do just that. The Buckeyes will hang in for awhile, but once Alabama gains the lead, they won't let it go.
Alabama 28, Ohio State 18
Round 1 No. 9: LSU vs. Nebraska
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This is another game that a lot of people are going to want to see, especially in a first round matchup.
But they are two teams that seem to show up one day and not the next. Nebraska suffers a loss at home to Texas, which is looking like a bad loss after every game the Longhorns lose, and LSU snuck out of two losses against Tennessee and Florida.
The Cornhuskers have a lot of talent on offense led by quarterback Taylor Martinez who can beat you both with his arm and with his feet.
They're going to need all the talent they can get on this day.
Nebraska 34, LSU 31
Round 1 No. 8: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma
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Wins over then top ranked Ohio State then following up with a win over Iowa is enough to make anyone stand up and take notice.
Their opponent in this first round match-up will be the Oklahoma Sooners, a team that was also knocked off as the top team in the country and narrowly missed three other losses to Air Force, Cincinnati, and Utah State earlier in the season.
The Badgers are the better team both now, and, well, now.
Wisconson 37, Oklahoma 23
Round 2 No. 7: Wisconsin vs. Oregon
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The Oregon Ducks continue to put on a display with their offensive firepower behind running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas.
Wisconsin doesn't have the defense to stop this tandem and will be bounced out in the second round.
Oregon 45, Wisconsin 24
Round 2 No. 6: Utah vs. Nebraska
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The Nebraska Cornhuskers can feel the national championship game getting closer and that will be motivation enough coming into this game.
Utah will put up a fight for awhile, but too much Taylor Martinez will do in the Utes, ending their season.
Nebraska 35, Utah 23
Round 2 No. 5: TCU vs. Alabama
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This is a matchup that TCU fans will be waiting for because they want to prove themselves to one of the top teams in the country, not to mention the defending champion.
Andy Dalton will have the Frogs up early and will keep his team in it for awhile, but then Mark Ingram will get a hold of the football and will punish the TCU defense early and often.
Alabama wins this one.
Alabama 28, TCU 17
Round 2 No. 4: Boise State vs. Auburn
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Boise State will finally get the shot they wanted. They finally get to put up or shut up against the Auburn Tigers, the best the SEC has to offer.
They will be ready for this challenge as well.
Auburn has the talent and the firepower but when you have the motivation that Boise State will have coming into this one, you'll face a team that becomes all the more dangerous.
Kellen Moore will get a late touchdown and shock the Tigers.
Boise State 27, Auburn 24
Round 3 No. 3: Oregon vs. Nebraska
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Oregon continues to show that their offense is too much for other defenses to handle and Nebraska will be the next team to find that out.
The Cornhuskers can score, but not like Oregon.
Oregon 41, Nebraska 29
Round 3 No. 2: Alabama vs. Boise State
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Boise State got past one SEC opponent but trying to go back-to-back will prove too much for the Broncos.
It was a good season, but Alabama is too much in this one.
Alabama 34, Boise State 21
BCS Title Game No. 1: Oregon vs. Alabama
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Who wouldn't watch this national championship game between one of the best scoring offenses in college football history, Oregon, against the defending national champions, Alabama?
This will a game for the ages and a back and forth battle of "can you top this?"
Oregon will take the lead late but Alabama will trump them with another score.
The Ducks will have the ball late and will use up every last second to get where they want to be. A win over Alabama and the Coaches BCS Championship Trophy.
Congratulations, Oregon.
Oregon 34, Alabama 31
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
