BCS Rankings: Which Teams Will Get Screwed Out of the BCS Bowl Games?

We all know that the BCS system is one of the worst things in sports.

OK, it may be the most flawed thing in the history of sports in our country.

And every year, some team—whether it's an SEC powerhouse or non-automatic qualifying school—isn't going to be happy with the way the system plays out at the end of the season.

And 2010 will be no different.

It's inevitable that there are multiple teams that will get screwed out of playing in a BCS bowl game.

So what teams will get the shaft when the final BCS rankings are released later in the year?

Let's take a look at the top 10.

10. Arkansas Razorbacks (Current Rank: No. 18)

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AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Tyler Wilson #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks takes a break during a timeout in the game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. The Tigers beat the Razorbacks 65-43. (P

Arkansas has one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

The Razorbacks have already played Alabama and Auburn and still face South Carolina, Mississippi State and LSU.

The crappy thing for Arkansas is that, even if they win all three of those games (which I'm not really expecting), they're not going to play for the SEC championship.

In turn, they're going to get shut out from the BCS. Instead, the Tigers or the Crimson Tide will likely play for the national championship or at least make it to a BCS game.

9. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Current Rank: No. 17)

Oklahoma State's offense is one of the most potent in the country, ranking third in passing yards and points scored.

But the Cowboys' 82nd-ranked scoring defense has struggled mightily all season, which I think will cost them in the end.

Oklahoma State has a season-ending showdown with Oklahoma, and the winner of that game will represent the South division in the Big 12 championship.

I like the Sooners in that game, so that leaves the Cowboys out in the cold when the final BCS rankings are released.

8. Utah Utes (Current Rank: No. 5)

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Jordan Wynn #3 of the Utah Utes looks to pass the ball in the second quarter of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 14, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martine

This one is pretty simple.

Utah has a monster matchup with TCU this week which I think the Horned Frogs will win.

Sorry, Utah. But a one-loss Utes squad isn't making it to a BCS game.

7. South Carolina Gamecocks (Current Rank: No. 19)

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COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 30: The South Carolina Gamecocks run on to the field against the Tennessee Volunteers at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

South Carolina has a win over then-No. 1 Alabama on the season.

So wouldn't it be painful to watch the Crimson Tide play for a BCS national championship?

Well, it's certainly possible. And the Gamecocks can't really do anything about it.

They really shot themselves in the foot with a loss at Kentucky. Without the loss to the Wildcats, the only blemish on South Carolina's record would be a close loss at Auburn.

But now the Gamecocks have to get past Arkansas—their hardest remaining game—this week. Even if they do, I can't see them climbing into the top 10 with two losses.

6. Stanford Cardinal (Current Rank: No. 13)

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Robbie Picazo #13 of the Stanford Cardinal hands off to Anthony Wilkerson #32 during warm ups prior to the game against the Washington Huskies on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Stanford won 41

If Oregon loses this year, which looks less likely as the season progresses, there's pretty much no shot that Stanford makes it into the BCS. Instead, the Ducks will play in the Rose Bowl.

But even if the Ducks go undefeated, I don't see Stanford jumping up into the top 10.

There are just too many schools ranked ahead of them that have to screw up or that they have to leapfrog.

Plus, Stanford has a very tough test against No. 15 Arizona this week and it actually has losable games the rest of the way.

5. Iowa Hawkeyes (Current Rank: No. 16)

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IOWA CITY, IA - OCTOBER 30- Kicker Mike Meyer #96 of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates with teammate Brett Morse #36 after kicking an extra point during play against the Michigan State Spartans at Kinnick Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Iowa City,

Iowa has two losses on the season, but those came by a combined eight points. 

And as we saw with the Hawkeyes' dismantling of Michigan State last week, this team can be scary good at times.

If it wasn't for one major hurdle, they'd probably be in the BCS by the end of the year. But that hurdle comes against Ohio State on Nov. 20.

That game will determine the fate of both teams.

And I like the Buckeyes to pull the slight upset on the road and send Iowa to either the Capital One or Outback Bowl.

4. Missouri Tigers (Current Rank: No. 12)

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers tries to avoid defensive end Pierre Allen #95 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during first half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

There's a very good chance that Missouri runs the table the rest of the regular season and finishes with an 11-1 record.

The Tigers' toughest game remaining is at home against Kansas State, so I don't see them having any trouble with the Wildcats.

The problem for Missouri is that it lost to Nebraska, and the Cornhuskers will likely represent the North division in the Big 12 championship game, against Oklahoma.

I just can't picture the Tigers jumping up into the top 10 of the BCS standings without playing in their own conference championship. So they'll likely have to settle for something like the Valero Alamo Bowl.

3. Michigan State Spartans (Current Rank: 14)

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IOWA CITY, IA - OCTOBER 30- Backup Quarterback Andrew Maxwell #10 for the Michigan State Spartans throws under pressure from the Iowa Hawkeyes defense during the second half of play at Kinnick Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 37-6

I've got Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State all running the table the rest of the way.

But not all three schools will be in the top 10 at the end of the season.

So which team will get screwed and be left out of the BCS?

I'm going with the Spartans. 

It's just going to be too tough to bounce back from that embarrassing loss at Iowa and jump over the Buckeyes and the Badgers.

2. Boise State Broncos (Current Rank: No. 4)

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BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 25: Linebacker Billy Derome #25 of the Boise State Broncos leads his team onto the field before the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Bronco Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Otto Kitsinger III/Getty I

Boise State is in a terrible situation, being sandwiched by two non-automatic qualifying schools (TCU and Utah) that play each other this week.

If the Horned Frogs win, they're definitely staying ahead of the Broncos.

If the Utes win, they'll leapfrog the Broncos and jump to the No. 3 spot.

It's a lose-lose situation. I don't see the BCS system being impressed with Boise State's weak overall schedule, at least not enough to put them in the BCS national championship game.

The wins against Virginia Tech and Oregon State weren't enough, so probable wins against Nevada and Hawaii won't change that.

1. TCU Horned Frogs (Current Rank: No. 3)

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LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 30: Colin Jones #28 of the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs runs for a 30-yard touchdown after making an interception against the UNLV Rebels as his teammate Jason Teague #27 runs with him during the second quarter of their gam

As I noted earlier, I think TCU will beat Utah in that gigantic matchup this Saturday

But Oregon and Auburn look about as close to unstoppable as any team in recent years.

The Horned Frogs will stay undefeated, but so will the Ducks and the Tigers.

An undefeated school from a non-BCS conference will get screwed out of playing for a national championship...again.