BCS Rankings 2010: Why the Auburn Tigers Shouldn't Be Paying Attention

At first it seemed unfathomable. The Auburn Tigers had made it to the top of the BCS Rankings in the midst of an insane college football season. This season has had its fair share of ups and downs for many of the perennial powers of college football. What that has done for the season to this point, is allow non-automatic qualifiers into the BCS conversation.

It has also allowed teams like Oregon and Auburn, from traditionally stronger conferences, to rise to the top as well. Oregon topped Auburn this past week in the BCS to take the number 1 spot, but Auburn still controls its destiny in the rankings and the drive to the National Championship game.

With Auburn dropping a spot in the BCS, fans started to grumble. There is no nuclear fallout just yet, seeing as how the top two teams go to the big game and Auburn is #2, but the taste of 2004 still resonates with some of the fans.

However, don't expect there to be a repeat of that crazy season. With games against Georgia and Alabama just around the corner, Auburn has the opportunity to close out very strong. Auburn has beaten numerous ranked teams this year and with the opportunity to finish the season against media favorite and defending champion Alabama, there is no way the Tigers would be left out if they run the table.

All the coach speak that seems to be permeating in the Auburn athletic complex does seem to be fitting. Staying focused on the games ahead is the only thing that these guys need to be worried about. No matter what happens across the country, as long as the Tigers come out of the season unscathed, they are headed for the best road trip in recent memory.

The biggest game ahead for these Tigers is against Georgia. The Alabama game is a huge game, but it is not the one that comes in two weeks. A bye week and, of course, the Bulldogs stand between the Tigers and the Tide. The passing game that has been effective so far this season for the Bulldogs, may be crucial against the Tigers' pass defense.

The Alabama game is one to watch, as it appears to be a good matchup. The Tide has shown the ability to pass the ball, but the run is the bread and butter of that offense. Auburn's front seven has proven strong against the run this season, but the passing defense has been a trouble spot. I don't see the Tide throwing effectively against Auburn, but expect some throws to go down field.

With wins in their last three regular season games and a win in the Conference Championship, Auburn will be in the drivers' seat to the BCS title game. Looking at the rankings each week will do nothing for this team or its fan base, but provide some level of irritation depending on which face is on the screen.

There has not been a ton of respect for the Auburn Tigers during this special season. One thing that the talking heads cannot take away, are the wins over ranked opponents and the current undefeated season. A one-loss Auburn team is more likely than not out of the title hunt. An undefeated Auburn team is the front-runner.

Oregon has games against Oregon State and Arizona left on the schedule, while undefeated TCU takes on undefeated Utah this week. At least one more team will be left out of the unbeaten race. The best chance to remain unscathed belongs, undoubtedly, to Boise State, with their biggest game coming in a few weeks against Nevada.

Needless to say, looking forward to what the future holds, there could easily be a top 4 team in the BCS that finishes undefeated. How will the championship game shape up with so many undefeated teams? The first determination of who should be in the championship should come from conference championship games.

Who do you play and how many games do you play? Teams that face a conference game to finish the season should get first dibs, if and when they finish undefeated. Having a 13^th game to finish the season is an additional contest some don't face and making it through a regular season undefeated and then through the best team in your conference says something.

Outside of the undefeated conference champion, there is no doubt that strength of schedule should come into play. No matter what the media or any other group may claim, strength of schedule matters. It doesn't matter how good a team looks week in and week out against competition that would not be competitive consistently in lower levels of play, much less the FBS.

The Auburn Tigers are in the drivers' seat to the National Championship. They have history on the side of the SEC, as well as the fact that the Tigers have beaten four top 25 teams this season and end at Alabama. If the Tigers remain, they should compete in the biggest game of the year. All these Tigers have to do is win and listening to the intro music, that's what they plan on doing.