BCS Rankings Week 11: Who's Overrated and Underrated in the Latest BCS Poll?
Who's overrated and underrated in latest BCS poll?
Even if your team isn't in contention, there's plenty to be irritated about.
Maybe you think your school's conference deserves more love. Maybe you think another conference deserves far less love.
Or maybe you think no matter what, the BCS title game should be played by two teams from the so-called "major" conferences.
This week's rankings are bound to stir up some debate. That's one of the few charming elements of a fundamentally flawed college football system.
Let the debate continue.......
No. 10: Virginia Tech: UNDERRATED
1 of 10
BCS Rank: 23rd
Record: 7-2
Key Wins: 41-30 at #23 NC State, 19-0 at Boston College
Losses: 33-30 vs. #3 Boise State, 21-16 vs. James Madison
Yes, the loss at home to FBS James Madison should be an embarrassment for the Hokies, no matter how good the Dukes are doing. But the way in which Virginia Tech has bounced back should not be overlooked.
The Hokies have won seven in a row and, with a 5-0 conference record are a front-runner to play in this season's ACC title game.
Granted their entire conference is down, and they haven't played a very impressive schedule, the Hokies offense sure is impressive.
Tyrod Taylor is a great dual threat and has two excellent running backs joining him in the backfield (David Wilson and Darren Evans).
No. 9: South Carolina: OVERRATED
2 of 10
BCS Rank: 23rd
Record: 6-3
Key Wins: 35-21 vs. #1 Alabama
Losses: 41-20 loss vs. #12 Arkansas, 35-27 at #17 Auburn
The victory over Alabama is the only reason the Gamecocks are currently ranked in any of the polls.
And a month later, that 35-21 home victory over the Crimson Tide doesn't look quite as earth-shattering as it did back in early October: Alabama lost again this weekend to LSU. Certainly the win was huge, but take a look at their other five victories.
They defeated Georgia (sans A.J. Green), struggled through most of the first half against a 2-5 Vanderbilt team, were tied in the fourth quarter at home against the 2-5 Tennessee Vols, and were even nursing a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter at home against Furman.
On top of that, they lost to Kentucky and were just handily beaten by Arkansas at home last Saturday. Like most apparently overrated teams, they prove they belong at their current spot with a win next week in the Swamp against the Ol' Ball Coach's old team.
No. 8: Arkansas: UNDERRATED
3 of 10
BCS Rank: 15th
Record: 7-2
Biggest Win: 41-20 at #19 South Carolina
Losses: 24-20 vs. #1 Alabama, 65-43 at #7 Auburn
The Razorbacks can't complain about not having chances. They've played the No. 1 team in the nation at home, then the team that became No. 2 in the nation, and lost both times.
But they were hardly blown out in either one. Against Alabama they gave the champs a serious run. And against Auburn, the Razorbacks gave the Tigers a serious threat despite playing with a backup quarterback.
And going to South Carolina and Georgia and pulling out wins is a major achievement.
Three other SEC teams (Auburn, LSU, Alabama) deserve to be ranked higher, but should three Big Ten teams (Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan State) also be ranked higher?
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 7: Florida: OVERRATED
4 of 10
BCS Rank: 22nd
Record: 6-3
Key Wins: 48-14 vs. Kentucky, 34-31 vs. Georgia (OT)
Losses: 31-6 at #1 Alabama, 33-29 vs. #12 LSU, 10-7 vs. Miss. St.
It's hard for the voters to forget how great the Gators were from 2006-09 and that might be clouding their judgment a bit. Forget their two losses to top teams like LSU and Alabama. You can even forget the loss to the now-ranked Bulldogs.
This team has not looked all that great in several of their wins. Against Tennessee, South Florida, and Miami (OH), they did not dominate as perhaps they should. And with Georgia in the middle of a down year, Florida barely escaped with an overtime win.
Beating up on 2-6 Vanderbilt helped the Gators look better. But after nine games, it's hard to consider them one of the 22 best teams in the nation. They'll have a chance to prove us wrong, with a visit from South Carolina and the Ol' Ball Coach this weekend.
No. 6: Iowa: UNDERRATED
5 of 10
BCS Rank: 13th
Record: 7-2
Key Wins: 37-6 vs. #5 Michigan State
Losses: 31-30 vs. #13 Wisconsin, 34-27 at #24 Arizona
The Hawkeyes are going to struggle to win the Big 10 this season: they'll have to win out and Wisconsin will have to lose another conference matchup.
Regardless of whether or not that happens, they're still one of the toughest teams in all of the nation. Just look at their resume.
They lost on the road by a touchdown to Arizona, who is currently ranked 18th in the BCS. Their only other loss is a one-point defeat to the Badgers, currently the seventh ranked team in the BCS.
Considering that they pounded Michigan State—the last undefeated Big 10 team—they deserve to be ranked a little bit higher.
No. 5: Missouri: OVERRATED
6 of 10
BCS Rank: 17th
Record: 7-2
Key Wins: 36-27 vs. #1 Oklahoma
Losses: 31-17 at #14 Nebraska, 24-17 at Texas Tech
The Tigers have hit a rough patch since their "program-defining" win over Oklahoma. And although they were both road games against good conference opponents, the Tigers only fell 11 spots for it.
They got off easy. If the Big 12 wasn't in the midst of such a down season, they probably wouldn't be inside the Top 20. Combine that with the fact that—unless you lose to a Division III school—it's pretty hard to fall too far in the span of two weeks.
With #24 Kansas State on the slate next Saturday, they can, however, prove they are still one of the conference's best teams.
No. 4: Oklahoma State: UNDERRATED
7 of 10
BCS Rank: 11th
Record: 8-1
Key Wins: 55-28 vs. #21 Baylor
Losses: 51-41 loss vs. #16 Nebraska
The Cowboys are one good second half against Nebraska away from being undefeated and contending for a national title. In that game, they were down 41-34 before a poor start to the fourth quarter had them slip behind.
Other than that, the Cowboys have been perfect this season. But that isn't why they deserve to be a bit higher than 11th. Their offense is as good as any in the nation and in the last two weeks, they've defeated Kansas State and the 7-2 Baylor Bears.
In a wide-open Big 12, the Cowboys might be the conference's best team.
No. 3: Ohio State: OVERRATED
8 of 10
BCS Rank: 9th
Record: 8-1
Key Wins: 36-24 vs. #12 Miami (Fla.)
Losses: 31-18 at #18 Wisconsin
The Buckeyes are fortunate to have gotten off to such a fine start to the 2010 season. Ohio State was fortunate to start out ranked second in the nation, and their win over Miami in early September validated their top status.
But since then, the Buckeyes struggled against Illinois, and lost to the Badgers. They certainly have throttled the rest of their opponents, but since defeating the Hurricanes, they have not beaten a quality opponent.
If Iowa is underrated, and the Buckeyes are overrated (as this slideshow suggests), we will find out in two weeks when the Buckeyes travel to Iowa City.
No. 2: Auburn: UNDERRATED
9 of 10
BCS Rank: 2nd
Record: 10-0
Key Wins: 65-43 win vs. #12 Arkansas, 24-17 win vs. #6 LSU
Losses: None
It probably doesn't matter whether Auburn finishes first or second in the BCS rankings, as long as the Tigers reach the BCS Title game.
Still, there is a good chance that three other teams (Boise State, TCU, Oregon) finish undefeated. What kind of national outrage would there be if, for the second time in seven seasons, Auburn finished undefeated and missed out on a national title shot? It's not impossible that TCU or Boise State leap over the Tigers.
That probably won't happen. But just the fact that it is possible is stunning. No one has been better than Auburn this season.
And, top to bottom, their resume is more impressive than Oregon's. Not only that, they play in a tougher conference that currently has five other ranked teams: the Pac 10 has three other ranked teams.
Again, in a normal college football system, it's splitting hairs to say that Auburn is better than Oregon. But when only two teams qualify for the de facto playoffs, every little bit matters.
No. 1: Utah: OVERRATED
10 of 10
BCS Rank: 14th
Record: 8-1
Key Wins: 27-24 vs. #15 Pitt
Losses: 47-7 vs. #3 TCU
There are just too many strikes against the Utes to keep them inside the Top 20.
Aside from Pitt, they have not played a ranked team this season. The rest of their schedule has not been very impressive. And TCU and Boise State are carrying the flag for the "small conference" schools.
All of that could be forgiven, if they hadn't let TCU annihilate them at home. Only a meaningless fourth quarter touchdown kept the 47-7 loss from being an even more embarrassing shutout.
The Utes came into Saturday's game ranked fifth in the nation, so no matter what happened against the Horned Frogs, they weren't going to fall too far.
But they should have fallen more than just nine spots: when #1 Oklahoma lost to Missouri (36-27 on the road) they fell eight spots.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
