BCS Rankings Week 12: 10 Teams That Could Rise the Most This Week
BCS Rankings Week 12 could be in for a huge shakeup.
Although the SEC title game is set, and the rest of the conferences are starting to take shape, there are some huge games this weekend that have major implications for Bowl season.
Some teams have huge head-to-head, intra-conference showdowns, while others are going to have to post a blowout to make some noise.
Inside are 10 teams that, with a win in Week 12, can really surge up the BCS totem pole.
Michigan Wolverines (7-3)
1 of 10
BCS: Not Ranked
AP: Not Ranked
Coaches/USA Today: Not Ranked
Next Week: vs. No. 7 Wisconsin
Although they plummeted back down to earth with three consecutive mid-season losses, the Michigan Wolverines have a chance to get back into the national polls this week.
At 7-3, their overall record is good enough to offset their three conference losses, even if two of them came at home.
Considering the Badgers ranking, their resume and how overwhelming their offense has been this season, a win over the Badgers would be enough to get Denard Robinson and Rich Rodriguez into the top 25, meaning the Ohio State-Michigan game will again feature ranked opponents on both sidelines.
Maryland Terrapins (7-3)
2 of 10
BCS: Not Ranked
AP: Not Ranked
Coaches/USA Today: Not Ranked
Next Week: vs. No. 25 Florida State
One of the most overlooked stories this college football season has been the Maryland Terps. They are 7-3 and Ralph Friedgen has the team bowl eligible after their pathetic 2009 season. Not only that, but they can still win the ACC Atlantic.
They have to defeat the Seminoles, however, to do so. (They also have to defeat NC State a week later). If Maryland tops Florida State on Saturday at Byrd Stadium, they should easily take over the Seminoles 25th spot in the rankings.
Pittsburgh Panthers (5-4)
3 of 10
BCS: Not Ranked
AP: Not Ranked
Coaches/USA Today: Not Ranked
Next Week: at South Florida (6-3)
Despite a pretty pedestrian record, Pitt can still win the Big East.
Assuming UConn doesn't win their final three games, the Panthers control their own destiny as far as winning the conference. They are the only team with just one conference loss.
That has to be taken into consideration by the voters, doesn't it? A BCS team that is not ranked? That would make for some angry fans around the country.
And the Bulls are a pretty good team, so if Dave Wannstedt's club manages to play well in the South Florida sun, they should crack the top 25....as absurd as that sounds.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Miami Hurricanes (7-3)
4 of 10
BCS: 24th
AP: 24th
Coaches/USA Today: 21st
Next Week: vs. No. 16 Virginia Tech
Randy Shannon still has a great opportunity to win his first ACC Coastal division title. To do so ,they have to first defeat the Hokies this weekend. (Even if they win, they still have to hope that Virginia Tech loses their finale at home against the sub-.500 Virginia Cavaliers.)
The Hokies have been playing very well the last two months so a victory for Miami won't be easy. But they have won two in a row, and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were a nice warmup for Tyrod Taylor and crew.
An impressive win at 3:30 on Saturday should spring the Hurricanes ahead of the Hokies in the polls and in the BCS standings, which would make their exclusion from the conference title game all the more bizarre. But in the messy ACC, what else would you expect?
Iowa Hawkeyes (7-3)
5 of 10
BCS: 20th
AP: 21st
Coaches/USA Today: 20th
Next Week: vs. No. 9 Ohio State
Apparently, the voters didn't find the Hawkeyes loss to Northwester that offensive. They remained in the top 20 in the Coaches' poll and kept a top 20 spot in the BCS.
Still, that road failure in Evanston cost Iowa a shot at the Big Ten title. But they can make up for it this weekend if they defeat the Buckeyes at home.
They most likely wouldn't leap over any other Big Ten team with a win. Unless they stomp Ohio State, it's hard to imagine the Buckeyes would fall that far. But they should move up a few places and increase the respectability of their bowl invite.
Oklahoma Sooners (8-2)
6 of 10
BCS: 14th
AP: 16th
Coaches/USA Today: 14th
Next Week: at Baylor (7-4)
The Sooners aren't out of the race yet; they can still defend their Big 12 title, although it won't be easy.
Still, because they have Oklahoma State next week and because Texas A&M (who topped the Sooners two weeks ago) hosts Nebraska, they can still claim the Big 12 South.
And a win over Baylor would be a big deal for Bob Stoops' up-and-down team. They have not played well on the road, losing to Missouri and Texas A&M, as well as winning a squeaker over Cincinnati.
But if they go to Waco and really hammer the Bears, they should move up a few spots, and set up a huge in-state battle next week against the Cowboys.
Arkansas Razorbacks (8-2)
7 of 10
BCS: 13th
AP: 13th
Coaches/USA Today: 13th
Next Week: at No. 21 Mississippi State
The Razorback might still have a shot at a BCS bowl game if they manage to go to Starkville and defeat the Bulldogs.
It's a long shot, but if they win this week and then topple the fifth-ranked Tigers from LSU, they might have a chance at an at-large bid.
Mississippi State has been one of the most improved teams in the nation this year, and arguably the most improved team in the SEC. Furthermore, if they show they are able to contain Dan Mullen's offense, they make for a pretty balanced team in the minds of a Bowl selection committee.
Virginia Tech Hokies (8-2)
8 of 10
BCS: 16th
AP: 14th
Coaches/USA Today: 15th
Next Week: at No. 24 Miami
Although two consecutive losses to end the season (book-eneded with two losses to open the season) would ruin 2010 for the Hokies, a win on Saturday clinches the best overall record in the ACC Coastal and most likely the best overall record in the entire ACC.
That's worth something in the minds of the voters. Since the Hokies should wax Virginia in the finale, a win over Miami on Saturday means they would finish the regular season with a 10-game winning streak heading into the conference title game.
The ACC has been pretty lackluster this season, but a mark like that should help the Hokies clinch a spot near the top 10 of the BCS rankings.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-1)
9 of 10
BCS: 8th
AP: 9th
Coaches/USA Today: 9th
Next Week: at No. 19 Texas A & M
A win in College Station would make the Cornhuskers undefeated on the road this season, an exceptional achievement in their final year of Big 12 play.
The Buckeyes have a very tough game on the road this week as well, and because Stanford plays a decent but not great Cal team, Nebraska has a chance to leap over those two schools with a win on Saturday night.
A win wraps up the Big 12 North and that title will look good to voters on Sunday.
Boise State Broncos (9-0)
10 of 10
BCS: 4th
AP: 3rd
Coaches/USA Today: 4th
Next Week: vs. Fresno State (6-3)
The Broncos really closed the gap last week. They pulled much closer to the Horned Frogs in the BCS standings and stole a few votes back in the AP and Coaches polls. That was due to an impressive victory in Idaho, in which they were extremely balanced offensively and took a 45-0 third-quarter lead.
Because TCU has the week off, Boise State can impress a few more voters and maybe leap from the Horned Frog.
Against another cupcake opponent that wouldn't happen, but because they host a very good Pat Hill team, they can gain an important WAC win.
Combined wins over Hawaii and Fresno State in the span of three weeks, MIGHT seem as impressive as the Horned Frogs trouncing of Utah; that looks a bit less special now that Utah was crushed by Notre Dame on Saturday.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
