TCU Football: Will They Play for a BCS National Championship? Move To Big East?

Don't look now, TCU haters, but it looks possible you'll be seeing them play for the BCS national championship.

In the latest BCS poll, TCU solidified themselves as the No. 3 team in the nation as Boise State stepped out of the race. 

So now all they need is a little luck, and you might be seeing the Mountain West's best team playing in the most important game of the year.

Likelihood Oregon Or Auburn Lose Saturday

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers warms up before facing the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

In college football, crazier things have happened.

Well, practically everything has happened.

The actual likelihood of Auburn or Oregon losing next week based on talent and a season's worth of a play looks slim.

But, we know better than that.

Oregon has a rivalry game against Oregon State that they should win handily, the same Oregon State team that TCU beat in attempt to gain national respect.

Unfortunately for TCU, Oregon State didn't turn out to be so good, but they got their respect regardless.

Now Oregon State can do TCU a huge favor by beating Oregon, however unlikely.

More likely is that Auburn will lose. Auburn is a team that has won by a field goal or less four separate times this year.

In all honesty, I think TCU could beat Auburn head-to-head.

Will Auburn lose to South Carolina?

I think they might. 

Coach Steve Spurrier will have South Carolina ready for Auburn once again.

TCU's best shot at the title game is South Carolina.

Is TCU Deserving?

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ALBUQUERQUE, NM - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs smiles after defeating the University of New Mexico Lobos 66-17 on November 27, 2010 at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Eric Draper/Getty Images)

It's difficult to say that a team that is undefeated is undeserving, but TCU is questionable.

Only one team they've beaten in 2010 in currently ranked, and that's Utah.

The same Utah that was crushed by Notre Dame a week after being crushed by TCU. 

TCU is good, but relatively untested. 

Their near-loss to San Diego State has to make you wonder if they would be embarrassed playing for a national championship. 

Big East

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Noel Devine #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs with the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo b

So TCU is ready to dump their old girlfriend and upgrade.

That's what you do when you get famous, right?

But really? The Big East?

Yeah they're an automatic qualifier, and yeah now TCU will be an automatic qualifier every year.

But, THE BIG EAST?

The Big East has arguably the nation's worst football conference, but somehow they snagged TCU.

If I were TCU, I would have been holding onto hope for an invite from the Big 12. They have great geographic proximity, natural rivals, and all that good stuff.

If anything, this move shows that TCU is still scared to play the big boys.

Running the table in the Big East may get them even less respect than running the table in the Mountain West. 

One Thing Is For Sure

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ALBUQUERQUE, NM - NOVEMBER 27: Braylon Broughton #99, Stansly Maponga #90 (C) and Jurell Thompson #16 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrate after a touchdown against the University of New Mexico Lobos on November 27, 2010 at University Stadium in Albuquerque,

TCU is going to get a bowl game this year, a heck of a lot of money.

The money and publicity will do wonders for TCU recruiting.

But there's one stipulation.

For TCU to maintain their national respect, they must avoid getting blown out.

Boise State's fall from the top put smiles on everyone. A similar fall by TCU would make BCS junkies all too happy.