College Football: 10 Teams Capable of Making a Cinderella BCS Title Run
Unlike the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the BCS title is no easy egg to crack.
While 2011’s Final Four welcomed Butler and VCU to the ranks of basketball’s elite, it hardly seems possible that the 2011-12 BCS will be offering similar opportunities to Tulsa and Tulane.
Yes, being a “Cinderella” in the BCS Title Game carries with it certain pre-established requirements that means only a limited number of programs can realistically dream of their pumpkin turning into a carriage bound for New Orleans on January 9, 2012.
First, hopefuls have to be members of a BCS-automatic-qualifier conference and, second, potential glass slipper wearers have to go undefeated.
Additionally, if more than two BCS-AQ schools finish the regular season unblemished, dreamers had better dream that the BCS formula matriculates enough points for a No.1 or No. 2 finish in the BCS point-a-thon.
BCS Non-AQ schools (i.e. Boise State, TCU, etc) can only enter the BCS portal if they go undefeated and only one BCS-AQ school finishes their slate perfectly.
To put this lofty pipe dream into perspective, let’s remember that, of the 120 FBS teams, only 14 have participated in the 13 BCS title games played thus far.
So, which teams could possibly make a surprise appearance in the 2011-12 BCS title game?
The following slideshow offers 10 candidates that could possibly squeeze their big burly foot into the tiny glass slipper when the BCS comes round this fall.
Arizona State
1 of 10
The Sun Devils return a whopping 10 offensive and nine defensive starters to a squad that finished only 6-6 in 2010.
Despite 2010’s less than stunning offering, many of the college football brain trust list Arizona State as a dark horse candidate for a big 2011.
The Sun Devils will compete in the new Pac-12 South Division next season which includes USC (not postseason eligible in 2011), Arizona, Utah, UCLA and Colorado.
For ASU to reach Cinderella status they must win out their regular slate of games and then beat the Pac-12 North Division champion in the first ever Pac-12 title game (against the likes of Stanford, Oregon, etc.).
Key games for the Sun Devils in 2011:
September 9 vs. Missouri
September 17 at Illinois
September 24 vs. USC
October 8 at Utah
October 15 at Oregon
November 19 vs. Arizona
Regardless of whether we call it Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty; Vegas says 125/1 odds the Sun Devils rule all of college football in 2011.
Pittsburgh
2 of 10
Pitt returns eight starters to each side of the ball in 2011 when they will be under the leadership of new head coach Todd Graham from Tulsa.
Another disappointing team in 2010, the hype Pitt faced coming into last season is gone, and with a new coach the 2011 Panthers will be a bit of an unknown.
But, regardless of the situation at any of its member schools, someone has to win the Big East. If Pitt can do this and go undefeated, they could find themselves in the BCS title game.
It is realistic to think that Pitt would need to be one of only two undefeated BCS-AQ schools in 2011 to reach the championship game. If there are more than two, Pitt could be overlooked in favor of a team from a stronger conference.
Key Panther games in 2011:
September 17 at Iowa
September 24 vs. Notre Dame
September 29 vs. USF
October 15 vs. Utah
November 12 at Louisville
November 25 at West Virginia
Vegas gives Pitt 100/1 odds to take home the coveted crystal football.
Michigan
3 of 10
The Wolverines return a whopping nine starters to each side of the ball in 2011. Throw in two returning starters at special teams and suddenly Michigan has the second most returning starters nationally in 2011.
What a new coaching staff and a new Big Ten format does for Michigan in 2011 remains to be seen, but if Michigan can run the table (including the first ever conference championship game), the glass slipper just might fit.
First step is winning the new “Legends” division which includes Michigan State, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern and Minnesota.
Key games for the Wolverines in 2011:
September 10 vs. Notre Dame
October 8 at Northwestern
October 14 at Michigan State
November 5 at Iowa
November 12 at Illinois
November 19 vs. Nebraska
November 26 vs. Ohio State
You can accuse me of drinking the tainted Kool-Aid with this pick, but Vegas gives the big “M” 75/1 odds to win it all.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
South Carolina
4 of 10
The Gamecocks return seven offensive (this number includes currently suspended QB Stephen Garcia) and six defensive starters from their 2010 squad that finished 9-5.
To somehow make a trip to New Orleans in January 2012, South Carolina must find a way to go undefeated (with a juggernaut SEC slate), repeat as SEC East Division champs and finally, beat the SEC West representative in the SEC title game (Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State; take your pick).
Wow, maybe they should follow TCU to the Big East . . .
Key games for the Gamecocks in 2011:
September 10 at Georgia
October 15 at Mississippi State
October 29 at Tennessee
November 5 at Arkansas
November 12 vs. Florida
November 26 vs. Clemson
Vegas gives 50/1 odds for Steve Spurrier to hold the crystal pigskin aloft in January of 2012.
Mississippi State
5 of 10
The Bulldogs finished 2010 at a 9-4 mark and return eight offensive and seven defensive starters in 2011.
Dan Mullen will need all the firepower he can muster to bust through the SEC West unscathed (and upset highly favored and title-hungry Alabama and LSU), win an SEC crown and reach the BCS title game.
However, let us not forget that both LSU and Alabama were favored in the West in 2010 and were eventually bested by the now BCS Champion Auburn Tigers who were also picked to be the third best team in the toughest division in college football.
Key games for the Bulldogs in 2011:
September 10 at Auburn
September 15 vs. LSU
October 1 at Georgia
October 15 vs. South Carolina
November 12 vs. Alabama
November 19 at Arkansas
Vegas gives Mississippi State 50/1 odds to celebrate under confetti showers in the Superdome in January.
Georgia
6 of 10
Perhaps flying under the radar a bit, the Bulldogs return an impressive eight offensive and seven defensive starters in 2011.
The 2010 season was certainly underwhelming, but sometimes the best case scenario for a college football team is when expectations are curiously low while talent is strikingly high.
Georgia has the relative advantage of competing in the SEC East division which must be won along with a game against the SEC West representative to capture the conference championship. All this must be achieved with zero losses for the Bulldogs to burst through to the BCS title game.
Key games for Georgia in 2011:
September 3 vs. Boise State (in Atlanta)
September 10 vs. South Carolina
October 1 vs. Mississippi State
October 8 at Tennessee
October 29 vs. Florida (in Jacksonville, Florida)
November 26 at Georgia Tech
Despite the 6-7 finish in 2010, Vegas says 50/1 chances the Georgia Bulldogs take home the BCS championship hardware in 2011.
Texas A&M
7 of 10
The Fighting Texas Aggies return an impressive nine offensive and eight defensive starters from their 2010 team that finished 9-4.
To reach the ultimate dream for College Station residents and Aggie enthusiasts across the globe, Texas A&M will have to go undefeated but will not have to play in a Big 12 championship game which has been (at least temporarily) discontinued.
Key games for the Aggies in 2011:
September 24 vs. Oklahoma State
October 1 vs. Arkansas (in Arlington, Texas)
October 8 at Texas Tech
October 29 vs. Missouri
November 5 at Oklahoma
November 24 vs. Texas
Las Vegas gives Texas A&M 35/1 odds to go all the way.
West Virginia
8 of 10
The Mountaineers return eight offensive and four defensive starters from their 2010 offering which finished 9-4.
Major losses on defense are softened with an offense that not only returns much of its firepower, but adds offensive wizard Dana Holgorsen (most recently from Oklahoma State) to its sidelines for 2011.
To reach the title game West Virginia, obviously must go undefeated and capture the Big East crown. Then, they will probably have to hope they are one of only two BCS-AQ programs to go undefeated in 2011 (a third team from a stronger conference could knock the Mountaineers out of the championship game).
Key games for the Mountaineers in 2011:
September 17 at Maryland
September 24 vs. LSU
November 5 vs. Louisville
November 12 at Cincinnati
November 25 vs. Pittsburgh
December 1 at USF
Vegas has West Virginia at 30/1 odds of winning the whole enchilada.
Oklahoma State
9 of 10
The Cowboys return nine offensive and five defensive starters from a 2010 squad that finished a surprising 11-2.
Gone is offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen but remaining are big question marks on the defensive side of the ball where the Cowboys ranked No. 61 nationally in scoring defense.
The “other” OSU must find a way to run the table in 2011 and, like the rest of the new Big 12, won’t be bothered with a conference championship game on their way to wherever their postseason destination might be.
Key games for the Cowboys in 2011:
September 8 vs. Arizona
September 17 at Tulsa (don’t overlook this game)
September 24 at Texas A&M
October 15 at Texas
October 22 at Missouri
November 12 at Texas Tech
December 3 vs. Oklahoma
Vegas gives Oklahoma State a healthy 30/1 chance that T. Boone Pickens's generous donations will really, really pay-off in 2011.
Boise State
10 of 10
In 2011 the Broncos return seven starters on each side of the ball (including the fountain of youth’s own QB Kellen Moore) from a squad that finished 12-1 in 2010.
The 2011 season may be Boise State’s golden opportunity to finally become the first ever Non-AQ school to reach the BCS title game.
Two key elements would need to be achieved in order for the Broncos to bust through. First, they cannot lose a game. Second, only one BCS-AQ-school can go undefeated in 2011, which is definitely a possibility given some key non-conference match-ups among the preseason top-10 teams.
This perfect alignment of the stars could possibly result in Boise State earning enough BCS points to catapult them into a well earned BCS title spot.
Key games for the Broncos in 2011:
September 3 vs. Georgia (in Atlanta)
September 24 vs. Tulsa (a very good team)
October 1 vs. Nevada
October 22 vs. Air Force
November 12 vs. TCU (a Mountain West conference game, at least for 2011)
Even though Vegas has Boise State at 12/1 odds to win it all, the Broncos making the title game might be the ultimate BCS Cinderella story.
So, what size is Kellen Moore’s foot?
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
