If Bleacher Report Chose Who Plays For The National Championship...

So the future of college football's elite is determined by a computer? We leave the fate of our loyal schools in the hands of some idiot named CPU? That's not the way it's supposed to be in my opinion. So I got to thinking today while having lunch with my girl: If we, The Bleacher Report Nation, were responsible for picking who plays for the National Championship, who would we pick?

After viewing a few of the college football articles, I think I have an idea on which matchups will bring the most noise and the best showdown possible. So I devised them up among conference representatives. In each is the top three teams I think will have the best chance of giving us a great matchup. This is part one of a two part series.

Big XII Conference

1) Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Raiders are unblemished this season, and their biggest win of the season was without a doubt the Stunner in Lubbock. At this point, they are the team to beat in the Big XII Conference. So far, they've been pretty unstoppable, but there's competition on the horizon in the form of...

2) Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Cowboys edged out Mizzou a few weeks ago, and they barely lost to Texas two weeks back. But they looked dangerous against the Cyclones last weekend and they got another huge showdown against Texas Tech in Lubbock this weekend. If they can shock the Raiders tomorrow night, then they can play for the Big XII Championship at season's end. But they need to hope that someone else beats...

3) Texas Longhorns

The Horns crush the Sooners earlier this year, and in the process, they won the #1 spot in the Top 25. However, they lost a shocker against Texas Tech. The Raiders didn't take the easy field goal to win. They instead tossed one up to Michael Crabtree, and he delivered. But the Horns are undaunted by their task of being in the National Championship. Finishing strong to end the season will accomplish just that.

Big Ten Conference

1) Penn State Nittany Lions

The Lions are great at home. They're survivors on the road. Against Ohio State, they didn't put up very impressive numbers, which might explain why they weren't #1 and lost a spot in the rankings. But finishing the season undefeated and with the Big Ten Championship will help them out. Unfortunately, they still have to deal with...

2) Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans are the most underrated team in the conference, bar none. The Spartans have two losses on the season, but they only have one in the conference. They got the Lions in two weeks, and a win against them will improve their chances of winning the Big Ten Conference. That is, if someone else loses another game in between now and the season ender...

3) Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes have had a rough road in their quest to make it to their third straight BCS Championship. They have two losses this season, and their only one was to a Penn State team that they almost beat. But their biggest win was against the Spartans, and the way that their rivals Michigan are playing this season, it should be an easy win for the Buckeyes.

Big East Conference

1) West Virginia Mountaineers

For those who think that West Virginia would just flounder without Rich Rodriguez, they're sitting decently pretty atop the Big East. The Mountaineers aren't going undefeated this season, but they can still fight for the Conference Championship. But to do that, they need to hope that two teams fall in the process and they stay undefeated.

2) Pitt Panthers

So a funny thing happened in South Bend, Indiana. The Panthers went in and defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in thrilling fashion. Now if they can defeat West Virginia, guess what? They can win the Big East. But unfortunately for Dave Wannstedt, his Panthers are not the only ones that are eyeing a possible conference title.

3) Cincinnati Bearcats

The Cats sprinted under the radar and are now eyeing a possible conference championship, which would be a big deal to them. After several attempts at being the big dogs (or cats in this case) on campus, Cincy now has a chance to bring some respect to a city that is lacking a lot of that lately. Or do we need to bring in Chad Ocho-Cinco to verify that comment?

Mountain West Conference

1) Utah Utes

The Utes know that the Mountain West Conference has a slim to none chance of playing for the BCS Championship. But that won't stop them from proving that the Mountain West is for real. Utah pulled a shocker against TCU, and now they are going to focus all that attention on BYU at season's end. Speaking of those Horned Frogs...

2) TCU Horned Frogs

The Frogs suffered a shocker last night with a 13-10 loss to Utah. But they at least put up a fight. This was their first loss of the season in the Mountain West. But they still have a shot at a pretty decent bowl game, maybe even a BCS Game. But to do that, they have to hope that Utah takes out...

3) BYU Cougars

To say the Cougars are overrated is an understatement. They almost lost to Colorado State, which no team should be proud of. Everyone loves nailbiters, but BYU hasn't earned their spots in the Top 25. Finishing strong, along with a victory over Utah will secure their chances of winning the conference and possibly a BCS Berth.

Pac-10 Conference

1) USC Trojans

This is unfamiliar territory for the Trojans. Instead of having a stranglehold on the Pac-10 Conference, they could be on the verge of losing it altogether. Ever since the shocker against Oregon State earlier this season, the Trojans will have a hard road ahead. And it starts this weekend when they lock horns with...

2) Cal Golden Bears

The Bears have been quietly making noise this season. Now they find themselves one win away from possibly cliniching the Pac-10 Crown. All they have to do is beat USC and finish the season with the one loss. But while these guys battle for the conference, another team that is motivated now more than ever will be battling for something more: Respect.

3) Oregon State Beavers

Hey everybody! Guess what?! The Beavers are playing football and bringing more than just pride back to their program. Even though they might not be as good as most people give them credit for, they still have a chance to finish with a decent record this season. And if that's not enough for people to give them respect, consider this: they did beat USC this season.

Southeastern Conference

1) Alabama Crimson Tide

Did anyone expect this out of Nick Saban this close to the end of the season? Possibly, since he's the reason that most teams still feel intimidated at the sight of LSU even today. But the worse part about this is that Saban has a date with his own demon this weekend as his undefeated #1 ranked Crimson Tide travel to Baton Rouge to take on Les Miles' LSU Tigers. This game is important not just to the Tide, but also to...

2) Florida Gators

The Gators lost a heartbreaker to Ole Miss, and so far no one has been able to stop them ever since. The Gators destroyed LSU, Kentucky and Georgia en route to their weekend showdown with Jay Cutler's alma mater Vanderbilt. A win there, and the G-Men are back in the SEC Championship. If they manage to win all three of their remaining games, they could be playing for a National Championship, much to the chagrins of...

3) Georgia Bulldogs/LSU Tigers

The Dogs suffered two very bad defeats this season. They may have lost Matthew Stafford via the Gators nasty defense. Now they have to hope that they can salvage the season and possibly get a decent bowl game. But they still got a season to finish. But they are not the only ones trying to salvage a season covered in heartbreak.

LSU's chances of repeating last season's computer flop are practically up in smoke. Barring some huge catastrophe involving the Top 7 teams, LSU can only play to possibly lock horns with someone from the Big East or Big Ten. If Michigan played better this season, it would have been nice to see Les Miles take on Rich Rodriguez in any bowl game.

Honorable Mentions

Boise State Broncos (WAC)

Tulsa Golden Hurricane (Conference USA)

Ball State Cardinals (MAC)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (ACC)

Florida State Seminoles (ACC)

Oklahoma Sooners (Big XII)

Oregon Ducks (Pac-10)

Air Force Falcons (Mountain West)

Missouri Tigers (Big XII)

Think someone else deserves a spot in these honorable mentions? Let me know. And just so you don'$t get the wrong idea, it would look silly to have one team representing a conference.