BCS Standings 2011: Early Projections for the Top 10 Teams in the Polls

The first BCS standings are set to be released next Sunday, but why should we wait until then to find out who the No. 1 team is.

Heading into Week 6, there are a handful of teams that could lay claim to the No.1 spot in the BCS, but only one team can start off there.

Let's take a look at how these teams stack up against each other and look at the first BCS projections.

10. Oregon

Coming into Week 6, the Ducks sat at No. 9 in both polls., which should make them a lock for a spot in the Top 10.

Oregon already defeated California on Thursday to improve to 4-1on the season, the only one-loss team that will crack the initial BCS top 10.

We'll see if the can stay there though after the immediate loss of running back LaMichael James.

9. Michigan

This spot I had reserved for Texas, but I'm assuming they will fall to Oklahoma, so the Wolverines get the nod.

This may come as a surprise to some, but Michigan has been on a fast rise up the polls and with a Texas loss, they will be a Top 10 team in at least one poll heading into Week 6.

They should be able to handle Northwestern this week, which would have them sitting pretty at 6-0 on the season.

8. Wisconsin

I like this Wisconsin team a great deal and thought I'd have them ranked a little higher, but they come in at No. 8 for now.

Stanford is ahead of them still in the USA Today coaches Poll and that will prevent them from rising up any further.

The Nebraska win last week looks very nice, but to date it's really the only good win the Badgers have. They also have a bye this week which could see them drop a spot in the AP Poll.

7. Stanford

You can make the case to flip-flop Stanford and Wisconsin, but for now, the Cardinal claim the No. 7 spot in the rankings.

Andrew Luck and Stanford have a chance to improve to 5-0 on the season with a win at Colorado Saturday night, yet to climb up the standings much further, they will have to do a lot of scoreboard watching.

6. Clemson

Clemson makes the big jump from unranked in the preseason to No. 6 in the BCS. Three straight wins over ranked teams will do that for you.

The Tigers have climbed to No. 8 in both polls and have the week off this week. They've done enough already though to earn their spot in the Top 10.

5. Oklahoma State

The Cowboys nearly found their way off this list but their comeback win over Texas A&M keep them ranked very high.

Currently they are No. 6 in the AP Poll and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and since the Big 12 is better than any conference not named the SEC; Oklahoma State will play enough quality teams along the way to possibly keep rising.

4. Boise State

The Broncos are looking to crash the BCS once again, but this is as likely as far as they get. They are ranked as high as No. 5 in the AP Poll, but it will be very difficult for them to rise up any further giving the teams they will be playing and the teams the top three ahead of them will be playing.

For Boise State and anyone that wants to see them crash the BCS Championship Game, they will have to do a ton of scoreboard watching and keep their fingers crossed.

3. Oklahoma

Now for the teams everyone wants to see and that's the top three and even though the Sooners are ranked No. 1 in the USA Today Poll, if the season ended today, they wouldn't be playing in the BCS Championship Game.

Keep in mind these projections are before Week 6 action, so the game that Oklahoma would likely win against Texas is not being factored in at the moment.

Oklahoma has the big win against Florida State, but the two SEC teams have a little more going for them right now. That could all change in a hurry though.

2. LSU

The quality of wins so far for LSU speaks for themselves and there really is no difference in the end between the No.1 and No. 2 teams in the BCS, since they will ultimately face each other in the end.

This will all change on after November 5 though as LSU will face our No. 1 ranked team. Somebody has to lose that one.

1. Alabama

Here is the initial No. 1 team in the BCS and that's Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide. They aren't ranked no. 1 in either poll but in the end all of the computer averages should spit out the Tide as No. 1.

They have enough good looking wins as well, having already defeated Florida, Penn State, and Arkansas along the way.