Projected BCS Rankings: 5 Bubble Teams with Best Chance to Crack Top 10

As we near the halfway point of the college football season, teams are beginning to reveal who they truly are and what we can expect from them moving forward.

Some teams seem locked into the top 10. Some could slip and see up-and-comers challenge them for a berth in a BCS bowl.

Several teams this season have completely surprised, unranked teams that came out of nowhere to prove they are for real.

Here are five bubble teams with the best chance to crack the top 10 of the AP poll and soar into a BCS bowl.

5. Michigan State (No. 23)

This may seem like a bit of a reach, but if you look at a lot of teams ahead of Michigan State, they either have easy schedules (which means wins won't bump them up too much) or their schedules seem too tough.

This is precisely the reason I have Michigan State here instead of No. 15 South Carolina. While the Gamecocks still have to face Mississippi State, Tennessee, No. 10 Arkansas, Florida and No. 8 Clemson, the Spartans have a huge chance to jump in the rankings with a win against No. 11 Michigan in Week 7.

They will probably lose to No. 4 Wisconsin the next week, but they have a chance to rebound with a win over No. 14 Nebraska.

A bit of a longshot, but, hey, stranger things have happened in college football.

There's a level of respect for this team.

4. Illinois (No. 16)

The Fighting Illini have lived up to their name so far this season, going 6-0 despite being unranked in the preseason.

The Illini are a run-heavy team, preferring to use a backfield-by-committee approach, and that tends to help them stick around. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has also picked it up lately, and the defense has given up just 17.8 points per game, holding Arizona State to 14 points in Week 3.

Even if Illinois loses to Wisconsin, if they win the rest of their games, including against Michigan, they have a shot if some teams slip in the top 10.

Not likely, but possible.

3. Nebraska (No. 14)

This all depends on your stance on Nebraska and No. 11 Michigan, who are both in the Big Ten conference.

Both teams are on the fringe of a BCS bowl, but their matchup on Nov. 19 will likely be the difference between who is a BCS team and who isn't.

I, for one, think Michigan will continue its brilliant season under new head coach Brady Hoke and star quarterback Denard Robinson and "upset" a Nebraska team that was highly touted before the season.

TheWolverines have the offense and defense to pose problems for the Cornhuskers, and I like their chances in what should be a pivotal matchup.

2. Michigan (No. 11)

Like I said, I believe Michigan will defeat Nebraska on their special date on Nov. 19.

Robinson has been sensational, Hoke continues he can revitalize struggling football programs, and the Wolverines are ranked 26th and second in points per game and points allowed per game respectively.

I love what Hoke has done with this team, and I'm aboard the Michigan bandwagon.

1. West Virginia (No. 13)

The West Virginia Mountaineers may have lost to their only ranked opponent of the season (LSU) and not play anyone of significance the rest of the way, but they're in the Big East, which means if they win the conference they receive an automatic BCS berth.

Love it or hate it, it is what it is, and I certainly don't see Big East-leading Rutgers holding strong.

West Virginia will make a BCS bowl this season barring catastrophe.