Projected BCS Rankings 2011: LSU Tigers and 3 Strong Schedules the BCS Will Love

Sunday will be a big day in the college football world, as the first BCS rankings of 2011 are announced, and naturally those teams with the more difficult schedules to open the season will fare much better. 

The BCS loves winners and a strong schedule, and there just so happens to be a few teams that fit that mold. Some teams that have suffered one loss already will still be fine in the rankings, although probably not as high as they would've liked. 

However, there are those undefeated teams with easy schedules that will be higher than they should, but everything will work itself out in the end. 

Here are three teams who greatly benefit from their strong early schedules. 

LSU Tigers 

The current No. 1 team in the country has the best body of work so far this season, and it's very likely the Tigers will claim the top spot in the BCS. 

One could make a case for Alabama, but there's no denying how good LSU has been against an intense schedule thus far. 

Winning away from home against Oregon, Mississippi State, West Virginia and then at home against Florida, the Tigers have been very impressive against their ranked opponents. 

That's a rough schedule to go through in the first six weeks of the season, and several teams wouldn't make it out alive, but the Tigers are unscathed.

With three more games against ranked opponents, the Tigers may end up with the strongest schedule of any team this year. But for now, there is no question they've had the hardest test, and since they've survived it with ease, they should be No. 1 in the first 2011 BCS Poll. 

Clemson Tigers 

This ACC team has been one of the biggest surprises this season, as they are still undefeated after six games and are the No. 8 team in the nation. 

Usually known for choking against teams they shouldn't or failing to close out a win in the final minutes, the Tigers beat three straight ranked opponents to let the country know they mean business this season. 

Dabo Swinney has his team believing, and because they beat Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech in a row, the BCS will reward them come Sunday. 

Florida State and Virginia Tech were ranked No. 11 at the time they lost to Clemson, and Auburn was at No. 21. 

Nobody expected Clemson to win all three, but since they did they've now become the clear-cut favorite in the ACC, and the Tigers may just be a Top Five team once the BCS rankings are revealed.

Arkansas Razorbacks  

While there are a few undefeated teams that could be mentioned here, the Razorbacks' schedule has been very intense, and since they have just one loss on the season, they'll still get a solid ranking on Sunday.

Arkansas beat Texas A&M and Auburn in back-to-back weeks, and both of those teams happened to be in the Top 15 at the time, which will look very good to the computers. 

The Razorbacks' one loss came at the hands of Alabama, the current No. 2 team in the country, which doesn't hurt them all that much.

They may be the No. 10 team in the country right now, but when the BCS rankings come out the Razorbacks are likely to be a Top 5 team.  

Having a bye this week sure doesn't help, but the computers will still recognize that this is a talented team that's done well against a tough schedule.