Projected BCS Rankings 2011: Predicting the Top 10 in Sunday's First BCS Poll

If you're a college football fan I'm sure at some point this season you've gotten into a debate on where a team should be ranked. You know this team is overrated and you just don't see what the voters do.

If you have experienced this once or twice this season, you'll really have fun with this.

The first BCS rankings are about to be released and this is the poll that counts the most. Forget about the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. No longer will a team be graded on potential and talent, it all matters on what you do on the field. 

Here is the projected Top 10 of the first BCS Poll.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]

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10. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

You could make a case for Michigan in this spot and possibly Oregon but the Wolverines haven't done anything and the Ducks got destroyed by their only real competition.

The Yellow Jackets may not have beaten anybody either but they are undefeated and have one of the top offenses in the country. They can run the ball down anybodies throat and lately quarterback Tevin Washington has been making the throws to keep defenses honest.

Georgia Techs schedule gets more difficult later in the season with matchups against Miami, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia.

But for now this team has been impressive and looks much better than Michigan and slightly better than Oregon when healthy.

9. Arkansas Razorbacks

The Arkansas Razorbacks are another explosive offensive team and they have beaten two ranked teams so far this season. Sure, they got destroyed by the Alabama Crimson Tide but the BCS doesn't look at the margin of victory so they should be fine.

This defense struggles at times to get stops but when you put up 40 points per contest it doesn't really matter.

The Razorbacks have chances to move up in the rankings with matchups against South Carolina and LSU left.

8. Stanford Cardinal

The Yellow Jackets and Stanford are the only two teams in the Top 10 that have yet to beat a ranked team. But when they have the best quarterback in the country in Andrew Luck they have to make the list somewhere.

The Cardinal average 46 points per game and give up less than 11, putting them in the top 10 for points scored and points allowed.

Stanford is a good team but will be tested later in the year when they play USC, Oregon, California and Notre Dame.

7. Boise State Broncos

Whether you like this team or you don't, people have to realize that they will remain in the Top 10 of any poll until they lose.

The Broncos have only beaten one ranked team this season and with the look of things, it will likely remain that way. There was supposed to be a huge matchup against TCU later in the year but the hype went away once the Horned Frogs lost to SMU.

Boise has a great quarterback and a great head coach but there's almost no chance of moving up into serious National Championship conversations with the schedule they play.

6. Clemson Tigers

So, you think this is too high for the Clemson Tigers to be? Well, what other team do you know that has beaten three ranked teams in a row? There are some teams in the top 10 that have only beaten one, if any.

The Clemson Tigers are a legit team and have SEC speed on both sides of the ball. This team scores a ton of points and probably has the best skill set players on offense than any other team in the country. Tajh Boyd is playing out of his mind and if it wasn't for the fact he's a sophomore, should be getting some Heisman love.

The Tigers are for real and should be the favorites to win the ACC.

5. Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers are a team that I like a lot but they don't get the respect they deserve because they're playing in the watered down Big Ten. They've only beaten one ranked team in Nebraska who they handled with ease.

The Badgers run the ball and score points with the best of them, while their defense only gives up 10 points per game.

The problem is, their schedule is so weak, they'll need teams above them to lose for them to have a shot at the National Championship.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys

It's really been all about the "big three" all season but the Cowboys should not be slept on. This team is second in the country in passing yards with 431 a game and scores over 50 points. Their defense could use a lot of work but how many other teams would be able to keep up?

They've only beaten one ranked team in Texas A&M but have a brutal schedule with Texas, Baylor, Kansas State, and Oklahoma on the menu.

Whoever prepares to knock this team off better be ready to score points and a lot of them.

3. Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners have had the most hype this season but really have yet to prove anything. Sure, they beat a Florida State team in Tallahassee but the Seminoles lost to Wake Forest. They also crushed a Texas team but they're led by a young inexperienced quarterback.

The Sooners are a very talented team but they need to prove more before we make them the top team in the country. Games against Kansas State, Texas A&M, Baylor, and Oklahoma State will give them that opportunity.

2. LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers have been one of the most impressive teams in the country so far with victories over four ranked teams in six weeks. The problem is two of those ranked teams (Florida and Mississippi State) aren't looking so hot right now, which hurts the Tigers case.

LSU has one of the best defenses in the country and runs the ball well with a two headed monster in Spencer Ware and Michael Ford.

If the Tigers don't like their ranking they'll have a chance to prove they're the best team Nov. 5 with a matchup against the Crimson Tide.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama has looked like the most impressive team of the season so far with three victories over ranked teams. They have one of the top defenses in the country that only gives up a touchdown per contest and a running game that averages over 200 rushing yards.

The Crimson Tide are not only the favorite to win the SEC but also controls their own destiny for the National Championship.