BCS Rankings Week 8: Oklahoma State and 6 Locks for Top 10 in First BCS Poll

Come Sunday evening, all of the BCS speculation will be done. Well, all of the pre-BCS speculation will be done. We'll still have a solid month of weekly speculation about what happens if Team A beats Team B, but on Sunday, we'll know what the BCS computers think about the first half of the season.

The top 10 is a pretty nice place to be. Obviously, you want to be No. 1, but if you're in the top 10 and handle your business for the rest of the year, history shows that you're likely to go to the BCS Championship.

So, which teams are pretty well locked into that spot? Maybe they aren't going to be as high as they would like, or their fans feel they should be, but they will be starting the BCS party in the Top 10.

Alabama/LSU/Oklahoma

This is your top three, period. Different people will order it in different ways, but it doesn't really matter.

If Oklahoma wins out, they are in the National Championship. If the winner of the Nov. 5 showdown between Alabama and LSU wins out, they are in the National Championship.

There is really no way around it. These three teams started the year highly ranked and all have multiple big wins. Other schools have done well, but they haven't done enough to top any of these teams.

Unless one of these teams loses, this is easily the top three and deserves to be that way until LSU and Alabama square off.

Wisconsin

The Badgers remain relatively untested. Only a home win against a questionable Nebraska team really stands out for Wisconsin, but this team is good.

Nebraska does have some issues, but they are a good team, and that game wasn't close—Wisconsin thoroughly dominated.

Really, you can't ask for anything more from the Badgers. They haven't lost and have flattened opponents; this team has incredible balance. They are likely the No. 4 team in the country and may well find themselves in the national championship game.

Boise State

Of all the teams on this list, Boise State is probably the safest bet to go undefeated. The problem is that they just won't have a chance to impress anyone with an especially great win.

Still, while they may not end up as high as they would like, Boise State is clearly a top-10 team. They have beaten a good Georgia team in what basically worked out as a road game.

Broncos' fans may be in a position to complain against this year, especially if they end up undefeated watching a team with one loss in the National Championship Game. Still, their place as a top 10 team is undeniable.

Clemson

The Tigers have beaten some strong teams this year, and have looked awfully impressive in doing so. The problem with the Tigers is that they've started a little far down the ranks to be much more than a dark-horse national championship contender, at least right now.

But there is plenty of time left for Clemson to impress some more, and for the teams ahead of them to lose.

Regardless of what happens from this point on, Clemson is a clear top 10 team right now, and may be even better than that.

Stanford

Stanford has been relatively untested this year. As a result, they are still a little unproven, although I am not crazy about that argument.

Stanford is largely the same team that lost only one game last year and dominated the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, aren't they?

Well, the key man, Andrew Luck, is still there and leading the team.

The Cardinal will get chances to prove their worth in a highly back loaded schedule. But right now, they are certainly a top-10 team. It's not like any of their weaker opponents have come anywhere near beating them.

Oklahoma State

Other than those top-three teams, Oklahoma State sits in better position than any team on this list. The coast is relatively clear for them to march into Bedlam against Oklahoma undefeated. If they run the table (including Oklahoma) Oklahoma State is in the national championship game.

I am still not sure about how Oklahoma State's defense will hold up against the Sooners, but they are one of the best teams in the country. That's not even close to being up for debate.

They may be No. 4 or 5. That No. 4 spot is between Oklahoma State and Wisconsin.

Including the game against Oklahoma, the Cowboys have five games left, three against teams that entered this week ranked.

Fortunately for Oklahoma State, all three of those games against ranked teams will be at home in Stillwater.