BCS Rankings 2011: Analyzing the Week 8 USA Today Poll

The BCS rankings are divided up in three ways with one third coming from the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Harris Poll holds another third, while six computer ranking systems occupy the last third. 

With the new USA Today rankings out, we can take a look at how they will affect the new BCS rankings coming out later tonight. There weren't many changes in the poll, with only two teams dropping out due to losses and two teams moving in. 

Three formerly undefeated teams lost, forcing them to drop in the rankings, but not all the way out. So here we stand on the brink of the ensuing BCS chaos. Who will get the nod, compared to who will get killed by the USA Today poll?

Who Gets the Nod

No. 1 Oklahoma takes the top spot for the second week in a row, holding it from the grasps of SEC powerhouses LSU and Alabama. Their high No. 1 ranking will give the Sooners a much needed boost when the BCS factors in the USA Today poll.

No. 5 Stanford, a team that hasn't beat another ranked team yet, is sitting at No. 5 in the nation in front of Oklahoma State and Boise State. The Cardinal has to be pleased with a ranking so generous. An excellent BCS ranking now could help Stanford later on.

No. 13 Michigan State has one win against an overrated Michigan team. The Spartans are a good team, but being ranked No. 13 is a nice jump from No. 23 last week. The BCS rankings will surely be kind to Michigan State, the week before they go off to play a juggernaut like Wisconsin. 

No. 18 Texas A&M is the highest ranked team with two losses, even though they are against No. 6 and No. 10. The Aggies are fortunate considering a win at OU in a few weeks could result in a three-way tie in the Big 12. With the BCS rankings determining who goes to the bowl games, the higher the better.

Who Got Killed

 No. 6 Oklahoma State may have risen since last week, but the Cowboys have two wins against ranked opponents while Stanford has none. With the only game that will make an impact on their season resting comfortably as the season finale against the Sooners, OSU could have used more help in the BCS rankings from the USA Today poll.

No. 14 West Virginia has only one loss to the top SEC school in the nation, as well as being their conference leader, yet they only retain a spot in the Top 15. Moving up will not be easy considering the competition they still have to face. Winning the Big East will grant them an AQ spot in the BCS, but the higher their ranking, the better their bowl

No. 16 Kansas State is the only undefeated team in an AQ conference that isn't in the Top 10. The other eight schools, who with no losses retain the top eight spots, but Kansas State sits out at No. 16. The BCS will not be as kind to them as it should be considering their record due to the USA Today poll.

Conclusion

 The USA Today Coaches Poll is flawed just as any other human-based poll is, but some of the rankings are a bit too generous or too harsh. The weight it has on the BCS is significant and can affect a team's placement in a BCS bowl game, later on down the line.

Teams who deserve more will have to continue to win to prove their worth, while teams that were generously handed spots need to take advantage of the opportunity.