BCS Rankings 2011: Ranking the Projected BCS Bowl Games

So, the first BCS rankings are finally out. There were surprises, and some were not so surprising.

Everyone has their own emotional favorites, and some wonder why their team isn't ranked higher. In other cases, the fans are wondering how they got ranked as high as they did.

Based on what we know now, and some potential adjustments that might be necessary, here's what the BCS bowl matchups might look like.

Keep in mind that at this point, it is still quite subjective and it brings up some questions of what do you do with the No. 1 and No. 2 teams, that most likely won't be in that position when the season is over.

Please feel free to leave me your comments, but try to keep a balance of fact, opinion and emotion. Then we can get into some of the nuances of the current rankings.

BCS Rose Bowl: No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Stanford

Two years ago, the Rose Bowl was the site of the BCS National Championship game between Texas and Alabama. Alabama won that one, if you recall.

But, this year the Rose Bowl will be hosting the champions of the  Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences.

Wisconsin has been dominating opponents by such large margins, it's hard to believe they will falter, although their next game with Michigan State could be a telling tale.

But if QB Russell Wilson continues his onslaught of passing, there is little doubt that the Badgers will end up here, at the very least.

Wilson threw for an average of 9.2 yards against Indiana this past weekend, and the offense has been averaging 50 points per game in six so far, while the defense is holding opponents' offenses to 9.6 points per game.

Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal will have little trouble in the remainder of their calendar, with the possibility of a loss to No. 10 Oregon, or No. 25 Washington, both in the same conference.

However, the steady perfection of Luck's running and passing will propel them into this game.

Luck and his offense put up 475 total yards this past weekend, 336 in the air to his favorite targets, Coby Fleener and Stephan Taylor.  

Andrew Luck is getting some help moving toward that Heisman Trophy, which is why Stanford should move past the Oregon and Washington obstacles.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: No. 4 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 Oregon

This year, the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, will be hosting the champion from the Big-12 conference versus another BCS team.

In this particular ranking, that should be Oklahoma State vs. Oregon.

Oregon showed a tremendous amount of depth and talent in their conference game against Arizona State this past weekend.

When quarterback Darron Thomas came out of the game with a left leg injury, and they already had lost their major running game with LaMichael James out to begin with, they picked it up and took it in stride.

The team ended up with 327 yards of rushing and the replacement QB, Brock Osweller, threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns—so, imagine the depth.

Oklahoma State's running game will take them easily to this game, after an unlikely successful challenge with Big 12 rival No. 3 Oklahoma at the end of the season. 

If No. 1 plays No. 2 in the BCS championship, someone has to pick up the slack for the SEC and the Big 12 in Glendale.

This would be the case as Oklahoma will take the Big 12, leaving the Cowboys poised for the Fiesta Bowl.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 5 Boise State

Note: I understand that the No. 2 team in the BCS rankings is supposed to play the No. 1 team. But, in this circumstance where No. 1 and No. 2 are currently both from the SEC prior to playing in the regular season, and knowing that the loser cannot play for the SEC championship, this is the way I see it turning out.

This game typically hosts the champion from the SEC, and this has been a tradition that precedes the BCS.

This year is no different, in that the bowl game hosts an SEC powerhouse, however, the champion of the SEC, like last year with Auburn, will be playing in the BCS Championship game.

This year, the venue of New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl shares the location with the BCS Championship game, both occurring six days apart in early January.

Based on the rankings today, with some minor adjustment, the Sugar Bowl will host Alabama vs. Boise State.

The Broncos bring a solid offense with Kellen Moore at QB. In this past weekend's game with Colorado State, he connected on 26-for-30 pass attempts, 338 yards of passing offense with an 11.2 average.

Granted, they were not up against the caliber of opponent that Alabama is, and frankly their schedule is pretty lightweight, but they get a BCS nod more often than not.

Alabama on the other hand has the No. 1 defense in the country at this time; they play some of the best nationally ranked teams throughout their schedule and they have an offense that features Heisman-hopeful Trent Richardson.

Richardson has really come on in his last few games, power running and leaving tacklers in the dust.

In the Ole Miss game, the Crimson Tide offense put up a staggering total yardage of 615, Richardson accounting for 183 of those yards on the ground. He was impressive with a 10.8 yards per carry average.

Quarterback A.J. McCarron is no slouch himself, managing the passing game to the point fans are forgetting about Greg McElroy. 

McCarron threw 19-for-24 passes with 224 yards in the air. The Tide should dominate the Broncos in this Sugar Bowl matchup.

Discover Orange Bowl: No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 9 Arkansas

Another of the classic New Year's Day games, this year's Orange Bowl features the No. 1 team from the ACC against an at-large BCS team.

Projecting that matchup has the Clemson Tigers playing the Arkansas Razorbacks, which should make for a solid football game.

This will be an offensive fireworks show.

Clemson has surprised everyone by going undefeated and coming back against all odds and a relentless Maryland team. 

They have multiple threats on offense including Tajh Boyd at QB and Sammy Watkins at speedy receiver or runner.

The Razorbacks on the other hand are solid in the air with Tyler Wilson at their quarterback spot, and they could have had a run at the SEC title, if it were not for their loss to Alabama.

We'll also see how they are ranked after a season-closing game with LSU, which may affect their BCS ranking slightly, but I'd still love to see these two teams go at each other.

BCS Championship Game: No. 1 LSU vs. No. 3 Oklahoma

Note: See my note on Slide No. 3 about the Sugar Bowl.

This game culminates a long season of anticipation for both teams.

LSU had to start the season without its starter Jordan Jefferson, but found a diamond in the rough with Jarrett Lee.

Now they have both in line, Lee as the starter and Jefferson, more than effective as a runner and passer, behind a team that seems to be unstoppable.

Oklahoma does nothing but win, and they have some magic at QB as well with Landry Jones.

Jones is also a prime candidate for the Heisman.

But, his success at QB has been with the help of his receiving corps, led by Ryan Broyles, who just this past weekend broke the NCAA career record for receptions and yardage. He also broke some Oklahoma school records in the same category.

Both have incredible coaches, and it will be a bragging rights game between the Big 12 and the SEC, a rivalry that has existed even though there seems to be an exodus from the Big 12 lately.

Should Oklahoma win this one, it would end a winning streak for the SEC, who has taken the championship five consecutive years.