BCS Rankings 2011: Boise State and 4 Teams Ranked Way Too High

The first BCS rankings of 2011 were unveiled on Sunday, thus jump-starting the debate regarding the snubs and the over-hyped.

Representing one-third of the formula, computers have significant bearing on where teams are ranked. Often, the computers do not see eye to eye with the human elements in the polls.

The computers can be teams' best friends. Or they can be fans' worst enemies.

Keeping that in mind, here are four teams that can thank the computers for elevating their stock way too high. 

Boise State

BCS Ranking: 5
Harris Poll: 5
USA Today: 7

Boise State is worthy of a Top-10 ranking in the BCS.

Top Five? Eh, not so much.

Boise has not beaten a team currently ranked in the BCS. As the schedule is currently construed, it will not be playing a team ranked in the Top 25 in the future either.

Yes, Boise State looks great on paper. It ranks in seventh in points accrued per game and eight in points against.

The passing game is one of the best in the nation, with Heisman contender Kellen Moore anchoring the offense.

However, there are teams behind the Broncos with significantly better bodies of work. Wisconsin and Clemson have both beaten quality teams by significant margins, and play in tougher conferences.

A more accurate place for the Broncos would be behind the Tigers and Badgers, at No. 7. Precisely where the humans have them located.

Coincidence? Nope. 

Stanford

BCS Ranking: 8
Harris Poll: 7
USA Today: 5

Normally, I am not an advocate of placing any one-loss team above an undefeated squad.

And, the computers actually hurt the Cardinal in the rankings.

However, when a team has played this schedule, it is deserving of being taken down a few notches until it proves itself.

Luckily, Stanford has that opportunity down the road against Oregon. The Cardinal are the rare team that ranks in the top five in points for and points against in the nation.

One reason for that is Andrew Luck, a future No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. With that kind of quarterback and talent around him, the Cardinal are to be taken seriously later in the season.

Just not yet. 

Kansas State

BCS Ranking: 11
Harris Poll: 12
USA Today: 16

Ditto what I said regarding Stanford. Kansas State simply has not earned the right to be ranked 11th in the country.

Kansas State is undefeated thus far, with wins over three mediocre Big 12 opponents. The Wildcats have squeaked by the competition, winning by seven points or less in five of their six contests.

That includes a 10-7 win over Eastern Kentucky.

Quarterback Collin Klein has been a dual-threat star to this point, rushing for over 500 yards and passing for 739 more. The combination of Klein and running back John Hubert has lead to the Wildcats being ranked No. 25 in rushing offense.

The Wildcats have talent and the ability to do damage in the Big 12 race. However, Kansas State will be exposed in a three game stretch against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M. 

As for now, the computers love Kansas State. Enjoy it while it lasts Wildcat fans.

 

Virginia Tech

BCS Ranking: 12
Harris Poll: 16
USA Today: 14

It is often curious as to what exactly the BCS computers see in certain teams. This is precisely the case for the Hokies.

Tech has played against one ranked team.

The result? A 22-3 drudging at home to Clemson.

The best win for Virginia Tech occurred at Wake Forest: as in, wake me when you beat a relevant team.

The computers elevated Virginia Tech four spots from its ranking in the Harris Poll and two spots in the USA Today poll. 

Maybe the computers see into the future. Perhaps the Hokies will run the table and earn its Top 12 ranking down the road.

Then again, maybe not.