BCS Rankings 2011: Michigan and 5 Teams That Are Ranked Too High

The BCS rankings are determined by strength of schedule, where the game was played (home or away), and the winning margin. One-third of the rankings is determined by an average of six computer rankings. The rest is determined by humans.

As the new BCS rankings come out for the week of Oct. 16th, which teams that made the rankings were ranked too high?

Boise State:

BCS Rankings: 5

Granted, Boise State has had three undefeated seasons in five years and they are undefeated thus far this year. Do they really deserve the number five spot? Boise State just doesn’t have a strong strength of schedule.

They beat No. 19 Georgia their first week, but now Georgia is unranked.

They blew out all their opponents by double-digits and that is high feat. However, most of these teams were mediocre.

While it is amazing of their feat and staying undefeated, they don’t deserve the top five spot. Hopefully Boise State will join another conference or the NCAA will create a strong strength of schedule for the team so that they truly show their worth.

Texas:

BCS Ranking: 24

Texas does not deserve to be in the Top 25.

The computer takes into account that if a team plays against a ranked team, the team won't drop as much if it loses. While it is a tough feat playing against a ranked team, Texas lost to two of them.

Texas blew out three of their games and won one close one against Brigham Young. They got blown out by No. 3 Oklahoma 17-55. They lost to No. 6 Oklahoma State 26-38. Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are in the Top Five and are still undefeated. Both these games were a test to Texas. They failed to put up a fighting battle against Oklahoma.

While Texas is still trying to rebuild, they still have long ways to go.

Stanford:

BCS Ranking: 7

This undefeated team that has yet to play a ranked team. They have blown out their opponents. They have one of the best defense in the nation and are in the top five for points for.

However, with an easy schedule so far, Stanford has yet to prove their true worth. While they have that chance when they play No. 25 Washington next week and No. 10 Oregon, right now they are not worth the high spot or the hype.

Michigan:

BCS Rankings: 18

The loss against Michigan State proves that Michigan have not improved. Shutting down the quarterback proves sufficient enough to stop the whole offense. They have had an easy schedule, getting all those wins as if the game was not a challenge.

A challenge was presented by Michigan State and the Wolverines blew it. They deserve to drop down a few spots. They failed a test and while they have a chance to prove their worth later in the season, something says that last year might just repeat itself.

Virginia Tech:

BSC Ranking: 19

Virginia Tech has yet to prove themselves.

They blew out their mediocre opponents. They have yet to show that they are a great team, especially to be ranked at No.19. They have yet to beat a rank team. They lost to (at the time) No. 13 Clemson by 20 points.

Clemson is on fire but that does not justify a high rank for this team. If they can't prove themselves to a tough team, they should be ranked lower.