BCS Rankings: 10 Teams That Are Right Where We Thought They'd Be

Every year teams are analyzed, and writers express their opinions, influencing public sentiment as we all play out the season in our minds before it happens.

Some teams surprise, and some teams let down. Others do as expected, and the rest fill the cracks in between.

Here are 10 teams that are right where we thought they'd be in the first BCS rankings. These 10 teams have lived up to expectations, whether they were lofty or not.

Alabama: No. 2

Losing the likes of Julio Jones and Mark Ingram should crush a program. It would crush almost every college football team in the nation, but not Alabama, which reloads rather than rebuilds.

The Crimson Tide were expected to be championship contenders again this season, and they've been nothing short of that.

Quarterback A.J. McCarron has led the team to an impressive 7-0 start, which has featured impressive wins over the likes of Florida, Arkansas and Penn State. 

Heisman-hopeful running back Trent Richardson has led a terrifyingly efficient run game as the Tide continue to roll to their expected level of dominance.

Boise State: No. 5

Honestly, for the Broncos there is just no winning.

They're out to another undefeated start and trampled the SEC's Georgia in Athens, yet are still on the outside looking in.

That is exactly what we all expected.

No matter how good Boise State is, and no matter how good Kellen Moore looks, they will never gain the full respect of the BCS and be put in the national championship game. 

So, as we all expected, Boise State is right there; hovering around the top three, waiting, wishing and praying for LSU or Oklahoma to slip so they get their chance.

Wisconsin: No. 6

Led by Heisman Trophy-candidate quarterback Russell Wilson, the Wisconsin Badgers are running wild and undefeated.

It's safe to say that few projected Wilson to have this large of an impact, but as many expected, the Badgers have held down the fort and kept their well-deserved top-10 ranking. 

This weekend we'll see if Wisconsin really has what it takes to be the No. 6 team in the nation as they square off against a pesky Michigan State team that is on an emotional high after their victory over archrival Michigan. 

Stanford: No. 8

Quarterback Andrew Luck, the fourth Heisman candidate to appear on this slideshow, leads the charge for the Cardinal, who remain the top-10 team many expected.

Experts rightfully pegged their ranking, and it has been accurate to this point. But there is no cause to move Luck and Stanford up, as they have yet to square off against top-tier competition. 

Their upcoming duel against Washington will be their first real test, but even then, they should walk right through the Huskies and continue their charge to crack the top five. 

Virginia Tech: No. 12

Quarterback Logan Thomas has led Virginia Tech to a successful start to the season, but this team still hovers around a top-15 ranking.

Their loss to the suddenly dominant Clemson Tigers set them back a bit, but aside from that they have continued to win games despite not looking in top form. 

Tailback David Wilson will continue to lead the charge on the ground as Virginia Tech presses forward, awaiting their eventual showdown with Georgia Tech.

South Carolina: No. 14

South Carolina is another team sitting pretty, close to their preseason ranking.

Still, many had projected that they would rise through the rankings and crack the top 10 and challenge for the SEC crown.

Their lone loss to Auburn is a sore spot on their resume, but things will get tougher down the road after star running back Marcus Lattimore's season-ending injury.

Michigan: No. 18

Michigan wasn't expected to start the season as hot as they did, but their recent defeat against Michigan State has them where we thought they'd be, hovering around the top 20.

Quarterback Denard Robinson may be the most spectacular playmaker in college football, but if Michigan expects to rise in the rankings even more so than they did early on, Robinson will have to tighten up his decision-making and the loose screws.

Auburn: No. 20

After the loss of Heisman Trophy-winner Cam Newton, the Auburn Tigers were sure to fall off, and they've done just that.

Of course for Auburn, falling off means a top-20 team that can push top-10 teams to the brink.

Both of their losses have come to top-15 teams, and they beat South Carolina in a 16-13 nail-biter thanks to the play of quarterback Barret Trotter and running back Michael Dyer.

Auburn was expected to be in and out of the top 25, and they seem to be hovering at 5-2. They will be a dangerous matchup for the likes of LSU and and Alabama, two teams they play later on down the road.

Penn State: No. 21

Tailback Silas Redd has led the way for the inconsistent Nittany Lions as their dual-quarterback system seems to lack the flair of having one true starter.

Redd has been a monster on the ground, racking up 688 yards on 4.7 yards per carry.

The Lions' lone loss came to Alabama, a game in which they were absolutely destroyed. They've been playing subpar teams closely, but all that matters right now is that they have pumped out wins and sit at 6-1. 

Penn State was seen as a fringe top-25 team coming into the season, and they've done nothing to dispel the notion that they are just that.

Georgia Tech: No. 22

While the quick start of quarterback Tevin Washington and Georgia Tech caught many off guard as they ran out to 6-0 and the No. 12 ranking in the nation, their recent loss to Virginia has sent Yellow Jacket fans back to reality.

Inconsistency plagued Tech early on, but they were still cranking out wins, some impressive and some not. Now the inconsistency has finally come back to bite the Jackets, as they fell 10 spots in the latest polls.

This team is still an ACC powerhouse and has highly anticipated matchups against Virginia Tech and Clemson, two that if they win will likely return them to a high ranking and possibly the ACC title.

For now, though, Tech is lucky to sit where they do at No. 22, a rank that many thought the Jackets deserved throughout their 6-0 start.