BCS Standings 2011: Michigan State and Teams Ready to Tilt National Title Hunt

Fans and pundits can complain all they want about the BCS rankings for now, but all of their gripes could easily be rendered moot within a matter of weeks.

These three teams, in particular, have excellent opportunities to throw wrenches into the national championship machinery this weekend and may very well upset the fabric of college football in 2011 in the process. 

Michigan State

There's plenty to love about Wisconsin this season—a Heisman Trophy-caliber quarterback in Russell Wilson, a stellar running game behind Montee Ball and James White, a beat on the crown in the Big Ten "Leaders" division.

The only problem for the Badgers? A weak schedule to this point, one that could easily be laid bare by Michigan State on Saturday. The Spartans will play host to 'Sconsin in East Lansing, just a week removed from mauling in-state rival Michigan for the Paul Bunyan Trophy and sole possession of first place in the "Legends" division. Sparty downed the Badgers at home last season and, with senior quarterback Kirk Cousins back under center and Edwin Baker running behind him, could very well pull off its second conference upset in succession.

Washington

Everyone loves Andrew Luck and for good reason, but what about Keith Price? The sophomore quarterback from Compton has been so good throughout the first half of the season, tossing 21 touchdowns against just four interceptions, that you'd barely know that Jake Locker ever played at Washington.

Price has carried to Huskies to a 5-1 start and will look to continue his team's current roll when they mush into Palo Alto to take on the Pac-12-favorite Cardinal. Stanford has yet to be even remotely tested this season and may be in for a rude awakening against a U-Dub team that can actually fend for itself against stronger opponents.

Auburn

Normally, I'd say that Auburn has no chance on Saturday. After all, the Tigers are playing in Baton Rouge, against No. 1 LSU, amidst a quarterback conundrum between Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley.

But the suspension of cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon and running back Spencer Ware for the use of synthetic marijuana has once again put the SEC West's best Tigers in a bad spot. In all likelihood, LSU will survive its losses, thanks to an incredibly deep stock of talent and pull out yet another convincing victory.

Then again, this could prove to be one distraction too many, especially given the impact that Mathieu and Ware have had for the Bayou Bengals this season. In that event, look for Auburn to pounce on a golden opportunity to send LSU not-so-gently into that not-so-good night.