BCS Rankings 2011: Houston Cougars the New Boise State Broncos?
The Houston Cougars are 7-0 and appear to be well on their way to an undefeated season.
But unless something drastic changes, they'll be left on the outside looking in at the BCS. It's a story Boise State has come to know very well in recent seasons.
Houston leads the nation in points per game at 49, and Case Keenum in an under-the-radar Heisman candidate, much like Kellen Moore has been since his rise to fame with the Broncos.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The comparisons could go on all day.
The problem for both teams is a lack of schedule strength. The Cougars are going to go the entire season without playing a ranked team, so it's impossible to know how the offense would hold up against a more talented defense.
Even the most diehard Cougar fans would likely admit they couldn't survive an entire season in the SEC or Big Ten and put up such gaudy numbers. However, anything is possible in one game, as Boise has illustrated.
The Cougars did knock off UCLA in the season opener, and going unbeaten is an accomplishment no matter what level of competition you play against.
An interesting disparity is seen when you look closer at Houston's BCS ranking, which currently sits at No. 17. Some computers rank them inside the Top 10, while others don't put them inside the Top 25.
That's a common theme for outsiders. It's either all or nothing.
Houston's only option is to win its final seven games and hope for some marquee upsets from major conference bottom-feeders. Otherwise, the Cougars will be relegated to play in a less prestigious bowl game.
What they should be doing over the next few weeks is trying to get air time on ESPN to state their case. Not only will it put the voters on notice, but it will also bring some extra publicity to the school, which is one of the main reasons the Broncos have risen to power.
Now all they need is some red turf.
| 1 | LSU | .9702 |
| 2 | Alabama | .9627 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | .9240 |
| 4 | Boise State | .8302 |
| 5 | Clemson | .8240 |
| 6 | Stanford | .8124 |
| 7 | Oregon | .6877 |
| 8 | Kansas State | .6681 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | .6642 |
| 10 | Arkansas | .6581 |
| 11 | Michigan State | .538 |
| 12 | Virginia Tech | .534 |
| 13 | South Carolina | .501 |
| 14 | Nebraska | .439 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | .433 |
| 16 | Texas A&M | .428 |
| 17 | Houston | .368 |
| 18 | Michigan | .342 |
| 19 | Penn State | .307 |
| 20 | Texas Tech | .201 |
| 21 | Arizona State | .163 |
| 22 | Georgia | .159 |
| 23 | Auburn | .131 |
| 24 | Texas | .119 |
| 25 | West Virginia | .073 |
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
