BCS Rankings: Why LSU and Oklahoma Are Locks for BCS Title Game

Through nine weeks of the college football season it appears that only a few teams can make it to the BCS title game.  LSU and Oklahoma will each have one major test in the final weeks of the season, and after passing those tests they will play for the national championship.

A lot of people want to see a playoff system implemented in college football, and they are essentially getting their wish this season.  There are only four teams who could make it to the BCS title game this season: No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Oklahoma State and No. 9 Oklahoma.  Yeah, No. 9 Oklahoma.

The best thing about this is that these four teams play each other, with LSU and Alabama playing on Saturday, Nov. 5, and Oklahoma State and Oklahoma playing in the final week of the season.  This essentially makes the rest of the season the playoffs, coming down to these two games.

No. 1 LSU at No. 2 Alabama

The first playoff game comes this Saturday as the Tigers take on the Crimson Tide.  This matchup determines the No. 1 ranking in the BCS for the rest of the season.

The Tigers have already beaten the then-No. 3 Oregon Ducks and four other ranked teams, so if they win there is no way they lose their No. 1 ranking.

The Crimson Tide have beaten three ranked teams and have the best defense in the country, surrendering a mere 6.9 points per game.

No matter which team wins this game they will win out, go undefeated and make it to the BCS National Championship, and I see LSU topping the Crimson Tide.

No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 3 Oklahoma State

Oklahoma is coming off a huge win against No. 8 Kansas State, winning 58-17 at Kansas State.  That is OU's third win against a Top 11 team in a hostile environment, with the first two coming at No. 5 Florida State 23-13 and against No. 11 Texas 55-17 in Dallas.  If the Sooners can beat the Cowboys they will have enough marquee victories to guarantee themselves the No. 2 spot in the nation.

Oklahoma State, on the other hand, still has to play Kansas State, but after seeing how badly the Sooners beat them that isn't a tall order at all.  The Cowboys have already won at No. 8 Texas A&M and at Texas as well, and they are poised to take the No. 2 spot in the nation once LSU and Alabama play.

The winner of this game will get the No. 2 ranking heading into the BCS title game.  That team will be Oklahoma because not only does it have a top five offense, it also has a defense that steps up in big games, and the Sooners' defense will be the difference in this game.

So, the BCS National Championship game will be between LSU and Oklahoma, and I have to give the early advantage to the Sooners, although only time will tell.