BCS Rankings Week 11: The Most Overrated & Underrated BCS Top 25 Teams

When it comes to the BCS standings, it’s sometimes difficult to tell why some teams receive so much love and respect from the computers, even if they haven’t accomplished all that much.

It’s what can make the rankings frustrating, and can often leave you scratching your head, and the Week 11 version of the BCS standings is no different.

There are still teams that seem like they fit in the “pretender” category, yet they’re still getting the benefit of the doubt at this point.

With that in mind, let’s have a look at the overrated and underrated teams from this week’s Top 25.

The Most Overrated Teams

No. 10 Virginia Tech Hokies

Virginia Tech has managed to climb into the Top 10 of the BCS standings, even though the Hokies have yet to beat a ranked opponent and prove that they're worthy of such high praise.

The boys from Blacksburg have played one of the easiest schedules out of any of the Top 25 teams (Ranked 70th by USA Today’s Jeff Sagarin), and they’ve routinely played down to their weak competition.

In the only statement game they’ve had all season, the Hokies got romped at home by Clemson in what looks to be a possible preview of this year’s ACC championship game.

To get to the championship, though, Virginia Tech must first survive a Thursday night road trip to Atlanta for a matchup with Coastal division foe Georgia Tech, a team that is ranked No. 21 in the country, and that also has thoughts of winning the ACC this year.

It’s true, the Hokies have a nice developing backfield combination with QB Logan Thomas and RB David Wilson, but to rank this team so high with the type of lousy resume it's put together so far is completely unfair.

No. 12 Penn State Nittany Lions

Even though Penn State has an offense that currently ranks 88th in the country in total offense and 100th in scoring, the Nittany Lions have still managed to win eight out of their nine games.

That’s because the Nittany Lions have a defense that has just been flat-out abusing the competition, as the unit is ranked in the Top 10 nationally in both scoring defense and total defense, giving up an average of just 12 points and 282 yards per game.

Still, you have to figure that the Nittany Lions' lack of firepower on offense will eventually catch up to them during their rough final three-game stretch that includes battles with Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Penn State may be the leader in the Leaders division right now, but this is a team that has yet to beat a ranked opponent, and you have to wonder if the Nittany Lions are really ready to earn a trip to Indianapolis this year.

No. 16 Texas Longhorns

Texas seems like it’s getting a lot more love for its two quality losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State than for the teams that the Longhorns have actually beaten.

With a resume that includes no wins over ranked opponents, you have to wonder why Texas has been getting so much love from the computers lately.

So far, Mack Brown’s bunch have relied on the freshman backfield duo of QB David Ash and RB Malcolm Brown, and the strong play of the defense to carry them to success, but will that really be enough to get them through a killer final four-game slate that includes the likes of Missouri, Kansas State, Texas A&M and Baylor?

After last year’s disastrous 5-7 season, the Longhorns will now be headed back to a bowl this year, but don’t expect it to be a premier destination.

The Most Underrated Teams

No. 15 Georgia Bulldogs

After dropping the first two games of the year to Boise State and South Carolina, Georgia has rebounded to win seven straight games and help calm the storm surrounding coach Mark Richt.

With South Carolina’s loss to Arkansas this past Saturday, the Bulldogs are now very much in the mix in the SEC East, and this is the type of team  that could give the West winner (presumably LSU) a real run for its money in Atlanta.

Georgia has the best quarterback in the SEC in emerging redshirt sophomore Aaron Murray, and the Bulldogs also have a defense that is capable of going toe-to-toe with any offense the conference has to offer.

It should be interesting to follow Georgia’s stretch run ride and see if the Bulldogs can actually make it to Atlanta or not.

No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin suffered devastating back-to-back heartbreak losses to Michigan State and Ohio State, but just because the Badgers gave up insanely improbable long touchdown passes in the final seconds of both games, it doesn’t mean that they still aren’t a great football team.

Wisconsin’s road woes have knocked them out of national title contention once again, but the Badgers still have what it takes to make a run at the Big Ten championship and earn an invitation back to Pasadena.

QB Russell Wilson and RB Montee Ball are two of the best players in the country, and as long as they’re in the huddle, Wisconsin’s got a great chance to keep winning.

Don’t be surprised if the race for the Leaders division comes down to Wisconsin’s Nov. 26 matchup with Penn State.

No. 23 Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati hasn’t been getting a whole lot of national attention, as the Bearcats have basically been forgotten about in the Big East, but this is a quality 7-1 team that’s starting to resemble the offensive juggernauts we saw during the Brian Kelly era.

With a potent and powerful offense, led by QB Zach Collaros and RB Isiah Pead, which is averaging 39 points per game, the Bearcats have the type of weapons to win the Big East and make it to their third BCS bowl game.

Now that they’ve earned a spot in the BCS Top 25, it should be interesting to see how high the Bearcats can climb.