BCS Rankings: Alabama Crimson Tide Are Destined to Jump Up to No. 2

After a heartbreaking, nightmare 9-6 loss to the LSU Tigers in Week 11 of the season, it would seem as the hope of competing for a national title is all but a dream for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Yet the Crimson Tide are as much in contention as any team for taking back that No. 2 spot in the rankings.

Mississippi State, Georgia Southern and No. 20 Auburn all remain on the team's schedule heading into the final three weeks of the season. Both the game against Mississippi State and Auburn will both be on the road.

Despite the level of difficulty of the remaining games, in particular the final game at Auburn, it is expected that the Crimson Tide finish 3-0 and get back to winning football games like they have all season.

The key for Alabama against the Auburn Tigers will be to put up points and close out the second half in dominant fashion. In the Tigers' last two losses, they have been outscored 41-7 in the second half, something the Crimson Tide know will work in their favor.

The other factor will be something this Crimson Tide team has no control over, which is the simple fact of whether or not Oklahoma State will lose one of its last three games.

The fact of the matter is, these three games are anything but guarantee wins for the Cowboys. The team now goes up against Texas Tech on the road, followed by Iowa State on the road and finishes off the year against No. 6 Oklahoma in what should be a battle for the ages.

More than likely, as Oklahoma is arguably just as good a team as the Cowboys, there is a good chance that Oklahoma State closes out the season 2-1 and the Crimson Tide sneak into that last spot.

Going into the game against LSU, running back Trent Richardson had put up at least 100 yards in three of the previous four games, putting over 180 in two of them. His play out of the backfield will be crucial in getting wins over strong offenses like those of Mississippi State and Auburn.

When it's all said and done, one loss for the Cowboys and a 3-0 finish is exactly what the Crimson Tide need and will get. Come BCS title game time, expect the Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers to duke it out in what will be an epic rematch to say the least.