BCS Rankings: 3 Games for Sooners Fans to Watch on the Bye Week

The only thing Oklahoma fans hate more than a loss is a bye week. Saturdays are still special, but it's just not the same when your team isn't playing.

Despite any coach speak we may hear from Bob Stoops, there is not doubt the Sooners will be doing a little scoreboard watching this week. Unfortunately, that's all that is left for Sooners fans, thanks to the season's second bye week.

So, what should Oklahoma fans be watching for?

There are a couple of upset possibilities that would be huge for Oklahoma's BCS championship hopes. Another upset possibility looms in Idaho, which would help to shake things up in the BCS rankings.

Boise State vs. TCU

Most of the experts agree that a one-loss Oklahoma would pass Boise State in the BCS rankings with a win over Oklahoma State. But it would be nice to see the Broncos lose anyway, just in case voters were to decide that maybe this is the year to give Boise State a title shot.

One positive that could come from a TCU win over the Broncos would be in Oklahoma's improvement in the human polls. The Sooners currently find themselves two spots behind Boise State in both polls.

The computers like Oklahoma, but a move up in the human polls would help the Sooners' overall BCS ranking. The closer Oklahoma can get to Alabama going into Bedlam, the better their chance are of passing them with a win over the Cowboys.

Alabama vs. Mississippi State

Once the BCS rankings revealed that Alabama had only dropped one spot after losing to LSU last week, Oklahoma fans immediately started looking forward to the final week of the season when the Tide will take on their biggest rival in Auburn.

Before that matchup takes place, Alabama needs to take care of business against Mississippi State on the road. That may be easier said than done.

Mississippi State is known for giving some upset scares. If taken lightly, the Bulldogs can jump up and bite the Tide hard enough to give them their second straight loss.

This same Mississippi State team played LSU tough before losing 19-6 earlier in the year when the Tigers came into town.

The Bulldogs only have one win in conference play, but are just one win away from becoming bowl eligible. There's no doubt Davis Wade Stadium will be fired up for this one.

What did last week's loss to LSU do to Alabama's confidence? We'll find out tonight.

Oregon at Stanford

For Oklahoma, perhaps the biggest game of the season will actually come during a bye week. It may very well be that the Sooners' last hope at getting back in the BCS title hunt will rest on the shoulders of the Oregon Ducks.

The Sooners may still be able to surpass Alabama in the BCS rankings down the road, but an undefeated Stanford team could be a roadblock for Oklahoma.

If the Cardinal are going to lose a game this year, it would likely be this week against the Ducks.

Sure, a win over Stanford might move Oregon ahead of the Sooners temporarily, but Oklahoma already holds a significant lead over the Ducks in the computer polls and a Bedlam win would likely prove to be more significant than an Oregon win over Stanford.

The computers don't care much for Stanford. Their average computer ranking is eighth. One of the computers actually has the Cardinal sitting at 10th. Because of this, an Oregon win over Stanford would have less of an impact in the BCS rankings than one might think.

Sooners fans should put on their green and gold duck heads and start cheering for the Ducks tonight. A BCS championship is at stake.