Bowl Standings: Leading Contenders for at-Large BCS Spots

As the college football season enters the home stretch, the nation’s best are jockeying for position to make the five big-money bowls of the BCS. Six spots are spoken for by the six major conference champions, but of the four that are up for grabs, these teams are currently in the best position to play in January’s showcase games:

Alabama Crimson Tide

As much as it’s often reasonable to throw out the records in a rivalry game—such as ‘Bama’s season-ending Iron Bowl meeting with Auburn—there’s no realistic chance of the Crimson Tide suffering a second loss this season. LSU will win the SEC West, so Alabama won’t get a shot in the conference title game, either.

The Tide are, of course, a lock for a BCS bowl, but the real question is whether they’ll get a rematch with LSU in the national championship game. Stanford’s loss last night helps a lot, and if Oklahoma knocks off No. 2 Oklahoma State on Dec. 3, don’t be surprised to see the Tide back in the No. 2 position just in time to play for the title.

Stanford Cardinal

Last night’s decisive home loss leaves the Cardinal effectively out of the Pac-12 title hunt, but not out of BCS contention. Stanford, like Alabama and Oregon, is a safe bet to finish the season having suffered their only loss against a BCS automatic qualifier.

Having lost to such a strong opponent means the Cardinal haven’t fallen far in the AP poll (No. 8 today), nor will they drop too much in tonight’s BCS standings. Barring a massive upset, they’re safely entrenched and looking at a possible Fiesta Bowl spot (assuming Oregon lands in the Rose Bowl).

Oklahoma Sooners

This pick, more than any of the others, is pending future results, as the Sooners close the season with an epic showdown against unbeaten rival Oklahoma State. If OU pulls off the upset in Stillwater, they’ll take the Big 12 title and its automatic berth.

In that instance, Oklahoma State would become a near-lock for a second BCS bid from the conference. If the Sooners lose to the Cowboys, though, OU will need some help if they want to be playing in a top-tier bowl.

Houston Cougars

Case Keenum’s offense has been putting up laughable numbers all season, most recently in Thursday night’s 73-17 romp over Tulane. The number that really counts, though, is the zero that still stands in the Cougars’ loss column.

If Houston wins out—and only Southern Miss in the C-USA title game seems to have even a remote chance against them—they’re a safe bet for a top 10 finish that will ensure them of a BCS bid. If they draw one of the weaker conference champs (perhaps whoever comes out of the Big East), the Cougars may even get a bowl win to cap their surprising season.