Bowl Projections: Alabama and Teams That Still Have an Outside Shot at the BCS

The BCS bowl season is right around the corner, and several teams still have big BCS dreams. With only a few regular season games remaining, these teams will need to win out and receive some help from others in order to meet their goals.

While it's true that the No. 1 LSU Tigers and No. 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys each control their own destinies, each team still has an upcoming game with a Top 10 team. Both the Tigers and the Cowboys are currently undefeated, and a loss by either would spiral the BCS standings into hysteria.

In a sense, college football fans everywhere want to see BCS chaos in hopes of a playoff system. For now, fans will have to embrace the current system. After all, no one wants to go without college football. Everyone likes a shot at national recognition, and these featured teams still have a shot at the biggest stage. 

Here are the teams that still have an outside shot at a BCS bowl. 

Honorable Mention: West Virginia Mountaineers

The 7-3 West Virginia Mountaineers are 3-2 in the Big East and have a great chance to sneak into a BCS bowl game.

The Mountaineers trail the Cincinnati Bearcats by one game in the Big East standings, but they defeated Cincy in Week 11. West Virginia is also tied with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, who they beat earlier in the season.

The Scarlet Knights play Cincinnati in Week 12; a Rutgers win would boost West Virginia into the Big East lead. 

The Mountaineers will need some help, but they could easily end up in a BCS bowl.

Honorable Mention: Houston Cougars

Don't be surprised when the Houston Cougars finish the regular season undefeated. 

Led by quarterback Case Keenum, the Cougars are a scoring machine. The team averages 54.7 points/game and Keenum has thrown 37 touchdowns on the season. Needless to say, the Cougars aren't respected enough.

The team is in line to play ranked Southern Miss in the Conference USA Championship Game. A win against a ranked team should propel Houston into a BCS game come bowl season.

Orange Bowl Sleeper: Virginia Cavaliers

The 7-3 Virginia Cavaliers are 4-2 in the ACC's Coastal Division.

The Cavaliers' remaining opponents include the Florida State Seminoles (on the road) and the Virginia Tech Hokies (at home).

Now, the Cavaliers may not look pretty, but a "W" in the win column is always sexy.

By winning their final two games, the Cavaliers would play in the ACC Championship Game with a chance at a BCS bowl. 

Rose Bowl Sleeper: Ohio State Buckeyes

Believe it or not, the 6-4 Ohio State Buckeyes still have a chance at the Rose Bowl. 

The Buckeyes have to beat the Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan Wolverines.

They also need the Wisconsin Badgers to lose to the Illinois Fighting Illini, then turn around and beat the Nittany Lions. 

If this situation plays out in the Buckeyes' favor, they'll play for in Big Ten Championship with a chance to smell the roses. 

Fiesta Bowl Sleeper: Kansas State Wildcats

The 8-2 Kansas State Wildcats salvaged their season in Week 11 when they outlasted the Texas A&M Aggies in an overtime thriller. A loss would have been their third straight and meant certain doom as far as the BCS landscape goes. 

By winning their last two games of the season against the Texas Longhorns and Iowa State Cyclones, along with some help from the Baylor Bears and Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Wildcats will be in the Fiesta Bowl.

If the Cowboys win out, they'll play in the national championship game, vacating the Fiesta Bowl for the Wildcats.

Kansas State needs help from Baylor and Oklahoma State—each team must beat the Oklahoma Sooners in order for the Wildcats to hit the jackpot. 

It may seem improbable, but crazier things have happened. 

Sugar Bowl Sleeper: South Carolina Gamecocks

The 8-2 South Carolina Gamecocks deserve credit for keeping it together this year. Losing running back Marcus Lattimore and quarterback Stephen Garcia wasn't in the plan, but those were the cards that were dealt.

Head coach Steve Spurrier has done a remarkable job of seeing that his players didn't give up on the season.

With help from the Kentucky Wildcats this weekend, the Gamecocks would play in the SEC Championship Game.

The Wildcats must beat the Georgia Bulldogs in order for the Gamecocks to win the SEC East Division. South Carolina defeated Georgia in Week 2, 45-42. 

Kentucky has only won one SEC game this season and lost to the Gamecocks 54-3 in early October, but the Bulldogs may overlook the Wildcats. After all, that's why they play the game.

The Gamecocks would still have to defeat the winner of the SEC West to make it to the Sugar Bowl. Just in case you were wondering, No. 1 LSU is currently leading that division.

The odds of the Gamecocks landing a BCS bowl are slim, but this team has overcome everything else this year. 

National Championship Game Sleeper: Alabama

The 9-1 Alabama Crimson Tide are currently ranked No. 3 in the BCS standings, but they still have a shot at the national title. 

The toughest remaining game for the Crimson Tide is the ranked Auburn Tigers. Thanks to the nation's stingiest defense, Alabama shouldn't have a problem with Auburn this year. 

Good thing for Alabama, the No. 1 LSU Tigers and No. 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys each play a Top 10 team before the season is over.

The Tigers play the Arkansas Razorbacks while the Cowboys play the Oklahoma Sooners. A loss by either of these teams could push the Crimson Tide into the National Championship Game. With the love that the SEC gets from the poll voters and BCS computers, Alabama is the forerunner if either LSU or Oklahoma State loses. 

This team needs an early Christmas gift, and depends on assistance from the Razorbacks and Cowboys to fulfill their dreams.