BCS Rankings Week 12: Georgia and Teams Outside Top 10 That Actually Matter

With the end of the 2011 college football season drawing near, there is a common misconception that teams outside the Top 10 don't stand a chance when it comes to the BCS. 

That isn't the case at all, as a few teams who aren't ranked that high do amount to something in the college football world. 

A lot can happen with only a few games left, and the BCS situation could suffer a drastic change at a moment's notice. 

Here are a few teams not currently in the Top 10 that actually matter in college football. 

No. 14 Georgia 

The Bulldogs come off a very impressive win over one of their most hated rivals, the Auburn Tigers. Few people expected a blowout victory, but it turned a lot of heads and got people talking about Georgia. 

Now a game away from winning the SEC East (only last-place Kentucky stands in their way), Georgia is likely to meet the No. 1 LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship game, assuming the Tigers get past the Arkansas Razorbacks in the last game of the season. 

After starting the season 0-2, Georgia has done a tremendous job turning things around. Head coach Mark Richt told reporters in his weekly press conference that he doesn't see his team losing sight of their goals (per Seth Emerson, writer for The Macon Telegraph). 

Before you write off the Bulldogs, remember that LSU hasn't faced a top-notch quarterback all season. The best quarterback they've played against so far this year was Geno Smith of West Virginia, and he threw for 463 yards against the vaunted Tiger defense. 

We'll have to see how the Tigers' defense does against Tyler Wilson of Arkansas in a few weeks, but if they're unable to prevent Wilson from throwing the ball all over place, then Aaron Murray should be able to come through as well. 

In no way am I saying the Bulldogs will dominate the Tigers, but Georgia has a fighting chance because of Murray's rocket arm and their stout defense. 

They may be No. 14 in the country, but the Bulldogs have the potential to shake up the BCS big time. 

No. 11 Houston 

OK, so the Cougars are on the outside looking in, but they still have a ton of doubters. Such is the case when you don't play in a BCS automatic-qualifying conference. 

Still, the Cougars have the No. 1 total offense in college football, and it's no secret that Case Keenum is a very good quarterback.

Call him a product of the system all you want, but the guy can throw and he does a heck of a job leading the Cougars to victory, making very few mistakes along the way.

Keenum has thrown 37 touchdown passes and only three interceptions, which is absolutely remarkable. 

Houston isn't going to lose a game this season, and now that the Boise State Broncos have lost a game, the Cougars will be the one non AQ school to crash the BCS. 

No. 17 Wisconsin 

The Badgers would be in the national title hunt if not for their two heart-breaking losses earlier in the year. Nevertheless, they will play in the Rose Bowl once they win the first-ever Big Ten Conference championship game. 

Wisconsin won't have any trouble beating a depleted Penn State team, which will put them as the winners of the Big Ten Leaders division. The Badgers would then likely face the Michigan State Spartans in the conference title game.  

Russell Wilson and Montee Ball will not lose to the Spartans for a second time, especially not on a last-second Hail Mary. Wisconsin will be extra motivated to get revenge on the Spartans because of how painful that first loss was. 

If the Badgers hadn't lost that game, there is a strong chance they would still be undefeated. You can't change the past, though, which is why the Badgers will look to right the future by demolishing each and every team left on their schedule. 

Rank	Team	BCS Average
1	LSU	.9933
2	Oklahoma State	.9642
3	Alabama	.9099
4	Oregon	.8755
5	Oklahoma	.8400
6	Arkansas	.7974
7	Clemson	.6935
8	Virginia Tech	.6755
9	Stanford	.6747
10	Boise State	.5959
11	Houston	.567
12	South Carolina	.528
13	Kansas State	.497
14	Georgia	.453
15	Michigan State	.439
16	Nebraska	.382
17	Wisconsin	.333
18	Michigan	.295
19	TCU	.252
20	Southern Mississippi	.245
21	Penn State	.230
22	Baylor	.136
23	Texas	.120
24	Auburn	.079
25	Florida State	.071