BCS Rankings: Which Underrated Teams Are Ready To Soar?

The BCS was thrown for a loop this weekend. The upsets started on Friday night with Oklahoma State going down at the hands of Iowa State, and they kept coming until the final game was finished. 

Now, with so much chaos and disorder staring the computers square in the face, the only thing that makes any sense is LSU at No. 1. Beyond that, everything is going to be a crap shoot. We think we know who will be No. 2 (Alabama), but what do we really know?

The BCS has always been a great source of controversy and debate among college football fans, and that certainly seems to be the case this year as we enter the final weeks of the regular season. 

So which teams stand to gain the most from all the upsets on Saturday when the new rankings are released tonight?

Arkansas Razorbacks

Before this week’s games, no one was talking about Arkansas in the SEC. It was all about LSU and Alabama, and whether or not we would see a rematch between them in the national championship game.

Now, Arkansas is likely going to be the No. 3 team when the BCS rankings are released—ironically, behind LSU and Alabama. But they will have their chance to make a statement against LSU on Friday afternoon.

Thanks to Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Oregon losing, the Razorbacks have a chance to play in the national championship game. But they have to take care of their own business first.

Michigan Wolverines

I know that Big Blue will not be playing in the Big Ten Championship Game, but there are a lot of analysts who believe that will actually work to the Wolverines’ benefit when it comes time to pick teams for the BCS.

Since Michigan “only” has to defeat Ohio State this week and does not have to deal with an additional game that could result in a loss, a victory will leave a great impression on the computers and selection committees.

The Wolverines look even better when you consider that the teams in front of them—Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Clemson—all have recent losses to inferior competition.

Again, this point becomes moot if they don’t beat Ohio State, but as things stand right now, they look poised to make it back to the BCS for the first time since 2007.

Houston Cougars

The Cougars were going to go to a BCS bowl if they went undefeated regardless of what happened to the other teams this weekend by being undefeated and breaking into the Top 10, but all the chaos on Saturday made them look even better.

No longer will we have to debate whether or not Case Keenum and Co. deserve to play in one of the biggest bowl games. Now we get to talk about which one they will be playing in. The odds are good that it will be the Fiesta Bowl, but with the selection committees, you never know.

Houston has a game against a good Tulsa team Friday that could derail their BCS hopes, but assuming they are able to take care of business, there should be no wonder or doubt left in anyone’s mind about their place among college football’s elite in 2011.