BCS Rankings: Predicting the Biggest Week 14 Risers and Fallers

And then there was one, as in weeks remaining in the college football regular season. It is championship week for several teams that are still awaiting to be officially locked into a BCS Bowl.

However, there is one team that will be sitting home next weekend awaiting for the BCS Selections show on Sunday. Only 10 teams make the BCS with six automatic berths from winning their conferences. 

The four at-large bids are almost already a lock, but we have learned that nothing is a sure thing in wake of last weekend, where we saw three top-five teams lose within 24 hours.

Riser: Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines will not be participating in the Big Ten Championship, but they will soon pass the loser of the Big Ten Championship.

Michigan has a great of chance of perhaps sneaking in the top 10, but they need to be in the top 14 to get an at-large bid.

That is not only a lock, but so are their chances of being selected over, say, Kansas State. The Wildcats do not hold a candle to the way the all-time winningest program travels, and money speaks in the BCS.

Plus, it is not like the Wolverines are worse than Kansas State; the Wolverines have been playing some solid football as of late.

The next destination for the Maize and Blue will likely be the Sugar Bowl against Houston, assuming they were to win the Conference USA Championship.

Faller: Michigan State Spartans

Sparty is not going to be picked by many against the Badgers, though many forget Michigan State has won four straight.

However, Wisconsin is seemingly playing on another level right now and redemption should play a factor.

MSU has an elite defense to slow down Wisconsin every once in a while, but it is impossible to keep them under 20 points. Just ask the past few opponents—they have had major issues limiting them to less than half a hundred.

Jerel Worthy has all the talent in the world on defense, but at some point Kirk Cousins is going to have to play out of his mind and it is vital he receives a ton of help from the ground game.

There is too much momentum in the Badgers favor and I do not foresee Mark D'Antonio knocking off Bret Bielema twice in one season. 

Riser: Wisconsin Badgers

Having picked the Badgers to represent the Big Ten in Pasadena, why even ponder the thought of going against Wisconsin?

Russell Wilson is playing mistake-free football at quarterback and Montee Ball is putting up video game numbers in the backfield.

He leads the nation in total touchdowns with 34, which is just six shy of Barry Sanders' all-time record for most total touchdowns in a season ('88-'89).

Wisconsin's defense has had some issues against the pass as Kirk Cousins torched the Badgers back in October for 290 yards and three TDs (44 came on Hail Mary final play pass).

The Badgers have been getting much stronger at the line of scrimmage and are starting to tee off on quarterbacks who cannot run the ball.

Faller: Clemson Tigers

I tend to use that picture above from September because it seems that it has been that long since Clemson was smiling. 

The offense has completely fallen apart thanks to no blocking and zero production in the ground game. Luckily, Clemson clinched a berth in the ACC Championship, though the team has not shown the emotion you would like to see heading into Championship weekend.

They were dismantled by South Carolina 34-13, so the ACC Championship aspirations do not look good.

Riser: Virginia Tech Hokies

Clemson does not stand much of a chance right now because the Virginia Tech Hokies are looking like a legit BCS team. By no means are they on Alabama or LSU's level, but they could play with arguably any other team out there right now.

The defense has been swarming to the ball, thanks to an exceptional secondary led by Jayron Hosley, who seems to be at 100 percent (hamstring).

The offense is is in good hands with Logan Thomas at quarterback and star speedstar David Wilson running the ball.

Their 38-0 beatdown over Virginia clinched a berth in the ACC Championship and most have to believe they will seek some revenge for their only loss on the season (Clemson).

Faller: Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners were the preseason No. 1 and were picked by many to play in the BCS National Championship. However, they are on the verge of not even playing in a BCS Bowl.

They need to win in Stillwater, which will determine the Big 12 Championship and a trip to Glendale for an appearance in the BCS Fiesta Bowl.

Bedlam has been kind to Oklahoma since they have won seven in a row, but times are changing. Without Ryan Broyles, it does not look as if OU can keep up offensively, since the Cowboys will be full prepared coming off a bye week since their loss to Iowa State.

Riser: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Appearing in your very first BCS Bowl has to count for something, right? They are also just one win away from claiming their first Big 12 Championship in the BCS era, though they have lost seven straight to the Sooners.

Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden have had a connection that is tough to match, but the running and catching ability of Joseph Randle should be the difference in this one.

Faller: Louisville Cardinals

I could have chosen the Georgia Bulldogs as my faller, since I think LSU will prevail in an epic battle, but people are forgetting who really controls their destiny in the Big East.

It is not the Louisville Cardinals, as they remain in the clubhouse waiting for one more team to finish their season.

That would be the West Virginia Mountaineers, who would be a mortal lock for the Big East crown and an Orange Bowl appearance if they can knock off a team that the 'Ville just smoked.

WVU travel to Tampa to take on the South Florida Bulls, which will clearly decide the Big East.

Even though the Bearcats are tied with both teams, the tiebreaker will come down to the highest ranked team in the Big East and nobody will be close to being ranked except for West Virginia, who should be ranked in the low 20s.

A victory over the Bulls would make an exclamation point in year one under Dana Holgorsen. 

Faller: Houston Cougars

Call me crazy if you'd like, but in a season where we have seen three top-five teams lose in one weekend, I am banking on one more domino to fall.

The Houston Cougars are the only undefeated team not named LSU and they will be at home taking on a Southern Miss team that just came off a loss two weeks ago to UAB at home.

Not so fast, my friend!

Southern Miss ranks 37th in total defense and 20th in total offense (yards per game). Plus, they have the ball control type of offense that can grind out yards and drives which will leave Case Keenum and his video game-like offense on the sidelines. 

I thought Tulsa had a slim shot playing at home this past weekend and clearly Houston made them look bad, but they always say your toughest game is often your last one when everything is on the line.

Riser: Boise State Broncos

Poor New Mexico is going to get trounced by a Boise State team that may have something vital to play for if the Houston Cougars do falter. Their game is going to be about three hours after the Houston game ends, and if Boise State needs a blowout victory to get in the BCS, I would bank on them doing such.

Clearly, Boise State needs to take care of the Lobos, who rank just 115th in the latest BCS Rankings. However, if Houston were to win, then obviously this whole point is null and void.

Kansas State is really the only other team stepping in the way of the Broncos right now, since it looks as if TCU does not stand a chance to even crack 17th in the country (TCU must be in top 16 to get a berth).

This may seem like dream land, but stranger things have happened and people are writing off both Boise State and Southern Miss way too soon.

There is still one huge weekend ahead of us.