BCS Bowl Projections: Which Team Will Unbeaten Houston Knock out of a BCS Game?

There's a singular word that defines college football greatness.  That word is undefeated.

There's a team dangling among the undefeated.  They are ready to flatten the rankings like a Humvee in Afghanistan.  They are the Houston Cougars, set apart by a perfect record.  

Prepare thyself.  The watch has been issued for the home-wrecking Cougars to do just that ... destroy the dreams of a BCS bowl dance for some teams who think they are deserving.

This Cougar team—projected to land a No. 7 spot in the BCS rankings—is ready to boot out the best. That's got some coaches and fans feeling a little antsy about where they might be spending the holiday bowl season.

Houston is now officially ready to play football with the big boys.  After a win this weekend over Tulsa (48-16), this Cougar team is 12-0 and 8-0 in conference play, officially transforming them into BCS spoilers. 

But there's more to this Cinderella story.  

The Houston Cougars will have their chance to make their first ever BCS appearance if they defeat the Southern Miss Golden Eagles next weekend in the Conference USA title game.  If they win, as expected, watch them make a case for playing with the big boys in the BCS.  And if that happens, pass the tissue to these teams who will miss the BCS bowl game mark thanks to a bunch of cats.    

BCS Bowl Projections: Houston Could Go Hog Wild and Knock out Arkansas

The Arkansas Razorbacks blew their chance for national title contention with their 41-17 loss to LSU. Although Houston won't move into the No. 3 spot Arkansas once claimed, they could send the Razorbacks into orbit to a non-BCS bowl.

The Razorbacks are projected to fall behind the Cougars in the rankings.  With the BCS taking care of this SEC opponent, the Houston rise will catch the eyes of BCS bowl scouts.

With Case Keenum's skyrocket to fame, this six-year quarterback's recent play has given the Cougars plenty of headlines.  Keenum passed for 318 yards and a touchdown setting an FBS career record for completions.  As the players returned home from Tulsa, fans were dancing in the streets to greet their team.  Their conference championship game next week sold out quickly.    

As for Arkansas, the defeat by LSU was sobering.  With their only previous loss to Alabama (38-14), will the glitter of the underdog secure the Cougars a BCS bowl berth over the Hogs, now a two-loss team? Will Arkansas fans be frying their bacon this year, in a non-BCS bowl game rather than bringing it?

Odds Houston Boots Arkansas for a BCS Bowl: 50 % 

BCS Bowl Projections: Could Houston Put Stanford on Thin Ice?

Like a game of musical chairs, there are only so many places for a booty to sit when the music stops.

Odds are, Stanford's chairs might be running out, thanks for Houston's stellar record.  

The past weekend's statistics worked against the Cardinals who beat Notre Dame 28-14 and left these birds batting BCS eyes with an 11-1 record.  But will it be enough? .

Alabama beat Auburn, almost positively securing a Tide spot in the BCS National Championship game. If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, the scenario could present another issue.  It appears Oregon will claim a BCS spot with their defeat of Oregon State and Virginia Tech—if they win their conference championship next weekend—will fight and rightly so, for a BCS bowl spot.

Can Stanford hang on for a BCS bowl opportunity with undefeated Houston knocking on the door? 

Odds Houston Will Bump Stanford: 50%

BCS Bowl Projections: Can Cougar Talent Bump Boise out of a BCS Bowl?

There's hope for the Cougars to a slice of the BCS bowl game dessert.  The Cougar's post season finish might just take the blue out of the Boise pie.

At the season's start, Boise's dreams of a national title were as true as Mom's apple pie, but this recipe didn't call for a loss to TCU.  Boise was among the non-automatic qualifying teams and indeed, a favorite dish at the season's start.  The sudden crimp in the Boise plans opened the door for Houston, who now needs to beat Southern Miss next weekend to assure it's climb.

A win over Southern Miss win for the Cougars could position them for a Case Keenum showdown that could end in a star-lit BCS bowl for Houston.  Boise fans might be forever haunted by a team (Houston) that wasn't even ranked when the season started. 

BCS Bowl Projections: Could Houston Put the Dawgs out of the House?

As the Georgia Bulldogs get ever-so-closer to breaking the BCS Top 10, Houston is set to bump the Dawgs out of a BCS bowl.  Retaining their perfect record through next weekend's conference championship, the Cougars are going to prove their toughness by getting in line for a BCS bowl game after they win their conference championship.  

While Dawg fans are still dreaming, Houston's conference win will shoe them in while the BCS slots are becoming slimmer with few one- and two-loss teams remaining.  With Georgia's enormous task at hand—beating the LSU Tigers—they know they must win the SEC Conference to get to a BCS Bowl game, which would be the only way to become BCS bowl eligible.

Odds: Houston gets a BCS Bowl invitation over the Georgia Bulldogs: 95%