BCS Rankings: Boise State and Teams More Deserving of No. 2 Spot Than Alabama

The penultimate BCS rankings will be released in just a few hours and everyone knows who the top two teams will be: LSU and Alabama.

You can't argue against the undefeated Tigers being ranked No. 1, but the second spot should be up for more debate than it currently is. 

The Crimson Tide are getting overrated based on the fact that they play in the SEC, which is not nearly as strong this year as it has been in the past, and because they started the season ranked second in the country and only lost to No. 1 LSU. 

But there are compelling cases to be made for a few other teams that are not getting nearly enough national respect. Sure, they might be ranked in the top 10, but no one is mentioning them as national title contenders anymore. 

Here are three teams that have a legitimate argument to be ranked No. 2 when the BCS standings are released later on today. 

Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1)

So the Cowboys lost a game to Iowa State...big deal. They were competitive and were playing on the road in prime time. 

Alabama lost a game at home that it had every opportunity to win. Plus, the Cowboys have played a schedule that is just as tough as the Crimson Tide's.

This may not be a ringing endorsement for Mike Gundy's squad, but at least it didn't play a team in the Football Championship Subdivision. 

Oklahoma State still has to get by Oklahoma next week, but for now this team deserves to be ranked ahead of Alabama. 

Boise State Broncos (10-1)

"Blasphemy!" the Alabama fan would say. 

Really? What's your argument against Boise State?

They won't win its conference? Alabama doesn't get to play for an SEC championship, so that argument means nothing. 

"Yeah, but Boise State's schedule doesn't compare to the brutality of the SEC!"

Well, the Broncos' best win was over Georgia, which happens to be playing for the SEC championship, and they beat six teams with winning records (Alabama beat four teams with winning records and one of them was against Division I-AA Georgia Southern).

Say what you want about Boise State, but that program doesn't go out of its way to schedule cupcakes just to get an easy win. 

Stanford Cardinal (11-1)

Again, there can be no comments about the Cardinal not winning their conference. 

They have the best quarterback in the country in Andrew Luck, who has done more with less talent surrounding him than anyone else. They don't have the dynamic playmakers on offense or defense that Alabama does, yet they are ranked fourth in the AP polls. 

The Pac-12 is every bit as good and deep as the SEC this season, so there is no reason to think the Cardinal can't handle themselves against LSU. 

And, to put the final nail in the coffin, Stanford's best win (USC) is better than Alabama's best win (Arkansas). 

Just because USC isn't bowl eligible doesn't mean the Trojans aren't really good, and for Stanford to have a win over the Trojans should speak volumes.