BCS Rankings Week 14: Who's Overrated, Underrated or Just Right?

Championship week is upon us as the college football regular season is drawing to a close this coming weekend. The BCS championship game is all but determined, so barring any major upsets or shakeups, it will be Alabama vs. LSU.

No one will argue that the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country are where they belong after the seasons that have been produced, but there are some surprises that have occurred with the most recent release of the BCS standings.

There is always an argument for the non-automatic qualifier but that appears null now that the typical favorite has been handed a loss. The BCS has become anything but original as this will be the sixth season in a row that the SEC will likely win the national title.

Taking a look at this week’s BCS standings, here are the teams that are overrated, underrated and just right in the recent poll. 

No. 1 LSU Tigers: Just Right

The 12-0 (8-0 SEC) No. 1 LSU Tigers faced off against the 10-2 (6-2 SEC) No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks in one of the biggest games of the weekend this past Friday. The Tigers and Razorbacks were battling for position inside the SEC but also for a possible berth in the national title game.

Arkansas had a stretch of a dream for a title berth, but LSU completely controlled their destiny. The Tigers routed the Razorbacks 41-17 in a decisive victory that only further solidified the Tigers position as the No. 1 team in the country.

LSU will face off against the 10-2 (7-1 SEC) No. 13 Georgia Bulldogs in the Georgia Dome this week for the SEC title. LSU is likely to win big on their way to the BCS Championship game in New Orleans. 

No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide: Just Right

The 11-1 (7-1 SEC) No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide took over Auburn, Alabama as they routed their instate rival the 7-5 (4-4 SEC) No. 24 Auburn Tigers this past Saturday. The Crimson Tide further proved to the country that they are the second-best team in the country and, despite being second in their conference, they are second only to No. 1 LSU.

Alabama will undoubtedly benefit from not having to play in an additional game this coming week as their season is now over until their bowl game. All signs are pointing to a rematch against No. 1 LSU in the title game in New Orleans. 

No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys: Just Right

The 10-1 (7-1 Big 12) No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys are one game away from keeping their BCS national title hopes alive. The Cowboys will face off against the 9-2 (6-2 Big 12) No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners at home this week to finish the season and hopefully pull off a win against a Top-10 opponent.

The Cowboys have been able to linger around the top of the BCS despite a devastating loss to the 6-5 (3-5 Big 12) Iowa State Cyclones a week ago. If the Cowboys can pull off a big-enough win over Oklahoma, will the voters boost them above Alabama to avoid a rematch? It seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened. 

No. 4 Stanford Cardinal: Just Right

The 11-1 (8-1 Pac-12) No. 4 Stanford Cardinal marched to a steady victory against the 8-4 No. 22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish this past Saturday. The Irish traveled to Stanford looking for an upset victory while Andrew Luck and Co. had other plans.

Stanford did lose by 23 to Oregon, but they have won out and will only have a bowl game left to play. With only one loss on the docket, the Cardinal are a very favorable team in to round out the Top 5 and will be a good option for an at-large bid in the BCS picture. 

No. 5 Virginia Tech Hokies: Just Right

The 11-1 (7-1 ACC) No. 5 Virginia Tech Hokies have silently climbed their way to the Top 5 in the past few weeks. The Hokies have struggled in some of their games this season and even lost one game by 20 points to the 9-3 (6-2 ACC) No. 17 Clemson Tigers in Week 5.

The Hokies have battled back and finished the season strong since the loss, winning their most recent game against their in-state rival by 38 points. Virginia Tech will face off against Clemson one more time this coming week in the ACC title game as they hope to find redemption for the loss earlier this season. Win, and the Hokies will make it to a BCS bowl. 

No. 6 Houston Cougars: Just Right

The 12-0 (8-0 C-USA) No. 6 Houston Cougars are the lowest-ranked undefeated team currently found in the BCS. The Cougars and the Tigers of LSU are the only remaining undefeated teams. Why a one-loss Boise State team is still in the discussion is confusing as these Cougars have done more than what has been asked of them to earn some national respect.

Despite the virtual disappearance of non-automatic qualifier talk this season the Cougars deserve a shot at a BCS bowl game of some sort this season. The Cougars have one more contest on the regular-season schedule as they face off against the 10-2 (6-2 C-USA) No. 24 Southern Miss Golden Eagles in the Conference USA title game this coming Saturday. 

No. 7 Boise State Broncos: Overrated

The 10-1 (5-1 MWC) No.7 Boise State Broncos are basking in the light as the most-favored non-automatic qualifying school in the country. For two seasons in a row, the Broncos have lost games in the regular season yet they still manage to live on the wave of their amazing victory over Oklahoma years ago.

The Broncos have one more game on the schedule when they face off against the 1-10 (1-5 MWC) New Mexico Lobos this coming Saturday. This game is a sure win for the Boise State team and will likely keep them somewhere floating around the Top 10. 

No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks: Overrated

The 10-2 (6-2 SEC) No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks were absolutely routed by LSU this past Saturday in the battle for the Golden Boot that ended with LSU winning 41-17 in Baton Rouge. The Razorbacks lost to the current No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide 38-14 earlier in the year as well.

Both of the Razorbacks losses came by big margins to their in-conference rivals. Granted, they are the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, but Arkansas proved Saturday that they aren’t quite ready for the big stage and a BCS bowl berth in 2011. 

No. 9 Oregon Ducks: Underrated

The 10-2 (8-1 Pac-12) No. 9 Oregon Ducks will face off against the 6-6 (5-4 Pac-12) UCLA Bruins this coming Saturday in the Pac-12 inaugural championship game. The Bruins have become the default winner of the Pac-12 South due to violations against the 10-2 (7-2 Pac-12) USC Trojans.

The Ducks are way underrated sitting at No. 9, but unfortunately a win against UCLA won’t do much to boost their stock. Look for the Ducks to win the Pac-12 title and finish the season in the Rose Bowl. 

No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners: Just Right

The 9-2 (6-2 Big 12) No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners have one final test that awaits them this coming week. The Sooners will travel to face their in-state rival, the No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Sooners will look for an upset victory in hopes of winning the Big 12 and gaining a BCS bowl berth.

With a victory the Sooners will most definitely climb in the final BCS standings and will make their way to a BCS bowl. Without the win over the Cowboys, the Sooners will be a longshot for an at-large bid. Right now, the Sooners are just right at No. 10. 

No. 11 Kansas State Wildcats: Just Right

The 9-2 (6-2 Big 12) No. 11 Kansas State Wildcats have one more game on their regular schedule as they face off this coming Saturday against Iowa State. The Wildcats are looking to finish one of their most successful seasons in at least a decade.

The Wildcats are not likely to receive a BCS bowl berth but are likely to finish in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. It will be a good bowl game to finish a great season for the Wildcats. 

No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks: Overrated

The 10-2 (6-2 SEC) No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks have managed to battle through the dismissal of their starting quarterback and a loss to a mediocre conference foe at home. They have also battled through the loss of one of the best running backs in the country as Marcus Lattimore fell to injury at midseason.

The Gamecocks have managed to win their games, but they have not always been impressive. At this point, No. 12 may be a little too high for the Gamecocks and, given a tougher schedule, they would be far from the top of SEC. They are nowhere near the Top 15 in the country right now.  

No. 13 Michigan State Spartans: Underrated

The 10-2 (7-1 Big Ten) No. 13 Michigan State Spartans will have a rematch on their hands as they face off against the 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten) No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten championship game this coming Saturday.

The Spartans defeated the Badgers earlier this season on a Hail Mary pass will be put to a big test this week as the Badgers are playing their best football. The championship game will decide whether the Spartans or Badgers make it to a BCS game, but right now the Spartans are sitting a little too low in the standings. 

No. 14 Georgia Bulldogs: Underrated

The 10-2 (7-1 SEC) No. 14 Georgia Bulldogs started the season off on the wrong foot with two losses out of the gate. The Bulldogs opened the season with a loss to the Boise State Broncos and then lost a close battle to South Carolina. At this point, having won 10 games in a row, they are better than the Gamecocks.

Georgia will travel to Atlanta to face the No. 1 LSU Tigers in the SEC championship game this coming weekend and unless Georgia has the best performance of their season in Atlanta, the Bulldogs are likely to fall for the third time this year. After this week the Bulldogs will be where they belong, but today they are underrated. 

No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers: Underrated

The Wisconsin Badgers have had two heartbreaking losses this season that have ended their hopes at a national title run. They still have a shot at winning the Big Ten as they will face the No. 14 Michigan State Spartans in the title game this coming week, but the Badgers wanted more when the season began.

Despite the lack of press that the Badgers are getting, Russell Wilson and Montee Ball are both pushing toward the record books with Ball edging closer and closer to the total rushing touchdowns in a season record. Wilson is on pace to set the quarterback passer efficiency rating record.

The Badgers will earn a shot at a BCS game with a win this week against the Spartans; until then, the Badgers are still underappreciated and underrated. 

No. 16 Michigan Wolverines: Just Right

The 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten) No. 16 Michigan Wolverines are likely one of the best two-loss teams in the country. Besides not showing up for the Iowa game, the Wolverines have played really well for the majority of the season.

The Wolverines finished their regular season with a win over their biggest rival, the 6-6 (3-5 Big Ten) Ohio State Buckeyes. The Wolverines have a shot at earning a BCS at-large bid, but that is still up in the air and depends on how the championship game finishes inside the Big Ten this weekend. 

No. 17 Baylor Bears: Just Right

The 8-3 (5-3 Big 12) No. 17 Baylor Bears finish their season this coming week against the 7-4 (4-4 Big 12) No. 25 Texas Longhorns at home. The Bears have faced numerous ups and downs this season as their defense has often been porous, but, following the lead of Robert Griffin III, the Bears could finish the season on a special note.

The Bears have a great chance to earn some additional national respect if they can beat the Longhorns this coming week. After beating the No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners just two weeks ago, another marquee win will prove why the Bears are just right in the current BCS. 

No. 18 TCU Horned Frogs: Just Right

The 9-2 (6-0 MWC) No. 18 TCU Horned Frogs have one game remaining on their schedule for the 2011 regular season. This coming week the Horned Frogs will face off against the 2-9 (1-5 MWC) UNLV Rebels.

The Horned Frogs have been inconsistent at times this season, but after defeating No. 6 Boise State two weeks ago the Horned Frogs seem to be playing their best football. A win to finish the regular season will give the Horned Frogs another 10-win season, but a trip to the BCS is not in the cards. 

No. 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers: Just Right

The 9-3 (5-3 Big Ten) No. 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers finished their season with a win against the 7-5 (4-4 Big Ten) Iowa Hawkeyes this past Friday. The Cornhuskers finished third in the legends division of the Big Ten in their first season playing in the conference.

Nebraska is a team that is competitive defensively and will bruise their opponent with their running game but the Cornhuskers have fallen short in a few games this season. Nebraska will undoubtedly go bowling this season with a likely berth in the Outback Bowl. 

No. 20 Clemson Tigers: Just Right

The 9-3 (6-2 ACC) Clemson Tigers faced their third blowout loss in the past four weeks against No. 12 South Carolina this past Saturday. The Clemson Tigers have fallen heavily after once being in the Top 5 in the BCS.

The Tigers will face off this coming week against No. 4 Virginia Tech in what will be a rematch of a game that the Tigers won earlier in the season. The Tigers have fallen a long way in recent weeks, but sitting at No. 20 is right where the Clemson Tigers belong. 

No. 21 Penn State Nittany Lions: Just Right

The 9-3 (6-2 Big Ten) No. 21 Penn State Nittany Lions are coming off of a major loss to No. 15 Wisconsin on the road this past week. The Badgers rolled over the Nittany Lions on their quest for a berth in the Big Ten title game.

The Nittany Lions have played well throughout the season and have held on despite the allegations that have surrounded the program. Where they head to a bowl game is still up in the air but as of now Penn State is right where they belong in the BCS. 

No. 22 Texas Longhorns: Just Right

The 7-4 (4-4 Big 12) No. 22 Texas Longhorns have battled their way back into the BCS discussion this week with their win over in-state rival 6-6 (4-5 Big 12) Texas A&M Aggies. The Longhorns have had a wild ride to make it to No. 22 this season with one more game left on the docket.

The Longhorns face off against No. 17 Baylor this coming week and a win would obviously increase the Longhorns position. A loss for Texas may push them back outside the Top 25 after this week. For right now, the Longhorns are sitting just right. 

No. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers: Just Right

The 8-3 (4-2 Big East) No. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers have won consistently this season but they have also lost games that they never should have. Against No.1 LSU, the Mountaineers were simply outmanned. Against Louisville and Syracuse, West Virginia didn’t show up.

Right now the Mountaineers have one more game left against the 5-6 (1-5 Big East) South Florida Bulls this coming Thursday. A win for the Mountaineers will keep them in the BCS Top 25, but it will likely keep them far outside of a BCS berth. The Mountaineers are right where they belong at No. 23.

No. 24 Southern Miss Golden Eagles: Just Right

The 10-2 (6-2 C-USA) No. 24 Southern Miss Golden Eagles rose to new heights as they worked their way to eight straight wins earlier this season. The Golden Eagles were upset on the road against the 3-9 (3-5 C-USA) UAB Blazers on November 17, ending their hope at chasing a BCS at-large bid.

The Golden Eagles have climbed their way back into the Top 25 and will face off this coming Saturday against the No. 6 Houston Cougars in the Conference USA title game. Southern Miss has the chance to finish the season with a huge victory, but Houston is likely to earn the win. Southern Miss is right where they belong in the Top 25 today, but after this coming weekend they are likely to fall out again. 

No. 25 Missouri Tigers: Overrated

The 7-5 (5-4 Big 12) No. 25 Missouri Tigers marched to a victory this past Saturday in their final game inside the Big 12 conference. The Tigers have been mediocre this season and are likely coming into the Top 25 based on their conference affiliation.

They are currently the fifth-best team in a very mediocre Big 12 conference and finish the season looking for a decent bowl bid. Missouri snuck into the BCS standings this week as there are a few other teams in the FBS that are on the cusp of the Top 25.