Undefeated teams

[Mister Falcon]

There are currently 18 undefeated teams in D1-A.

Big 12 (5)
Missouri
Oklahoma St.
Oklahoma
Texas

Texas Tech

SEC (4)
Vanderbilt
Kentucky
Alabama
LSU

Big 10 (2)
Northwestern
Penn St.

Big East (2)
Connecticut
South Florida

Mountain West (2)
Utah
BYU

Western Athletic (1)
Boise St.

Conference USA (1)
Tulsa

Mid-American (1)
Ball St.

ACC (0)

Pac 10 (0)

Sun Belt (0)

Independents (0)

Given the above, here are my thoughts on the BCS National Championship:

If any team goes undefeated out of the SEC or Big 12, they will play for it all at the end of the season. Best bets are Alabama (weak schedule other than @ LSU) and ou (sucks).

Barring undefeated teams from both the Big 12 and the SEC, an undefeated Penn St. team would get in.

Next in line would be an undefeated Big East team. I think UConn drops at UNC next week. South Florida has a slightly easier schedule. An undefeated Big East team getting in ahead of a one-loss SEC or Big 12 team would create some controversy (and justifiably so).

Utah and BYU are where it gets really interesting. I think that one of these teams will go undefeated. Both teams play TCU and each other. Utah also plays a revitalized Oregon St. team next week. I suspect that BYU will come out unscathed. A major controvery will arise if one of these teams is undefeated and in contention against a 1-loss SEC, Big 12, or USC team. In such an event, I suspect the Mountain West will get screwed against the SEC and possibly against the Big 12 or USC. A one-loss Penn State team would probably get jumped due to the Big 10 stigma (especially if Penn St.'s one loss is to Ohio St.). You could also argue that an undefeated Mountain West team would be more deserving than an undefeated Big East team.

My only other note is that USC could still sneak in if 1) they blow out everyone for the rest of the year, 2) Ohio St. wins out, and 3) there are no undefeated teams left from the Big 12, SEC, and Big East. In my opinion, this scenario is more likely than you think; don't overestimate the impact of early season losses.

My BCS National Championship prediction: Winner of Alabama-LSU (one loss) versus ou (one loss). Last teams out will be loser of Alabama-LSU, Penn St. (one loss), Missouri (one loss to ou in Big 12 championship game), and BYU (undefeated). USC will also be in the mix.

 

[Mister Falcon]

Just for the hell of it, here's how I would prioritize individual teams:

1. Alabama: In the driver's seat, and has a good chance even if they lose at LSU. Schedule is pretty reasonable.
2. ou: I doubt they will lose more than one game (Mizzou can't beat them, but I suspect they drop one out of Texas, Tech, and Ok. State).
3. Penn St.: Likely in if they go undefeated, but I think they lose one out of Ohio St., Wisconsin, and Michigan (who they always lose to).
4. USC: They'll fly under the radar, kicking undermatched asses until the end of the year. Timing is everything in college football.
5. BYU: I think they'll go undefeated.
6. Utah: Unless Utah beats them.
6. Mizzou: Would have them higher but they haven't shown me that they can beat ou, who they should get in the Big 12 championship game. Possible loss to Texas.
7. LSU: Needs a quarterback
8. Texas: Tough schedule this year
9 and 10. Georgia and Florida: See USC, above.
11 and 12. South Florida and UConn: Would have to go undefeated, and would sicken me if some crappy Big East school made it in.

 

[Hpslugga]

In an ideal world where stupid people have no power (i.e. the BCS and those that support it), we would have a playoff. But we do not live in an ideal world and stupid people have power. So here's the ideal situation for the end of this regular season:

1. Less than two BCS conference champions have perfect records.

2. Tulsa, Ball State, Boise State, and the winner of BYU vs Utah win their respective conferences with perfect overall records. Under that scenario, BYU/Utah are a virtual lock for a BCS bowl berth. Boise's ranking would get a late rush with a win over Fresno (assuming Fresno wins every game except that one). Tulsa could potentially flirt with the BCS requirement simply because they would have to play an extra game (CCG) which means 1 extra shot at improving their ranking. Same applies to Ball State, but they play in easily the 2nd worst conference in Division 1A (ahead of only the Sun Belt) so their SOS isn't going to look good. In fact I'm completely writing off the possibility of them cracking the BCS top 20 with a perfect 13-0 record, much less the required 14 spot. Nonetheless, it's one more gripe that the BCS would have to deal with. It's kinda like using the swinging gate as a coach. The more **** the BCS has to deal with, the better.