I love trying to figure out the top ten in the BCS after Saturday, and here is my prediction for what the computers will produce today:
1. LSU. The lead that LSU has with the human voters will only increase, and they will be listed as #1 or #2 in every computer poll now.
2. Oklahoma State. The computers LOVE the Pokes (and they love the team they just beat, K-State), and they will be #2 on just about every human poll. They will be closing the gap with LSU, and will have a stranglehold on #2. An NC game invite is theirs to lose at this point.
3. Stanford. They will be slightly ahead of Alabama today. I honestly think that the difference between #3-#5 will be within .01 and you could basically swap either of them in those positions. But, for now, Stanford will be the #3 team in the standings, far enough behind OSU where OSU will be controlling their own destiny, even if Stanford destroys UO.
4. Alabama. Boise State backers will continue to gripe and moan about being behind by a team with a loss, but Alabama didn't lose to LSU by enough for them to fall behind Boise. The computers obviously put a heavy emphasis on both SOS and Opponents' SOS, and 'Bama will be ahead of Boise in the human polls. I think that the computers will be split on 'Bama/Boise and the Tide's lead in the human polls will be enough to be slightly ahead of Boise.
5. Boise State. You beat UNLV. Hooray. Enjoy staying right where you are in the BCS rankings. Don't get me wrong, I love watching Boise play. Kellen Moore is awesome, Chris Petersen is the man, and their defense is underrated, but until they move to a conference where they are facing an opponent that's ranked higher than 75th each week, they will continue to be overlooked by even the 1-loss big boys.
6. Oklahoma. Forget about where they stand right now in the BCS standings (and this is where they will end up): losing Broyles for the season is where they meet their end. They needed their best playmaker to have a huge game against Okie State to be able to trade TDs with them, and he won't even be on the field. Broyles getting hurt is the best thing to happen to Oklahoma State's NC hopes.
7. Arkansas. The computers really don't like Oregon this year and Arkansas was far enough behind OU that they will make up some ground after their beating of SC (who all but two computers had higher than Arkansas), but they won't be getting much closer to OU at this point.
8. Oregon. Got a good win against Washington, and both teams below them lost. I personally think they should be higher than Arkansas, who almost found a way to lose against Ole Miss and Vandy, but they are far enough behind right now that will not happen. They will hold steady at #8 and be far ahead of the #9 team.
9. Clemson. They will get a bump by default with both South Carolina and Nebraska losing. They'll be in the top 10, but the disparity between them and the #8 team is going to be so great, and all of the teams above them are so far ahead of them in the rankings, that they would not make the NC game over even a 2-loss OU or Bama team, even if they win out.
10. Virginia Tech. See Clemson.
1. LSU. The lead that LSU has with the human voters will only increase, and they will be listed as #1 or #2 in every computer poll now.
2. Oklahoma State. The computers LOVE the Pokes (and they love the team they just beat, K-State), and they will be #2 on just about every human poll. They will be closing the gap with LSU, and will have a stranglehold on #2. An NC game invite is theirs to lose at this point.
3. Stanford. They will be slightly ahead of Alabama today. I honestly think that the difference between #3-#5 will be within .01 and you could basically swap either of them in those positions. But, for now, Stanford will be the #3 team in the standings, far enough behind OSU where OSU will be controlling their own destiny, even if Stanford destroys UO.
4. Alabama. Boise State backers will continue to gripe and moan about being behind by a team with a loss, but Alabama didn't lose to LSU by enough for them to fall behind Boise. The computers obviously put a heavy emphasis on both SOS and Opponents' SOS, and 'Bama will be ahead of Boise in the human polls. I think that the computers will be split on 'Bama/Boise and the Tide's lead in the human polls will be enough to be slightly ahead of Boise.
5. Boise State. You beat UNLV. Hooray. Enjoy staying right where you are in the BCS rankings. Don't get me wrong, I love watching Boise play. Kellen Moore is awesome, Chris Petersen is the man, and their defense is underrated, but until they move to a conference where they are facing an opponent that's ranked higher than 75th each week, they will continue to be overlooked by even the 1-loss big boys.
6. Oklahoma. Forget about where they stand right now in the BCS standings (and this is where they will end up): losing Broyles for the season is where they meet their end. They needed their best playmaker to have a huge game against Okie State to be able to trade TDs with them, and he won't even be on the field. Broyles getting hurt is the best thing to happen to Oklahoma State's NC hopes.
7. Arkansas. The computers really don't like Oregon this year and Arkansas was far enough behind OU that they will make up some ground after their beating of SC (who all but two computers had higher than Arkansas), but they won't be getting much closer to OU at this point.
8. Oregon. Got a good win against Washington, and both teams below them lost. I personally think they should be higher than Arkansas, who almost found a way to lose against Ole Miss and Vandy, but they are far enough behind right now that will not happen. They will hold steady at #8 and be far ahead of the #9 team.
9. Clemson. They will get a bump by default with both South Carolina and Nebraska losing. They'll be in the top 10, but the disparity between them and the #8 team is going to be so great, and all of the teams above them are so far ahead of them in the rankings, that they would not make the NC game over even a 2-loss OU or Bama team, even if they win out.
10. Virginia Tech. See Clemson.