PHSports BCS Rankings & Bowl Projection

…Clement filling in for the remainder of the season…

Another weekend, another unranked opponent defeats another Top 5 team. In fact, another #1 lost at home this year. Frankly, it wasn’t that surprising to see Arkansas, led by Heisman hopeful RB Darren McFadden (aka Run DMc), pull the triple OT upset. LSU had been living a charmed life in the closing minutes of too many games. Not to mention, their redzone defense – healthy Glenn Dorsey or not – has been anything short of impressive.

With one more weekend to go, we now embark upon the second-to-last set of BCS ratings.

The saga continues…

Our view on pre-season rankings
Everything you saw back in August and September were simply suggestions by individuals who are supposed to be more knowledgeable than you or me. These “suggestions” serve as a reference point that allow for pundits without this season’s game tape to go off of.

How this ranking works?
This ranking will not be like a poll, which often drops a school’s ranking by a minimum of four spots for any loss regardless of circumstance. We will do our best to look at the full body of work. If you consistently win in unimpressive fashion, then I’ll note it. If you demolish teams and then produce a 60-minute brain fart on the gridiron, then I might forgive it to a degree.

Why only rank the top eight teams?
In a fantasy world, these top eight teams would participate in a playoff system, which would be played at seven current Bowl sites. If only the university presidents bought into this just and highly lucrative manner in which to crown a national champion.

RANKING FOR NOVEMBER 26th, 2007
1) Missouri: It seems as of late that being #1 in any poll, even this one, is a death wish. This may be more true than ever this week as Missouri tries its best to avenge its sole loss of the season (@ Oklahoma). Chase Daniel is the real deal but Oklahoma freshman QB Sam Bradford is more than legit. While seeing the Tigers in the BCS Title game would be a treat, I wonder if they can hold onto this slot longer than a week.

2) West Virginia: The Mountaineers started this season with high expectations, only to suffer a demoralizing loss early in the year in Tampa against South Florida. Fast forward a few months, and suddenly, they are the latest media darlings. Junior Pat White can do it all and has played in plenty of big-time games (including a magnificent Sugar Bowl as a freshman against senior David Greene and Georgia). While the “Backyard Brawl” against Pitt hardly seems taxing, Rich Rodriguez better convey to his team just how much a win would mean to a fading Pitt program.

3) Ohio State: Sitting pretty…or are they? Seemingly only 1 loss away from the BCS Title game, don’t make the mistake of thinking they are a lock to make the game in New Orleans. In fact, Missouri and WVU should enter as favorites (the Mountaineers much heavier ones). It could turn out that a guy named Juice may cost the Buckeyes repeat admittance into the season’s biggest game.

4) Georgia: Sit out the SEC Title game…enter the BCS Title game? It could happen, thanks in large part to a tremendous second-half surge led by a stud freshman running back. While they need far more help than the Buckeyes, Georgia isn’t as hard a sell as some may think. Honestly, I can’t find a sell for any team below them (assuming losses from Mizzou and WVU, of course).

5) Kansas: An ugly three quarters doesn’t mean this team deserves to take a freefall in the polls. Despite losing to who was clearly their best opponent, the Jayhawks should be BCS-bound, except for the fact that an Oklahoma win might make them the third choice from the Big XII. Hello, Cotton Bowl! Then again, that’s quite the achievement for the Jayhawks.

6) Hawaii: What’s this? While it’s not a crying shame that the Rainbow Warriors, the last undefeated team in the “Bowl Subdivision” deserves more than a BCS Bowl game. They beat every team in front of them. Now whether it’s the same in the WAC as that feat would be in the Big XII, SEC, or wherever is irrelevant. Enough said.

7) LSU: While they’ve been completely exposed, I won’t allow Va. Tech to overtake them in the rankings. Why? Even though the blowout victory seems seasons ago, it happened. It happened.

8) Virginia Tech: Maybe I’m not respecting them enough but who knows? Nevertheless, they’re one more win away from the Orange Bowl. It would also be more than sweet to avenge that brutal Blacksburg collapse to BC. This Glennon/Taylor duo is working quite well. If only Ore would turn it up, the Hokies could be a preseason favorite next season.

BCS Bowl Game Projections
Remember, we don’t assume any further games with these weekly projections.

BCS National Championship Game
Missouri vs. West Virginia

Orange Bowl
Virginia Tech vs. Arizona State

Fiesta Bowl
Kansas vs. Georgia

Rose Bowl
Ohio State vs. USC

Sugar Bowl
LSU vs. Hawaii

Until next time...