While there are still two more weeks to produce some BCS chaos, let's not overlook the fact that one team on nobody's radar could be locking up a share of the national championship as soon as next week. Ohio State might be out-of-sight, out-of-mind as far as the BCS is concerned, it's very much alive to win the AP national championship, which is every bit as prestigious as the BCS one.
The Buckeyes, currently ranked fourth in the AP poll, is one of only two unbeaten teams left in the country. A victory over Michigan next week will complete Ohio State's season at 12-0, and more significantly, how they play against the Wolverines will have an impact on the voters. Remember, Notre Dame needed six Michigan turnovers to get by in that game at home, 13-6.
Should the Irish defeat the Max Wittek-led Trojans to also finish 12-0 next week, they'll be in the BCS title game. And according to Danny Sheridan, they'll also be an underdog - and possibly a double-digit underdog - against any other team currently in the BCS top five in the title game. If Notre Dame is routed in Miami to leave Ohio State as the lone unbeaten team, will the Buckeyes take the AP title?
Or what if Wittek leads USC to an upset at the Coliseum, will that be enough to catapult Ohio State to No. 1 in the AP poll next week? If that's the case, the Buckeyes can size for their national title rings even before November is out. How about that - all the BCS chaos for only half of the national championship?
BCS Bowl Projections
BCS national championship: Notre Dame vs. Alabama
Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Oklahoma
Fiesta Bowl: Oregon vs. Kansas State
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Nebraska
Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Rutgers
(FULL ARTICLE @ SB NATION)
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2 comments:
Mild disagreement with AP being every bit as prestigious as BCS. My opinion is that disallowing teams on probation raises the prestige and should be rewarded.
This was a silly article. Ohio State was never going to jump the Georgia/Alabama winner who would need to win the SECCG and BCSNCG while the Buckeyes just sat at home twiddling their thumbs.
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