Big 12, SEC on title game collision
BCS intrigue has changed. It seems likely that instead of deciding combatants for the national title game, its primary purpose might be deciding who gets to play in the Big 12 championship game.
The results of Saturday — primarily Penn State’s loss to Iowa — means the national title game is likely to match the champions of the SEC and the Big 12, barring a big upset somewhere along the line.
The SEC and Big 12 hold the top five slots in this week’s BCS: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Tech, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Florida and No. 5 OU.
It seems unlikely for No. 6 Southern Cal, No. 7 Utah or No. 8 Penn State to crack the top two, unless they get some serious help. If Missouri won the Big 12 title game or Florida or Alabama lost before the SEC title game then won the SEC title, then that opens the door.
But with so many games remaining between contenders — OU-Tech and a Florida-Bama SEC title game — the current leaders don’t figure to be passed. Even if there’s an upset or two along the way, a fellow conference member stands ready to fill the gap.
Texas is third in this week’s BCS and OU is fifth, and computers give the Longhorns the edge. The coaches poll has OU fourth and Texas fifth, while the Harris poll reverses those rankings.
Computers lift the Longhorns. Texas is No. 3 in the computers, with OU tied for fifth with Florida. Utah is No. 4 in the computers.
What does it all mean? Well, the Sooners still are in excellent shape to move up, since they have two games left: against No. 2 Texas Tech (which is No. 1 in the computers) and No. 13 Oklahoma State (No. 11 in the computers).
If the Sooners can beat both Tech and OSU, no small task considering Tech is on fire and Bedlam is in Stillwater, the computers figure to move OU up significantly.
Texas’ best hope is that voters decide to keep the ‘Horns ahead of OU, but that seems a tall assignment considering the Sooners already lead in the coaches poll.
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