Could Week Eight cause Shakeup in the BCS?
Posted on October 21, 2011 by Jacob Bunn
To this point in the season, there have not been any major upsets of teams now rated at the top of the BCS standings. Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and others have navigated their schedules so far with little challenge. Of course, the Bayou Bengal Tigers will travel to Tuscaloosa in two weeks to face the Tide, which will give one of those teams a loss. But, that’s not what I mean when I talk about shakeup.
Recall 2007; it was a year tailor made for those who have been routinely critical of the BCS. It quickly became the year of the upset as the fifth-ranked Michigan Wolverines were knocked off on the first Saturday by Appalachian State, which hails from division two. The team ranked number two nationally was defeated seven times during the season and on the weekend of November 24, 2007, both number one and two in the BCS standings (LSU and Kansas) were beaten.
Inexplicably, LSU was knocked off twice during that regular season as the top ranked team. After going into the weekend of the SEC Championship Game as the seventh-rated BCS team, the Tigers came out of it ranked number two and heading to New Orleans for the national championship game.
That season was the height of BCS pandemonium, but it was also the height of intrigue. When the season rolls along according to plan with all of the highest rated teams winning, it becomes uninteresting and boring, frankly. That is what we have had this tear to this point. But needless to say, it is only October 21st.
If major upsets are going to take place and disorder is going to ensue this season, when will it happen? Well, take a look at the schedule for this weekend. All of the top teams are in action, and most of them are playing competition that is inferior. Is that not the classic recipe for upheaval?
4 Oklahoma State at Missouri – The Tigers took down the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners last season in Columbia, so no one can count this as an automatic win for the Cowboys.
North Carolina at 7 Clemson – North Carolina has had a turbulent season so far for sure, but nothing would sooth the wounds of a troubling offseason and season more than a defeat of undefeated and highly ranked Clemson. Plus, the Tigers didn’t exactly look dominating last weekend against Maryland.
11 Kansas State at Kansas – How many times will you hear this weekend, “Well, it is a rivalry game” or, “You can throw out the record books when those two meet.” I have news for everyone; Kansas State is on a roll and will stay that way after this weekend.
20 Auburn at 1 LSU – LSU has had a rough week with three of its biggest contributors being suspended for this game. Nonetheless, I believe the Tigers from the bayou will win the battle of the tigers this year in the SEC. But, the way Auburn has played so far this year could indicate a close game.
Tennessee at 2 Alabama – It is the ‘Third Saturday in October,’ played on the fourth Saturday in October. Tennessee has not been competitive in this rivalry for some time. That being said, the Vols did give the Tide quite a scare last time it went to Tuscaloosa. Alabama escaped that one with a blocked field goal. This time around, I doubt it will be a thriller.
Texas Tech at 3 Oklahoma – Next game please. If you are looking for an upset, go to the next option. This one is in Norman, and the Sooners just have thing rolling right now.
6 Wisconsin at 16 Michigan State – This one could get interesting. Last week, the Spartans defeated archrival Michigan for the fourth consecutive year, and this week they get to play the top-rated Big Ten program at their house. I think Mark Dantonio’s squad has an excellent chance to win the game, but to do that they will have to not make mistakes. If they make a lot of errors, Russell Wilson and the Wisconsin offense will take full advantage.
25 Washington at 8 Stanford – If this game was going to be played in Seattle, I might have to pick the Huskies for the upset. Instead, though, the contest will take place in Stanford. Because of that, I believe quarterback Andrew Luck will lead the Cardinal to a victory.
There is an abundance of opportunities for upsets to take place. It could go the way the first half of the season went with no surprises. But this is the BCS, for Pete’s sake; something outside of the normality of predictable outcomes has to eventually occur. The biggest questions to be asked are when it will happen and which team(s) will be victimized.
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Email Jacob at jacob@bunnsports.com and follow him on Twitter at @JacobBunn
