The first BCS Standings of the 2013 season are going to come out after week 8 is played, on October 20. Up until now, the guiding beacon of upsets and BCS projections has been the AP Poll, which even isn’t taken into account to compute the BCS final number. However, one thing that seems quite consistent, is the appearance of Alabama, Oregon and Clemson (in that order) as the top 3 teams in the nation.
It actually gets iffy below second place, which means that there seems to be consensus between the voters (Harris & Coaches) and the computers about Alabama and Oregon being the best teams in the nation, but it’s a bit more complicated down the road, or at least at this point, separating between Clemson, Ohio State and Florida State, and where do one-loss teams like Texas A&M and LSU fit into all of this.
BCS RANK |
TEAM |
BCS AVG |
HARRIS VOTES |
HARRIS PCT |
COACHES VOTES |
COACHES PCT |
SAGARIN |
COLLEY |
ANDERSON-HESTER |
BILLINGSLEY |
MASSEY |
WOLFE |
CPU AVG |
1 |
Alabama |
0.9886 |
2589 |
0.9958 |
1545 |
0.9968 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
– |
1.6667 |
2 |
Oregon |
0.9333 |
2501 |
0.9619 |
1485 |
0.9581 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
– |
4 |
3 |
Clemson |
0.8932 |
2355 |
0.9058 |
1365 |
0.8806 |
11 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
– |
3.6667 |
4 |
Florida State |
0.8532 |
2198 |
0.8454 |
1293 |
0.8342 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
14 |
3 |
– |
4 |
5 |
Ohio State |
0.8347 |
2280 |
0.8769 |
1406 |
0.9071 |
10 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
11 |
– |
8 |
6 |
LSU |
0.7393 |
1914 |
0.7362 |
1098 |
0.7084 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
– |
6.6667 |
7 |
Texas A&M |
0.708 |
1919 |
0.7381 |
1156 |
0.7458 |
8 |
11 |
18 |
9 |
10 |
– |
10 |
8 |
UCLA |
0.6886 |
1719 |
0.6612 |
999 |
0.6445 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
17 |
6 |
– |
7 |
9 |
Louisville |
0.6305 |
1922 |
0.7392 |
1166 |
0.7523 |
9 |
18 |
19 |
11 |
25 |
– |
16 |
10 |
Missouri |
0.5811 |
1140 |
0.4385 |
617 |
0.3981 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
10 |
1 |
– |
3.3333 |
11 |
Stanford |
0.5743 |
1482 |
0.57 |
857 |
0.5529 |
17 |
9 |
11 |
6 |
13 |
– |
11 |
12 |
South Carolina |
0.5739 |
1511 |
0.5812 |
1024 |
0.6606 |
18 |
20 |
15 |
7 |
9 |
– |
14 |
13 |
Miami (Fla.) |
0.5692 |
1570 |
0.6038 |
905 |
0.5839 |
12 |
13 |
12 |
22 |
14 |
– |
13 |
14 |
Baylor |
0.5596 |
1451 |
0.5581 |
890 |
0.5742 |
4 |
12 |
10 |
15 |
16 |
– |
12.3333 |
15 |
Georgia |
0.4563 |
1014 |
0.39 |
546 |
0.3523 |
13 |
10 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
– |
10.3333 |
16 |
Texas Tech |
0.3567 |
1070 |
0.4115 |
587 |
0.3787 |
20 |
17 |
16 |
21 |
20 |
– |
19 |
17 |
Oklahoma |
0.3225 |
840 |
0.3231 |
482 |
0.311 |
19 |
21 |
13 |
8 |
22 |
– |
17.6667 |
18 |
Virginia Tech |
0.241 |
584 |
0.2246 |
297 |
0.1916 |
24 |
14 |
17 |
29 |
12 |
– |
18.3333 |
19 |
Northern Illinois |
0.1986 |
376 |
0.1446 |
224 |
0.1445 |
47 |
16 |
21 |
13 |
18 |
– |
18.3333 |
20 |
Fresno State |
0.1939 |
671 |
0.2581 |
419 |
0.2703 |
53 |
22 |
20 |
36 |
29 |
– |
29 |
21 |
Oklahoma State |
0.1868 |
630 |
0.2423 |
493 |
0.3181 |
25 |
37 |
36 |
34 |
37 |
– |
35.6667 |
22 |
Florida |
0.1561 |
399 |
0.1535 |
240 |
0.1548 |
16 |
27 |
23 |
27 |
17 |
– |
22.3333 |
23 |
Auburn |
0.1162 |
170 |
0.0654 |
67 |
0.0432 |
30 |
19 |
14 |
28 |
15 |
– |
20.6667 |
24 |
Nebraska |
0.1016 |
326 |
0.1254 |
278 |
0.1794 |
37 |
32 |
34 |
31 |
33 |
– |
33 |
25 |
Michigan |
0.0886 |
323 |
0.1242 |
178 |
0.1148 |
35 |
25 |
25 |
18 |
32 |
– |
27.3333 |
The average computer ranking for Alabama is 1.66, which means there really isn’t any doubt about them being the best in the nation. They’ve beaten Texas A&M, Ole Miss and a Virginia Tech team that has since won six consecutive games, putting them in the top 20, and making it look better and better for the Crimson Tide, who don’t have too many chances of messing up along the way.
Oregon have made up a lot of improvement compared to last week through a big win over a ranked team (Finally), beating Washington 45-24. Their points and style don’t matter much in terms of computer, but no ranker has put them below fifth.
Alabama get two first place rankings, Oregon gets one as well. This is probably the national title game most of the neutrals want to see in order to try and put a rest to the debate that the SEC is overrated. They’ve won the last seven title games, and Oregon seemed like the team to put the best fight to any of them, losing by a field goal to Auburn and Cam Newton after the 2010 season. They’ve only been to BCS games over the last four years, so its safe to assume they should be the best threat, unlike Notre Dame, who completely botched their opportunity.
Florida State get a number one ranking, but the whole ACC thing will be decided in Clemson between the two undefeated teams. Missouri, surprisingly, also have one computer picking them at number one after a 6-0 start, but they have to play Florida, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Texas A&M in the SEC’s way of attempting to create a rivalry, and it’s unlikely we’ll still see them so high up the rankings in a few weeks time.
The problem for Florida State and Clemson, especially the Tigers, is their rivalry week opponents. Florida might not look too hot at the moment, but they still have the kind of defense that should give anyone, especially out-of-conference teams, a lot of trouble. South Carolina, right now, look like the best team in the SEC East. If Clemson do reach that game undefeated, a loss won’t hurt their ACC conference title, but it’ll be a blow that obviously throws them out of the national championship race.
It’s quite clear – Alabama and the SEC have the edge when it comes to equal records. Undefeated Alabama is ranked higher than any other, and undefeated LSU and A&M are getting the same treatment. For Ohio State (with the easiest record until the end, including a one-loss Michigan team), Clemson, Florida State and Oregon, one loss means the end to their title hopes, even if Alabama lose to LSU or anyone else in what remains of their schedule, that might have already seen its biggest threat facing the Aggies.