With the season at it's mid point, it's a great time to start looking at which schools have the best shot at getting to the BCS National Title Game. Each week I'll take a look at whose got the best road to the National Title Game and whose road just got closed.
Open Road (Undefeated)
Alabama Crimson Tide
Last Week: 48-7 over Kentucky
Key Remaining Games: LSU, at Auburn, SEC Title Game
Alabama's schedule sets up pretty good for a return to the Title Game. LSU is as home and Auburn probably isn't ready to compete with the Tide. Add in that the SEC East doesn't have a dominant team and we should see the Crimson Tide looking for their third straight title.
Oregon Ducks
Last Week: 45-24 over Washington
Key Remaining Games: UCLA, at Stanford, Oregon State, Pac 12 Title Game
Their domination of Washington proves they are one of the elite teams. But they'll be tested going forward with three possible ranked teams and then a rematch with UCLA in the Pac 12 Title Game.
Clemson Tigers
Last Week: 24-14 over Boston College
Key Remaining Games: vs Florida State, South Carolina, ACC Title Game
Their game against Florida State this weekend will be make or break for Clemson. Win and they'll still be in the running. Lose and their road likely is closed. That South Carolina game at the end of the season is quietly a road block.
Florida State Seminoles
Last Week: 63-0 over Maryland
Key Remaining Games: at Clemson, Miami, at Florida, ACC Title Game
Just as previously stated for Clemson, the Seminoles need this game badly. Mainly because if they lose, they have no shot at winning the ACC and that extra game is needed. Florida State also has Miami coming up which is going a lot tougher than previous years.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Last Week: Bye
Key Remaining Games: Penn State, at Michigan, Big 10 Title Game
Ohio State may have the easiest road to an undefeated season, but their schedule could come back to hurt them. They won't play a team ranked till maybe Michigan at the end of the season and the Legends winner might not be good enough to give them the extra points in the BCS Standings.
Louisville Cardinals
Last Week: 24-10 over Rutgers
Key Remaining Games: UCF, Houston
Much like Ohio State, Louisville has the easiest road to being undefeated. However their schedule is so bad that even perfect, they probably don't get in. Their two toughest remaining games are UCF and Houston. Both schools were in Conference USA last year. Louisville really needs other top teams to beat up on each other to get in.
UCLA Bruins
Last Week: 31-10 over California
Key Remaining Games: at Stanford, at Oregon, Washington, Pac 12 Title Game
UCLA has quite the trek to the National Title Game. They got the three toughest teams in the North Division and even if they beat all three. They have to play one of them again in the Pac 12 Title Game. It's going to be tough for the Bruins.
Baylor Bears
Last Week: 35-25 over Kansas State
Key Remaining Games: Oklahoma, Texas Tech, at Oklahoma State, Texas
We are really going to know if the Bears are true contenders or just pretending. They really haven't played anybody tough and it shows with four key games coming up. But with Oklahoma coming in weeks that should tell us everything.
Miami Hurricanes
Last Week: Bye
Key Remaining Games: at Florida State, Virginia Tech, ACC Title Game
It's always nice to have the Canes back in the Title hunt. As for their chances they are there. VaTech is a very winnable game, but going to Florida State and then either playing Clemson or FSU again might be too much.
Missouri Tigers
Last Week: 46-21 over Georgia
Key Remaining Games: Florida, South Carolina, Texas A&M, SEC Title Game
With their win over Georgia, you have to take Missouri seriously. But Missouri still has the gauntlet to go through if they want to make a National Title. Three ranked teams are on their remaining schedule and then would to face a fourth (likely Alabama) in the SEC Title Game.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Last Week: 42-35 over Iowa State
Key Remaining Games: at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, at Baylor, Texas
Based on the strength of the Big 12, the Red Raiders can make the Title Game if they win out. But they might have the toughest road of anybody. Both Oklahoma schools and Baylor and Texas. It's gonna be tough.
Debris on the Road (One Loss)
LSU Tigers
Last Week: 17-6 over Florida
Key Remaining Games: at Alabama, Texas A&M, SEC Title Game
LSU is in the best position of any of the one loss teams. If they are able to beat Alabama and win out they will represent the SEC West and a SEC Title would put them in. But if they drop just one more game, there season is over.
Texas A&M Aggies
Last Week: 41-38 over Mississippi
Key Remaining Games: Auburn, at LSU, at Missouri, SEC Title Game
A&M's chances are still there, but even if they win out they are going to need Alabama to lose to LSU and hope they have a better BCS ranking then LSU and Alabama. That's a lot to hope for.
Stanford Cardinal
Last Week: 21-27 loss to Utah
Key Remaining Games: UCLA, at Oregon State, Oregon, Pac 12 Title Game
Stanford took a huge hit with their loss to Utah. But with Oregon still on the schedule they can win the Pac 12 by winning out. But to get in they'd need there to be only one undefeated team and hope they can jump the other one loss teams.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Last Week: 52-7 over Arkansas
Key Remaining Games: at Missouri, Florida, Clemson, SEC Title Game
If your going to lose a game and get into the Title game, you have to do it early. That's what happened for the Gamecocks against Georgia in week 3. But they still have to beat Missouri and Florida to get to the SEC Title Game and then have a very tough rivalry game against Clemson at the end of the season. Dont' count them out.
Road Closed
Georgia Bulldogs
Last Week: 21-46 loss to Missouri
Injuries have cost the Bulldogs their chance to win the National Title. They were without their two best weapons on offense against Missouri and that was too much to overcome. Even if they win the East and the SEC, their two losses will keep them out of the Title Game.
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