The road to the BCS National Championship game is starting to get a little clearer. Currently, it looks like a three-horse race between Florida, Alabama and Texas. Urban Meyer and the Gators regained the top spot in the AP Poll from Alabama, who was ranked No. 1 for a week ahead of Florida. The Crimson Tide couldn’t put away Tennessee last Saturday and needed a blocked field goal to hold onto a 12-10 home victory.
The oddsmakers at Las Vegas Sports Consultants haven’t moved Florida (1) at all from their power rankings this year and even if the Gators lose, the school from Gainesville will still probably hail the top spot in this poll.
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Alabama fell from second to third in the LVSC poll after their close call with the Vols, plus Texas’ wire-to-wire road victory (41-7) over Missouri last Saturday was impressive.
On paper, it appears that the Longhorns have one more test, a road game this week against Oklahoma State (15). The Big 12 has taken some lumps the past few weeks and it’s noticeable in the LVSC rankings. Only five schools are listed in the latest Top 30 and while it’s not smart to second-guess the oddsmakers, it does make you wonder how Texas Tech (19) and Nebraska (20) are still ranked. The Red Raiders were blasted 52-30 at home by Texas A&M and the Cornhuskers were embarrassed 9-7 to Iowa State in Lincoln last Saturday.
If there is a team to watch in the Big 12, it’s Oklahoma (5). The Sooners aren’t ranked in the BCS rankings but oddsmakers will make them double-digit favorites the rest of the way and in their bowl game too. OU’s three losses were by a combined five points and it’s been without its top offensive players too. Tell me another three-loss team or even two-loss team that’s better than them?
One conference starting to gain steam is the Pac 10, which has five schools ranked this week. USC (4) and Oregon (9) will knock heads in Eugene on Saturday this week and if there’s anybody cheering for the Ducks, it’s Boise State (10).
The Broncos have fallen behind TCU (5) as the mid-major darling looking for an invite to the dance but that opening victory over Oregon would look even better if the Ducks beat the Trojans.
Boise might have one more shot to gain some respect when it meets Nevada in the regular season finale. The Wolfpack started 0-3 but have quietly ripped off four straight and could very well be 8-3 for the Nov. 27 matchup, perhaps even ranked too.
Below is a complete breakdown of this week’s LVSC rankings.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants - Week 9 Rankings
Rank
Team
Rating
Last Week
BCS Rank
1
Florida
121.7
1
1
2
Texas
119.6
2
3
3
Alabama
117.9
3
2
4
Southern Cal
117.8
4
5
5
Oklahoma
112.1
5
NR
5
Texas Christian
112.1
6
6
7
Penn State
111.4
7
12
7
Ohio State
111.4
8
17
9
Oregon
111.3
10
10
10
Boise State
111.0
9
7
11
Iowa
110.5
12
4
12
Mississippi
110.0
12
25
13
LSU
109.8
11
9
14
Cincinnati
109.0
19
8
15
Oklahoma State
108.7
18
14
16
Georgia Tech
108.6
19
11
17
Clemson
108.3
22
NR
17
California
108.3
17
24
19
Texas Tech
108.0
15
NR
20
Nebraska
107.8
14
NR
20
Virginia Tech
107.8
21
13
22
Miami
107.7
16
19
23
Pittsburgh
107.2
27
15
24
Tennessee
106.7
29
NR
24
Notre Dame
106.7
23
23
26
Arizona
106.5
NR (32)
20
27
Georgia
106.3
25
NR
28
Arkansas
105.9
26
NR
28
Stanford
105.9
NR
NR
28
South Carolina
105.9
28
22
Dropped out of Top 30: Brigham Young (24), Michigan State (29)
Next 10: Brigham Young, West Virginia (21 BCS), Utah (16 BCS), Michigan State, Boston College, Oregon State, Wisconsin, Florida State, Missouri, Connecticut.
