BCS top five: Week 12
The top five in the Bowl Championship Series standings did not change in week 11. However, with close wins for the Oregon Ducks and the TCU Horned Frogs the field continues to get tighter. The top five teams in the nation are entering the final portion of
their schedule and the games are getting more and more important as a loss could mean dropping down the standings and waving your chances at a championship bid goodbye.
Oregon Ducks
The Ducks remain at the top of the BCS standings. However, Oregon got its first scare of the season in week 11, defeating a determined California Golden Bears side by the slim margin of 15-13. The Ducks high-powered offence was shut down by a skilled Golden
Bears defence. In the end the game was won by a Ducks defence, which has been vastly overlooked this season. The Ducks have two more games left and will face the nation’s 22nd ranked side in the Arizona Wildcats at home in week 12. The Ducks should
be able to put together a win over Arizona, but after their close call to Cal, they look beatable.
Auburn Tigers
The Tigers continued to roll in their week 11 engagement. Cam Newton accounted for four touchdowns and the Tigers ran over the Georgia Bulldogs 49-31. The win helped Auburn clinch the Southeastern Conference’s West Division, giving them a berth in the SEC
championship game where they will play the South Carolina Gamecocks. Auburn now has two very difficult games remaining this season. The Tigers will meet the nation’s 11th ranked side, the Alabama Crimson Tide, on 26 November. Following that contest
the Tigers will have to take on the Gamecocks in the conference championships. Auburn is still under incredible pressure to win the rest of their games, as one loss could drop them as far as fourth spot. Nothing is certain for the Tigers as they have the most
difficult end of season schedule among the top ranked sides.
TCU Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs chances at a championship bid took a major hit in week 11. The Horned Frogs struggled against a weak San Diego State Aztecs side, winning by only five points in a game that seesawed back-and-forth. Moreover, the former fifth ranked Utah
Utes, who the Frogs defeated in week 10 helping them earn their third place ranking, lost 28-3 to a .500 Notre Dame Fighting Irish side. The Utes loss seriously hurts TCU’s strength of schedule and with only one game left against a 1-9 New Mexico Lobos side
the Horned Frogs are in jeopardy of being jumped by the Boise State Broncos.
Boise State Broncos
Things finally seem to be working out for the Broncos in the BCS standings, as the tight win by TCU has opened the door for Boise State to earn a national championship bid. The Broncos rolled over their competition again in week 11, hammering the Idaho Vandals
52-14. However, more importantly the Nevada Wolf Pack continued to roll and are now ranked 18th in the nation. Boise plays the Wolf Pack on 26 November and needs them to keep winning in order to improve their strength of schedule. If Boise can trounce
Nevada and Auburn losses to one of Alabama or South Carolina, Boise should earn a spot in the title game.
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers continue to sit in the fifth spot with little to no chance of earning a bid in the national title game. The Tigers have two games left and would need to win out and have the three teams above them suffer losses in order to even have a shot
at playing on 3 January 2011. Nevertheless, expect the Tigers to earn a spot in a top flight bowl game.
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