| Everything has fallen into place and the Big Ten will | | | | loss to Oregon State, but that would be forgotten |
| get its dream match-up this coming Saturday, when | | | | quickly by beating California and Notre Dame. |
| the Michigan Wolverines travel to Columbus to take | | | | 4) Florida Gators - Everyone seems to be piling on |
| on the Ohio State Buckeyes. These are two of the | | | | the Gators this week for their close call at the |
| four unbeaten teams left in Division-IA and the | | | | Swamp against former Coach Steve Spurrier. That |
| winner will earn a bid to the BCS Title Game in | | | | being said, a win is a win and if Florida can win out |
| Glendale, Arizona. These are the top two teams in | | | | they will have finished 12-1 in what many people |
| the polls, computers, and Harris Rankings - all of | | | | believe is the toughest conference in the nation. |
| which comprise the current BCS standings. The | | | | They do need some help in order to get to the title |
| Buckeyes will enter this game around a touchdown | | | | game. Playing Western Carolina and Florida State |
| favorite and have looked more impressive then | | | | should drop them well below USC in the computers |
| Michigan from start to finish. This number also | | | | and thus they would not be able to catch them if |
| reflects Coach Jim Tressel's recent success against | | | | both finished with only one loss. The Sugar Bowl will |
| Coach Lloyd Carr. The Buckeye coach has beaten | | | | likely be calling their name. |
| Michigan four times in five tries and is a far cry from | | | | 5) Notre Dame Irish - The team everyone loves or |
| what John Copper was when coaching at the | | | | hates continues to pull out victories after an early |
| Horseshoe. | | | | season hiccup against Michigan. The Irish are all but |
| That being said, lets take a look at the top seven | | | | assured a BSC Bowl Game but the path to the |
| teams in the BCS standing and their likelihood of | | | | Championship does not look that promising. They will |
| making it to the championship game on Jan. 8. Teams | | | | have a hard time moving past No. 4 in the standings |
| are evaluated based on the current BSC standing | | | | and thus will need the human factor to play a role if |
| after the completion of games on Nov. 11. | | | | they have visions of Arizona. Another factor working |
| 1) Ohio State Buckeyes - My pre-season choice to | | | | against them is that both Michigan and Ohio State |
| win it all has done nothing to disappoint me up to this | | | | pounded Notre Dame within the last year. |
| point. They have played in hostile environments such | | | | 6) Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Rutgers is one of the |
| as Austin and Iowa City and came away with | | | | three unbeaten teams playing in the BCS |
| impressive blowout victories. A win at home and they | | | | conferences and after this week will likely be one of |
| will be assured a spot in the championship game. A | | | | the two teams left. This team will likely be a |
| loss to Michigan and there is still a possibility they | | | | double-digit underdog against West Virginia, so more |
| could get into the BCS Title Game, but the higher | | | | then likely they will be left out of the discussion and |
| percentage play would be a trip to the Rose Bowl. | | | | fall from the Top Ten. If they would happen to pull |
| The other conferences would frown upon a rematch | | | | the upset, they would have a case to represent in |
| title game where both teams come from the same | | | | Glendale but it still probably will not happen. They |
| conference. | | | | scheduled too weak in the nonconference portion on |
| 2) Michigan Wolverines - The season started with | | | | the season and have had too long of a road to climb |
| Lloyd Carr under fire but an early season win in South | | | | through the standings. The best they can hope for is |
| Bend gave this team validation and they have yet to | | | | a split National Title, winning the AP Poll. |
| give that up. A win in Columbus would mark a 12-0 | | | | 7) Arkansas Razorbacks - The Hogs have recorded |
| record and a trip to Glendale. A loss in Columbus and | | | | numerous impressive wins and should clinch the SEC |
| it is highly likely that they would represent the Big | | | | West with a victory against Mississippi State this |
| Ten in the Rose Bowl for the third time in four years. | | | | weekend. They have the ability to move up in the |
| They only chance they would have to get back into | | | | standings since they still have LSU and Florida on the |
| the title game is if both Notre Dame and themselves | | | | schedule. If they can finish the season 12-1, they |
| finished with 11-1 records and everyone else from | | | | could jump to the top if USC and Notre Dame each |
| the PAC-10 and SEC had two losses. They would be | | | | suffer another loss. They would have no case to |
| hard pressed to choose Notre Dame over Michigan | | | | jump USC if both finish with just one loss considering |
| considering what the Wolvernines did to the Irish in | | | | the pounding that took place in Fayetteville to open |
| South Bend in September. | | | | the season. |
| 3) Southern Cal Trojans - The Trojans are in the | | | | These are the seven teams competing for a shot at |
| best shape in the standings considering the two | | | | the National Championship. All have valid reasons, but |
| teams ahead of them play each other this week. | | | | only the top three teams control their own destiny. |
| They will be able to hold Florida off in the standings | | | | The bottom four teams need help and in the case of |
| considering the three games left on their schedule | | | | Rutgers, that still may not be enough. |
| come against formidable opponents. If they can | | | | Doc's has had a tremendous year in college football |
| complete this trifecta they will receive an invite to | | | | and wants you to jump aboard. This week we will be |
| Glendale. The problem is that any one of these three | | | | going with our, "Senior Day Game of the Year" that |
| teams (California, Notre Dame, UCLA) can knock | | | | features a home team that will go out in style. To |
| them off giving them a second loss. The one thing | | | | receive this play sign-up for one of our many football |
| holding them back may be that they suffered a bad | | | | packages. |