Let's now examine where things stand in conference races, including the non – automatic qualifying Mountain West and WAC conferences.
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC):
As previously mentioned, Virginia Tech has won the Coastal division and await either Atlantic Coast division champion Florida State or North Carolina State for the ACC title. The Hokies have been solid on offense and play their normal stifling defense.
Big East:
The University of Pittsburgh lead the Big East by one game over both Connecticut and West Virginia with two games remaining and control their own destiny. Pitt plays West Virginia at home on Friday and travels to Cincinnati to finish the conference schedule. Two wins and they're the champs.
The Mountaineers can lay claim to the title by beating the Panthers then defeating Rutgers in its finale along with a Connecticut loss.
U Conn has a shot at the title by winning its two remaining games at home versus Cincinnati and at South Florida. The Huskies need a little help and will get some as the loser of the West Virginia/Pittsburgh will fall behind Conn. It also helps that Connecticut has beaten both teams this season.
Big Ten:
The most exciting conference race remaining as three teams vie for the Big Ten title as #7 Wisconsin, #8 Ohio State, and #10 Michigan State have just one loss in conference. Wisconsin has beaten Ohio State but has lost to Michigan State while the Spartans lone defeat came at the hands of Iowa. On top of that, Ohio State and Michigan State go not meet this season.
How will the Big Ten title be determined?
In the event of a three way tie for the lead, the team with the highest BCS ranking will be crowned Big Ten champion in which Wisconsin leads for the time being.
Should Wisconsin and Ohio State tie for first, the Badgers will claim the with the aforementioned victory over Ohio State.
Should Wisconsin and Michigan State top the conference standings, the Spartans will win the crown by having beaten the Badgers.
In the event that Ohio State and Michigan State lead the pack, the squad with the higher BCS rank will prevail with the Buckeyes leading the way at the moment.
The schedule for the weekend has Wisconsin at home versus Northwestern, Ohio State staying home to play rival Michigan, and Michigan State traveling to Happy Valley to go against Penn State.
Good stuff, you think?
Big 12:
Nebraska controls its own destiny in the North Division and can claim its place in the Big 12 title game with a win against Colorado on Saturday. However, should the Cornhuskers lose and Missouri wins its game at Kansas, the Tigers will win the North.
The South Division will be decided Saturday as the Oklahoma Sooners travel to Stillwater to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys with the winner playing in the Big 12 title game.
Pacific 10:
The BCS #1 Oregon Ducks have two games remaining --- at home against #21 Arizona and at Corvallis to play arch rival Oregon State. One win will clinch the PAC 10 title and winning out will put the Ducks in the BCS title tilt.
Stanford, at #5, holds out slim hopes of being the conference champ by winning its remaining game against Oregon State and Oregon losing both of its games.
Southeastern Conference:
As previously mentioned, #2 Auburn and # 18 South Carolina will vie for the SEC title in 2 weeks.
Mountain West:
The #3 TCU Horned Frogs have already laid claim to the Mountain West title and look to finish a perfect regular season with a defeat of lowly New Mexico.
Western Athletic Conference (WAC):
The WAC title will be decided this weekend as the Boise State Broncos, ranked 4th in the current BCS standings, travel to Reno to square off against the #19 Wolfpack. Both teams have explosive offenses, but BSU has a stifling defense to boot.
This looks to be an exciting weekend for college football and the BCS standings could be jumbled. The key tilt will be #2 Auburn playing #11 Alabama with national championship implications for Auburn.
Enjoy the games!
Dick
Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com
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