BCS Standings: Early Predictions and Implications for College Football

Strategic Insights -

The first Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings of the college football season will be released this Sunday, with Ohio State projected to be ranked No. 1, followed closely by Southern California and Florida. However, with several key matchups still to be played, including Florida's contest against No. 10 Auburn and USC's face-off against Arizona State, the standings are far from set in stone. Analyst Jerry Palm notes that even a single loss could significantly impact the rankings, making it challenging to predict the final standings and the teams that will face off in the championship game.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ohio State is currently projected to be ranked No. 1 in the BCS standings, followed closely by Southern California and Florida.
  • The top two teams in the final BCS standings will play for the championship on January 8 in Glendale, Arizona.
  • Analyst Jerry Palm notes that even a single loss could significantly impact the rankings, making it challenging to predict the final standings.
  • The USA TODAY Coaches' Poll and Harris Interactive Poll account for two-thirds of the BCS formula, with a combined 177 voters casting votes.
  • The six computer services that make up the remaining third of the BCS formula will have a tough time differentiating between teams with similar strengths of schedule.
  • Analyst Jerry Palm emphasizes that every point in the voting matters, making each game's outcome crucial in shaping the final rankings.

Statistics:

  • 4:15 p.m. ET: The time when the first BCS standings will be released this Sunday (Fox).
  • 6: The number of computer services that make up the remaining third of the BCS formula.
  • 177: The combined number of voters in the USA TODAY Coaches' Poll and Harris Interactive Poll.
  • 10: The current ranking of Auburn, who will face off againstFlorida this weekend.
  • 31-3: A hypothetical win margin by which Florida could jump to No. 2 in the standings.
  • 1: The time (Jan. 8) when the top two teams in the final BCS standings will play for the championship.

Sources:

  • Palm, J. (n.d.). BCS Projections. College BCS.
  • "BSO: BCS Standings." Fox Sports.