Can Oklahoma and VA Tech still make it to BCS?

Can Oklahoma and Virginia Tech Still Get to BCS?

Quick answer…absolutely…

But a more detailed description is necessary.

Folks, to be very blunt, NO team in ANY BCS power conference is eliminated from the BCS in the FIRST game of the season…NONE.

Folks, even DUKE still has a shot at the BCS after the first week.

There is just too much left in the season, and remind me again how many games these teams play? Last I counted, it was more than one, so there is always a chance.

But after we say the logical, we have to get more specific. Yes, Oklahoma losing to BYU hurts them, and yes Virginia Tech losing to Alabama hurts them, but they are not out of the BCS picture. But if you asked me which team has the better chance of still getting there, my money is on Oklahoma.

As a guy that lives in the middle of ACC territory, I had a raised eyebrow to how Virginia Tech was in the top 10. The ACC didn’t scare too many teams last year so I wondered how they got ranked so high. The Hokies are good, but I wasn’t sure they were top 10 good.

But Oklahoma has a top ranked quarterback, who by the way just won the Heisman, although last night he got injured. I am convinced they would have won if Sam Bradford had been healthy, but it might be likely that he might miss a game or two. And I gotta tell ya, that offensive line looked kinda porous.

But if I had to give you a percentage of the chances of either getting to the BCS Championship, I’d say 75% chance for Oklahoma, and maybe 40% for Virginia Tech. The reason why they have a chance at all is because they are in power conferences, and will be playing other quality opponents. Teams like Boise State have already played their one big game…the power conferences play MANY big games.

Add on to this that both Hokies and Sooners have a conference in which there is a championship game…meaning if they make it there, they will likely play one more ranked opponent. It would be a strong shot in the arm for either to win and make a case for the BCS Championship.

But we know that for that to happen, many teams must lose. Now we know there won’t be 25 undefeated teams in the nation, but for either team to make a case, all they need is for one or no teams to go undefeated. IF that happens, then you have to look at the schedule of both teams, to see IF they can run the tables and get back in the picture.

Let’s look at both teams and see, starting with the Oklahoma Sooners:

Their next couple of games include Idaho State and Tulsa…if Sam Bradford is injured (and he is) then maybe the next couple of weeks will give him time to rehab, as Oklahoma would clearly be favored over the next two games. They then travel to Miami to play the Hurricanes before starting the conference schedule, which starts out with Baylor, but has Texas immediately after that, then Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska before finishing the last three against Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

Folks… that is a tough schedule. IF Oklahoma can run the tables, and I understand it is a BIG if, then they would play in the Big 12 Championship. Should they win that, they would have every right to claim a stake in the BCS Championship IF, there are less than two undefeated power teams in the nation.

A lot of things has to happen but by no means are the Sooners out after the first game of the season.

But it gets a little more complicated for the Virginia Tech Hokies:

After losing to Alabama, the Hokies play Marshall, the travel to Nebraska before starting their conference season against Miami. They then play Duke, Boston College and Georgia Tech by mid season. After the next game against UNC, they play ECU (who beat them last year) before closing the season against Maryland, NC State and Virginia. If they best the conference, then they will be in the ACC Championship game.

But of the two teams, who has the tougher schedule? It would seem that Oklahoma would, and if so, then their wins would be more impressive than those of VA Tech. Now this applies IF both teams run the tables. If both teams end the season with only 1 loss, which would look more impressive to the voters?

Mind you, many critics spat on the ACC for being a weak conference last year, although I think they were equally balanced almost from top to bottom. Still, this makes it harder for Virginia Tech to make the BCS Championship. Oklahoma may well get a “pardon” from the voters since Sam Bradford was injured, but they will still fall hard from the #3 spot they had.

But remember, this is only week one….there is far, far too much more football to play, so both teams are still in the mix, even at 0-1. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.