College Football: Six Teams with the Best Shot at the National Championship - jmik58's Blog

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College Football: Six Teams with the Best Shot at the National Championship Stuck

Posted on October 3, 2012 at 01:50 PM.

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The BCS national championship runs through the SEC and it would be hard to fathom a matchup featuring two teams not from college football's most impressive modern dynasty.

But is the SEC so good it might cost itself a chance by trading blows with other members in the conference? Realistically, voters could push the champion from a one or two-loss SEC squad into the national title game if they take the conference title. Strength of schedule is a factor hard to ignore but it's also a circle of self-serving poll boosting -- the SEC has the highest ranked teams because they beat other high ranking squads in conference.

As much as it might be difficult to accept, voters would find it hard to ignore two undefeated teams from BCS conferences over a one-loss SEC program. But is that possible? The chances might be more probable than you think.

The SEC deserves to have a dog in the fight, but who are the top six teams with the best shot at a national championship?

6. Notre Dame (AP Rank: #9 - Record: 4-0)
The Irish are one of the very few non-SEC teams that could lose a game and still be considered for the national championship due to their devastating schedule. Notre Dame's problem seems to be an inability to create breathing room, but their efficiency in the win column has a Tebow-esque quality. They may not be the best team or the most conventional, but they just find ways to win.

Toughest remaining games: #18 Stanford, #17 Oklahoma, #13 USC
National Championship Odds: 12/1

5. West Virginia (AP Rank: #8 - Record: 4-0)
If any team from the Big-12 finishes undefeated they should be guaranteed a spot in the national championship game. No conference has more talented quarterbacks and that means a lot of points on offense -- something voters and fans can't get enough of. The Mountaineers need a big shift on the defensive side, but their offense may be so good that it doesn't even matter.

With playmakers like West Virginia totes, no team can walk into a game and feel confident they have the game in control. I feel squads like Texas, Kansas State, and Oklahoma may be better overall teams; but only the Mountaineers have the potential to overcome mistakes by scoring sixty points a game.

Toughest remaining games: #11 Texas, #7 Kansas State, #15 TCU, #17 Oklahoma
National Championship Odds: 10/1

4. Oregon (AP Rank: #2 - Record: 5-0)
Considering how many points the Ducks are scoring a game (52.4) it's fairly impressive they're giving up only 19.8 points per game on defense. Oregon has a back-loaded schedule, which should be beneficial to the squad as they continue to improve and potentially peak at the end of the regular season. The biggest downfall will be the fact that the PAC-12 has a conference championship game. If the Ducks go into that game undefeated they may still lose to the likes of USC -- something that could tarnish their chances due to the timing of the loss.

Toughest remaining games: #23 Washington, #13 USC, #18 Stanford, #14 Oregon State, PAC-12 Championship Game
National Championship Odds: 8/1

3. Alabama (AP Rank: #1 - Record: 5-0)
The defending national champions are on a collision-course for their chance at a third title in four years. The only problem is that it will likely require perfection for it to happen. The Crimson Tide will be hurt by a schedule that doesn't quite measure up to that of other SEC foes, but if 'Bama finds a way to recover from a regular season loss to win the SEC Championship, don't count out the voters' ability to push the 'Tide back into contention.

Toughest remaining games: Tennessee, #20 Mississippi State, #4 LSU, SEC Championship Game
National Championship Odds: 5/1

2. Florida State (AP Rank: #3 - Record 5-0)
If the Seminoles can keep their focus throughout the rest of the regular season they should go into the finale with the Florida Gators for a chance to solidify their national championship hopes. Beating Clemson was their biggest hurdle of the season and if the Gators continue to climb the polls, a victory against their rivals from Gainesville would practically cement their place. Assuming the 'Noles would survive the ACC Championship game; FSU should have one of the easiest roads to reach the crystal football.

Toughest remaining games: Miami (FL), Virginia Tech, #10 Florida, ACC Championship Game
National Championship Odds: 7/2

1. LSU (AP Rank: #4 - Record: 5-0)
Despite their unimpressive performances the past two weeks against Auburn and Towson, the Tigers of LSU have one of the toughest-yet-forgivable paths to a national championship this year. With their schedule, one loss (perhaps two depending on the rest of the nation) shouldn't mean a thing to pollsters unless Alabama finds a way to run the table as an undefeated squad. Sure the offense hasn't been flashy, but LSU still ranks in with the 9th rated scoring defense in the land (12.6 ppg) -- perhaps just enough to stymie the Crimson Tide. If the Tigers can down 'Bama in the regular season again, expect the potential for another one-loss SEC team to rebound through the back door for the SEC's seventh straight BCS Championship.

Toughest remaining games: #10 Florida, #6 South Carolina, #1 Alabama, #20 Mississippi State, SEC Championship Game
National Championship Odds: 5/2

SOUND OFF: After five weeks, who are your top picks to win the national championship?

Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper

Comments

# 1 Bmore Irish @ Oct 3

I think West Virgina will fall this season, possibly this week against Texas. Same for LSU, I think they're overrated and could lose to Florida; I hope they do lol. Florida St and Alabama are a couple strong possibilites for me, even Oregon if they keep it up, defense has been surprising at times. I'm always a fan of the underdog so I'd like to see K St go undefeated and shake things up a bit. And as always, GO IRISH

# 2 johnnyg713 @ Oct 3

i think notredame is so overrated. How many turnovers did denard robsinson have when they played michigan a couple weeks ago? 7! They only won 13-7. Sure their defense looks great (even if its against teams with overrated offenses such as michigan and mich st) but their offense isn't good enough to be in the top 10. They will be exposed this week against miami.

# 3 Bmore Irish @ Oct 4

ok, well LSU looked like absolute garbage against an FCS team last week, were losing at one point, Towson gained nearly 200 yards rushing against them, LSU turned the ball as much as michigan did, and their offense is way worse. and that was the second week in a row they barely won. and theyre ranked higher than notre dame. so which team is more overrated?

# 4 johnnyg713 @ Oct 4

LSU will lose this week to florida.

# 5 johnnyg713 @ Oct 4

also, i agree LSU is more overrated. I predict BAMA and FSU in the NC. FSU has a very hard sched. My top three BAMA FSU Oregon

# 6 Bmore Irish @ Oct 4

yea theyre pretty much lookin like my top 3 right now as well. but i always have to be biased; if notre dame runs the table, which isnt that far off of a possibility given how underwhelming teams like usc and oklahoma have been, then theyre a shoo in