Handicapping NCAA Football Undefeated Teams
Two Unbeaten Schools Could Battle for BCS Title
Five major sports betting college football teams are unbeaten as the 2008 championship season dwindles down to a precious few, as the famous oldie goldie refrain reminds us: September, November.
Only two have a realistic chance of going all the way to become the eighth undefeated Bowl Championship Series champion in 11 years, but each has a major obstacle in its path.
Alabama, atop the BCS poll, hadn’t won a game in November since ’05. After whipping Mississippi State for the first time in three years, the Crimson Tide should snap its six-game losing vs. archrival Auburn, with a dismal 5-6 record, and post victory No. 12.
Ah, but Alabama has a date with Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game on Dec. 6 at the Georgia Dome. Many observers believe the Gators are playing the best football of any team since losing to Mississippi, 31-30, because of a blocked extra point.
During six straight SEC wins, Florida has averaged nearly 50 points while allowing only 10 ½ points.
BCS No. 2 Texas Tech must defeat Oklahoma on Saturday to make the Big 12 championship contest against Missouri. The Red Raiders won two of the past three meetings at Lubbock, but this game is in Norman.
After Texas Tech plays the Sooners, Baylor comes to Lubbock on Nov. 29. Should Oklahoma triumph and get by Oklahoma State the following week, Texas and the Red Raiders would each end conference play 7-1.
Since the Longhorns whipped the Sooners and the Red Raiders beat Texas, the Big 12’s South Division champ would be the highest-rated BCS team of the trio.
Three other teams are undefeated, but their chances of playing for a national title are slim and slimmer.
Even if No. 7 Utah whips Brigham Young on Saturday, the Utes would need all of the above schools to fall, plus USC. However, Utah probably would need Alabama and Texas Tech to lose twice.
No. 9 Boise State would need all of the above to happen, plus Utah and Penn State to stumble. And the Broncos still must get by Nevada and Fresno State.
The best No. 17 Ball State can hope for is beat Central Michigan and Western Michigan en route to 12-0 and make a major bowl game.
Only three times since the BCS was implemented in ’98 has a team with one or more losses won it all: Louisiana State, 12-2 in ’07 and 13-1 in ’03, and Florida, 13-1 in ’06.
The seven undefeated BCS champs were: Tennessee, 13-0 in ’98; Oklahoma, 13-0, ’00; University of Miami, 12-0, ’01; Ohio State, 14-0, ’02; USC, 13-0, ’04; and Texas, 13-0, ’05.
Mark Schlabach, who covers college football for ESPN.com, says the best BSC champ during the past 10 years was the U seven years ago when the Hurricanes averaged more than 33 points destroying a dozen foes.
Among the accomplishments, he points out, the Canes whipped No. 14 FSU, 49-27, ending the Seminoles 54-game winning streak in Tallahassee; blasted No. 14 Syracuse, 54-0; and demolished No. 12 Washington, 65-7, for the most lopsided blowouts of ranked opponents in consecutive games in modern NCAA history.
Miami finished the regular season with a 26-24 triumph over Virginia Tech, reminiscent of the school’s first of five national championships that began in ’83 when the Canes edged Nebraska, 31-30, after the Cornhuskers missed a two-point conversation in the Orange Bowl.
The Canes led Virginia Tech in the fourth quarter 24-7, but the Hokies fell short going for two points.
No. 1 Miami led No. 2 Nebraska 24-0 at halftime of the BCS championship contest in the Rose Bowl and cruised to a 37-14 victory.
“Perhaps no team in college football history had as much talent as the 2001 Hurricanes,” Schlabach wrote. “Ten players who started for Miami during the 2001 season were first-round selections in the next three NFL drafts. In fact, Miami had 16 NFL first-rounders from 2002 to 2005.”
I’m particularly proud since I graduated from UM in ’56 when the Canes started to make noise as a major college team.
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