Breaking down the BCS and Conference title races

With season 2 more than halfway gone, let's take a look at the BCS and Conference title races as we head toward week 9 of the season.

Here are the first BCS (projected) Rankings. The first rankings will be released week 9:

1. Florida State
2. Michigan
3. USC
4. LSU
5. Oklahoma
6. Alabama
7. Texas
9. Oregon
11. Miami

Looking at these standings, it's clear that both #1 Florida State and #2 Michigan are in the driver's seat to reach the BCS National Championship Game in Miami at the end of the season. Both teams control their own destiny to reach the title game, as they, along with Pitt, are the only 3 unbeaten teams in the nation.

The #3 USC Trojans and #5 LSU Tigers also likely would reach the BCS title game should they win out, as that would mean that both USC and LSU would have knocked off the Wolverines and Seminoles, respectively.

Oklahoma remains ranked high, but with 2 losses and a slim chance at reaching the Pac 12 title game, the Sooners may be on the outside looking in.

Breaking down the SEC race:
In the SEC East, it's Florida State's to lose. The Noles have knocked off Tennessee and Miami, and can wrap up the division, more or less, with victories over Georgia and Auburn in the next two weeks. Miami will likely end up in second place.

The SEC West race is deadlocked in a 3-way tie right now, with Arkansas, LSU, and Alabama each with 1 loss. LSU still has to play both teams, and we expect this division to come down to the big LSU/Alabama game in Tuscaloosa in week 11. LSU will be favored to win this game, but as everyone knows, if Crimson Tide RB Trent Richardson gets going, the Tide can pull the upset at home. COuld be interesting.

Breaking down the PAC 12 race:
The PAC 12 South divsion, considered the toughest division in college football right now, is deadlocked in a 3 way tie between USC, Oklahoma, and Texas...and none of these three teams have any user games remaining. Each team beat one another this season - Oklahoma beat Texas, Texas beat USC, and USC beat Oklahoma - meaning the tiebreaker should be awarded to the team with the highest BCS ranking at season's end. We predict this will be USC, but it will be an extremely tight race.

The PAC 12 North division is also going to come down to the wire. Oregon has 1 conference loss, but if the Ducks can knock off the current division leader, Michigan, in week 10, the Ducks would own the tiebreaker and earn a trip to Hawaii. Oregon has 2 losses this season, and lost an extremely tight game to Michigan last season. But, if Coach StuBucksman can rally his team, and somehow shake the Curse of the Duck, he will give Coach roop1189 a run for his money in week 10.

Heisman Race:
As far as we see it, the Heisman race is Oklahoma RB Brennan Clay's to lose. Clay has led the Heisman polls all season, and if he wins it, Coach Gump will have acheived back-to-back RB Heisman winners, soemthing that hasn't been done since Coach utvol27's days at Clemson in RUTS1.

LSU QB Zac Mettenburger is putting up gaudy stats in the passing game, and may give Clay a late push.