Pete
Fiutak
Q:
What three teams are your sleepers in the BCS race (for an at-large spot
or the national title)?
A: 1)
West Virginia
The big issue will be if the national perception of the Big East goes in
the tank. If everyone stays healthy, the Mountaineers are going 11-1
with most of the pollsters forgetting about the USF loss. As teams keep
on dying, at seven, WVU will keep on slowly moving up.
2) Virginia Tech
No one has any interest in seeing a Hokie-LSU rematch after the ugly
loss to start the year, but if Tech beats Boston College convincingly
and is the national buzz team, at eight, it could leapfrog other teams
into striking distance. The offense is slowly getting better.
3) Boise State
All it has to do is finish in the top 12 and its in no matter what, or
in the top 16 with a conference champion being lower than 16. A win over
Fresno State would likely jump-start a run that, but the big game is at
the season's end against Hawaii. Currently 29th in the rankings, there's
still a long way to go.
Richard
Cirminiello
Q:
What three teams are your sleepers in the BCS race (for an at-large spot
or the national title)?
A:
1. Oregon (national title) – Don’t look now, but there are only three
teams separating the Ducks and the No. 2 spot in the latest BCS
rankings. Two of those schools are Boston College and Arizona State,
who will lose a game in the very near future. Oregon has the offensive
firepower and back-loaded schedule to gobble up a ton of support between
now and Dec. 1.
2. West Virginia (national title) – Remember the Mountaineers? Many
people wrote them off after losing late last month, but they’ve
regrouped for a run at an 11-1 finish and a certain BCS bowl game. With
so many top 10 teams unable to survive this year, West Virginia is
liable to soar from its No. 7 hole over the next six weeks.
3. South Florida (at-large) – Gave up on the Bulls after last week’s
loss to Rutgers, did you? With a very manageable back end of the
schedule left, do not be surprised if South Florida starts rolling and
finishes with an 11-1 mark that’ll be good for either a Big East title
or a certain at-large bid to a program-first January bowl game.
John
Harris
Q:
What three teams are your sleepers in the BCS race (for an at-large spot
or the national title)?
A: 1. West Virginia (sleeper for national
championship game) – The schedule is still tough with road trips to
Rutgers and Cincinnati upcoming, but win those two and the Mountaineers
could be a dark horse for one of the final two spots. It’s plausible
that the five teams in front of them could fall...probable? Uh, not
really, but at least West Virginia will be in position if those teams do
falter.2. Hawaii
(at-large spot) – Four of the next five are at home, including the final
two – Boise State and Washington. Go undefeated, finishing the season
by beating those two teams, and the Warriors should be BCS bowl bound.
3. USC (sleeper for national
championship game) – I know, I know, step out on a limb, John, but
they’re 12th in the BCS currently. However, if the Trojans
beat Oregon, Cal and Arizona State all on the road, with some craziness
in front of them, pollsters and the computers may be forced to recognize
them as one of the two best teams in the nation.
Matthew
Zemek
Q:
What three teams are your sleepers in the BCS race (for an at-large spot
or the national title)?
A: With a sleeper being
defined as a truly off-the-radar kind of team that sneaks up on
people, here are three potential party crashers for the national
title:
1) Virginia Tech. After getting crushed by LSU, who thought they had
a prayer? If they win out, they just might have a chance. The Hokies
get Boston College at home.
2) Kansas. The Jayhawks don't play Oklahoma or Texas in the regular
season, and if Mister Mangino faced the Sooners in the Big XII
Championship Game, he would have a feel for his opponent, wouldn't
he?
3) South Florida. Exactly--they're off the radar now, but could very
definitely run the table with their remaining schedule. Add a few
cups of additional insanity, and who knows what could happen?