The first BCS standings are out and that means to me, (a) I can put together my, "if the tournament was held today, what would it look like" projections, and (b) I have to find a way to create standings next season when there is no BCS!
So the shocker has to be the ACC, with the big “so far” attached. Can an ACC team make the top four? Can there be an at-large team from the ACC? Or two?!
And it is early yet, so Fresno State or Northern Illinois may eventually break into this party!
Here are my first projected standings for 2013-2014:
First Round:
In Tampa:
#7 Miami (FL)(at-large) versus #10 Central Florida (conference formerly known as Big East) Interesting Florida battle, and the winner could end up in the Orange Bowl
In Arlington TX:
#8 Baylor (Big XII) versus #9 Clemson (at-large) Clemson remembers travelling to play Wisconsin in Green Bay. This looks like an opportunity for Clemson to have a tough road trip against a tourney newbie. By the end of the year, this could be the spot for Fresno or NIU
Quarterfinals:
Sugar Bowl:
#1 Alabama (SEC) versus Miami, Clemson, or Baylor Not certain who Alabama would play because of two ACC/FSU opponents in the First Round, so basically Alabama gets the lowest ranked of the ACC teams or Baylor if both ACC schools go down. Should Bama fans be buying up tickets for Indy’s Semi-Finals? Seems like the Final Four is likely for the Tide
Rose Bowl:
#4 Ohio State (Big Ten) versus #6 Stanford (at-large) OSU gets Stanford to avoid an Oregon-Stanford rematch Stanford would be looking at a fourth straight Rose Bowl win and fourth consecutive trip to Final Four, though Indy would love OSU to make it, especially with Notre Dame and Louisville not looking likely to contend for a Semi-Finals slot
Orange Bowl:
#2 Florida State (ACC) versus Central Florida, Baylor, or Miami FSU actually claims the ACC Orange Bowl slot? ACC teams have seemed stuck in the First Round! But can the team that was easily handled by Alabama last season in the Sugar Bowl be improved enough to contend for a title this year?
Fiesta Bowl:
#3 Oregon (Pac-12) versus #5 Missouri (SEC) Fiesta won’t mind so much the return of Oregon (a Fiesta fixture lately), because Missouri will “Show me” how to sell tickets. Indianapolis might be silently rooting for Mizzou fans to hit town for the Semi-Finals too. Frankly, the Alabama/Oregon/Stanford Final Four “occupation” might be getting a little old for some fans in general, and add in Florida State and Indianapolis may not have a local flavor for its Final Four
Semi-Finals in Indianapolis, Championship in Pasadena
