Projected BCS Standings: LSU, Oklahoma State Lead the Way in Fourth BCS Rankings of 2011

in Recaps Weekly Update by Asher Feldman — November 5, 2011 at 10:52 pm | 8 comments

We got the game we’ve been waiting for all season, but did we get the clarity we thought we’d find?

LSU escaped Saturday night with a 9-6 win over Alabama in what many were calling the “Game of the Century,” but for those looking to see a definitive end to the speculation about what could happen at the end of the season, we just didn’t get it.

LSU will appear at the top of tomorrow’s BCS standings as it has in the previous three weeks, that’s for certain. But how far down will Alabama fall? The reality is, not far. And yes, we’re on our way to another year of BCS controversy and debate. The possibility remains strong for a rematch of Saturday night’s thriller in the BCS title game. But, of course a few things have to go a certain way for that to enter the conversation, but its becoming more and more real.

In the meantime, the teams that will stand in between LSU at No. 1 and Alabama will have plenty to say about what happens next.

Oklahoma State will see the results of a thrilling victory Saturday night over Kansas State and its hard work so far this season and will find themselves sitting pretty at No. 2. The Cowboys’ computer scores tomorrow will absolutely secure them the second spot. Stanford is likely to remain right behind the Cowboys on the strength of huge support from the Harris and Coaches’ polls, likely in that No. 3 spot.

Boise State, who was behind the Cowboys and the Cardinal in last week’s standings might be disappointed with the results come Sunday night. Don’t be surprised if the Tide land right ahead of the Broncos at No. 4, leaving Boise State stagnant at No. 5 even though they won convincingly Saturday against UNLV.

Is that fair? It’s hard to make an unbiased argument either way, but the BCS will likely act as such tomorrow.

Oklahoma and Arkansas are sure to finish right behind the top five, with the Razorbacks grinning after an impressive victory over South Carolina, which is sure to boost their already strong support in both the computers and human polls. The Sooners and Razorbacks will be bunched together quite tightly come tomorrow.

Further down the standings, you’ll find one-loss teams like Oregon, Clemson and Virginia Tech trying to hold off surprising Houston, who will in all likelihood make its first-ever appearance in the BCS top 12.

Thus starts the final stretch of the BCS season. We’re headed for debate, punditry and likely outcry from somebody. How will it all shake out in these next four weekends? We’re about to find out.

Remember, we’ll be here to take you through all of it, starting with tomorrow’s releases of the human polls, computer rankings and BCS. Follow along all day tomorrow @BCSKnowHow and right here to stay up to the second with projections, mathematical breakdowns of all of the computers, human polls and everything in between. Then follow along this week as we break down scenarios and implications.

Got all that? Hope so.

Here’s what the BCS standing will likely look like when they are released tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN:

Projected BCS Standings – BCS Week Four (November 6th)

←BCS Implications and Schedule Strength Worksheet Post-Week Nine

Harris Interactive Poll Week 10: Oklahoma State Claims No. 2 Spot →

Tags: alabama crimson tide boise state broncos featured fourth bcs rankings lsu tigers november 6 oklahoma sooners oregon ducks projected BCS push stanford cardinal week 10