BCS Periscope - Week 9

Two weeks, two Bowl Championship Series (BCS) leaders. But while Oklahoma was a total surprise when the first BCS standings came out, this week's leader, Auburn, was not. Third in the human polls and mostly first or second in the computers (which take into account strength of schedule) will do that.

The Top Two: Auburn vs. Oregon

ESPN's Mark Schlabach is right, too, when he says the BCS got it right this week with Auburn in the top slot. Of their eight wins, four (Clemson, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Louisiana State) have been against ranked opponents. They have had their share of cupcakes (a pair of Sun Belters in Arkansas State and Louisiana-Monroe), but handled them in properly convincing fashion.

Landmines for Auburn? Certainly not FCS Chattanooga. But they do play in the SEC, where on any given Saturday, an incautious team can get whacked. The biggest hurdle on the Tigers' road to Glendale is obvious: the visit to Tuscaloosa for the rivalry game against Bama, who is seventh in the current standings.

Oregon's scoring machine remains in second place. This is a team that has yet to be held to under 40 points; Arizona State has the dubious honor of losing to the Ducks by the closest margin, 42-31. They blitzed Tennessee in Knoxville, and obliterated their other non-conference patsies (New Mexico and Portland State) by a combined score of 141-0.

But, these guys have a significant landmine coming up in their schedule in USC, who have absolutely nothing but pride to play for, since they are ineligible for a bowl game this season. The Trojans are vulnerable, though, having given up over 30 points three times so far (Hawaii, Washington, and Stanford). After that, there are big games against Arizona (BCS #15) and the season-ending rivalry game against Oregon State.

The Outsiders: Boise State and Texas Christian

Non-automatic qualifier and popular darlings Boise State, at #3, continue to be hamstrung by a factor really beyond their control -- the weakness that is the Western Athletic Conference. This factor contributes to the leapfrogging by BCS insiders like Auburn and Oregon. Their remaining schedule features not so much landmines as speed bumps -- home contests on the Smurf Turf against Hawaii and Fresno State, and a visit to Reno to play Nevada (24th in the standings). Aside from their big non-conference wins over Virginia Tech and Oregon State, the Broncos are outscoring their opponents by an astounding average of 54-5!

The other intriguing non-AQ, number 4 Texas Christian, is arguably the best college team in Texas right now. Their stingy defense has allowed more than 20 points only twice, to Oregon State and Southern Methodist; they have allowed a grand total of 27 points in their other six wins combined. They benefit by playing in a slightly tougher conference than Boise in the Mountain West, but that means they have one remaining large landmine in their schedule in Utah (BCS #8), and that game is in Salt Lake City.

The Surprise: Michigan State

Rounding out the BCS top five is Michigan State, who are probably not the Big Ten team everyone expected to be in this position. Sparty was so unheralded coming into the 2010 season, they weren't even in the "others receiving votes" list in the preseason AP poll, and didn't enter the top 25 until week 4. However, huge wins over Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and the other Big Ten team from their state have led to a steady march up the standings, where they currently stand at #5 in every poll. They have a huge trip to BCS #18 Iowa this weekend, but their schedule is also notable for who is NOT on it -- Ohio State.

If this year to date is any indication, the chaos will continue. Expect a new team to reside at the top of the standings next Sunday night.