College football

Top 10 BCS teams destined to be bummed

Breaking down who really belongs where after season's first standings

Erich Schlegel / AP

Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns are a pretty clear No. 1. After that, it gets a little muddy, and will likely get muddier, says NBCSports.com's John Walters.

6. Oklahoma State (7-0)
Where they belong: No. 6
Why: The Cowboys are this year’s Mizzou: offensively loaded and just good enough defensively to get by.
Best Win: 28-23 at Missouri.
Signature Moment: Two second-half interceptions at Missouri.
Soft Underbelly: Anemic pass rush (101st in sacks) will allow passers such as Colt McCoy, Graham Harrell and Sam Bradford too much time.
Circle the date: Saturday at Texas.
Trap game: Nov. 15 at Colorado.
You know: Wide receiver Dez Bryant, who ranks second nationally in receiving yardage per game.
You should know: Tailback Kendall Hunter, who is averaging 136 yards per game rushing.
Crystal Bowl Projection: Cowboys lose to Texas and Oklahoma, are Cotton Bowl-bound.

7. Georgia (6-1)
Where they belong: No. 10
Why: The Dawgs are still in search of their mojo following that spanking by the Tide. The preseason darlings have not looked dominant in consecutive home wins vs. Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
Best Win: It better come either next week in Baton Rouge or the following Saturday versus the Gators if the Bulldogs hope to remain in the hunt.
Signature Moment: Season-ending knee injury to left tackle Trinton Sturdivant back in August.
Soft Underbelly: Georgia’s injury-ravaged offensive line.
Circle the date: Nov. 1 against Florida.
Trap game: Nov. 29 against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets, who have lost seven straight in this series, are for real -- and have a better shot at a BCS berth this season.
You know-shon Moreno, the sophomore tailback.
You should know: Freshman wideout A.J. Green.
Crystal Bowl Projection: Bulldogs lose to Florida, accept Capital One Bowl bid.

8. Texas Tech (7-0)
Where they belong: No. 9
Why: The Red Raiders could either win the Big 12 South, the nation’s toughest division, or could finish fourth. It all remains to be seen.
Best Win: Yet to happen.
Signature Moment: The one sack the Red Raiders have allowed all season (tops in nation) in 318 pass attempts.
Soft Underbelly: The Red Raiders are 104th in net punting (31.6 yards). Then again, they have punted just 13 times all season.
Circle the date: Nov. 1 vs. Texas.
Trap game: Saturday at Kansas. Jayhawks QB Todd Reesing will have no fear a week after facing Oklahoma.
You know: Sophomore Biletnikoff Award-winning wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
You should know: Sophomore running back Baron Batch.
Crystal Bowl projection: Red Raiders slide against the Big 12 South, head to Alamo Bowl or Holiday Bowl.

9. Ohio State (7-1)
Where they belong: No. 8.
Why: How do you screw up a two-time national championship game-caliber team with 19 returning starters this badly? Only now are the Buckeyes emerging from their New Orleans hangover-cum-QB controversy.
Best Win: 20-17 at Wisconsin. Saturday’s victory in East Lansing was more dominant, but the victory at Madison was all about character.
Signature Moment: Terrelle Pryor’s game-winning scamper at Wisconsin.
Soft Underbelly: A lame passing game (108th nationally) appears to be getting on track now that Pryor has established himself as the starter at quarterback.
Circle the date: Saturday versus Penn State.
Trap game: Nov. 22 vs. Michigan. The Wolverines may be playing to keep their 33-year bowl streak intact.
You know: Linebacker James Laurinaitis.
You should know: Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins.
Crystal Bowl projection: Ohio State redeems itself and wins the Big Ten yet again. Accepts Rose Bowl bid.

10. Florida (5-1)
Where they belong: No. 7
Why: Oklahoma, Ohio State and USC lost on the road, the first two to top-five opponents. The Gators lost at home to unranked Mississippi.
Best Win: 51-21 vs. defending national champion LSU (a victory somewhat diminished after the Tigers lost at South Carolina).
Signature Moment: Tim Tebow fails on a fourth-and-inches keeper vs. the Rebels.
Soft Underbelly: The passing game has been inconsistent all season.
Circle the date: It isn’t officially on the schedule, but how much fun would an SEC championship game encounter with Alabama be? Meyer versus Saban? Are you kidding!?!
Trap game: Nov. 8 at Vanderbilt.
You know: Heisman Trophy winner/future president Tim Tebow.
You should know: Linebacker Brandon Spikes
Bowl Projection: Gators win the SEC but with USC playing its final game on the same day (Dec. 6), Florida does not bump up ahead of the Trojans. Accept Sugar Bowl bid.

Walters' bowl projections
Rose Bowl: Alabama vs. Ohio State
Will the Buckeyes’ fortunes against an SEC opponent improve in an open-air stadium and without the pressure of a national title at stake?

Orange Bowl: Penn State vs. Florida State
Yes, a rematch of the 2006 game, but watching a pair of 80ish dudes battle it out for the distinction of most career wins never gets old … even if they are.

Sugar Bowl: West Virginia vs. Florida
Pittsburgh and South Florida are ranked ahead of the Mountaineers, but Pat White’s team only faces the Panthers. And, like Pitt, they don’t yet have a loss in conference. People would tune in to see White versus Tim Tebow.

Fiesta Bowl: Utah vs. Oklahoma
Glendale, Ariz., may as well be Punxsutawney, Pa., as far as the Sooners are concerned.

BCS National Championship Game: USC vs. Texas
More and more this is shaping up as the heavyweight bout everyone (outside of Tuscaloosa, State College, Norman, Gainesville, etc.) is dying to see.

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