OPINION

By Dave Curtis

updated 11:09 a.m. ET Nov. 4, 2009

Division I-A's seven one-loss teams, the almost-Magnificent Seven, face a quandary: celebrate their success, or dwell on the bad day (or night) keeping them out of the national championship race.

Whatever the perspective, they've got us curious. So implementing the same statistical analysis used in last week's ranking of the seven unbeaten teams (turnover margin, run defense, third-down performance, red-zone efficiency and a strength-of-schedule component), Sporting News ranks them from best to worst, by the numbers. And now, the Second Seven:

1. Georgia Tech (8-1, 5-1 ACC)
Why here: A plus-seven turnover margin and great offensive efficiency on third down have helped the Yellow Jackets beat five top-50 teams in the Sagarin ratings.

Odds of reaching a BCS bowl: 5-to-1. Tech looks great to win the Coastal, but the ACC title game will be no layup.

Curtis' prediction: 12-2, with loss to Pittsburgh in the Orange Bowl

Next game: Saturday vs. Wake Forest

2. Oregon (7-1, 5-0 Pac-10)
Why here: Victories over three top-20 Sagarin teams and an automatic red-zone offense help. "We're building a lot of confidence with these wins," safety T.J. Ward said.

Odds of reaching a BCS bowl: 2-to-1. Ducks can take a league loss, provided it's not at Arizona should the Wildcats win out, and still reach the Rose Bowl.

Curtis' prediction: 12-1, Rose Bowl champs

Next game: Saturday at Stanford

3. LSU (7-1, 4-1 SEC)
Why here: Only four teams have committed fewer than LSU's seven turnovers.

Odds of reaching a BCS bowl: 6-to-1. The SEC championship remains a possibility. Tigers also could sneak into a BCS bowl with two losses if the loser of a Florida-Alabama SEC title game falls in a blowout.

Curtis' prediction: 10-3, with losses to Alabama and Ohio State in Capital One Bowl

Next game: Saturday at Alabama

4. Penn State (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten)
Why here: The nation's fifth-best run defense and a balanced offense have the Nits playing their best football of the season.

Odds of reaching a BCS bowl: 4-to-1. An 11-1 finish, which would require wins over Ohio State and at Michigan State, would get Penn State at least an at-large bid.

Curtis' prediction: 12-1, Fiesta Bowl champs

Next game: Saturday vs. Ohio State

5. Pitt (7-1, 4-0 Big East)
Why here: Big East preseason favorites play solid against the run and decent around the goal line. "Big, physical-style defense," Syracuse coach Doug Marrone said. "And a physical offensive line."

Odds of reaching a BCS bowl: 10-to-1. With an at-large spot unlikely, the Panthers' fate will rest on their finishing games at West Virginia and at home against Cincinnati.

Curtis' prediction: 11-2, with loss to Notre Dame

Next game: Saturday vs. Syracuse

6. Houston (7-1, 3-1 Conference USA)
Why here: Houston's defense allows nearly 223 rushing yards per game, but the Cougars force turnovers and seem to produce touchdowns at will. "Our team, we're never out of a game, and it's never too late to score," coach Kevin Sumlin said on a teleconference. "It really settles us down."

Odds of reaching a BCS bowl: 100-to-1. Until Conference USA can produce a 13-0 champion, it won't send a team to a big-money game.

Curtis' prediction: 12-2, with loss to East Carolina in C-USA title game

Next game: Saturday at Tulsa

7. Utah (7-1, 4-0 Mountain West)
Why here: The Utes have 13 touchdowns in 28 red-zone trips and boast zero victories against Sagarin top-50 teams.

Odds of reaching a BCS bowl: 25-to-1. Two requirements: win out and hope Boise State stumbles. Insert your own slim-and-none joke here.

Curtis' prediction: 10-3, with losses to TCU and Oregon State in Las Vegas Bowl

Next game: Saturday vs. New Mexico

SportingNews.com What We Learned: Mike Leach entertains again Pittsburgh-West Virginia Preview Jimmy Clausen reportedly punched by angry fan At 6-5, Weis would have hard time arguing firing Conference Call: Pitt deserves respect in Big East

Also on NBCSports.com Rosenthal: Steelers’ struggles could sink their playoff hopes Circling the Bases: Dodgers unlikely to land Halladay Inside the Irish: Clausen reportedly involved in fight Opinion: So far, Nowitzki is NBA’s MVP  |  Fan Ranker Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

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