Games ranked in order of importance for LSU. There are only 9 games that really matter for us now. Of course, there are some other games that by extension of the computer rankings, may play a role in determining who is #2. This chart assumes OU will not lose, or even if it does lose, will not fall below #2. LSU: Ole Miss (8-2), Arkansas (8-3), SEC Championship Game (either UGA). Ohio State: at Michigan this weekend. USC: hosting cross town rival UCLA (6-5) and Oregon State (7-3). Tennessee: will finish regular season at Kentucky 4-6. Ideally, UK wins, knocking UF into the SEC Championship Game with us. If that were to happen, UGA would be ranked around #5 in the final BCS whereas if we beat UGA in the SECCG, their final BCS ranking probably wouldn't be in the top 10. We may need that fraction of a point for quality wins. Florida: hosting #10 FSU. If UF wins this, and as a result of UT losing to UK, we will face a UF team that would then have an average computer ranking of around 10. So a win over UF in the SECCG probably won't give us any quality points in the BCS, but it will help enormously in the computer polls component that has hurt us in the BCS rating. TCU: at Southern Miss (7-3 with four straight wins). This game will be played on Thursday, so USM and TCU will only have five days to prepare.
If Ohio State goes to the Sugar and plays OU, it is possible there will be a split national title. If LSU continues to win, it does not appear that OSU would jump LSU in the AP poll. If that were the case, the bowl reps may place USC (should USC win out and be passed by OSU in the BCS) and LSU in the Rose. This would be a matchup of #2 and #3 in the AP (LSU might even be #2 at that point). If LSU wins and OSU wins, it could very well be that the AP votes LSU #1.
Ohio State has an outstanding defense. They very well could win a national title with their defense. Last year no one thought OSU had a chance against Miami. After watching OSU struggle through games against teams like Bowling Green and UNLV no one thought they'd have a shot at a New Years Day bowl. But here they are. They are a team that knows how to win. I'll never count them out until they lose. I think Michigan will win easily over OSU, but then again, I thought MSU and Purdue would win. We shall see.
