Finally, the wait is over: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama for control of the free world, or at least the SEC championship and a berth opposite Texas in the BCS championship game.Ever since Sept. 20, the third week of the season, Florida, Alabama and Texas have been the nation's top three ranked teams. For the past 11 Associated Press polls, the threesome have been lumped together atop the AP rankings. That should change after Saturday's SEC championship game in Atlanta.
However, I'm just curious, how long after the SEC championship game goes final will the loser start clamoring for a rematch in the BCS title game?
The defending national champion Gators enter the game as the nation's No. 1 ranked team. They got my AP vote this week based on their comfortable win against Florida State, while Alabama and Texas each needed some late heroics to hold off Auburn and Texas A&M, respectively.
Besides the SEC, league champions also will be decided this week in the Big 12 (Texas vs. Nebraska), ACC (Clemson vs. Georgia Tech), Pac-10 (Oregon vs. Oregon State), Big East (Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh), MAC (Central Michigan vs. Ohio) and Conference USA (Houston vs. East Carolina).
Here is my ballot this week with my ranking last week in parenthesis and my projected bowl berths for each team:
- 1. Florida (2)
The Gators (12-0) play Alabama in Saturday's SEC championship game. FanHouse's projected bowl: Citi BCS national championship vs. Texas, Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif. - 2. Alabama (1)
The Crimson Tide (12-0) play Florida in Saturday's SEC championship game. FanHouse's projected bowl: Allstate Sugar vs. Pittsburgh, Jan. 1 in New Orleans. - 3. Texas (3)
The Longhorns (12-0) play Nebraska in Saturday's Big 12 championship game. FanHouse's projected bowl: Citi BCS national championship vs. Florida, Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif. - 4. TCU (4)
The Horned Frogs' (12-0) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: FedEx Orange vs. Georgia Tech, Jan. 5 in Miami. - 5. Cincinnati (5)
The Bearcats (11-0) visit Pittsburgh Saturday. The winner earns the league's BCS bowl berth. FanHouse's projected bowl: Konica Minolta Gator vs. Virginia Tech, Jan. 1 in Jacksonville. - 6. Boise State (6)
The Broncos' (12-0) play host to New Mexico State on Saturday. FanHouse's projected bowl: Tostitos Fiesta vs. Penn State, Jan. 4 in Glendale, Ariz. - 7. Ohio State (9)
The Buckeyes' (10-2) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: Rose vs. Oregon, Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif. - 8. Oregon (10)
The Ducks (9-2) play host to Oregon State on Thursday. FanHouse's projected bowl: Rose vs. Ohio State, Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif. - 9. Oregon State (12)
The Beavers (8-3) visit Oregon on Thursday. FanHouse's projected bowl: MAACO Las Vegas vs. Utah, Dec. 22 in Las Vegas. - 10. Virginia Tech (13)
The Hokies' (9-3) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: Konica Minolta Gator vs. Cincinnati, Jan. 1 in Jacksonville, Fla. - 11. LSU (15)
The Tigers' (9-3) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: Capital One vs. Iowa, Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla. - 12. Penn State (16)
The Nittany Lions' (10-2) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: Tostitos Fiesta vs. Boise State, Jan. 4 in Glendale, Ariz. - 13. Miami (17)
The Hurricanes' (9-3) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: Gaylord Hotels Music City vs. South Carolina, Dec. 27 in Nashville, Tenn. - 14. Georgia Tech (7)
The Yellow Jackets (10-2) play Clemson in the ACC championship game on Saturday. FanHouse's projected bowl: FedEx Orange vs. TCU, Jan. 5 in Miami. - 15. Iowa (18)
The Hawkeyes' (10-2) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: Capital One vs. LSU, Jan. 1 in Orlando. - 16. Pittsburgh (8)
The Panthers (9-2) visit Cincinnati on Saturday. The winner earns the league's BCS bowl berth. FanHouse's projected bowl: Allstate Sugar vs. Alabama. - 17. Cal (20)
The Golden Bears (8-3) visit Washington on Saturday. FanHouse's projected bowl: Brut Sun vs. Oklahoma, Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas. - 18. Stanford (21)
The Cardinal's (8-4) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: Emerald vs. Boston College, Dec. 26 in San Francisco. - 19. Oklahoma State (11) The Cowboys' (9-3) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: AT&T Cotton vs. Ole Miss, Jan. 2 in Arlington, Texas.
- 20. USC (22)
The Trojans' (8-3) play host to Arizona on Saturday. FanHouse's projected bowl: Pacific Life Holiday vs. Nebraska, Dec. 30 in San Diego. - 21. Nebraska (NR)
The Cornhuskers (9-3) play Texas in the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday. FanHouse's projected bowl: Pacific Life Holiday vs. USC, Dec. 30 in San Diego. - 22. Houston (25)
The Cougars (10-2) visit East Carolina for the Conference-USA championship game on Saturday. FanHouse's projected bowl: Liberty vs. Auburn, Jan. 2 in Memphis, Tenn. - 23. Wisconsin (24)
The Badgers (8-3) visit Hawaii on Saturday. FanHouse's projected bowl: Outback vs. Tennessee, Jan. 1 in Tampa, Fla. - 24. BYU (NR)
The Cougars' (10-2) regular season is over. FanHouse's projected bowl: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia vs. Arizona, Dec. 23 in San Diego. - 25. Clemson (14)
The Tigers (8-4) play Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship game on Saturday. FanHouse's projected bowl: Chick-fil-A vs. Georgia, Dec. 31 in Atlanta.
Teams that are close to making my Top 25 (in alphabetical order): Northwestern, Texas Tech, Utah, West Virginia.
See you later (teams that fell out of my Top 25 this week): North Carolina, Navy.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Well congratulations Brett,
It only took you a full season of college football to finally change your vote to what the majority of the rest of the civilized world already knew.
That in spite of all of your lobbying for Alabama, the Gators have been number one all year long.
I'm not really concerned about lobbying for Alabama or Florida for the top spot. No lobbying is required as the teams will settle that on the field.It is,however,very confusing as to who you predict to go to what bowl. For example you chose Alabama to play Cincinnati in the Sugar bowl but then you chose Cincinnati to play in the Minolta Gator against Virginia Tech. Then you chose Pitt to play in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama. I'll give you the benefit of the dought and say that maybe this poll was a rough draft and you were pressured to submit it? In any event I'll wait to see who plays who in what bowl because your predictions are all over the place.
I'm not even a Hawkeye fan, but you've got Penn St over Iowa in the Fiesta?!? Are you serious? Need I remind you that Iowa beat Penn St in Happy Valley!!!!!
Penn St may travel well, but Iowa travels better.
Besides, the way Iowa played all year just imagine how entertaining the game would be....everyone waiting to see how Iowa pulls out a victory.
so you have alabama projected to play cinci in the sugar, yet have cinci projected to play va tech in the gator bowl? was that suppose to be pitt in the sugar? i would much rather see bama get whooped by an at-large for the second year in a row in new orleans. tcu-alabama would be a much more appealing matchup.
Looks like you made darn sure to keep the SEC away from either TCU, Boise State or any, repeat any Pac 10 team
I'm just curious, how long after the SEC championship game goes final will the loser start clamoring for a rematch in the BCS title game?
.....Lets just see how well they do out of conference. Florida has exactly 1 top 20 win. Im not so sure Florida or Alabama can win out of conference, Alabama beat Virginia Tech out of conference but after we look back on the season they got a little too much credit for that. I would love to see a Florida Bose State match up in the Sugar Bowl. After last years Utah Alabama game Im not so sure Slive wants it.
Iowa beat Penn State in regular season but they no longer have there starting quarterback. Rick Stanzi is out for the rest of the year. Iowa could not beat Penn State with the team they have now. Iowa couldnt beat Northwestern with the team they have now.
You're wrong - Stanzi is expected back for the bowl game. He was throwing and walking during the Minnesota game.
Besides, did you not see Vandeberg against Ohio State?!? He held his own just fine.
Penn St offense couldn't find its way out of a wet paper bag - as usual.
Iowa gets the BCS bid - guaranteed.
This is the first year that three schools could be co national champions. If florida beats alabamaa and texas then we have florida, then if cincinnati beats alabama we had another legitamate national champion and if tcu wins their bowl game then we can all celebrate the first three team shared national championship yet.
theenergy there wont be any share to be had once Florida wins they have been number 1 all year and cincy nor anyone else would be able to claim they could beat Florida and yes it would be nice if they could play them after the NC just to shut you people up!
Florida Gators 2009 National Champs
If there is more than 1 undefeated team at the conclusion of the bowl season, how in the world can just one of them claim to be the National Champion???? Doesn't make sense. Also, how can either Alabama or Florida claim to be the National Champion when neither team played a game this year OUTSIDE OF THE SOUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So if a team doesn't play outside of their geographical location they can't be a true national champ? That sounds like some flawed and desperate logic. If the Gators, Tide or Longhorns go undefeated they will be the national champs all by themselves and deservedly so. I'll take a team that doesn't play outside of the "South" and plays a tough schedule over a team that plays in a weak conference any day of the week and so will the people that vote on it.