With the bowl outlook starting to take shape, certain teams are still battling to secure their spots in the BCS. This weekend some of the top teams face challenging tests from opponents that would like nothing more than to stomp any hope of a BCS bid for a number of teams.
Stanford vs. Arizona State
The Stanford Cardinal have their sights set on the team's first Rose Bowl appearance since they fell to Barry Alvarez's Badgers in the 2000 game, 17-9. Stanford knocked off Arizona in convincing fashion this past weekend, and will need some help to make it to Pasadena on New Year's day, due to the cycle rule that dictates the Rose Bowl has to take the top non-AQ school in the event the Pac-10 champ goes to the title game.
The Cardinal has to go on the road to Tempe for a matchup with conference rival Arizona State. The Sun Devils do not come in with a strong record, sitting at 4-5 overall, but they haven't been losing by much. In their five losses, excluding a 50-17 loss to Cal, ASU's other four losses have come by a total of 15 points.
Quarterback Steven Threet leads a passing attack that average 292 yards a game, good for sixteenth overall in the country. Stanford needs to be wary going on the road to play the Sun Devils. After a big win over a highly ranked Arizona team, Stanford may be tempted to overlook this critical road game that will be key in determining their BCS future.
Iowa vs. Northwestern
In this matchup of Big Ten conference rivals, Northwestern has the chance to play the role of spoiler against an Iowa team that has some Rose Bowl aspirations of their own. Iowa is one of the four teams tied atop the Big Ten standings with only one loss in conference play. The Hawkeyes need to win out to give themselves a shot at a berth in the Rose Bowl.
Northwestern has always been a thorn in the Hawkeyes' side. The Wildcats have taken four of the past five matchups against the Hawkeyes. This includes last season when Iowa was ranked No. 4 in the BCS and sitting with a 9-0 record when an unranked Northwestern team marched into Iowa City and upset the Hawkeyes 17-10.
Iowa still managed to gain a berth in the Orange Bowl with two conference losses last season, but this year the chances of that happening are much slimmer with Wisconsin, Michigan State and Ohio State all sitting with one Big Ten conference loss and hunting for the conference title. Iowa will need to avoid an upset at the hands of the pesky Wildcats if they hope to have a second straight BCS bowl appearance.
Auburn vs. Georgia
Auburn has reigned supreme as one of college footballs premiere teams this season. With Heisman frontrunner Cam Newton leading their offensive attack they are currently in a position for a berth in the BCS National Title Game sitting at No. 2 in the BCS rankings. They control their own destiny from this point forward; if they can win their remaining games they will play for the national title.
But with that No. 2 ranking on their backs, teams will be gunning for them the rest of the season, and no team in the SEC would love to hand Auburn that first loss than their in-state archrivals Georgia.
Games take on a whole new meaning when they are between two rivals, players step up and summon everything in them to try and beat the guys on the other side of the ball. So, Georgia's 5-5 record can pretty much be tossed out the window, and the Tigers would be very unwise to overlook the rival Bulldogs.
San Diego State vs. TCU
Oh the plight of being a mid-major football power. No. 3 TCU is finding that out as it wasn't able to gain any ground on Oregon and Auburn after destroying previously ranked No. 5 Utah. TCU was hoping a win over the Utes would propel them over Auburn and put the Horned Frogs in a position to play for the national title.
TCU is still in the national title conversation, but the road to Glendale becomes a lot harder now, as the rest of their remaining schedule doesn't have the BCS style points that Auburn and Oregon have.
The best thing that TCU can do to keep their title hopes alive is win out. Many people believe that the Horned Frogs are a serious title contender, and if Auburn or Oregon slip up during the season's final few weeks, they will get their chance to show what they can do on the nation's grandest stage.
