The Big East Conference
After falling to second in the coaches' polls last week, the Miami Hurricanes surged back to the top by beating up on the number 21 Syracuse Orangemen, 59-0, on Saturday. Both teams had come into the matchup 5-0 in the Big East, but only Miami left undefeated. This game was crucial to the Hurricanes - it brings them one game closer to winning the Big East title, and the margin of victory returned the number one seeding in the coaches' poll.Syracuse remains in second place in the Big East, but the Orangemen might find difficulty holding onto that spot as their last game comes against Boston College, which had star running William Green back in the lineup this weekend after his one-game suspension.
Virginia Tech, number three in the Big East, has just a slight chance of finishing second. Tech faces Miami on the last game of their season, and could play the role of spoiler, but could also serve as a stepping stone on the Hurricanes' road to the national title game.
The Big 12 Conference
As usual, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are undefeated in the Big 12 Conference. They were idle this weekend but play the Colorado Buffalos next weekend. Nebraska should win that game fairly easily, and then go on to represent the North in the Big 12 title game. Most bets are on the Cornhuskers to win this game and remain number one in the BCS going into the bowl games.In the Big 12-South, the Oklahoma Sooners are looking to hold off the Texas Longhorns to earn a berth in the title game. Oklahoma did beat Texas during the year, but has lost to Nebraska once. If the Sooners do make it to the title game, few would bet on them to beat Eric Crouch and the Cornhuskers.
The Southeastern Conference
The SEC race is coming down to the Florida Gators (6-1), the Tennessee Volunteers (5-1), and the Auburn Tigers (5-2). Florida managed an important victory Saturday by beating in-state rival Florida State, 37-13. Though FSU does not have a strong team this season, the Gators had not defeated the Seminoles in three years, and will look to take advantage of the morale boost in its final game.That game will be a Dec. 1st matchup between the Gators and the Volunteers, who will face off for the right to play in the SEC Championship. The home team usually wins this game - unfortunately for the Volunteers, it will be played in Gainesville, Fla.
Auburn plays two more SEC teams, Alabama and Louisiana State. Though neither of these teams is a major threat to Auburn, the Tigers must be careful not to become complacent or they risk losing their chance of playing in the title game.
The Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten might be the toughest and most consistent conference in college football, with the title race having come down to Illinois and Michigan. Illinois beat Ohio State, 34-22, this weekend. Ohio State might have posed a bigger threat if starting quarterback Steve Bellisari not been suspended by the team for a pending DUI charge.Michigan faces Ohio State next week, and it remains unclear whether Bellisari will be allowed to play or whether the team will hold him out for the rest of the year. If Bellisari does not play, Michigan will most likely win the game and tie Illinois, which plays a weak Northwestern team next weekend, for the conference title.
The Pacific 10 Conference
Heisman candidate quarterback Joey Harrington and the Oregon Ducks, who were idle this weekend, will take on rival Oregon State next weekend. The Ducks are already ensured of a BCS bowl game - the only question now is which one.The Ducks secured this position when Washington State lost to Washington on Saturday, 26-14. Washington State was second in the conference and the loss takes it out of the Ducks' range. Still, second place in the Pac-10 is nothing to be ashamed of, and with the conference win, Washington moves into a tie with Washington for that spot.
The Atlantic Coast Conference
For the first time since 1991, the Florida State Seminoles will not at least share a portion of the ACC title - and they joined the conference in 1992. The Maryland Terrapins will win the conference despite the fact that their only conference loss was to FSU.The Seminoles lost to North Carolina and North Carolina State in a year that was not representative of the typical Bobby Bowden team. Never before had FSU lost two conference games in a single season.
After hurting FSU's chance for the title, NC State almost spoiled Maryland's shot. But in Saturday's game, the Terrapins came back to beat NC State 23-19. Maryland's fourth quarter comeback concluded with a eight-yard Shaun Hill touchdown pass to Guilian Gary.
