Door Swings Open for Gators

(From BCS Guru)

Michael Crabtree's tightrope act was the early Christmas present for the one-loss pretenders looking to get back in the BCS title race. The biggest thank-you note should be coming from Urban Meyer.

Florida is the biggest beneficiary of former No. 1 Texas' last-second loss Saturday night in Lubbock. After trouncing Georgia in the World's Largest Outdoor Whupass Party, the Gators should have a chance to play their way into the BCS title game - if they can handle the rest of their schedule and beat Alabama in the SEC championship game.

As it is, the Tide will assume the No. 1 ranking in the new BCS standings, followed by Penn State and Texas Tech - now the only three BCS conference unbeatens. But the Red Raiders still must navigate past Oklahoma State next week and then a visit to Norman to face Oklahoma on Nov. 22. A Texas Tech loss in either game would almost certainly put the SEC champion in the BCS title game.

One team not to get much help from any of this is USC. Despite another shutout victory - this time over hapless and winless Washington - the Trojans can expect to fall farther down the BCS standings. Outside of a Penn State loss in its remaining three games, there does not appear to be any conceivable scenario that would allow USC to return to the BCS championship game.

The Guru's projected BCS standings for Week 10:

1. Alabama, 2. Penn State, 3. Texas Tech, 4. Florida, 5. Texas, 6. Oklahoma, 7. USC, 8. Oklahoma State, 9. Utah, 10. Boise State, 11. Texas Christian, 12. Ohio State, 13. Georgia, 14. Missouri, 15. Ball State.