« Southern Exposure: SEC Preview, Week 7 | Main | Heisman Watch 2010 - Week 6, or Revenge of the Plainsman »

MRI Football 2010 - Rankings Week 5

October 19, 2010  |  By Benjamin Miraski

Did anyone notice that? Boise State didn’t capture the No. 1 spot in the first BCS standings.

This despite ESPN’s BCS expert Brad Edwards claiming the whole week prior that it was all but a done deal.

Well, some expert. Boise State came in at No. 3 when the first rankings were released, not even close to the top spot, taken by Oklahoma.

Or was that what ESPN intended all along?

Although Oregon didn’t play this week, they benefited more from Ohio State’s loss to Wisconsin that Boise State, who dominated San Jose State to the tune of 49-0.

The Ducks gained more points in the coaches’ poll and a greater share of the first place votes taken from Ohio State.

But more importantly, Oklahoma stole a few of those top votes in the shakeup following the Ohio State loss. Stole them from a surging juggernaut that was looking to steal more than its now yearly place in the BCS picture.

Boise State was poised to break into the biggest game of the year. So why not put a stop to that before it begins.

When the BCS comes out for the first time, it is important to be placed in the top two, despite what the experts say. One of the top two is almost guaranteed to be in the championship game at the end of the season.

It has happened 10 out of the 12 years the BCS system has been in place and only one time in the past ten years hasn’t it been true.

So it is actually really important to be in the top two at the beginning of the chase.

And can you imagine how the ESPN brass felt about Boise State potentially being not just in one of those positions, but the top spot?

They had just shelled out $495 million for the broadcast rights to these games, and now the crown jewel, the National Championship game (sponsored by Tostitos) was going to be invaded by the boys who play on a blue field?

Not while they can help it.

So they get the coaches and the Harris poll voters scared by plastering their mock BCS rankings on the screen every chance they could get, including during the biggest games of the night.

And maybe, just maybe, enough votes changed to make a difference.

At least that is how I see it.

The computers (which don’t count margin of victory, much to the chagrin of some mathematicians) might be Boise’s only hope, and even that is a long shot.

Unless you are talking the MRI, where for the second straight week, the Broncos top the rankings along with their BCS busting pal, TCU.

It is looking like TCU might eventually come out ahead in the MRI as Boise’s schedule tapers off, but there is still a lot of football to be played and upsets to be had.

Check out the two high-flying westerners and all the rankings in Week five of the football MRI.

Posted October 19, 2010 9:00 AM