Sooners try to create BCS mess

[November 20, 2008]  FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) --   Those who prefer a jumbled and angst-filled race to the BCS national championship game should be rooting for Oklahoma in Saturday's latest Big 12 game of the year between the Sooners and Texas Tech.

"It is as big as it gets," Oklahoma receiver Juan Iglesias said. "Just for the fact that all of our goals are still in reach, and if we win you never know what's going to happen in the BCS."

No truer words were ever spoken.

Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree and the Red Raiders can clinch the Big 12 South title in Norman -- where OU has won 23 straight -- and remain in control of the national championship chase.

All that would stand in the way of the Red Raiders and spot in the Jan. 8 title game in Miami is a home game against Baylor and the Big 12 championship against Missouri on Dec. 6.

Simple -- and sort of boring

If Sam Bradford and the Sooners win, well then things get tricky. Oklahoma still has to play at Oklahoma State next week and Texas faces Texas A&M on Thanksgiving.

If the Sooners, Longhorns and Red Raiders finish tied for first in the Big 12 South, the Bowl Championship Series standings would be the tiebreaker. The highest rated team would go to the conference title game.

So, essentially, voters in the coaches' poll and Harris poll would determine which Big 12 South team keeps its national title hopes alive. The only guarantee in that scenario is two very ticked off Big 12 powerhouses, upset about being snubbed.

And, remember, only two teams per conference allowed in the BCS, so one of those three teams is going to end up in the Cotton Bowl, doing its best to convince everyone it is thrilled to be there.

Two more games to watch for those who enjoy a messy BCS:

• Penn State can lock up the Rose Bowl by beating Michigan State. Easy. If the Spartans win and Ohio State beats Michigan, Ohio State goes to the Rose Bowl. Not too complicated there. But what becomes of Penn State and Michigan State? Could either earn an at-large bid to the BCS?

• Unbeaten Utah can virtually lock up an automatic bid to the BCS by beating Mountain West Conference rival BYU. If the Cougars beat the Utes, Boise State moves into prime position to be the BCS buster.

Thursday

No. 23 Miami (plus 3 1/2) at Georgia Tech

Hurricanes control their destiny in ACC ... MIAMI 21-17.

Saturday

No. 2 Texas Tech (plus 7) at No. 5 Oklahoma

Red Raiders haven't won in Norman since 1996 ... OKLAHOMA 47-35.

The Citadel (no line) at No. 3 Florida

Half-day for Tim Tebow ... FLORIDA 50-0.

No. 17 Michigan State (plus 14 1/2) at No. 7 Penn State

Nittany Lions last Rose Bowl appearance was 1995 ... PENN STATE 38-21.

No. 16 BYU (plus 6) at No. 8 Utah

Cougars have won last two meetings on last-minute touchdowns ... BYU 28-24.

No. 9 Boise State (minus 6) at Nevada

BCS buster busted ... NEVADA 34-31.

Michigan (plus 20 1/2) at No. 10 Ohio State

Win this one, Rich Rodriguez, and all is forgiven ... OHIO STATE 41-17.

Air Force (plus 18) at No. 15 TCU

Could this be Gary Patterson's last game as TCU coach? ... TCU 21-10.

Mississippi (plus 4 1/2) at No. 18 LSU

Tigers have won six straight meetings, but games usually close ... LSU 34-27.

No. 20 Pittsburgh (plus 5) at No. 19 Cincinnati

Winner gets 96-pound River City Rivalry Trophy, inside track to Big East title ... CINCINNATI 30-23.

No. 21 Oregon State (plus 3) at Arizona

Beavers rolling with Rose Bowl in sight ... OREGON STATE 31-24.

Florida State (plus 1) at No. 22 Maryland

Terps 4-0 against ranked teams, but all three losses to unranked teams ... MARYLAND 24-21.

North Carolina State (plus 11) at No. 25 North Carolina

Injuries have slowed Tar Heels ... NORTH CAROLINA 30-14.

___

Last week: 16-2 (straight); 11-6-1 (vs. points).

Season: 177-49 (straight); 112-98-1 (vs. points).

[Associated Press; By RALPH D. RUSSO]

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