Week 1 Bracketology

This the first bracket on College Football Bracketology. As outlined in the Mission Statement, I’ve ranked, seeded, and drawn up the bracket for the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season. After each matchup, I’ll have a short blub on why the team is seeded where they are and what they can do to change their seeding.

(Reminder: All projected records are D-IA records only)

EAST REGION :

(1) FLORIDA (SEC) (11-1)

Why Seeded Here: Projected champion of the best conference in college football.

How It Could Change: The SEC is mega-tough and anything short of a conference crown would knock them out of the top line of the bracket.

(8) FLORIDA ATLANTIC (Sun Belt) (9-3)

Why Seeded Here: Projected champion of the worst conference in college football.

How It Could Change: Losing the Sun Belt would knock them out. Conversely, beating Texas this Saturday would be a marquee win that could move them up at least one line.

(4) Arizona State (9-2)

Why Seeded Here: The Sun Devils get Georgia at home and should be the number two team in the Pac-10.

How It Could Change: Winning the Pac-10 outright would send their stock way up.

(5) CLEMSON (ACC) (9-2)

Why Seeded Here: The Tigers are projected to win their first ACC title in since 1991. But, two non-IA games means their non-conference schedule is too weak to be rewarded with a home game.

How It Could Change: Running the table would put the Tigers in line for a higher seed.

(3) Missouri (10-2)

Why Seeded Here: The projected losers of the Big 12 title game also have a good win over Illinois.

How It Could Change: Winning the Big 12 would put them in consideration for a top seed.

(6) Georgia (8-3)

Why Seeded Here: The last team in has an incredibly tough schedule, with plenty of opportunities for big wins. This offsets their three losses.

How It Could Change: The Bulldogs could easily be a top seed by year’s end if they take care of business.

(2) OHIO STATE (Big Ten) (10-1)

Why Seeded Here: The projected Big Ten champion should only lose when they travel to Los Angeles.

How It Could Change: Winning in Los Angeles would nearly clinch a top seed, as the Big Ten should offer little resistance.

(7) CENTRAL MICHIGAN (MAC) (9-3)

Why Seeded Here: The Chippewas have two chances to knock off middling Big Ten teams and with Dan LeFevour, they could capitalize.

How It Could Change: Obviously, the MAC isn’t getting two teams. Unless the Chips knock off Georgia AND lose the MAC title game.

WEST REGION:

(1) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (Pac-10) (11-1)

Why Seeded Here: Hardest schedule in the nation + One-loss season = Top Seed

How It Could Change: If there’s a repeat or two of the Stanford game from last season.

(8) TULSA (Conference USA) (10-2)

Why Seeded Here: Tulsa is the projected Conference USA champion.

How It Could Change: Losing to East Carolina/Central Florida. There isn’t much upside to this team with their weak non-conference slate.

(4) SOUTH FLORIDA (Big East) (9-2)

Why Seeded Here: The projected champion of a weak Big East is balanced against a win over a good Kansas team.

How It Could Change: The Big East isn’t getting two teams, so the Bulls need to win their conference. Also, losing to Kansas would put them on the road in the first round.

(5) Wisconsin (10-1)

Why Seeded Here: Their biggest non-conference game is against Fresno State, which would devalue the Badgers’ good record. Their only loss should be to Ohio State

How It Could Change: There is little room for error for Wisconsin. However, beating the Buckeyes would give them some wiggle room, if not put them in the hunt for a top-two seed.

(3) OKLAHOMA (Big 12) (10-2)

Why Seeded Here: The Big 12 South is full of landmines, but the Sooners prevail both there and in the Big 12 title game. Their non-conference schedule is little help.

How It Could Change: Fewer missteps and the Sooners would be looking at a possibility of a top seed. More missteps (and a title game loss) would see them on the road in the first round.

(6) BRIGHAM YOUNG (Mountain West) (10-1)

Why Seeded Here: The highest seeded low-major team should have a win over one of their two Pac-10 opponents (Washington and UCLA) to go with their Mountain West title.

How It Could Change: An undefeated run should see the Cougars hosting a first-round game.

(2) Auburn (10-2)

Why Seeded Here: Projected SEC West champion. West Virginia will be a good non-conference trophy.

How It Could Change: Winning the SEC would mean that the Tigers wouldn’t have to leave home until the title game.

(7) FRESNO STATE (WAC) (9-3)

Why Seeded Here: With three chances against major conference teams, the Bulldogs should have one to go with a WAC title to get them up to a seven-seed.

How It Could Change: Losing the WAC would keep them out… unless they are a one-loss team and the loss is to Boise State in the finale.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR:

Texas Tech, Oregon, West Virginia, Louisiana State, Penn State