Boston College No. 2 but for how long?
10/22/2007NEW YORK - With its toughest test yet just days away, Boston College moved into second place behind Ohio State in the Bowl Championship Series standings yesterday.
Don't look back BC, third-place Louisiana State gained ground this week and two Pac-10 teams are primed to pounce if the teams ahead of them falter.
With Boston College playing at Virginia Tech, which is eighth in the standings, on Thursday night, the Eagles stay at No. 2 could be as short as South Florida's.
The Hokies are the highest ranked team BC has faced this season.
The Buckeyes (8-0), who are No. 1 in the Harris and coaches' polls, lead the Bowl Championship Series standings for the second consecutive week with an average of .976 out of a possible 1.000. Ohio State is also No. 1 in the AP Top 25.
Boston College (7-0), which is tops in the computer ratings, took advantage of South Florida's loss last at Rutgers and moved up one spot. The Eagles have a BCS average of .950. LSU (.911 average) also moved up a spot and closed in on the Eagles.
Unbeaten Arizona State (7-0) moved up four spots to fourth place with a .763 average, just ahead of Pac-10 rival Oregon (.762).
The top two teams in the final standings will play in the BCS national championship game on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.
Seven of the top 12 teams in the BCS play ranked opponents.
NEW YORK - Be careful, Boston College.
The Eagles are the new No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25, a ranking that's been more of a burden than a reward recently. The second-ranked team has lost three consecutive weeks. BC faces its toughest test of the season Thursday at No. 8 Virginia Tech.
Ohio State is No. 1 in the media poll for the second consecutive week, receiving 57 first-place votes. Michigan moved up five spots to No. 19.
The Eagles received two first-place votes and 1,494 points, giving them a small lead on No. 3 LSU. The Tigers moved up two spots, hopping over No. 4 Oklahoma, and received two first-place votes and 1,479 points after beating Auburn 30-24 on a last-second touchdown. Auburn fell five spots to No. 23 after the loss.
Oregon was No. 5, up two spots, and No. 6 West Virginia moved up three places.
No. 7 Arizona State, which received one first-place vote, moved up five places without playing this week. The unbeaten Sun Devils (7-0), who have their highest ranking since ending the 1996 season No. 4, play Cal.
Virginia Tech jumped three spots and Florida and Southern California also moved back into the top 10. The Gators and Trojans are tied for ninth.
South Florida dropped nine spots to No. 11 after its first loss.