3 College Football Teams outside of the Top 10 that could play for the National Title.

Let’s face it pre-season rankings are an inexact science. In fact there are plenty of people that think the first polls shouldn’t be released until a month into the college football season. For teams that start the season outside of the top 10, to get to the BCS title game, you’ve got to win obviously but you need to have a little luck too. It can happen though. Just last season both Oregon and Auburn started 2010 on the outside looking in and ended up playing for it all. Who are the 3 teams that aren’t in the top 10 of either the pre-season AP or Coaches Poll that with a break or two along the way can end up in the national title game?

Virginia Tech Hokies AP #13 Coaches #13

This is isn’t Frank Beamer’s best team in the last 15 years, but it could be his best shot at getting to a National Title Game since Michael Vick was there. If you’ve been reading my blog you know that the Hokies schedule is marshmallow soft. North Carolina’s and Miami’s NCAA troubles have gift wrapped the ACC Coastal Division for the Hokies. The Canes are already naming ineligible players and the Tar Heels lost their head coach Butch Davis. Virginia Tech gets both of those teams in Blacksburg. There is a game that could derail the Hokies run. Last year Boise St. had a November road battle against a run-oriented offense that they were favored in. They lost that game to Nevada ending any hopes of a National Title. Virginia Tech must go on the road this year in November against Georgia Tech’s Triple Option on a Thursday. Can you say trap game? Survive that and most likely the Hokies would meet Florida State in the ACCCG which would be the last in only a handful of games that the Hokies have to get up for. Word is new QB Logan Thomas has been impressive in fall practices, and a light September schedule should give him plenty of time to acclimate himself to being the starter.

TCU Horned Frogs AP #14 Coaches #15

Can TCU be the first mid-major school to play for a title game? The Horned Frogs proved last year beating a very good Wisconsin team in the Rose Bowl that they can play with any team in the country. Last season TCU at one point went 6 straight games without giving up more than 7 points, and they return the entire linebacking core. The Horned Frogs have won 25 of their last 26 games with their only loss being to an undefeated Boise St. team in 2009. There have been wins over Virginia, Oregon St, Clemson, Wisconsin and top 10 ranked Utah team in the last 2 years. When you look at this year’s schedule, there is a game at Baylor and the talented Robert Griffin, but TCU beat the Bears by 35 in 2010. Then there is a road game at Boise St. which will be the only game TCU won’t be favored in. TCU will get the rest of the Mountain West Conference’s best shot since they are leaving for the Big East in 2012. Even without the departed QB Andy Dalton, the Horned Frogs have a chance to run the table.

Georgia Bulldogs AP #19 Coaches #22

The Bulldogs in recent years have been one of the most underachieving teams in the country. They are coming off a 6-7 year, their best offensive player A.J Green is gone, and head coach Mark Richt is an 0-2 start from getting his resume ready. In addition Virginia Tech and TCU have a considerably better chance of pulling this off than Georgia does. Why do I think this is even possible? For an SEC team Georgia has a remarkably easy road schedule. The Bulldogs won’t face a top 25 SEC team on the road this year. The Bulldogs open with Boise St. in Atlanta and South Carolina in Athens. That’s basically two home games even if against a couple of very good teams. If Georgia somehow survives that opening stretch, they may find themselves favored in every game they play the rest of the year outside the SEC Title game. They avoid Alabama and LSU in the regular season. They also have solid QB Aaron Murray returning and heralded freshman RB Isaiah Crowell arriving. You know there’s talent there. Richt recruits well. My actual prediction on the Dawgs is probably an 8-4 type year, but they if get by Boise St and South Carolina watch out.