Defending BCS Conference Champions Headline Teams Flying Under the Radar

Both major polls have been released; the usual suspects are in the mix in the top 5. Defending National Champion Alabama is ranked number 1 in both polls with Ohio State, Florida, Boise State and Texas not far behind. While few would be surprised to see two of these teams play in Glendale at season's end, there are several other solid programs flying under the radar and vying for potential BCS bids come January. Here is a list of four:

Georgia Tech

Despite winning the Atlantic Coast Conference last season, some are picking Georgia Tech to finish fourth just in the Coastal Division of the ACC. The Yellow Jackets lost many notable starters like wide receiver, Demaryius Thomas and running back Jonathan Dwyer on offense as well as defensive end, Derrick Morgan and safety Morgan Burnett on defense. Despite those major losses, Georgia Tech has plenty coming back. Quarterback Joshua Nesbitt returns for a third season as the starting signal-caller in Paul Johnson's triple-option offense. In the backfield with Nesbitt, Tech will have experienced running backs Roddy Jones and Anthony Allen. Last season, Allen averaged an ungodly 9.7 yards per carry. On defense, Georgia Tech returns its leading tackler from a year ago, linebacker, Brad Jefferson. The Jackets will also switch to a 3-4 scheme as former NFL and Virginia head coach, Al Groh comes over from Charlottesville to be Tech's new defensive coordinator. The schedule is tough. Georgia Tech will face Miami at home. The Hurricanes were Georgia Tech's lone conference defeat in 2009. The Yellow Jackets will have to go on the road to play both North Carolina and Virginia Tech, teams that were defeated in Atlanta last season. One break on this year's conference schedule for the Jackets is they do not face Atlantic Division favorite, Florida State while division foes Miami and North Carolina will. If the defense is improved from a season ago, Georgia Tech should be one of the major players and have a very good chance of repeating in the ACC.

Cincinnati

Although they have won the Big East in each of the last two seasons and did not lose a single game until the Sugar Bowl a year ago, Cincinnati will not begin the year ranked in either major poll. Head Coach, Brian Kelly has since left for Notre Dame and Kelly's successor at Central Michigan, Butch Jones takes over as the new head coach. The Bearcats also lose quarterback Tony Pike and star wide receiver. Mardy Gilyard to the NFL, but have plenty of offensive talent. Junior signal-caller Zach Collaros will take over for Pike at the quarterback position. Collaros is a dual-threat behind center and performed well a year ago when Pike went down with an injury. Despite the loss of Gilyard, Cincinnati still has plenty of weapons around Collaros. Southern California transfer, Vidal Brazelton will likely take over as the big-play threat at receiver. D.J. Woods is a very serviceable possession receiver despite being undersized. Tight end, Ben Guidugli is likely the best at his position in the Big East and will provide a nice check-down target for Collaros. At tailback, Isaiah Pead is perhaps the most underrated back in a Big East conference that features Dion Lewis at Pittsburgh and Noel Devine at West Virginia. The Bearcats will likely struggle on defense as they did a year ago, but have a plethora of offensive fire-power that should allow Cincy to compete. The schedule is tough for the Bearcats; non-conference road games against Fresno State and NC State preceed a September 25th battle with a high-powered Oklahoma team in Cincinnati. The tough non-conference schedule should have the Bearcats battle-tested by the time Big East play gets in full-swing. The Bearcats will have to travel to play both West Virginia and Connecticut, but get Pittsburgh at home in the season finale that could decide the champion of the Big East as it did a year ago.

LSU

2010 will be just the third year removed from a National Championship in 2007 for LSU. An 8-5 campaign in 2008 followed by a 9-4 finish a year ago has head coach Les Miles' future very much in question. One reason for the Tigers inconsistencies over the last two years is LSU's struggles at quarterback. Junior, Jordan Jefferson will be in his second full year as the starter at quarterback and should be more reliable in his decision making. Wide-out Terrance Tolliver is one of the more highly regarded receivers in the conference. Tolliver's size and speed make him a tough man-to-man cover for any defensive back in the Southeastern Conference. High school quarterback Russell Shepard is perhaps the best athlete on the Tiger offense and his versatility will allow him to be used in several ways. Defensively, the Tigers are extremely young up front, but very talented. Ture Freshman, J.R. Ferguson can play either tackle or end and will see the field right away. Although SEC West foes, Arkansas and Auburn have garnered high-praise from many experts, LSU has the most speed and talent to compete with the Alabamas and the Floridas of the conference. The Tigers will be tested early and often; LSU opens on a neutral field in the Georgia Dome against a good North Carolina team and concludes the month of September with a home date against West Virginia. The SEC schedule is brutal as well; three of what are likely the Tigers four toughest conference games are on the road. Preseason number one Alabama however, visits Baton Rouge. Last season, LSU was very competitive in Tuscaloosa before losing late. If LSU is able to win just one of its three tough SEC away games and beat Alabama in Death Valley, a December trip back to Atlanta could be in the cards for the "Bayou Bengals".

Oregon State

Let's not forget that just last December, Oregon State was one quarter away from representing the Pac-10 conference in the Rose Bowl. Offensively, the Beavers have perhaps the most explosive playmakers in a conference that includes talent-rich USC. The Rodgers brothers, tailback Jacquizz and wide receiver James provide lightning in a bottle to both Oregon State's air and ground attacks. Despite being only 5'7 and 190 pounds, Jacquizz Rodgers has shown great durability and can be a work-horse for the Oregon State offense while his brother James Rodgers set a school record with 91 receptions in 2009. Quarterback Sean Canfield has graduated, but sophomore Ryan Katz will have plenty of skill around him to be successful. The Beavers have perhaps the most underrated defensive line the Pac-10 conference. Defensive Tackle, Stephen Paea is a handful and excellent run-stopper. Oregon State is experienced in the secondary, but not overly fast. Like aforementioned Cincinnati and LSU, the Beavers have an unmerciful non-conference schedule. Oregon State will play both non-automatic qualifiers to reach the BCS in 2009 just in the month of September. The Beavers open with TCU in Cowboys Stadium on September 4th and conclude the month on the blue turf at Boise State on the 25th. If the Beavers were able to win both games, they would definitely garner some much-deserved national attention. The Pac-10 schedule however is favorable. Despite having to travel to Arizona and Stanford, both USC and arch-rival Oregon will come to Corvallis. Oregon State has defeated a top-five USC team in each of its last two trips to Corvallis. With USC being on probation and banned from postseason play, a second place finish to USC could land the Beavers in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1964.