Stat of the Day: Forecasting this year’s college football champion
By Patrick O’Connor
Last week we told you it was EXTREMELY rare for a team to win the national championship when ranked above No. 16 in the preseason polls.
With that in mind, it is advised for teams in the BCS era to score between 31-57 points in their opening game.
Since the BCS began in 1998 only one time has a team scored OVER 57 points in its opener and won the NC (2005 Texas). That rules Oregon, Florida St, and WVU out this year.
Since the BCS began in 1998 only one time has team scored FEWER than 31 points in its opener and won the NC (04 USC) That rules Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Michigan, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Clemson out this year.
That means of the Top 16 preseason teams, we’re now down to USC, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas as your historical frontrunners for the National Championship.