Strong Schedule Will Boost Sooners In The BCS

I don't think that anyone would consider Oklahoma's 2010 football schedule to be full of cupcakes but a month into the season we can look back now and see that it is one of the stronger schedules in the country. Its exactly the type of schedule that's going to boost the Sooners to a top three or four ranking when the initial BCS rankings come out on the 17th.

With wins over #23 Florida State and #25 Air Force Oklahoma joins Alabama as the only two teams in the nation to have beaten two AP Top 25 teams. Yes, I do realize that the BCS formula uses the ESPN/USA Today Poll and not the AP but it isn't the poll that will be Oklahoma's best friend (just yet) its the computers and here's why.

2010 Overall Rankings

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
	0	10	14	0	24
	14	7	10	0	31

2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGS

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
	7	0	0	10	17
	14	20	10	3	47

2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGS

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
	3	0	7	14	24
	7	3	17	0	27

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
	14	3	7	7	31
	3	6	3	17	29

2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGS

Texas Longhorns @ Oklahoma Sooners">

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
	7	0	3	10	20
	14	7	0	7	28

Combined Opponent Averages

So far, through the first five games, Oklahoma's opponents are scoring an average of 28.3 points per game while the Sooners are only allowing 22.8. OU's opponents are giving up an average of 21 points per game while the Sooners are scoring at a pace of 32.8 points per game. The Sooners have the top passing attack in the Big 12 and are coming around on defense. 

Where the computers are going to love Oklahoma is in the area of ranked opponents. Air Force is a close to a guaranteed 10-win team as you can find and Florida State has the opportunity to take a good jump this weekend when they take on Miami. Add to that the fact that future Oklahoma opponents Oklahoma State and Missouri are now nationally ranked teams as well and the OU schedule is now set for a championship run.

The key for the Sooners is to just keep winning (Duh) because at this point they still control their own destiny. They have a Top 10 ranking and are playing in a traditionally strong conference and have a legitimately strong strength of schedule that will have them in contention ahead of TCU and Boise State and in the same category as Ohio State and Oregon. 

In addition crossing our fingers for Oklahoma to run the table there are three other teams Oklahoma fans need to cheer for. Both Florida State and Air Force have serious chances to win their conferences and every win for Nebraska is a win for Oklahoma should they and the Sooners remain undefeated because there is no way that the winner of a Big 12 championship game featuring an undefeated Oklahoma and an undefeated Nebraska gets left out of the BCS championship game.

There's still a lot of football left to play but each week Oklahoma puts more and more on the line to play for as they inch closer and closer to another championship opportunity.