10 teams with college football title potential

WAY BACK when, I picked Alabama to beat Boise State in the national-title game. Because my editors insisted I put the whammy on two of the logical suspects before they suited up.

As the halfway point of the season beckons, I have no clue whether that'll actually happen. Knowing my history, the probability is slim. But at least the possibility exists, which is more than can likely be said about some projections.

And being realistic, how many teams still have a shot of being in New Orleans on Jan. 9? Texas? Michigan? Illinois? Georgia Tech? While I've learned the hard way to not say never, I don't think so. Arkansas, which lost big at Alabama, and whomever emerges in the SEC East look iffy at best. But it is the SEC. LSU got there in January of 2008 despite two overtime losses, including its regular-season home finale. Stuff does occur. Nonetheless, the candidate list is already down to 10. Some obviously have better chances than others. I didn't include Auburn because I don't believe it can beat LSU and Alabama. I've been misguided before.

That leaves Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Boise, Stanford, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Oregon and Nebraska. I only count Nebraska because it could win out, beat Wisconsin in a Big Ten title-game rematch and get all kinds of help. And that still might not be enough.

Alabama hosts LSU, which also has Arkansas at home. And there's always that SEC final to deal with. Oklahoma closes at Oklahoma State. And even though there's no Big 12 final, potential upsets lurk.

Wisconsin goes to Michigan State and Illinois. And to Ohio State too. Oops, just wanted to see if you were paying attention. Stanford hosts Oregon, and there's a Pac-10 title game. Boise should finish and-0, but might need certain teams to lose twice. Clemson has to go to Georgia Tech and South Carolina, and maybe beat Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech again in an ACC final.

The thing that might make the most sense? LSU has won it all the last two times the last game was held in New Orleans.

It's hard not to like Alabama, even though LSU has grown on me. And doesn't Oklahoma usually find a way to mess up? The sleeper in this equation? How about Stanford, which flies under the radar because it usually plays too late for many to notice? Or maybe it's finally time for a non-BCSer to crash the ultimate stage, a year after TCU almost did.

Just in case, remember who tried to warn you first. If it turns out to be Wisconsin-Oklahoma State direct all complaints to Vegas Vic.