If you didn’t like the way the SEC has dominated things the past six seasons, then you’re probably not going to be thrilled with the way the 2012 season is predicted to go. LSU and Alabama will be at or near the top of the pack again, while Georgia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Florida and Auburn have all made our BigTime Top 30.
The good news is that the Pac 12 winner between USC and Oregon will both be top ten (although the Ducks drop a little after losing a QB to the NFL), while the Big 12 with Oklahoma, West Virginia, TCU, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas and Baylor, would also likely put an undefeated champion into the BCS Championship game.
If the SEC, Big 12 and Pac 12 produced an undefeated champion it would be another mess, but the Pac 12 could get left out, as other than the Trojans and Ducks, there is a big drop in highly rated teams, with only Stanford getting any top 30 consideration.
The Big Ten would have to have an undefeated team and hope the other conference winners had a loss or two, as Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin just don’t have a high enough power rating overall to trump the SEC or Big 12, and don’t have two teams in the top three like the Pac 12.
The ACC has four teams in our top 30, and the Big East better pray that Louisville goes undefeated, as the conferences lone team in the poll.
| 1 | LSU |
| 2 | USC |
| 3 | Alabama |
| 4 | Oklahoma |
| 5 | Georgia |
| 6 | Oregon |
| 7 | West Virginia |
| 8 | Michigan |
| 9 | TCU |
| 10 | Arkansas |
| 11 | Kansas State |
| 12 | South Carolina |
| 13 | Michigan State |
| 14 | Florida State |
| 15 | Nebraska |
| 16 | Oklahoma State |
| 17 | Virginia Tech |
| 18 | Wisconsin |
| 19 | Clemson |
| 20 | Boise State |
| 21 | Florida |
| 22 | Stanford |
| 23 | Texas |
| 24 | Notre Dame |
| 25 | Ohio State |
| 26 | Baylor |
| 27 | Louisville |
| 28 | North Carolina State |
| 29 | BYU |
| 30 | Auburn |
