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Wacky season gives OU a shot, but others must fall

 
By John Rohde | Published: October 18, 2007    Comment on this article Leave a comment

Had Oklahoma not blown its 17-point, second-half lead at Colorado on Sept. 29, the Sooners would be ranked No. 1 this week and in control of their own destiny with blue sky in the forecast.

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Oklahoma football fans could have two new best friends forever: The Associated Press poll and the Kansas Jayhawks. These two entities might offer the Sooners their best shot at winning a national title.

Here's why AP:
• Let's say OU is No. 3 in the BCS standings on Dec. 2, then wins its bowl game convincingly against a quality opponent.

Let's also say a one-loss team wins the championship game.

If AP voters are less than impressed by the BCS winner, they could vote OU atop their final poll.

Here's why the Jayhawks:
• The Sooners are lagging in the computer component of the BCS standings. Their biggest potential boost would come from beating an unbeaten Kansas team in the Big 12 title game.

"That would really help, and that's what Sooner fans need to be rooting for,” said Richard Billingsley, whose poll is one of six used in the BCS formula.

By John Rohde

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Instead, they need help, and lots of it.

But if ever you needed a helping hand, there's no time like the present.

Never in the history of college football have so many teams been so darn helpful.

Hugo resident Richard Billingsley, whose computer ranking is one of six used in the BCS standings, has studied college football for more than 40 years.

He can't recall a season quite like this, which is why he scoured every Associated Press poll back to its origin in 1936.

"It's just so unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it,” Billingsley said. "And you know why that is? Because nothing like this has ever happened before. We're witnessing history here. It's just a wacky, wacky year.”

It is highly improbable — though not impossible — OU will advance to the Jan. 7 national title game at the Superdome.

The Sooners remain mathematically alive for the BCS national title, but they've got zero chance if several teams don't cooperate.

Computers are the culprit.

Humans like the Sooners, but computers most certainly do not.

While the Harris Interactive and USA Today polls rank OU at No.

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