CFB: Doping out the BCS' top two spots
By RALPH D. RUSSO
Associated Press College Football Writer
At least one spot in the BCS national championship game is reserved for the Southeastern Conference champion.
No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Florida cruised into their league title showdown next week with resounding victories against fierce rivals today.
Coach Nick Saban's Crimson Tide snapped a six-game losing streak against Auburn with a 36-0 victory in the Iron Bowl. Alabama (12-0) heads to the Georgia Dome for its first appearance in the SEC championship game since 1999.
Tim Tebow and the Gators extended their winning streak against Florida State to five games with a 45-15 victory in Tallahassee.
The Gators and Tide will play the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in a conference title game and the winner is virtually assured of advancing to the BCS national title game on Jan. 8 in Miami.
The opponent? That'll also be determined next week, but heading into Saturday night it was unclear which teams would have a shot.
No. 7 Texas Tech rallied behind Graham Harrell from a 14-point deficit to beat Baylor 35-28 and keep the Red Raiders in the hunt for a Big 12 South title.
More importantly, though, the Red Raiders kept No. 4 Texas from clinching the South and a berth in the conference title game against Missouri next week.
No. 3 Oklahoma could force a three-way tie with the Red Raiders and Longhorns for the division crown by beating No. 11 Oklahoma State on Saturday night.
If the Sooners, Longhorns and Red Raiders finish tied, the team with the highest BCS ranking plays in the Big 12 title game. Texas was ahead in the standings last week, but Oklahoma was close and expected to pass the Longhorns with a victory in Stillwater, Okla.
Meanwhile, USC was playing Notre Dame, hoping it could get back into the national title picture if a couple of Big 12 teams slipped up.
The Atlantic Coast Conference set its championship game Saturday, after a crazy race in both divisions.
Virginia Tech (8-4) and Boston College (9-3), in a rematch of last season's ACC championship game, will play for a spot in the Orange Bowl.
Cincinnati (10-2) had its BCS spot wrapped up before it took the field against Syracuse because West Virginia lost to Pittsburgh on Friday. The Big East champions continued the celebration with a 30-10 victory in Greg Robinson's last game as Orange coach.
