Texas Longhorns sit atop first BCS rankings of 2008 college football season

The first BCS poll was released on Sunday and predictably so, the Texas Longhorns are ranked No. 1 followed by the Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 2, while Penn State, Oklahoma and USC round out the top-5. The top-two teams ranked in the BCS poll at the end of the regular season will play for the BCS National Championship in January.

For Texas, the key to remaining ranked No. 1 is to avoid any land-mines the second half of the season.  The Longhorns are just halfway through a brutal stretch of games against ranked opponents. In the next two weeks, they play BCS No. 6 Oklahoma State and No. 8 Texas Tech, both of whom are undefeated. The Longhorns are currently favored in this weeks game at Bookmaker.com with Oklahoma State by an 11 ½ chalk.

Alabama must travel to Knoxville, Tenn., this Saturday to play old nemesis Tennessee. Though struggling, the Volunteers are potential trouble for the Tide in this traditional rivalry game. Oddsmakers like Alabama by a touchdown (-7). A trip to LSU on Nov. 8 will be the next big test for Alabama following a non-conference game against Arkansas State Nov. 1. On the horizon Nov. 29 is the annual hate game with visiting Auburn.

 No. 3 Penn State is enjoying its best season this century and is poised to move into one of the top spots if either Texas or Alabama stumble, however; the Nittany Lions also must avoid losing this week at No. 9 Ohio State in a battle that could decide the Big 10 championship. Bookmaker.com favors the Nittany Lions by -2 versus the Buckeyes.

No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 5 USC are the highest ranked teams with a loss. Remaining on Oklahoma’s schedule are Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in back-to-back weeks to finish the regular season. Next up for the Sooners is a trip to Manhattan, Kan., for a date with the Kansas State Wildcats. Oklahoma is favored by -19. 

BCS Rankings Week 8

1. Texas Longhorns
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
4. Oklahoma Sooners
5. USC Trojans
6. Oklahoma State Cowboys
7. Georgia Bulldogs
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders
9. Ohio State Buckeyes
10. Florida Gators
11. Utah Utes (highest ranked non-BCS school)
12. Boise State Broncos (non-BCS)
13. LSU Tigers
14. TCU Horn Frogs
15. Missouri Tigers
16. South Florida Bulls
17. Pitt Panthers
18. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
19. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (non-BCS)
20. Ball State Cardinals (non-BCS)
21. BYU Cougars (non-BCS)
22. Northwestern Wildcats
23. Kansas Jayhawks
24. Minnesota Golden Gophers
25. Florida State Seminoles