Weekly BCS Bowl Projections: Week 1 - Alabama vs. Clemson

What an AWESOME 1st week of college football.

In our weekly feature predicting the BCS Championship game, we see a new contender rise into the top 2, and one of last week's top 2 fall to #5.

The 2014 BCS Championship game will be played on January 6, 2014 at the Rose Bowl. Each Thursday, we'll predict which teams are most likely to make the BCS Championship game, based on what we learned during the previous week.

Last week's matchup prediction:

Alabama vs. Stanford

BCS Championship Game Prediction headed into week 2:

Alabama vs. Clemson

Why Alabama?

The Tide looked rusty in their opener vs. an over-matched Virginia Tech team. A 35-10 win is rusty? Well, in this case yes. The Tide's offense was putrid, including a 10-23 passing performance by AJ McCarron and they scored more non-offensive TD's (3- punt return, kick return, INT return) than offensive TD's (2). If the Tide didn't get scoring help from the return game, Bama was in jeopardy of going down in week 1. They will remain locked in this prediction until they lose a game.

Best chance for a loss: @ Texas A&M on next Saturday 9/14.

Why Clemson?

Clemson sat at the grown ups table in week 1 and cemented their name in the BCS Championship picture with a thrilling 38-35 victory over SEC power Georgia. Georgia was ranked #5 coming into the game and Clemson looked every bit the #2 team in the country that night, vaulting up from their previous #8 ranking. Clemson may not have the best talent in the country, but they have two things going for them that maybe only one contender (Ohio State being the other) has. 1. A very easy schedule. 2. Maybe the best QB in the nation (right now at least) in Tajh Boyd. The Tigers should start 6-0 before their next tough game, hosting #10 Florida State on 10/19.

Best chance for a loss: vs. Florida State on 10/19

Next best teams:

3. Ohio State

4. Oregon

5. Stanford

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