Computers the difference as Sooners slip past 'Horns in BCS

The electorate has convened, and the winner of the Big 12 South is: It's a tie! Nearly.

Missouri and QB Chase Daniel can really throw a wrench into the BCS picture. (US Presswire)

The media-fueled campaign to get Texas to the Big 12 title game had a big impact on the voters. Texas came back from way down in the coaches poll to get within one point of Oklahoma. In the Harris poll, the Longhorns actually went past the Sooners to a six-point lead. Since Harris poll points are worth less than coaches poll points, this is about as close to a tie as you get without actually being tied.

In the BCS, when the voters cannot reach a consensus, it gives the computers a chance to have a say, and this week they spoke loudly in favor of Oklahoma. That means the Sooners will head to Kansas City, Mo., to take on Missouri in the Big 12 title game.

Oklahoma made its biggest move in the Sagarin and Wolfe ratings. Those happen to be the two that give any significant weight to home and road. The Sooners' big road win at Oklahoma State was enough to push them past Texas in both of those polls, and to the No. 1 overall computer ranking.

Texas fans are not happy, but they should not be angry with the BCS. The BCS did not force the Big 12 to use its ratings as a tiebreaker. It does not make sense to put something like a division title or conference title in the hands of strangers. There has to be another way.

So Texas is left hoping for a miracle to get to play for a national championship, and the Longhorns will be at home watching for that miracle on television. Even if Texas does not get to play for the BCS title, it will be a BCS at-large team.

Oregon State also needs a miracle after getting smoked by Oregon 65-38 in the Civil War. The Beavers could have locked up a Rose Bowl berth with a win, but now they need UCLA to beat USC to make it to Pasadena.

The Trojans hope for a bigger prize: a trip to the national championship game. They pounded Notre Dame 38-3 and need the same miracle Texas does, a win by Missouri in the Big 12 title game. That would open the door for one of them to go face the SEC champion.

Alabama and Florida assured that the SEC champion will go to the BCS title game by winning this week. The Tide beat Auburn 36-0, while Florida chomped Florida State 45-15. The SEC title game on Saturday becomes a de facto national semifinal.

The ACC finally found a couple of teams that want to play in its championship game. Boston College won a trip to Jacksonville by beating Maryland 28-21. Virginia Tech will be the opponent after the Hokies held off Virginia 17-14.

Cincinnati celebrated its first Big East title and BCS berth with a 30-10 win over Syracuse. The title was clinched the day before when Pitt beat West Virginia 19-15.

Boise State finished its season 12-0 with a 61-10 win over Fresno St. The Broncos are hoping some BCS bowl will take them instead of Ohio State, but the odds of that are very slim.