It didn’t take long for this year’s version of the Bowl Championship Series system to cause a controversy. After the mess last season that landed Oklahoma in the title game against LSU while USC sat at home, the 2004 program was designed to give human opinion – both major polls – more influence. However, even though both polls had USC and Oklahoma ranked 1-2 this year, Miami slipped past the Sooners into second place. The grumbling has been building all week over this new error, and it isn’t likely to subside until January.

But is it an error? The BCS formula is supposed to add some mathematical objectivity to the ranking of teams. If nothing else, it has succeeded in this regard. Miami being ranked second shouldn’t be that shocking. The Hurricanes have beaten both 17th-ranked Louisville and fifth-ranked Florida State, while Oklahoma has only beaten 11th-ranked Texas. Miami has won both of their road games easily, while Oklahoma struggled on the road to beat unranked Kansas State last week.

They may not think so in Norman, Okla., but the Hurricanes deserve to be ranked ahead of the Sooners right now. If the Sooners really think they deserve another trip to the Orange Bowl, their two games against ranked opponents in the next three weeks will be the time to prove it.

There are two games this week that are intriguing for both their BCS implications and the teams on the field. Purdue and Michigan lock up in a Big 10 clash to try and wrestle each other out of contention, while Texas Tech takes on Texas in a game the Longhorns need to win and the Red Raiders want to spoil.

PURDUE (12) AT MICHIGAN (13)
3:30 P. M. (ABC)

This is the only game of the weekend between two ranked teams. Purdue is coming off its first loss of the season, a three point thriller at home to Wisconsin. The Boilermakers looked capable of shaking up the BCS standings before that loss; now they face a tough test to avoid a tumble down the rankings.

Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton looked like a lock for the Heisman Trophy before his mistake-ridden game against the Badgers last weekend, when he turned the ball over three times. With the Michigan run defense allowing just 75 yards per game, Orton will have to bring his best this weekend. The Boilermakers are not a great running team to begin with, and with the Wolverines attacking style of defense, this game sits squarely on the quarterback’s shoulders.

Michigan has a strong running game, led by freshman Michael Hart, who’s coming off a 234-yard performance against Illinois. The Boilermakers do not have a staunch defense, so look for Hart to have another huge day on the ground. With just 18 more yards, he will set a record for the most rushing yards by a freshman in Michigan history. Not that the Wolverine passing game is weak, mind you. Another freshman, quarterback Chad Henne, has been impressive all season, throwing for 220 yards per game and 12 touchdowns.

Considering that both teams can score a lot of points, it’s likely that defense will be the difference. The Boilermakers have not been strong defensively thus far, so this would be the perfect time to establish themselves. The Wolverines definitely have the better defense, but have not faced a quarterback like Orton yet, so they will be seriously tested.

Michigan appears to be the better-rounded squad, and should pull away in the second half to win this game.

TEXAS (11) AT TEXAS TECH
7 P. M. (TBS)

The Longhorns are falling fast in the rankings, largely because of a loss to Oklahoma and a lousy passing game that has kept them from pummeling some weak teams. Last week against Missouri, quarterback Vince Young completed three passes for 19 yards and two interceptions before being sidelined with a bruised sternum.

In came Chance Mock, who proceeded to throw for just 39 yards in over a half of football. Head coach Mack Brown knows his passing game is horrible, but he’s sticking with Young again this week in a game that shouldn’t be as critical as it is for the Lonhgorns. The BCS has them ranked 11th; they’ll have to win every game left on their schedule if they want to move back into contention for a Big 12 Championship.

The Longhorns do have Cedric Benson of course, which means the running game is still rock solid. Benson is unstoppable, rushing for 988 yards in just six games. As a team, Texas is averaging 293 yards a game on the ground, with a lot of those extra yards coming from Vince Young.

Defenses constantly have to be wary of Young and his ability to scamper for a big gain when he sees a hole. That forces the defense to lay off Benson a bit, which helps the big man pound the ball down the field week after week. Benson will eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in this one, and he’ll bowl over a lot of Red Raiders in the process.

Texas Tech is a dangerous team, though. They are not ranked and do not have a powerhouse offense or a particularly stingy defense, but they are gritty and love to cause trouble for the big-name teams. Two weeks ago, they handed Nebraska its worst loss in school history with a 70-10 annihilation.

Quarterback Sonny Cumbie is averaging a national-best 420 yards passing per game and has thrown for over 400 yards in six games this year. The Longhorns defense will be taxed, especially since he knows his team is not supposed to win. This should be a fun game to watch, but in the end the Longhorns and Cedric Benson will topple the Red Raiders.