Games that could alter title race

With four undefeated teams on top and Oregon moving into the No. 3 spot in this week's BCS standings, the race for the BCS National Championship Game is hitting the home stretch.

The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide showed vulnerability Saturday at LSU, so nobody should be putting the Tide in the national title game just yet. But if Bama stays undefeated, the battle for the No. 2 spot could be compelling over the next four weeks.

Notre Dame is a long shot because of its position in the polls and remaining schedule. Looking at the point totals in the Harris and coaches' polls, simple math says the Irish are sitting at No. 4 on almost every ballot (worse than fourth by a few coaches), and their potential to move up is limited by having the weakest remaining schedule of the four contenders. But the Irish can still have a big impact on the race for No. 2 by affecting the computer rankings of Kansas State and Oregon.

Game results of past opponents and records of future opponents can have an influence on computers and voters. With that in mind, here are 12 games not involving the Wildcats and Ducks that could play a part in deciding which team ultimately gains the edge in the BCS standings:

To read more of which games Brad Edwards says will have an impact on the BCS race, become an Insider today.

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Brad Edwards

ESPN Insider

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• Analyzes college football and the BCS as part of ESPN's Stats & Information Group
• Analyst for both College GameDay on ESPN Radio and the ESPN College Football app