From the Big East official rules: In a two-team tiebreaker, head-to-head results determine the winner. In a three-or-more-team tiebreaker, the Big East football tie-breaker rules first apply head-to-head results among all three or more teams. If, as could happen this season, three teams end up in the tie, and all three teams have a 1-1 record against the others, the final tie-breaker rule is applied: Ranking in the BCS standings. The highest-ranked team in the BCS standings on the final day of the college football season would be awarded the berth in a BCS bowl.
So, who is going to take the crown? A look at the human-coached teams (conference records in parenthesis):
Pittsburgh (4-1) BCS 9 Games remaining: WVU, @ Cincinnati
The front runner. The only team in the conference that controls its own destiny, Pitt simply needs to win out. History could point to them doing just that. Pitt coach Clay McCullough had more success against WVU coach Quinn Arnau (5-2) and Cincinnati coach Taylor Raines (3-4) than any other human opponents (3-17 against Tanner, Virostko, and Mowell combined).
Syracuse (5-2) BCS 13 Games remaining: Boston College
The leader in the clubhouse, Syracuse is hoping Pitt loses one of its final two games which would create a true logjam at the top. If a tie cannot be broken by head to head record, the conference champ would be decided by BCS ranking. Syracuse figures to finish in top 10, but would a strong finish by Rutgers or Cincinnati allow them to leapfrog the Orange? Upstate New York can only sit back and watch now.
USF (4-2) BCS 18 Games remaining: @ Miami (Fl), UConn
Don’t let the BCS ranking above fool you- that does not take into account the heartbreaking loss to Pittsburgh on a last second field goal. The Bulls can only hope that Pitt, Cincy and Rutgers somehow end up with 3 losses, as USF would win a head-to-head tiebreaker with Syracuse. Their dream scenario? Pitt loses to WVU and Cincinnati. Cincinnati loses to Rutgers. Rutgers loses to WVU. Stranger things have happened. I think.
Cincinnati (2-2) BCS 16 Games remaining: Rutgers, @ UConn, Pittsburgh
After rising as high as number 3 in the polls, the Bearcats are reeling. Shocking conference losses to Syracuse and West Virginia have the Bearcats currently on the outside looking in. However, wins against Rutgers, UConn and Pitt would likely vault coach Raines’ squad ahead of any other two loss Big East teams in the BCS, giving them the title.
Rutgers (2-2) 17 BCS Games remaining: @ Cincinnati, Louisville, @ WVU
Similar to Cincinnati, Rutgers needs to win out. But unlike Cincinnati, Rutgers won’t get a chance to give Pitt a second loss (they gave them their first and only already). Game against Cincy tonight is elimination game.
WVU (2-3) BCS 23 Games Remaining: @ Pittsburgh, Rutgers
The crushing loss to Louisville, coupled with Syracuse’s escape against UConn eliminated the ‘Neers from title consideration. Still, they can play spoiler down the stretch and build on that momentum for 2012. Also, by winning out, Coach Arnau would assure himself a tie atop the human v. human standings after year one.
