Boise State or Texas Christian?
That seems to be the question every week in the Bowl Championship Series.
In one corner, you have TCU, which has won its first 11 games, 22 of its past 23 and is ranked No. 4 in all three human polls and No. 3 in this week’s BCS rankings.
Then there’s the Smurfs, who are 9-0, ranked No. 3 in all three human polls and No. 4 in the BCS.
So which is better? Which is the king of the BCS busters?
I think you just have to go blue and go with Boise State, which at this point of the season appears to have the better resume and is in better position to break the stranglehold of the power conferences.
The Smurfs have arguably been college football’s most consistent program the past three seasons, winning 23 consecutive games and 33 of their past 34. They also showed what they can do against some of the best teams in the country. Remember their victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl?

But we’re talking about this season, and Boise State’s resume looks pretty solid, especially when you compare it to TCU’s record. Yes, the Horned Frogs dismantled then No. 6 Utah last week. But the Utes may have just been a pretender, especially after Saturday’s 28-3 loss to Notre Dame, the same Irish team that lost to Tulsa two weeks before.
Boise State, meanwhile, beat Hawaii 42-7 and Virginia Tech. The Warriors are No. 31 in the BCS. The Hokies, after starting slow, are No. 16.
It gets better.
The Smurfs should improve their standing in the next few weeks. They still face a decent Fresno State squad and close the season against No. 18 Nevada.
Boise State also takes care of business.
I’ve argued previously in this space that it’s not who you play but how you play. For a team like Boise State – and for that matter, TCU – it must play well enough to force voters to vote for them. And the Broncos do that. In seven games against teams from non-BCS conferences, Boise State is winning by an average of 51-9.
TCU?
The Horned Frogs, facing a non-automatic qualifying school, beat San Diego State by five points. Yes, five points. Advantage Boise.
There’s also another reason to lean toward Boise State in this argument. Head-to-head. Some forget that Boise State, when both teams had basically the same lineup, beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl last year.
If that’s not proof enough, I don’t know what is.
ROSE BOWL TOP 5
1. Boise State (9-0)
The Smurfs’ resume gets better every week. If they win out against Fresno State and Nevada, a trip to Pasadena will be in their future.
2. Wisconsin (9-1, 5-1 in Big Ten)
On Wisconsin! An 83-point effort against Indiana and Iowa’s loss to Northwestern all but locks up a trip West. The Badgers close with Michigan and Northwestern.
3. TCU (11-0)
If the season ended today, the Horned Frogs would be in the Rose Bowl. You might not be able to say that next week.
4. Stanford (9-1, 6-1)
The Cardinal are still in the hunt, but it’s looking like a trip to the Alamo Bowl might be more in their future than the Arroyo Seco.
5. Oregon (10-0, 7-0)
The Ducks are a slip-up from dropping from BCS title consideration to the leader of the pack in the Rose Bowl race. That almost happened Saturday before they held off Cal.
Others: Ohio State (9-1, 5-1), Michigan State (9-1, 5-1).
BCS TOP 5
1. Oregon (10-0)
Gang Green looked beatable against Cal. But a trip to Arizona is theirs if they win out. I think they will.
2. Auburn (11-0)
The Tigers, thanks to a big victory against Georgia and Oregon’s sluggish victory over Cal, have sliced the Ducks’ lead in half. More importantly, Auburn has increased its advantage over Boise State and TCU, so much so that some say the Tigers could still get to the BCS title game with a loss to Alabama, providing they win the SEC title game.
That just might happen.
3. Boise State (9-0)
The Smurfs are looking good with point goodies lying ahead. But will that be enough to catch the top two? Some say no. We’ll see.
4. TCU (11-0)
Suddenly, the Horned Frogs are dropping, and it might continue. TCU is still ahead of Boise State, but with only a game against 1-9 New Mexico on the schedule, that lead could be gone by next week.
5. Nebraska (9-1)
The Huskers, who beat Kansas, must win out, hope it gets Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game and have either Oregon, Auburn or Boise State lose. Not happening.
Others: Stanford (9-1), LSU (9-1), Wisconsin (9-1), Ohio State (9-1), Oklahoma State (9-1).