--Mark Dunn, Toledo, Ohio
I think you hit the nail on the head, Mark, that the winner of this game could put itself in position for a Utah-like run, but it depends on what the two teams do before that. BG opens at Wisconsin. Boise opens at Georgia and Oregon State. BG is not going to start high enough in the rankings, if at all, to be able to finish in the BCS' top six without going undefeated, so if it loses to the Badgers, the issue is moot.
Boise, because of the carryover from last year's No. 12 ranking, could conceivably lose one of its first two games and still finish high enough, but only if it runs the table from there.
The other team to consider in this category is Fresno State, which will likely start in the top 20 and not only plays the Broncos but also USC on consecutive weekends in November. The Bulldogs also play at Oregon, so if they were to somehow make it through that schedule with fewer than two losses, you'd have to think they'd be pushing the top six. "
Later on there was a question about which team will fall the farthest from last year. Mandel's pick? Wisconsin. Replacing the entire D-line, four O-lineman, two stars of the secondary. I get more and more excited about our chances in Madison every day.
