FSU To Face V'Tech In Sugar

Book it: No. 1 Florida State vs. No. 2 Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4.

In what will become a perfect ending to a perfect regular season, Virginia Tech is certain to hold off Nebraska in the final Bowl Championship Series standings, setting up a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game for the national title in New Orleans.

The Hokies (11-0) increased their second-place lead over the Huskers from .63 points to 1.54 points in the latest BCS standings released Monday. The final BCS standings, which determines the teams that will play in its title game, will be released Dec. 5.

The advantage, according to one computer expert, is all but impossible to overcome even if Nebraska routs Texas in Saturday's Big 12 Conference title game in San Antonio.

"There's no suspense," Chicago-based computer expert Jerry Palm said. "If Nebraska wins 50-0, I'm not sure that could overtake Virginia Tech."

The BCS standings are based on a formula that considers The Associated Press media poll and the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll, eight computer rankings, strength of schedule and losses.

Florida State and Virginia Tech are 1-2 in the AP poll and the coaches poll.

The results lowered the Hokies' computer average and raised the Huskers' average. Tech's strength of schedule went from 66th toughest to 54th.

Florida State (11-0), which locked up first place two weeks ago with a 30-23 win over Florida, has 2.24 points 1 for poll average, 1 for computer rank average, 0.24 for strength of schedule and zero for losses.

Virginia Tech has 6.16 points 2 for poll average, 2 for computer rank average, 2.16 for strength of schedule, and zero for losses. Last week, the Hokies totaled 6.78 points.

Nebraska has 7.70 points 3 for poll average, 2.86 for computer rank average, 0.84 for strength of schedule, and 1 for losses. Last week, the Huskers had 7.41 points.

Tech gained the upper hand in th eight computer rankings the BCS uses seven, and discards the lowest rating. A week ago, Virginia Tech was second in six computers; third in one and fifth in the other. This week, the Hokies are first in seven and third in the other.

Nebraska dropped from first to third in one computer The Dunkel Index was second in another and third in the remaining six.

Rounding out the top 10, Florida was fourth with (13.48 points), followed by Tennessee, Kansas State, Alabama, Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State.

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