TicketIQ CFB Top 25 - Week 12 Update

As bowl season approaches, the pressure is on in the college football world. Many teams are looking for bowl eligibility, while others are looking to rise high enough in the BCS standings to compete for a spot in the 2014 BCS National Championship. Alabama, Florida State and Ohio State all have games they should win easily at home. The big matchup this week is #4 Baylor against #10 Oklahoma State. The Bears are undefeated and are a win away from jumping over #3 Ohio State in the rankings. If one of the top two teams loses in the coming weeks, it could be a matter of percentage points to see who will be taking their spot in the title game.

Alabama has continued to reign on top of the college football world. The team is already eyeing the national championship but they will have a tough task in the Iron Bowl to get there. #6 Auburn (10-1) has won all 7 games after their loss against LSU in late September. The Tigers will be looking to upset the Tide to gain a spot to the SEC Championship. Alabama football tickets did not change in the TicketIQ Top 25 rankings but did go up one percent to $159 average ticket price. ‘Bama plays Chattanooga this week before heading to Auburn. If the Crimson Tide can take care of business at Jordan-Hare Stadium in two weeks, expect Alabama to play in the BCS National Championship game.

The Ducks bounced back with a win against Utah a week after having their perfect season ended by the Stanford Cardinal. Oregon is now ranked 5^th in the BCS standings and have Arizona and Oregon State left on their schedule. Oregon football tickets dropped a spot in our rankings to #6 with an average ticket price of $168. The drop in price is a three percent decrease from last week. Although many have looked past Marcus Mariota in the Heisman race, his numbers do not lie. He has thrown for 25 TDs without an interception this season. These next two games are a great opportunity for him to add some flash to his game. Look for the Ducks to play in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Jameis Winston has been all over the news. Unfortunately, it is for a non-football reason. His recent connection with a sexual battery case is creating a lot of bad press and could affect his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy. As for FSU, the Noles have an easy game against Idaho (1-9) in Tallahassee before heading to the swamp to face the Gators. This week should give Winston time to figure out his off the field situation before heading to the ACC Championship game. Florida State football tickets continue to stay relatively low considering they are a few wins away from the national championship. FSU stays at #23 in our rankings at an average ticket price of $110, a one percent increase. As we approach championship games, prices will skyrocket to see the #2 team in the nation. Florida State should be heading to the BCS National Championship game.

Although they have their most important game of the year next Saturday against #1 Alabama, Auburn football tickets actually went down in the TicketIQ Top 25 rankings to #12. The Iron Bowl will be even more competitive than usual with both teams competing for the top spot in the SEC West. The Tigers have been led Tre Mason, who has 17 TDs on the ground this season. He showed off his speed last weekend when Auburn defeated #25 Georgia. The Tigers’ average ticket price decreased four percent this week to $136. Prices should rise as we get closer to the ‘Bama game. If Auburn cannot defeat the Crimson Tide, the Tigers should be heading to the Sugar Bowl.

Urban Meyer’s perfect streak at OSU may still be alive but the Buckeyes need help to reach the title game. If Baylor beats #10 Oklahoma State, they will overtake Ohio State for the #3 spot in the BCS standings. OSU on the other hand has a weak remaining schedule. They will play at home against the Hoosiers before heading to the Big House to play Michigan. Ohio State football tickets went up a spot to #2 in the TicketIQ Top 25 rankings with an average ticket price of $210. The Buckeyes have been in the Top 10 of our rankings for a while and with good reason. We will now wait to see if not scheduling tougher non-conference games will hurt their chances of playing for a title. If it does, OSU will be playing in the Rose Bowl.

After suffering a road loss in October to Tennessee, South Carolina has won their last three games to move to 8-2. The Gamecocks still have home games against Coastal Carolina and #7 Clemson left. If Missouri, who is ahead of SC in the SEC East, falters in their final two games against ranked teams, the Gamecocks could jump them and have a chance to play in the SEC Championship game. South Carolina football tickets plummeted this week in our rankings to #18 with an average ticket price of $120, an eight percent decrease. The decrease is partially due to having Coastal Carolina on the schedule at the end of the season. The Clemson game should make prices rise as we get near. South Carolina is eyeing the Cotton Bowl and Outback bowls for potential postseason options.

LSU could not pull the upset two weeks ago in Tuscaloosa against #1 Alabama. However, they will get a chance to redeem themselves this week when they play #12 Texas A&M at home in Death Valley. LSU football tickets did not move in the TicketIQ Top 25 rankings but did decrease by three percent to $148. The Tigers have stayed in the Top 15 of our rankings for the majority of the season and should continue to stay there. Although LSU will not be competing for an SEC Championship, demand for the Tigers continues to stay high, especially with Johnny Football in the Heisman talks yet again. The Tigers will be looking at the Cotton and Outback bowls, like South Carolina, in the postseason.