One thing you have to remember is that, above all, these voters are self-important egomaniacs. They like to be on the side of the winner and they don't want to vote someone #1 and then have them turn around and lose several games and make them look like idiots. USC is the safe pick for #1 at this point by anybody who can't stand the idea of not being right come season's end, because they play absolutely nobody else from here on out. Their check to the BCS national championship game has already been cashed. The voters will put them #1 because they're the safe pick. So, it's really just a battle for second place from here on out, which is all that really matters because both the #1 and #2 teams go to the title game.
Now, I think #3 in the polls is an ok position for us to be in. If USC, Oklahoma, and UGA all run the table, I think the BCS computers will put us in the top 2 because of our stength of schedule, even if we do fall in the polls. The voters realize this, and that's why they don't mind giving us the 3 spot.
I do, however, think that we will not be able to play for the title with a loss. There will be no sneaking in the backdoor for the Dawgs. The pollsters said we were a shaky #1 and if we prove them right by blowing one, I think they'll keep us out of Miami. I think we have to run the table to go to the Orange Bowl.
I think the team that is going to get screwed by all of this is Penn State. I can honestly see Joe Pa's crew running the table in the Big 10 if they keep playing the way they have been. In which case, it will be like the sixth time that program has gone undefeated and still not gotten to play for the title.