Their only good win is against SMU, a team that has avoided the most difficult opponents in the ACC (a conference that has looked surprisingly weak as the season wore on).

Bad loss cancels out good win.

And, to top it off, BYU is, at best, the third place team in the Big XII. What gives?

Alabama is absolutely getting the benefit of the doubt, but I don't see an argument that convinces me that any Big XII team should be in front of them...

Say what you will about Alabama, but at least they didn't lose to a non bowl eligible team.