Sooners lock for Sugar Bowl, other team still unknown

<br>(Undated-AP) -- About the only thing Number 1 Oklahoma has to play for in the Big 12 title game is uniform color. <br><br>The Sooners have such a safe lead in the BCS standings that they're projected

Monday, December 1st 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Undated-AP) -- About the only thing Number 1 Oklahoma has to play for in the Big 12 title game is uniform color.

The Sooners have such a safe lead in the BCS standings that they're projected to go to the Sugar Bowl even if they lose to Kansas State on Satuirday.

Oklahoma's Sugar Bowl opponent, however, is still up in the air with Southern California and LSU battling for the second spot.

The Trojans will enter the final week with a slight edge in the BCS standings over the Tigers, but it might not hold when the bowl bids are given on Sunday.

While USC (10-1) finishes the season Saturday against unranked Oregon State (7-4), LSU (11-1) has a rematch against Number 5 Georgia (10-2) in the Southeastern Conference title game. The more difficult matchup will serve as an advantage for LSU -- assuming they can win -- by boosting their strength of schedule and helping their computer rankings.

The Number 2 team in the Colley Matrix computer also could be determined by the Notre Dame-Syracuse game, assuming both LSU and USC win this weekend. An Irish win would give the Number 2 spot to the Trojans, who beat Notre Dame this season, while an Orangemen win would give the edge to LSU.

If both USC and LSU lose, Michigan (10-2) or Georgia most likely would go to the Sugar Bowl, with the Wolverines having a slight edge.

The Sugar Bowl is scheduled for January 4th in the Louisiana Superdome.