Blogpoll -- Week 13 Draft
by Truzenzuzex on Dec 1, 2009 1:12 PM EST
in Football
44 comments
Here we are, at the end of the season for most teams. One more Blogpoll to go before the bowl season begins.
At this point, the BCS rankings have Florida, Alabama and Texas set at the top. No matter who wins next Saturday's SEC championship game, it looks somewhat likely that the Texas Longhorns will be their next opponent in the BCS championship game unless the Nebraska Cornhuskers do more than I expect versus the Longhorns. My ballot and the BCS standings mirror each other in the top 10 except for the order of the top three -- they have the Florida Gators, the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas Longhorns 1-2-3, and I have Alabama, Texas and Florida in that order.
More after the jump:
 |
||
| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | |
| 2 | Texas | |
| 3 | Florida | |
| 4 | Cincinnati | |
| 5 | TCU | |
| 6 | Boise State | |
| 7 | Oregon |  2 |
| 8 | Ohio State | 2 |
| 9 | Iowa | 2 |
| 10 | Georgia Tech |  3 |
| 11 | Virginia Tech | 3 |
| 12 | Houston | 1 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh | 5 |
| 14 | Miami (Florida) | 4 |
| 15 | Brigham Young | 10 |
| 16 | Oregon State | 3 |
| 17 | Penn State | 2 |
| 18 | Stanford | 3 |
| 19 | Southern Cal | 1 |
| 20 | LSU | 4 |
| 21 | Nebraska | 1 |
| 22 | North Carolina | 5 |
| 23 | California | |
| 24 | Oklahoma State | 12 |
| 25 | West Virginia | |
| Last week's ballot | ||
Observations
- The biggest move up was made by BYU, who defeated bitter rival Utah 26-23 in a classic.
- The biggest move down: Oklahoma State, who was shut out at Oklahoma, 27-0.
- Looking back at week 1, some notable absences: Georgia, Florida State, Oklahoma and Ole Miss.
- The SEC so far has had their way with every other conference, finishing the regular season 31-6 versus outside competition. The Big East was a surprising second at 22-8, and the Big Ten a distant third at 22-11.
- Virginia Tech has climbed slowly back up to just south of the top ten.
- Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that three Pac-10 teams would be ranked ahead of Southern Cal?
- Georgia almost made it in by virtue of their huge win over Georgia Tech.
- Clemson drops out by virtue of their loss to South Carolina.
- Texas had a very hard fight versus Texas A&M to avoid an upset. Nobody thinks Nebraska can do it, but what would happen if they did? Right now, TCU has a tiny lead over Cincinnati for the 4th spot in the BCS, but if UC can knock off Pittsburgh, I think they would be the team most likely to back in to the BCS championship game.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated.
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Another one bites the dust
I just read the coach at Louisiana-Monroe got fired. He went six and six I think. Seems some achools actually think there’s a level about bowl qualifing.
I have be correctly accused of having a 'football fetish'. You know, someone who doesn't think football is the warm up sport to basketball season.
And
There are some fans that recognize that being successful in the SEC requires incremental steps (i.e. winning 3 road games) and not throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Just occured to me that
My comment may have come across as a little harsh, for which I apologize.
I am very proud of the football team and what they have accomplished this season. Yes, I wish it had been even more successful. There were several games that we could have won but that is life in the SEC.
3 SEC road wins this year. Hopefully even more SEC wins next year. As long as we are moving forward, I will stay content.
Good Point
I agree with the moving forward condition. This year we did.
let’s hope it will continue.
I have be correctly accused of having a 'football fetish'. You know, someone who doesn't think football is the warm up sport to basketball season.
Story Turns Up Heat
LHL’s Mark Story says it’s good that UK coaches aren’t in Tuscaloosa or they’d be looking for employment.
"Learn(ing) without thinking begets ignorance. Think(ing) without learning is dangerous."
-Confucius
And he's so right!
LSU miybe have been in the same situation withour the OT win against the Hogs.
It’s a shame it happens so much here we just accept it and say ‘next season’.
Joker will be a year older, another winter at the knee of Brooks and much smarter.
Or, we can have the same discussion next year.
I have be correctly accused of having a 'football fetish'. You know, someone who doesn't think football is the warm up sport to basketball season.
1, Florida
2, Alabama
3. Texas
4. Let’s hope we don’t have to dig this deep for the “championship” game. This poll gets pretty thin, pretty early.
by Sonic on Dec 1, 2009 4:08 PM EST reply actions
Im surprised
Alabama number one. They could have easily lost to Auburn and A&M could have beaten Texas
1 florida
2 Texas
3 Alabama
4 TCU
5 UC
Yeah.
There is very little difference between them, 0.23 in my calculations.
What gives Alabama the edge is their tougher SOS, which is at 51.5 vs Florida’s 49.7. It isn’t much of a difference, but just enough. Also, Alabama has a better MOV against BCS teams.
You could put any one of the three up there and I wouldn’t disagree.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Whatever Advantage Bama Has
It’s more than offset by the fact that they don’t have Tim Tebow.
"Learn(ing) without thinking begets ignorance. Think(ing) without learning is dangerous."
-Confucius
Auburn To Outback
Tigers will play a Big Ten team on ESPN. Quite surprising but I’m happy for Gene Chizik.
"Learn(ing) without thinking begets ignorance. Think(ing) without learning is dangerous."
-Confucius
Wonder how many Auburn fans are eating crow right now??
Agree, he has done well…
If your wings don't sweep....
I totally agree with your Top 10.
Especially Top 3. A lot of people (justifiably) will keep UF @ 1 because they’re last year’s champion, they started the season at # 1, and haven’t lost since. As the season goes on, however, and the “look-test” becomes easier to administer, I think that you can definitely put Alabama and Texas ahead of Florida.
People fault Alabama for the close one against Auburn, but in rivalry games like that, I think it’s acceptable to throw records, expectations, etc. out the window since any team can win (unless UK is playing UT). For instance, Pitt (thought it pains me to say it), is a much, much better team than WVU, but in the Backyard Brawl, all that matters is those 60 minutes of football. Crazy, unexpected things happen in rivalry games. I just don’t think Alabama should be faulted for a close win in a rivalry game.
Also, using the “neutral field” test that is becoming increasingly popular in the sports media, I think that Alabama would beat UF 7 times out of 10 on a neutral field, and would beat UT 8 times out of 10.
I expect Alabama to win on Saturday and beat Texas for the BCS Championship. Remind me in a month when I’m wrong.
Wasn't Gators-'Noles A Rivalry Game?
"Learn(ing) without thinking begets ignorance. Think(ing) without learning is dangerous."
-Confucius
What I don't like about Florida....
I know Alabama and Texas have had their share of close ones, but….
Beating South Carolina, Mississippie State, Tennessee and LSU by just 10
Beating Arkansas by just 3
UF is good, but if the # 1 team is performing like that, this is a down year at the top of the ranks.
Aside from the Auburn and UT games,
Alabama beat Virginia Tech by 10 (next closest game), and beat the hell out of everyone else they played.
UF has only gotten better.
Watching them and Texas vs. Alabama is night and day. UT and UF are just faster and more talented.
I can't agree with that.
Florida is very talented, but so is Alabama. The numbers this year favor Alabama.
Florida is playing pretty well right now. I guess we’ll find out this weekend who is right in their assessment.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Pulling for Bama and UT
I’d hate to see a close UF/Bama game then UT losing. SEC rematch would be less than ideal but what opponent against the SEC Champ would desirable? Hopefully Cinncinnati would get beat and Boise State would pass TCU somehow. If it can’t be SEC Champ vs Texas then it would be nice to have a chance to finally give Boise State their shot at the Championship.
I would say Boise in the BCS championship is impossible at this point.
They have no more games to play, and are ranked sixth. One of the two SEC teams will be in the SEC championship, so Texas will have to lose to open up a spot. Competitors for that spot would be Cincinnati and TCU, and TCU has no games left.
UC has one more game left against Pittsburgh. If they win, there is no doubt that they will be playing for it all in case of a Texas loss. If they lose, it will be the Horned Frogs, or so I assume. I can’t see how they could jump Boise over TCU since the latest poll has TCU ahead of Boise, and both schedules are complete.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I know the SEC vs BSU scenario
is virtually impossible. I’m just tired of the whole undercurrent of non-BCS teams (and their elected officials) crying about the system and not getting a shot at the championship when undefeated.
What about TCU?
They certainly have a shot, and they are non-BCS. But that shot may be a very close call if UC wins Saturday.
Here is a great look at what could happen.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
TCU has a logical shot
but the Boise State loss in a Championship game would quell the constant static coming from the non-BCS conference schools. A lopsided loss by TCU would accomplish the same thing but Boise State has been in the conversation for several years.
Of course, all this is for folks in favor of our current bowl/non-playoff system. All in favor of a playoff are rooting hard for a TCU or Cinncinnati team to just miss the big game, blow out their opponent then have a crappy Championship game.
So if say, Florida AND Texas lose
Then we have a Bama-TCU/Cincy national title game? And Boise gets no shot whatsoever in the end….Now I know why we really need to revamp this system. Boise/Cincy/TCU dont have a hairsbreadth of difference between them in what they bring to the table for a bowl and all of this is going to be separated by a computer calculating hundredths of a point???……man am I glad basketball is starting…..I really wish we could have had a 5-6 way tie at the top. Would have loved to see all these “experts” proving whay their pick belongs in the champ. game.
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Boise's schedule was not tough enough.
That’s just how it is.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
not for the computers you mean......
WE ( the fans) will never know…….not for sure
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
True.
Not unless they start playing a tougher schedule. It’s on them, really.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
But you advocate UK buying wins just like "everyone else does"......???
you cant have 6 in one hand and a half-dozen in the other and call them unequal can you?
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Sure!
Why not? The problem is, even “buying” a win or two, UK’s schedule is way tougher than Boise.
I’m not calling them equal — I’m calling them unequal. It’s you who are trying to make the case that a team who goes undefeated against a succession of cupcakes should be invited to play for the BCS championship.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
My point is that when folks call for UK to play a tougher
schedule to get credibility in the polls, you say “why should they, they are just doing what everyone else does” But when Boise State plays their schedule the same way everyone else does, you say “they just didnt play anybody”…….why is one doing the right thing to gain acceptance, and the other is not??
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
The problem is ...
… that Boise State is in a weak conference, and until that changes or they play tougher OOC foes, they are not getting to the big prize.
Would it be fair to compare the schedules of Alabama and Boise on an equal basis? No. Not whatsoever. Or Florida, who played as many cupcakes as UK did? No, not whatsoever.
I don’t get your argument here.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
And ...
… “gaining acceptance” is not the same thing as playing for the BCS championship. Wouldn’t you agree?
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
well, I will say this, you cant do one until you have the other......
They may not be the same thing, but they are very close cousins….
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
Was the purpose of the BCS not supposed to be to give all
“participating " conferences equal weight in the BCS?? And the flipside of this thing is that Boise played the teams that would play them. They still have not to this date had anyone to accept their open date challenge. If no one will play you, and you beat everyone who will, should that not grant you equal status as an unbeaten, until you are unbeaten no longer? That’s kind of like saying that Memphis didnt belong in the NCAA tournament last year because their conference didnt have any competition. They dont know how good they are until they get to play some of these teams they cannot seem to get past in the rating systems. I know the conferences are unbalanced, but the current system does nothing to alleviate that situation.
Guys like Paris and some others, like myself, clamor for UK to play tougher non-conference opponents so that they can have “quality” wins when it comes to Bowl invitiations, because we have to play in the same league with Florida, Bama, and LSU. Your response to them is that the other teams play these “buy” games, so why shouldnt the Cats play them and get their bowl eligibility and be happy with that.
But when the BCS uses that same approach to shut out a team like Boise that no one has beaten since only God knows when, you claim it is their fault for not having a tougher schedule because they play in a “weak” conference. It just seems like youre playing both sides of the fence here to support your position.
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
sorry..... the rest of the argument here
the participating conferences the same consideration at Bowl time??
You are sounding like you are trying to play both ends of the situation, and here is why I say that:
You seem irritated when guys like Paris or some others, myself included, clamor for the Cats to play a tougher non-conf schedule to have some “quality” wins when it comes time for Bowl consideration, and you say that if Florida, Bama and LSU can play “cupcakes” then why shouldnt we do the same, get Bowl eligible and be happy with that?
Then, when the BCS uses that very same logic to determine who among the unbeatens gets to play for a NC, you say that Boise has no argument to be in there, because they did not play anyone. As far as I know of, as of now, not one single BCS school has accepted Boise State’s open date challenge for 2011. Not one. No Bama, Florida, LSU, Texas or any of the powerhouse schools will play them even though Boise asks for no return game. They are beating everyone they play, but they are not good enough because they dont play anyone.
That is like telling Memphis they dont get to go to the Final Four last year because they play in a conference where they have no competition. You want to try and make that argument with John Calipari??
It just seems to me you are playing both sides of the fence here just to support your position.
Remember, we're having fun now!!!
I am irritated when you fail ...
… to recognize the value of a historically futile program playing softer competition until it is able to play a tougher schedule.
That is not the same thing as a historically powerful team expecting to be given the nod to play in the BCS championship against teams that play a better schedule.
The two things are completely unrelated, and have no bearing on each other. How you can propose to conflate the two, or somehow say they are the same thing, is simple sophistry.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
No, I'm not.
I’m saying that you can’t play an easy schedule and expect to play in the BCS championship unless the other teams that play a tougher schedule get beaten at least once.
That’s what I’m saying. That’s all I’m saying. The rest of the fluff about UK’s schedule is irrelevant. You brought that up, not me, and it is a red herring.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
BSC Formula
Isn’t it 2/3 human polls? So the people, albeit no necessarily fans, do have a big say in who plays. It is the humans who started with a set preseason list and rarely drop a team who doesn’t lose. I am by no means a BSC apologist, but let’s not give all of the blame to the computers, who were also programmed by humans. It was the fans frustrations over polls deciding everything that lead to the inclusion of computer formulas.
There is a great explanation of some of that ...
… right here.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
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