BlogPoll Ballot Week 5

Once again we employ our resume method of ranking, but there are two different classes now – winners (undefeated) and one-loss teams. We will apply our “tier” system to look at both classes. Top ranked teams will have a victory over top-tier teams (in this case that is Alabama and LSU). For our one-loss teams, we will look at quality of loss in a similar way we look at quality of wins. One-loss teams may be ranked ahead of undefeated teams if the undefeated team has played no quality opponents.

What to do with the Big 12?

The problem we have with the Big 12 is their bizarre schedule this year. There are 5 undefeated teams that, because they have not yet started their conference schedule, have not played anyone significant (with one exception). You have a group of 4-0 teams that have played a bunch of nobodies. At this point the strength of the conference is vastly overrated. Note to Big 12 – PLAY SOMEBODY.


Florida

The more I looked at it, the worse the Gator’s situation looked compared to many other 1 loss teams. Face it – we lost, at home, to a very mediocre team. Not to mention we really haven’t defeated anyone of consequence yet. There are many better situated one-loss teams than Florida, and we won’t be ranked. (Note to observers – this is not a case of “Woe is me, big loss, I won’t rank my team”. It is very justifiably based, if you read what follows).

The Rankings

1. Alabama – dominating road win at Athens easily gets them here.
2. LSU – second best win this year is the Tigers over the Tigers, at Auburn.
3. Oklahoma – the one exception to the Big 12 problem – win over TCU was a good win.
4. Boise State – that’s right. Win over Oregon the next best win I could find.
5. South Florida – Kansas a good win here.
6. Vanderbilt – South Carolina puts them here.
7. Connecticut – win over Louisville nets this spot.
8. Kentucky – also beat Louisville.
9. Northwestern – don’t laugh. Wins over an improved Duke team, and Iowa, get them here.
10. Penn State – by my reckoning, Oregon State and Illinois aren’t really that good.
11. Missouri – best wins are Illinois and Nevada. I’m not impressed.
12. Oklahoma State – best win is Troy.
13. Texas Tech – going to have to beat someone better than Nevada to rank higher.
14. Ball State – wins over Indiana and Navy. Both are better than Rice (below).
15. Texas – Rice is the best win for the Longhorns.
16. Utah – when Michigan is your marquee win, I’m not impressed.
17. BYU – best win is Wyoming.
18. Georgia – loss to number 1 makes them best of this class.
19. Auburn – as does losing to number two for AU.
20. TCU – only loss to our number 3 team.
21. Cincinnati – see TCU.
22. Kansas – loss to our number 5 team.
23. Tulsa – undefeated, but a bunch of nobodies.
24. Duke – sole loss is to Northwestern, our 9th team.
25. Boston College – sole loss to Georgia Tech

Now before some of you express your indignity, what I think is exactly this – Georgia Tech is a better team than either Ole Miss or Oregon State, the teams that defeated Florida and USC respectively. Thus neither the Gators nor Trojans get ranked. There is plenty of time and opportunity for both teams to get back in, if they deserve it – right now they don’t.

And the point isn't whether Texas is "better" than Ball State. Pretty much, that is irrelevant to me. The point is Ball State has beaten Navy and Indiana, and Texas has beaten Rice.

So once again, let me know what you think. Convince me of my errors, and I will change them in time for Wednesday final poll.

UPDATE: I want to clear up a couple of misconceptions about my voting.

First, THIS IS NOT A POWER POLL. This has nothing to do with who is "best" (which, I submit, normal polling does a poor job of this early in the season). This is about who is most deserving at this point in time. That's it. I'm not trying to predict who will win between whom. If that is your opinion of traditional polls, then its time you realize they stink at it. USC was a unaminous number 1 a week ago. How did that work out?

Undefeated teams, by definintion, are generally more deserving than those with losses, and my poll reflects that. It is important to remember that, over the course of the season, these things take better shape. If Vanderbilt wins the SEC (an enormous IF), then they will stay highly ranked. If they lose several times, as expected, then they will fall out. By no means is what you are looking at a final product.

Following up that last point, just because Florida and USC are not ranked now, they are by no means "out of it". In Florida's case, if they beat LSU in two weeks, they will be very much back in it. I think polls that allow a certain position for a team based on what can only be reputation (USC right now) are a massive disservice to the sport at large.

Finally, imagine if my poll was The Poll, the one that got to decide who played in the BCS Title game. What relevance would the rankings have now? The answer is absolutley none, as it is the final poll that would decide it.

Contrast this with the AP and Coaches' Polls. Current positioning is of nearly overwhelming importance. Teams that are too far "out" often have no chance. And that is patently unfair.

Imagine if Oklahoma goes undefeated, and the issue is which 1-loss gets to play them. Say the choices are 1 loss USC, and 1 loss Virginia Tech. Well, according to the current polls, USC gets the nod simply because of positioning.

There should be no "entitled ones". Play it on the field.