BLOGPOLL FINAL BALLOT: CORRECTED AND MADE WORSE

The biggest problem is, of course, Cal… which may well finish the year that high (by beating USC), but which did not only lose, but was publicly sodomized by the Vols in a game that could have been 50-0 if the Vols didn’t call the dogs off. One loss is nice, but when it was domination, and you haven’t beaten a top flight team to erase that lose (like Arkansas has), 4 is too high

Move your beloved Gators up two spots and Cal/Da Ville down one each and you’ve got it jusssstttt right.

You thought I was kidding?

I can’t believe you put [insert team] at [insert position]. You either don’t remember [insert loss or should have lost game] or didn’t see [insert game where offense or defense thought game was on a Monday]. Besides, how coud [insert team] [fall/rise] after their game against [insert last opponent]. [Insert last opponent] is [better/worse] than [insert team ranked directly ahead/behind]’s last opponent, [insert other team’s last opponent], and [insert team] [crushed/was soundly beaten] by [insert other team]. Besides [insert team’s best player that was injured/suspended/in jail during big game] was out for the [insert best loss] game and [insert team] would have won that game handily.

That’s it, you guys definitely have it out for [insert team or conference] and your obvious bias is showing through.

[If ND fan, claim that you don’t get enough respect]. [If not ND fan, make fun of fatass dickhead coach].

[If Big East fan, claim Louisville’s schedule is tougher than Texas]. [If Texas fan, note Louisville’s crappy schedule].

[If SEC fan, talk about how hard the conference is]. [If not SEC fan, tell SEC fan to suck it].

[If OSU/UM fan, trash talk other team].

[If Army fan, STFU and GBTW].

[End with random Borat quote]

There’s a lot of hedging in there, admittedly. The shakiest hedges of all right now are Cal and Louisville, which have ridden the “OOH! OFFENSE!” pollster buzz into high preseason rankings they haven’t lived up to for 3-4 years or so. We could be totally guilty there.

TBMD, that is the greatest comment ever.

texas griping to commence shortly…..

TBMD, I second that. You get a gold star.

I still say someone needs to make that into a web page with drop-downs so you can email your customized bitchfest to everyone you know.

I’d do it, except I suck.

I think it looks great except for the fact that USC needs to be behind LSU!! I hope Florida can pull off a miracle and end up in the championship game. I want nothing more than to have a SEC team end up in the championship game and just killing Ohio state. Let them see what its like to play a REAL team. I want to go to the championship game so badly. Tostitos is giving away tickets to it everyday and i hope that i win! It would be awsome to go (for free) and watch the Gators win!

Someone please get me whatever AD is on, stat- I’m on the record as saying that if UF wins out, we go to Arizona, but I’m not going to act like we’d be laying it down on tOSU, mainly because they do one thing that UF hates to do, which is execute. Of course, you play the game because you don’t know what’s going to happen (a fact well known by Detroit fans right now) and I think we could win it as the 1-game scenario that it is. But seeing as we can’t kill anyone, I’m not going to look for us to start against the angry tree nuts.

Drop A&M out of your poll. You say you don’t trust us, and you’re right not to. We’ve snuck by most of our opponents this season, for the simple reason that we’ve had more talent than they do. Because of our pathetic coaching, what should be two TD blowouts are nailbiters.
 OU has less talent than we do on offense, but better coaching, so of course we lost that one (the fact that Fran was gelded the night before the game in a Vet Med demonstration gone horribly awry helps).
 We’ll probably beat NU on the “more talent” theory, but then we go to Austin two weeks afterwards to get stomped by texas, b/c they have the two death knells for a Frantastic team: equal or superior talent, and superior coaching.

Wisconsin, but no Boise State? I think you should look at that very, very closely.

Also not sure how Virginia Tech gets above Boston College.

I disagree with some other decisions (Texas, Oregon, Maryland all too high, Tennessee too low), but they’re not demonstrably crazy (they are crazy, but not demonstrably).

Quadruple Insult Dept:

1) Calling USC “Southern Cal” and,

2-4) Putting Arkansas, Auburn and ND above USC.

USC has had their way with those three teams most recently, almost as bad as the Democrats had with the Republicans yesterday.

SMQ: As you say on your blog “the margin between 3 and 9 couldn’t be thinner”. I think everyone is parking someone at #3 while they wait to see what happens to sort out the Big East, SEC, Pac10, and that Independent team.

The pollsters have Texas at #3 due to last year’s title, McCoys’ MO, and a deep desire to avoid stepping into the Fla, Aub, Ark mess until the schedule tries to sort it out.

You have Auburn parked at #3, but then again you have Louisville parked in the midst of the 1 loss teams until you see them play Rutgers.

Orson also has Florida parked in the midst of the 1 loss teams, but should they win through I’d guess he’ll have them at #3 and a good case for it.

Best scenario for the BCS status quo. Arkansas wins out and goes to Glendale with wins over Auburn, Florida, LSU, and Tennessee.

Best scenario for busting the BCS. Louisville goes to Glendale and the BCS conferences line up solidly behind a 4 team playoff.

Go Cards.

Most recently does not mean what SKLM thinks it means. Bush ain’t there to push and Leinart’s throwing for Arizona. Perhaps SKLM want to rank Texas and Vince Young #1?

canuck:

You Lousy Hoser Dept:

Hoser: Why do you have to spoil my morning by bringing up Vince Young?

Cuncuck,
Bush & ML aint there no more but unfortunately for ND, they still have to go on the field when the other team plays offense. Now I’m not say USC will go all over the field agianst ND, but somehow it seems as if they have gotten worse than last year and haven’t really shown that they can stop an opposing offense. On the other hand, USC can’t either. This is what makes for good TV.

Cal will have their shot at SC next week. They win, they deserve that 4 spot as much as anyone else. They lose, drop em

Bhors, USC Total Defense ranking has gone from 18 to 48. ND’s from 75 to 53. On paper that’s even although clearly USC still has the better defense. Good luck with Cal.

SKLM, A USC fan bringing up 2005 to question a 2006 ranking is pretty much throwing up in their own mouth. Enjoy your morning.

So what happens if USC wins out? That would mean the Trojans beat #4 Cal, #9 ND, and #17 Oregon – in addition to the wood laid on #7 Arkansas earlier this season.

Granted, this would be a big leap from the game USC is playing now, but would not really big that big a surprise.

If this plays out, is USC top 3?

I will take the Gold Star with pride and give you a beer in return if you ever come to a tOSU game.

Italiangator- I believe AD is on the same thing thought brought down Marcus Thomas. The Tostitos reference is a dead give away.

canuck:

“You Lousy Hoser” Part Two or Deux:

USC whacked Arky by 30+ points earler THIS season.

—>Arky whacked Auburn THIS season…

>Notre Dame sucked against quality competition THIS season.

>All key polls .. bsBCS, AP, Coaches, blah, blah, blah, show USC at No. 7, Hoser-Clown!

rex cramer, i’d have to agree…if sc runs the table they deserve to be #3, maybe even #2 and face um/tOSU winner for mnc.

SKLM, You assume way too much. I have Cal, U$C, ND at #6, #7, 8 right now. 2003 and 2005 (VY! VY! VY! VY! VY!) have squat to do with that.

If USC cleans their plate, not putting them at 3 will be very difficult.

Orson,

If Cal pwns USC & USC pwns ND, a 1 loss Cal goes to 3 (or 2)?

If ND pwns USC & USC pwns Oregon and Cal & Michigan pwns tOSU, ND goes to 3 (or 2)?

Screw the hypotheticals. Let’s just put in one more slip of paper for each ranking in the BCS and then draw for Glendale like in the draft.

I think we can all agree that if USC can run the table, barring other upset losses by the peoples republic of Kal and ND, that USC should go to the NC game. Although If Louisville comes out and thumps Rutgers and Pitt. on the road it would be wrong to drop them close game though and all bets are off.

I thiink that USC actually has a shot at running the table, even given the way they have been playing. The loss to an improving OSU team could be exactly the shock to the system that they needed. They looked solid against Stanford, but that says nothing (though the TD drive at the end with Mark Sanchez throwing to a true frosh reciever and handing off to a true frosh RB gave me good feelings about the future).

As of now USC has not lost a home game since 2001 and Pete has never lost a game in November. Both of those will have to fall sometime, but as of now they still stand. And if they finish out with those victories plus the earlier strong games against Arkansas and Nebraska, USC certainly deserves the #2 spot.

Agree with #29. Certainly not a Southern Cal fan but if they win the next four games they deserve a shot at the NC game. Of all the 1 loss teams USC has the best chance to jump everyone and get into the NC game.

To all the USC/PAC-10 fans,
What if Florida wins out? Wouldn’t they be as deserving, if not more, to get to the MNC?

it’s possible, beer baron. i just think voters would look at sc’s nov sched and give them the benefit of the doubt. unfortunately for the gators, the toughest part of their sched came early on. and maybe the fact that the sec has had team a beat team b, who beat team c, who beat team d, who beat team a will diminish that toughness a bit in hindsight.

doesn’t make it right, esp if l’ville goes undefeated (but has a close call, as #28 suggests), yet i could see it happening.

Arkansas beat Auburn, so I understand Arkansas being above Auburn. But Florida has not played Arkansas and lost to Auburn, despite constant complaints about the 80’s hair band music. Logic says Arkansas, then Auburn, then Florida. Seems like ya’ll have found a three way tie, where none exists, and broken it with homerism.

To all the USC/PAC-10 fans,
What if Florida wins out? Wouldn’t they be as deserving, if not more, to get to the MNC?

     Early in the season I would have agreed with this due to strength of schedule. The fact is Georgia is waaaay down, and the same with Florida St. Overall I would say USC’s schedule is stronger, especially with Arkansas most likely going to the SECCG. Also Nebraska winning the Big 12 North doesn’t hurt either.
   
    The rankings of the 1 loss teams should Go USC, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, with Texas jammed in there somewhere.

No one is saying Oregon State should be higher than USC, so why would Arkansas be ahead of Florida at this point?

Right now Auburn > Florida. (Arkansas is way behind both for now due to SOS).

If Arkansas beats Tennessee and LSU, the ordering should be Arkansas>Auburn>Florida going into the SEC title game.

If Florida beats Arkansas for the SEC title, the 3 way triangle appears. At that point you go with the SEC title winner, not the bye team (unless Auburn is the SEC’s only one loss team).

Confusing enough already? When in doubt root for the outcome that frustrates the BCS. Preferably Louisville, the SEC winner, the USC/Cal/ND winner and Texas will all be within .00001 of each other.

… and the Big 11 loser. A 5-way tie for BSC #2 would be grand.

No one is saying Oregon State should be higher than USC, so why would Arkansas be ahead of Florida at this point?

     Florida and Arkansas have the same record, USC and Oregon St. do not.

     I am all for BCS controversy though. Anything that helps bring in some sort of playoff, even a 4 teamer.

Jesus, we did this last week, weren’t you paying attention . . .

Arkansas and Texas are OVERRATED.

Rank…W/L% Team … Strength of Schedule
 1 … 100% Ohio State ……… 31
 2 … 100% Michigan ……….. 26
 3 … 90% Texas ………….. 47
 4 … 89% California ……… 3
 5 … 100% Louisville ……… 42

 6 … 89% Florida …………. 16
 7 … 89% Arkansas ……….. 96
 8 … 90% Auburn ………….. 39
 9 … 89% Notre Dame ……… 27
10 … 88% USC ……………. 5

11 … 78% LSU …………….. 29
12 … 78% Oklahoma ……… 23
13 … 100% Rutgers ………… 101
14 … 90% Wisconsin ………. 62
15 … 78% Tennessee ……….. 15

16 … 88% West Virginia ……. 49
17 … 78% Oregon ……………. 18
18 … 78% Georgia Tech …….. 55
19 … 89% Wake Forest ………. 88
20 … 78% Maryland …………. 44

21 … 78% Virginia Tech ……….. 60
22 … Not worth acknowledging
23 … 78% Boston College ………. 24
24 … Not worth acknowledging
25 … 80% Texas A&M ……………. 91

?? … 100% Boise State …………. 104

I’m sorry, but Arkansas and Texas have BOTH played weak schedules compared to the teams their are ranked near. Its a crime to give them that much credit.

Really, stop get caught up in the cultural strength of these teams. What have they actually done? Texas beat Sam Houston St WTF? There are NAIA teams that are ranked higher than Sam Houston St? Why would you give Texas credit for that?

Wow, lets try that again, my editor must have taken the afternoon off:

I’m sorry, but Arkansas and Texas have BOTH played weak schedules compared to the teams they are ranked near. Its a crime to give them that much credit.

Really, stop getting caught up in the cultural respect of these teams. What have they actually done? Texas beat Sam Houston St??? WTF? There are NAIA teams that are ranked higher than Sam Houston St? Why would you give Texas credit for that?

OK, carry on.

All this poll debate makes me think that a playoff might help.

‘SC in Glendale is presumptuous, even if they run the table (and I fear they won’t). But, like oc phil, watching Mark Sanchez (fr.) throw to Travon Patterson (fr.) made my pants fit funny thinking about the future.

The photo of ‘Special Golden Estrus’ reminded me of Estrus Crayton, the former USC and Washington Redskin running back who taught me the word for horse heat. Thanks for the vocab refresher.

The only way Florida makes it to the BCS Championship, in my opinion:

1.) Arkansas loses to both Vols and LSU
2.) Auburn wins SEC West
3.) Florida wins-out, including redemption over Auburn in Atlanta

Florida is the only team with one loss and still in the picture, that I can gather, with a shot at avenging its previous set-back — before bowling season.

Otherwise, it’s Cal. USC will not beat Cal.

I love reading comments on polls like this one. Gives people a chance to show they were actually sober 2 months ago when X played Y, and that they remember the score. Or do they?

Bottom line on all the speculation posted after Mr Sweeen-daal throws out his IMHO poll: it’s all speculation until a few more games have passed. Then any poll probably becomes a mute point unless a playoff system is implemented. You can have #1 play #2 but unless #3 and #4 lose to much lower ranked opponents (watch out Louisville) there will still be speculation about who is best.

So…. Fla just MIGHT be better than Auburn because they improved since 4 wks ago, Arky just MIGHT be better than USC since McFacTruck started running for them, and even ND just MIGHT have a big game left in em, but I kinda doubt it

I must admit a little bias that I imagine Fla or Arky or Tx or ND would probably kick Louisville’s ass so hard they would not shit right for a week. Maybe Petrino has some leprechaun directing his magic offense, but the ogre employed on defense at many major big U’s will eat little leprechauns for lunch. But BYU from many years ago proved that if you just don’t play anyone good you too can join the MNC club.

I will also admit to a little snickering starting to build up in me thinking about Fla beating Arky in the SECCG and jumping over L’ville to play Michigan for the MNC. That will build to complete gales of laughter if somehow Auburn should get there. That would leave so much doubt about how silly a system is that allows a mediocre team to play barely winning ball and make it to the near-top that the BSC might just crumble next year.

I know it will not be over in 3-4 weeks… but I suspect that after the end of bowl season we will know a bit more. My bet is on at least 2 teams will join the “Shoulda Been Us” club initiated by Auburn in ’04. Maybe when the ranks swell by enough big powers we will finally get a playoff shoved down the throat of intermediate programs. Hopefully before violence in sports is legislated out of existence by President Hillary.

Nuff said. Bring on the violence.

Southern Cal (or ND) winning out still doesn’t deserve them a spot in Glendale. Any top tier and most mid tier SEC teams in the SEC would salivate for either of their schedules. Sure Southern Cal beat Arky, but that was the first game of the season against a team missing it’s star RB. What was Southern Cal’s or ND’s excuse for their one loss?

I still say the winner of the Big East and ACC should have to play a play-in-game for a BCS berth against the Pac 10 winner, and the game in Glendale should feature a 1-loss SEC team against the winner of tOSU and Big Blue. Hand out the remaining BCS berths to whomever you want (Tosu./Mich loser, LSU, Auburn, UofF, Cal, Arky etc whoever is remaining by then and not in a higher bowl). And why aren;t the freakin’ Cocks ranked as high as the Badgers. Surely with Wisc’s schedule the Cocks would only have one loss as well.

43

Southern Cal (or ND) winning out still doesn’t deserve them a spot in Glendale. Any top tier and most mid tier SEC teams in the SEC would salivate for either of their schedules. Sure Southern Cal beat Arky, but that was the first game of the season against a team missing it’s star RB. What was Southern Cal’s or ND’s excuse for their one loss?

       Salivate over USC’s schedule, Please… Arkansas, CAL, Notre Dame, Oregon, Nebraska, Oregon St. By season’s end USC will have by far the toughest sos of any contender. You want to dismiss USC’s battering of the 1st place team in the SEC by 36 points, becuase D Mac didn’t start, even though he did play. As for our loss, when your -4 in the TO dept. and give up a punt return for a TD on the road, you really can’t expect to win can you?

Well, let’s not discount one poster’s excuses and immediately follow it with your own. That shit ain’t right.

I’m sorry, but if any one loss teams deserves a crack at the NC, it’d be USC, since they’ve played the #1 hardest schedule in all of college football.

They weren’t blown out in their 1 loss. They were playing on the road. They missed a 2 point conversion on the last play of the game.

I am NOT a USC fan. Not by any means. In fact, I’m quite the opposite. However, you gotta give them their props if they can run out.

And I certainly won’t be touting any of these incestuous southern teams. They talk all tough, but I’ve never seen any data to prove they actually are. Check the SOS, any 2 loss SEC team is suspect, and a 1 loss Arkansas has played a schedule easier than 95 of the 119 teams in D1 football. “That’s just not good enough.”