THE ALPHABETICAL, WEEK EIGHT

Excellent work, Orson, putting Penn State above Alabama. Alabama fans will curse your name in 3…2…1…

Fun fact: there are four D I-A schools that use Tigers for a mascot. None of them has won in the last two weekends.

Hmmm…Florida’s one loss to 3-4 Ole Miss (one of those losses being to Wake Forest) is better than Oklahoma’s one loss to Texas. Must be the quality wins component…really no sense in squabling, still a lot of football to play.

I do think a Florida vs. OU bowl matchup would be electric, both teams are very explosive.

I really have just one question….do you think Penn State is really for real? And if so, if Ohio State comes out with a win against the #2 team does it wash away the USC loss on the road without Beanie?

Finally someone realized that an 11-point loss to the #2 team in the country is more forgivable than losing to oregon state

Post 1: RE: ‘fun fact’ correct me if Im stupid but I believe LSU won yesterday?
Also, off the top of my head, memphis, auburn, lsu, clemson, missouri (5) I can think of
….

Fun fact: there are four D I-A schools that use Tigers for a mascot. None of them has won in the last two weekends.

Didn’t LSU win yesterday?

Completely forgot about LSU. Well, I guess that means there are FIVE Tigers in D I-A, but all five definitely lost last weekend, and went 1-3 this weekend.

I suck.

VANDERBILT

Gonna put UF over Oklahoma? If its possible to push in a poll I would have those teams push. I don’t think I could pick between the two of them.

Here’s hoping Mediocre LSU shows up to play UGA on Saturday as we got picked up for the Uncle Verne game….and make sure ya got cool whip for the pie, Orson.

I see the Mandom video is still in rotation. God does that video never get old/ stop being ridiculously disturbing.

The way bama looked, we were lucky to beat Ole Miss. There’s no way Penn State shoudn’t jump us when they are destroying everything in their path.

Texas looks unstoppable. Colt gained 15 pounds of badass over the offseason

Ah…the taste of regression to the mean…I’ve missed your bitter tang of regret and recrimination.

Nice run, fellas, thanks for the ride, but if you donk off seven in a row to follow up I may stick my head in the oven.

I dont have time for your top 25!

The Mike Stoops who “loses football games” is 5-2 and 3-1 in the Pac 10 (tied for first). All they need is a win over the horrendous Washington State and their bowl eligible.

lsu is 8-21 at best

meant 18-21

Kudos, OS, for your objective analysis of Stafford to Green. I know that hurt you to type.

Orson, the links in your ABC’s article are all jacked up

VANDERBILT.

god fucking damnit Orsen! you fucked the Crimson Tide Nation again didn’t you? you slimy piece of shit eating motherfucker!!!

know what? on second thought you may be right, until BAMA can play a full 60 minutes or finishes undefeated and wins the SECCG, then they dont deserve the # 1 spot. That said, when BAMA is 13-0 after having beatin the gators, i know you’ll do the right thing and vote us #1 in the ever-so-important CBS Blogpoll.

Northwestern at #16 seems kind of indefensible. Minnesota is probably better and I wouldn’t have them that high either.

I’m Crabapple Buck and I approve this poll.

Even when my Bucks tried to run out the clock the entire 2nd half, the defense scored twice. PSU, you’re next.

Good poll, but:
1) why is Florida ranked ahead of Oklahoma?
2) what has tOSU done to be ranked in the Top Ten?
3) hasn’t Texas Tech had a better season to date than tOSU and Utah?

1. is an intriguing post. I can’t tell whether he’s really mad or not nor at whom. At first, he appears ready to crucify Orson, then his anger is temporarily diverted in the direction of his own team, then he proclaims his team’s supremacy over Orson’s. The most intriguing part, however, is his nearly correct “after having beaten the Gators. . .” where he structures the sentence correctly, but blows a pretty easy word with a misspelling. It almost seems like a Bama alum who is impersonating a daywalking Bama fan.

Thank you for ripping Palmer on his ties…but please don’t forget that on several Thursday night games his tie has been a good 3 inches too short. He looks like middle management. Doesn’t he have a wardrobe assistant? Last year I would mute the TV when he analyzed the games and just stare at his awesome man-ness. But he looks so ridiculous this year that I close my eyes and just listen to what he has to say. sigh

1. apparently has ties to both Tempe, AZ and Alabama…even if he has a degree from either Bama or ASU, that doesn’t make him educated.

Hey – Bevo only has one ear

Lessee………..

UGA’s one loss was to the 2nd-ranked team (or third in Orson’s pumpkin-pie world).

And UF’s loss was to…….who again?

Wow, who lost to Ole Siss again?? (Number 3 didnt)

I guess Orson is still crying over the 31-3 game

I really the difference between being ranked number 3 and number four is having a decent Coach

When you get the Urban myth to teach Tebow some mechanics (both throwing and option) then you guys might beat Ole Miss next time

I don’t understand Orson’s take on one-loss teams either.

If you rank them by quality of wins, Southern Cal tops the list, then Florida, then Oklahoma, then Ohio State (sorry, but Ohio State is better than LSU this year, and certainly better than Oklahoma’s best victim, which is probably Kansas, with the Buckeye’s top victim of MSU rounding out the list; note that all others are dismissed as unworthy of consideration), Oklahoma and USC claim two victories over then-ranked teams, and I’d score Ohio State and Oregon above Kansas and TCU.

If you rank them by quality of the opponent that beat them, it’s probably Ohio State on the road vs. USC, Oklahoma at a neutral site vs. Texas, LSU at Florida, Georgia at home vs. Alabama, and USC at Oregon State trailing.

If you detract style points for winning ugly, all the SEC teams suffer mightily, and so does Ohio State pre-MSU. USC gets some negative points for the third quarter vs. ASU, but that’s about it.

I’d guess he’s trying to come up with some sort of composite, but I keep coming back to power poll methodology on this one. Would you even think about betting on any of the other one-loss teams to beat USC? Didn’t think so. So I’d leave them at #4, if I’m not feeling generous to Oklahoma State (and so classing them with the real undefeated teams — PSU, Texas, and Alabama — instead of the fake undefeated teams — Texas Tech and the non-BCS teams).

As a Bama fan, I guess I could complain about this poll, but ultimately it means shit. The only poll that really matters is the last one, and IF the Tide can win every game they play for the rest of regular season, they will be in pretty damn good shape.

Now, having said that, I truly believe that they can get to the SEC Championship game and win it. Bama has proven it can step up on the big stage and win big games. Of course, there is that matter of finishing those games, but that is one of the problems with starting such a young team (14-15 or so underclassmen starting). Hopefully they continue to grow and learn from their mistakes.

Oh, and Fuck Auburn.

firstoff – it really doesn’t matter who’s ranked what right now. doesn’t matter at all. the cool thing, I think, now if 2008, is the new little guys that are in the top 20 like USF and BS. there are so many great athletes being raised and trained around the country now that the big boys in the big conferences are no longer safe. how do they say it in the NFL – parity? I think it’s cool that parity is working itself into bigtime college football. slowly but surely. All the rest of you hear spouting your ranking crap mid-way through the season – well you are no better than the dude that goes on some political hack blog and posts a brilliant comment that is sure to sway EVERYBODY else to vote for your candidate cuz you are so smart. not.

O,

The alphabet was funny, as always. However if you are going to be a quasi-journalist, and I say that because I know you people don’t fancy the mainstream journalists, how about you at least attempt to get your facts remotely straight?

You made GREAT points about Dabo. It is sad, and he will not get the job. However, the reality about TDP is that he is on the field at every game, and he was not giving it to Dabo so much as he was giving it to the refs for the “phantom” holding call. I put it in quotes because it was not so much phantom as reality. I trust you get that.

Now, it is pathetic of Clemson that we are at the point of needing the refs to call the game somewhat biased to defeat Tech. After all, if any of you actually played a down of organized football in your life you would know that you can call holding whenever you want to. However, TDP was not doing anything wrong, other than looking not like Damon Evans or Jeremy Foley.

Mock Dabo all you want, because what you said was accurate. But, taking Andre Ware’s statements as fact seems extremely contradictory of you, since you and your people go out of your way to rape ESPN’s announcers.

Again, the alphabet was funny, as always.

By all means, carry on…

Dave @ 25

All of the factors you mentioned are fine indicators of a team’s strength, but my take on Orson’s poll is that he’s ranking them based upon some metric like this:
If Team A plays Team B where both teams play their best game, which team would win?

Of course this formula is fairly subjective, but this is Orson’s poll and Orson’s blog. Anyway, count me as someone who wouldn’t feel too bad putting money on UF if they played USC.

Allaha,

I’m not going to quibble about our ranking right now. We haven’t played anyone yet, and the next three weeks will show exactly what we are. We should get some credit for not being Typical Tech and dropping the Nebraska or Aggy games. I’d say 10-15 is about right.

I think Texas and Penn State look like the 2 best teams out there. As for Bama, I thought we’d be 5-2 at this point. Our season to date, plus the implosions to our southeast and northeast , make this the most satisfying season in a LONG time !

Northwestern at #16 seems kind of indefensible. Minnesota is probably better and I wouldn’t have them that high either.

I agree. The best team that NU has played was MSU, and they lost by 17 at home to them. I don’t know where you had them last week, but Purdue is just awful this year, so I can’t see that as justification for jumping so high.

The thing some of you are forgetting is that a lot of people who put together polls don’t do it strictly based off who beat who or who lost to who.

Of course that plays a role, but when you’ve got a slew of 1 loss teams or undefeated teams, a lot of people will just rank them in the order of who they think would win a game head to head.

Personally, I think Florida is a whole lot better than what they showed in their game with us. I fully expect them to run the table in the SEC, including a win over Bama in the title game. I could be wrong, but I think they are one of the best all-around teams in the country.

Once SC forgot the loss to OSU, they have only allowed 10 points in 3 games, and await Stoops and the Wildcats in Tucson.
If they can play with the intensity of the past 2.5 games, then no one will beat them, and Bevo can show up in Miami and the Trojans will prove it to them this time.
As to the sec, well, the bama/rebel game was not pretty, period!
This week will determine how good the Nittany Lions are, and we can judge accordingly.
Kansas is not much this season, and the okies had their share of problems, yet obviously overcame them.
Note: Be thankful the Trojans are not on your schedule right now!

Opinions (and polls) are like assholes….everyone has one, and most of them stink….

Here’s mine….

Penn St. loses 2 of the next 4…OSU and either Iowa or Michigan St.

Ohio State beats Penn St. next week, but loses @ Illinios.

Texas loses at least 1…could be next week against OK St. but I’m thinkin’ @ Texas Tech is more likely.

Alabama loses 1 on their way to being takin’ behind the woodshed in the SEC Championship Game by Florida.

…and if I’m putting Florida in the SEC Championship, I’m thinking they run the table.

LSU also beats UGA…

The BCS Championship will host 2 1-loss teams….Florida vs Texas….and there will be 3 other 1-loss teams bitching about not being there.

The BCS is and will always be BS.

Arizona beats USC. You heard it here first.

Orson -

BC 4 spots ahead of GT? When GT beat BC in Boston? Not really a big fan of head to head ranking, but when each team has similar resumes and one beat the other head to head, it’s hard to explain ranking it the other way.

That’s got to be the ugliest goddamn cow I ever did see….

:::that should get some UT panties in a bunch::: :D

> the Trojans will prove it to them this time.

By the power of Vince Young, those are some sweet, sweet words to read.

South Florida and Pitt both have one loss – but Pitt beat USF at USF – how can you think USF is half a dozen spots better than a team that beat them at USF? Defies logic. Not sure Pitt should be higher or not – but definitely Pitt should be ahead of USF considering they proved they were better head to head on USF’s home turf.

I could be wrong but every Big Twelve game I see has about 90 points scored combined. Is it possible that the defense in that conference is a little suspect? Or did the best offensive players in the country all show up in the same conference at the same time…..doubtful.
Just some food for thought.
OkSU 35 UT 31……….Bevo gets snipped

UA 31 UT 7 Fat Phil gets burnt at the stake for the crimes he has committed against the Orange Nation.

PennSt 17 OSU 24 Joe Pa jumps from the Press box in the Third qt. because the refs are cheating.

Yo, brah, why’s the ref tackling me?

What the fuck, brah?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcdWdBgUBqw

Homerism aside, how can you put Ball State at only 25? They’re undefeated, undefeated against the spread, and were one of the first two teams to be bowl-eligible. They’re 17th in scoring offense, 16th in scoring defense, and 15th in total offense.

Though no marquee wins, they’ve beaten Navy (who beat Wake). And to rank Tulsa ahead of them is ridiculous. Tulsa’s schedule is just as weak if not weaker.

Penalizing a team for being mediocre and playing a weak schedule is one thing. Ball State is a fantastic team, and certainly better than 25th.

Your meaningless rankings have enraged me!

After careful deliberation, I’ve determined Florida’s 30 point win over LSU mitigates 87% of the loss to Ole Miss.

Carry on.

By the power of Vince Young, those are some sweet, sweet words to read.

SC’s defense is much better now than in That Game, so they should only miss McCoy 3 to 5 times on average per running play, as opposed to 9 to 11.

For once, I really don’t think USC can “just win out” and make the BCS title game (and that pains me as a USC fan). Unless, of course, everyone ahead of them loses at least once (which could happen)

As always, USC schedules good out of conference competition (as not to be attacked for a weak OOC schedule), but unlike years past, they really don’t have another statement game to impress voters.

While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Notre Dame’s descent into suckdom, it actually does the Trojans no good. A ranked Notre Dame team (even lowly ranked) is an automatic statement win on a national stage.

And, in years past, there has at least been a good-ish PAC-10 team in the second half of the season ranked in the teens or 20s (Oregon, Cal, ASU), or even a team temporarily ranked in the Top 10, that USC could use as a springboard to a better ranking.

But, it looks like that may not be the case this year, as the Pac-10 is mired in deep mediocrity.