The BCS Week 7
Posted by BMT on October 18th, 2009
In one of the more sensible adjustments to the AP rankings this year, Alabama has moved from number 2 to the top spot in this week’s poll. Of course, there’s lots to love about things that come in pairs in ‘Bama but I’m sure most Crimson Tide fans are happier with the number 1 next to their school’s name. The crowned king of college football, Florida, had held this spot all season but their two recent sub-par performances and Alabama’s strong play of late have resulted in a re-shuffling of the order of merit.
One of the compelling things about the way the poll works is its reliance on assumptions about the relative strength and weaknesses of the conferences. It has been a given all season that the SEC is the top conference and that (among other things) the Big 10 isn’t so hot. Because of this, the voters need to have lots of SEC teams in the top 25 to validate their assertion that Florida and Alabama are the greatest things since co-eds in tight shirts. While I agree that these two teams are the best in the country, the over-rating of their conference brethren and under-valuing of the Big 10 will go a long way in describing our gripes with this week’s AP Poll.
LSU. The Tigers are the team most indicative of the SEC bias that defines this week’s top 25. As we mentioned last week, LSU has no business being in the top 10. After a dismal performance against Florida, the Tigers found themselves ranked #10. And after not having played yesterday, they’re now #9. LSU is the 112th ranked offense (out of 120 teams) in the country and lags behind schools like Arkansas State, Temple, Middle Tennessee State and Rice in offensive production. If they were the #2 team in total defense there might be room for overall balance. But they’re not. Their defense ranks a mediocre 35th in the nation. LSU is a top-10 team because voters need the SEC to look strong. Keep in mind that the over-the-top adulation voters have for Florida, Alabama and the SEC is so strong that there is a real possibility that the SEC title game (assuming Florida and Alabama play in it) will be played again in January under a different name: the BCS championship game. And that, my friends, would be a disgrace.
Oklahoma. Oklahoma is 3-3 after losing a close game to Texas 16-13 at a “neutral site (the Cotton Bowl)” and they are ranked 25th. The predicate here is the hangover from last year’s strong performance (and unjust inclusion in the title game at Texas’ expense). Oklahoma has played a tough schedule but has failed to win any of their big games. They lost to BYU and Florida State early in the season and have as their three wins victories against Idaho, Tulsa and Baylor. The assumption here is two-fold: one, that memories of Sam Bradford are enough to keep them afloat (despite the fact he’s been a partial ghost this year) and two, that close losses against good teams mean OU can play with anyone. A good example of the last assumption’s inconsistency is that the Sooners are ranked with a worse record than a 4-2 Notre Dame team that has lost on last-second plays to USC and Michigan. I’m not saying the Irish should be ranked at this point but their season serves as a good counterpoint to the absurdity of Oklahoma being in the top 25.
Ohio State. Ah, we go back to the Ohio State well as we seem to every week. Two numerical realities should help to define why their #18 ranking is an absolute joke: 91 and 26-18. The first number is their national ranking in total offense (come to think of it, after seeing an LSU team ranked 9 spots ahead of them with a 112th ranking in total offense, this actually looks good). And the second number is the score of their losing effort yesterday against a Purdue team that came into the game with a 1-5 record. Ohio State did put up a decent effort against USC in a home loss but if there’s one thing that Notre Dame teaches us, it’s that a quality loss to the Trojans will do nothing for you ranking. So why reward the Buckeyes who can’t even beat Purdue? Simple answer: because Ohio State is a program that will receive any benefit of the doubt voters will give them. I really can’t wait until #7 Iowa goes into the Horseshoe in November and beats the stickers of the Buckeyes’ helmets.
Normally we go with three gripes but I have a third-and-a-half beef this week: Cincinnati at #5. Now I know that they’re undefeated and that they play in a nominal BCS conference in the Big East, but come on. Ranked ahead of the Big Ten leader Iowa? Ranked ahead of Boise State? The Bearcats’ 6-0 record has come against teams with a combined record of 17-20 and the only team in the top-25 they’ve beaten is South Florida (ranked #21 at the time). Cincinnati is the definition of an untested team and they play in a truly weak conference (they’re the only Big East team in the top-25). Because I assume the AP voters have a collective agenda, this is one ranking I really can’t figure out.
The first installment of the BCS computer rankings comes out today so I’ll post those when they materialize (I guess that omniscient computer they use is still on a 56k modem). Until next Sunday when even more crimes are committed in the name of the SEC, enjoy your week.