BlogPoll Ballot Draft
by Peter Bean on Sep 30, 2007 2:53 PM CDT
in Football
23 comments
Dropped Out: Texas (#7), Clemson (#10),
Rutgers (#14), Michigan State (#18), Alabama (#21). |
We just don't know. These teams have so many weaknesses. And as we Texas fans know all too well, there's so much more to all this than talent. And unless and until the team proves it on the field, with wins, it's all just guesswork.
As always, feedback is appreciated. Ballot revisions considered through Tuesday.
(Last week's rank in parentheses)
1. Southern Cal (1) Washington gave the Trojans a nice fight, but USC got the job done. If it hadn't been such a brutal Saturday, USC's win might be scrutinized a bit more. That offense isn't consistent enough yet.
2. LSU (2) They led 10-9 at half. Against Tulane. They did take care of business in the second half, but they may not be the unbeatable juggernaut some suggest.
3. California (6) Beating Oregon in Eugene is what you call a quality win. This team has playmakers on offense and a good-enough-to-win defense. Look out.
4. Ohio State (8) When everyone else loses... you win. After an unflashy start to the year, the Buckeyes are playing solid football right now.
5. South Florida (13) Wins at Auburn and versus West Virginia? USF, UConn, and Cincinnati are your three undefeated Big East teams through five weeks. Wait, you didn't call that either?
6. Boston College (9) Playing Massachusetts was supposed to ding this resume. As it turned out... a win is good enough to move them up. Wow.
7. Kentucky (11) I really like Andre Woodson and am openly rooting for the 'Cats to beat LSU. Oh how that would make me smile.
8. Wisconsin (16) Barf. The Badgers still don't look very good, but they're 5-0, so up, up they go. Hard to imagine this team not getting knocked off, though.
9. Arizona State (17) This is just getting weird, right? For those who plan to get upset, please remember: having one loss hurts a lot more at this point than it will in, say, a month. But that's how this works. We go by the results on the field, and not much else.
10. Missouri (15) This week, not playing was a great way to move up the rankings.
11. Cincinnati (19) 5-0 is 5-0. Led 35-10 at half in easily disposing of San Diego State.
12. Florida (4) Another season, another loss to Auburn. At home, though? That has to burn Gator fans.
13. Oregon (12) I missed most of this game, but the Ducks were right there at the end. Losing to Cal isn't a resume killer.
14. Georgia (20) The Bulldogs put away Ole Miss in winning their third straight.
15. Oklahoma (3) Road loss to Buffaloes. Ouch.
16. Kansas (22) Again - not playing was good for the resume this week.
17. Purdue (25) Beating Notre Dame isn't difficult, but being undefeated apparently is. Up, up they go.
18. Auburn (NR) The Kansas State win suddenly looks better, doesn't it?
19. South Carolina (24) Survived Mississippi State to move to 4-1.
20. Kansas State (NR) A good football team showed up to Austin and took care of business. No question that, all things considered, the better team won.
21. Florida State (NR) It's a game of survival, and the 'Noles are alive. Xavier Lee was the spark the team needed.
22. West Virginia (5) Still not over the hump.
23. Hawaii (23) I do have a soft spot for this team; I'll admit it.
24. UCLA (NR) The most mystifying team in college football, it seems.
25. Connecticut (NR) They're undefeated and throttled Duke - a team which has played several teams pretty close this year, including Miami - 45-14, as well as winning at Pittsburgh. Weird, but they get a ranking for now.
Where's Texas, you ask? I'm not sure - I haven't seen them all weekend.
--PB--
0 recs |
23 comments
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KSU
Thanks. What a relief. The AP and Coaches have UT ahead of KSU. Coaches don't even have KSU ranked.
And the LSU-Tulane halftime score is very misleading. I agree with keeping USC ahead of LSU, just not the reasoning. LSU didn't open up offense at all until second half. And consider the best receiver was injured on the sideline and they only used one RB in the first half. Tulane (none of their players recruited by LSU) played inspired while LSU sleepwalked thru a sandwich game. And they still won by 25 though they didn't open up the offense until the 2nd half and it wasn't even that much. And Tulane ran 7 trick plays.
Ok, maybe I'm the only one here who watched that game.
by FreedomDip on Sep 30, 2007 3:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I watched the game
babysitting my daughter who was even more completely asleep then the LSU O-line in the 1st half). All you say is correct but this was TULANE!!!!!!!!!!! Matt Flynn was hammered and the pressure remained significant in the second half. Tulane moved the ball on them - 227 yard on offense - but, again, TULANE?!?!?!?!?!?!?! A sandwich game to be sure, but TULANE!!!!!!! MSU or Ole Miss, but TULANE?!?!?!?
FWIW, on the totality of the resume I still think LSU should be number 1 at this time (I can see people thinking USC should be number 1 but can't see moving LSU up over USC based on yesterday's games. The score was much closer, but down for down, drive for drive USC more thoroughly dominated a better opponent). Both teams have problems in having a consistent passing game, although I think Perrilloux ads a nice dimension for LSU.
The LSU of Virginia Tech could certainly beat any team in the country by at least a touchdown on a neutral field. The LSU of yesterday would loose 5 or 6 games. I expect them to be generally closer to the former and think an undefeated season is more likely than 3 losses, but with Florida, Auburn, at Kentucky, at Alabama, the SEC CG, its hard not think there's a loss, maybe two in there somewhere. This would not necessarilly preclude an appearance in the MNC game, but yestreday's game has to be viewed as a sign of some vulnerability.
by duras on Sep 30, 2007 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: SEC
I caught the first half of LSU-Tulane, and I could not look away. LSU was completely awful, in every facet of the game. I wouldn't be surprised to see Florida go into Baton Rouge and come out with a win.
If that happens and Kentucky hangs on against SC, I'll be amazed that UK would be the best team in the SEC. As a fan of both UK and UT, I'm right now damn sure surprised that UK's ranking is over 100% greater than Texas's. But if Colt McCoy isn't going to get it done, then at least I can find quarterback happiness with Andre' Woodson.
by jc25 on Sep 30, 2007 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks to both of ya
For commenting. I know many on here over the years have said the SEC is overrated. Well, you just named 4 opponents LSU must face (Florida, Auburn, at Kentucky, at Bama), but you also forget Arkansas and at Ole Miss, a big-time rival and a place where Florida struggled last week.
Just saying it here first, LSU's D is the best. Name a better D and I'll kiss your ass. It's hard to believe that a team can be this good after losing 4 first-round picks, including No. 1 overall (QB).
USC still has tough teams as do others. THIS is why CFB is the best sport we watch and why we visit this site so much
by FreedomDip on Sep 30, 2007 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like it
Your rankings seem a lot more sensible to me than the Coaches' poll does. The one thing that I can't get over is KU at 16. I think they'll be exposed soon enough, though. They might be the 5th best team in their division.
by Old Tex29 on Sep 30, 2007 3:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You're over-reacting to Texas and OU
I see several teams I'd put Texas up against (Kansas, Conn, Hawaii for starters). Remember, don't get too high and don't get too low. Things are never as good as they're hyped nor as bad as they feel after a loss.
Personally, I think you need a better chin strap.
by whills on Sep 30, 2007 3:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Texas has no quality wins
You don't deserve to be ranked when you have no quality wins and a home loss by 20.
by Peter Bean on Sep 30, 2007 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still think it's over reacting
Can this team revamp itself before our eyes. Sure. Will they is the real question. While we have demeaned their flaws and been concerned at how widespread they are (that is, both O and D), we also have heralded their many skills and talents.
So, my last line of defense here is youth: specifically, the resiliency of youth. If everything they know is proved wrong before their eyes, they will change and change quickly. Losses are very sobering in that respect.
Will this happen this week? I doubt it but we never know no matter what we suspect.
And the other consideration is that dropping from the top 10 (or even 12th) to out of it makes it appear they should never have been there at all. I don't think that is quite accurate; that they couldn't hold on to that respect is disheartening but that does not imply they won't be able to do that in the immediate future.
And frankly, as much as you don't want us to be disrespecting the Horns on here, you shouldn't be either, no matter how hard eyed you feel. I'll compromise with #22, where you can show your unhappiness and yet give them a fingerhold to pull themselves out of the hole or fail altogether.
Besides, it's RRS and I wouldn't want to pull the rug out from under them. I would give them the benefit of the doubt, even now.
by whills on Sep 30, 2007 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're not listening to me, my friend
This is a Top 25 poll. It's a relative comparison. If 25 teams have done more than you, it doesn't matter that we can feel good about the young talent on the roster. We still don't get a ranking.
I don't "want [you] disrespecting the Horns" at all. I love the Horns. I support the Horns.
I think the Horns haven't done enough yet to justify a Top 25 ranking. If you do - then you're free to disagree. But this has nothing to do with "respect." And it has nothing to do with projecting how I think we'll finish. Hell, it doesn't even have anything to do with me thinking we can or can't beat Kansas. Or Connecticut.
That's just not how this works. You can't attack arguments I'm not actually making.
by Peter Bean on Sep 30, 2007 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One other thing
I think you're confusing my rankings with a Power Poll. I don't think OU is the 15th best team in the country. This is a ranking that values heavily on-field accomplishments.
Oklahoma has a road loss to Colorado on their resume. That hurts them right now. If, in November, they're 11-1? They won't be ranked #15.
by Peter Bean on Sep 30, 2007 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't let the moon get in your eyes...
I understand your poll and its intent and differentiation from other types of polls. It wasn't your arguments I was questioning but your judgment. And I wasn't acting as a provocateur but more as a conscience. There's no such thing as four worthless wins. (And I realize I've demeaned them all myself to some degree, so I'm certainly not saintly in this regard.)
What I was really asking is this: This is just a poll, so do you actually want to do drop them out?
It is the characteristic of all polls that objectivity and subjectively get intertwined to some degree, even in the most refined of the field.
So, if this is your considered judgment, that is just fine. That's why you put up your tentative selections, to get such feedback of all sorts.
And, if by miracle of miracles, the Horns go 11-1, I'm sure you'll be first in line at the table, trenching tools in hand, to eat your fair share of heaping, steaming crow. heh
by whills on Sep 30, 2007 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well said
I think I misunderstood you.
We shall agree to disagree for now. And you're absolutely right - there is no 'objective' in this.
by Peter Bean on Sep 30, 2007 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't even think Texas could beat KU right now
Having KU ranked ahead of Texas is justifiable in my books! Texas hasn't looked good since the OSU game LAST YEAR!
by rhoby13 on Sep 30, 2007 4:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Let's be realistic
Texas may not have any quality wins, but they would not lose to KU.
by Old Tex29 on Sep 30, 2007 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
we'll never know
unless, of course, they meet in San Antonio
by FreedomDip on Sep 30, 2007 5:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
wtf is the world coming to....
when boston college, kentucky, arizona state, missouri, and cincinnati are all ranked (PB-Blogpoll) ahead of the perennial powers.
by bleed burnt orange on Sep 30, 2007 10:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The only problem I have with this
is that you seem to have given another team, UCLA, a break...
I remember them getting DESTROYED by a horrible and undermanned Utah team. Seriously, they scored 6 points and gave up 44...Maybe they have looked a little better than Texas in other games, but still, Utah? Air Force won at Utah. I'm just saying.
I like where everyone is in the rest of the poll and like that South Florida is getting some respect. I really wish our players would play with the same intensity that I see when I watch USF play.
by kirk1005 on Oct 1, 2007 12:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Huh?
So Georgia "put away Ole Miss" but South Carolina "survived Mississippi State"?
(a) Almost any person who watches a decent amount of SEC football and is honest about it will tell you that State is a better team this year than Ole Miss. Team de l'Orgeron is just bad. Badbadbadbadbadbad.
(b) Did you even see a halftime score from the Ole Miss game? Georgia had to pull away in the second half to pile up those points. Granted, they pulled away a bit sooner than South Carolina did -- but, again, they did so against an inferior team.
by cocknfire on Oct 2, 2007 11:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the input
I watched very little of either game.
Seriously - thanks for calling me on that.
by Peter Bean on Oct 2, 2007 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My revised ballot
| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Cal | -- |
| 2 | LSU | -- |
| 3 | California |  3 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 4 |
| 5 | South Florida | 8 |
| 6 | Boston College | 3 |
| 7 | Kentucky | 4 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 8 |
| 9 | Arizona State | 8 |
| 10 | Missouri | 5 |
| 11 | Cincinnati | 8 |
| 12 | Florida |  8 |
| 13 | Oregon | 1 |
| 14 | South Carolina | 10 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 12 |
| 16 | Georgia | 4 |
| 17 | Kansas | 5 |
| 18 | Purdue | 7 |
| 19 | Auburn | 7 |
| 20 | Kansas State | 6 |
| 21 | Florida State | 5 |
| 22 | West Virginia | 17 |
| 23 | Hawaii | -- |
| 24 | UCLA | 2 |
| 25 | Connecticut | 1 |
by Peter Bean on Oct 2, 2007 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oversight
I'd also forgotten the 16-12 South Carolina win over UGA. This is why we put our drafts out there, by the way.
Thanks for reminding me.
by Peter Bean on Oct 2, 2007 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No problem.
Hope it didn't come across as too harsh. Otherwise, I thought it was as good an effort as any of us could make after last weekend.
by cocknfire on Oct 3, 2007 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not too harsh
Good criticism. Needed fixing.
by Peter Bean on Oct 3, 2007 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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