[OutsiderFan]

Any Baylor fan who was watching tonight, rooting for a Stanford loss, has to be incredulous that Stanford is ranked above the Bears.  But with the Missouri loss, Stanford likely to be #5.

After seeing these teams play the last couple weeks, I don't agree with the rankings.  Miami shouldn't be ranked in Top 10, IMO.  OutsiderFan's Top 10:

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Baylor
5. Ohio State
6. Auburn
7. Missouri
8. Stanford
9. Clemson
10. Oklahoma

[OutsiderFan]

Any Baylor fan who was watching tonight, rooting for a Stanford loss, has to be incredulous that Stanford is ranked above the Bears.  But with the Missouri loss, Stanford likely to be #5.

After seeing these teams play the last couple weeks, I don't agree with the rankings.  Miami shouldn't be ranked in Top 10, IMO.  OutsiderFan's Top 10:

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Baylor
5. Ohio State
6. Auburn
7. Missouri
8. Stanford
9. Clemson
10. Oklahoma

[PrinceLightfoot]

Baylor is finally coming up against the challenging portion of their schedule vs. The Sooners. Their best competition so far this season has been 3-5 Kansas State. If they win out, I think they might have enough to pass a one-loss Stanford by the end of the season.

After coming in ranked 15 last week in Sagarin, we move up to rank 6 this week.

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...,507/w,10/

Code:

Rank      Team     Â         Rating     
1      Florida State      96.32     
2      Alabama      95.44     Â     
3      N. Illinois      92.38     
4      Oregon      91.75     
5      Ohio State      89.12     Â     
6      Stanford      88.34     
7      Auburn      87.21     
8      Miami (FL)      87.20       
9      Baylor      86.97     Â     
10      Missouri      86.88     Â     
11      Clemson      85.95     
12      BYU     Â         85.65     Â   
13      Oklahoma      85.61     
14      Fresno State      85.43     
15      Virginia Tech      85.26     Â 
16      S. Carolina      84.61     
17      Michigan St      84.22     
18      Texas A&M      83.43     
19      LSU     Â         82.98     
20      Ole Miss      82.98     Â   
21      UCF     Â         82.75     
22      Texas Tech      82.48     Â 
23      UCLA     Â         81.88     Â   
24      Houston      80.77     Â   
25      Domers      80.57

[PrinceLightfoot]

Baylor is finally coming up against the challenging portion of their schedule vs. The Sooners. Their best competition so far this season has been 3-5 Kansas State. If they win out, I think they might have enough to pass a one-loss Stanford by the end of the season.

After coming in ranked 15 last week in Sagarin, we move up to rank 6 this week.

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...,507/w,10/

Code:

Rank      Team     Â         Rating     
1      Florida State      96.32     
2      Alabama      95.44     Â     
3      N. Illinois      92.38     
4      Oregon      91.75     
5      Ohio State      89.12     Â     
6      Stanford      88.34     
7      Auburn      87.21     
8      Miami (FL)      87.20       
9      Baylor      86.97     Â     
10      Missouri      86.88     Â     
11      Clemson      85.95     
12      BYU     Â         85.65     Â   
13      Oklahoma      85.61     
14      Fresno State      85.43     
15      Virginia Tech      85.26     Â 
16      S. Carolina      84.61     
17      Michigan St      84.22     
18      Texas A&M      83.43     
19      LSU     Â         82.98     
20      Ole Miss      82.98     Â   
21      UCF     Â         82.75     
22      Texas Tech      82.48     Â 
23      UCLA     Â         81.88     Â   
24      Houston      80.77     Â   
25      Domers      80.57

[stupac2]

Also of note, perpetual Cardboard punching Bag Jon Wilner has us surprisingly high, at #4: http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegespor...-and-more/

[stupac2]

Also of note, perpetual Cardboard punching Bag Jon Wilner has us surprisingly high, at #4: http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegespor...-and-more/

[Roberton3]

Any Baylor fan who was watching tonight, rooting for a Stanford loss, has to be incredulous that Stanford is ranked above the 59ers.  But with the Missouri loss, Stanford likely to be #5.

After seeing these teams play the last couple weeks, I don't agree with the rankings.  Miami shouldn't be ranked in Top 10, IMO.  OutsiderFan's Top 10:

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Baylor
5. Ohio State
6. Auburn
7. Missouri
8. Stanford
9. Clemson
10. Oklahoma

Baylor has demonstrated a great ability to run up the score on bad teams.  But until they play a decent team (which they will next week), it's silly to rank them #4.

Ranking Auburn and Missouri ahead of Stanford also makes no sense.  All three have the same record, and Stanford has played a significantly tougher schedule (look at any objective measure of strength of schedule).

Strength of schedule matters.  You seem to recognize that for Miami, but to be ignoring it for several other teams in your top 10.

[Roberton3]

Any Baylor fan who was watching tonight, rooting for a Stanford loss, has to be incredulous that Stanford is ranked above the 59ers.  But with the Missouri loss, Stanford likely to be #5.

After seeing these teams play the last couple weeks, I don't agree with the rankings.  Miami shouldn't be ranked in Top 10, IMO.  OutsiderFan's Top 10:

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Baylor
5. Ohio State
6. Auburn
7. Missouri
8. Stanford
9. Clemson
10. Oklahoma

Baylor has demonstrated a great ability to run up the score on bad teams.  But until they play a decent team (which they will next week), it's silly to rank them #4.

Ranking Auburn and Missouri ahead of Stanford also makes no sense.  All three have the same record, and Stanford has played a significantly tougher schedule (look at any objective measure of strength of schedule).

Strength of schedule matters.  You seem to recognize that for Miami, but to be ignoring it for several other teams in your top 10.

[Spiny_Norman]

Baylor is finally coming up against the challenging portion of their schedule vs. The Sooners this coming Thursday.

Just one small amendment - Baylor and Oklahoma play on November 7, not this Thursday.  Perhaps you are thinking, wait, Oregon and Stanford play on November 7.  Yes, both games will be on at the same time - Baylor-OU at 7:30 et on Fox Sports, Stanford - Oregon at 9 pm et on ESPN.

[Spiny_Norman]

Baylor is finally coming up against the challenging portion of their schedule vs. The Sooners this coming Thursday.

Just one small amendment - Baylor and Oklahoma play on November 7, not this Thursday.  Perhaps you are thinking, wait, Oregon and Stanford play on November 7.  Yes, both games will be on at the same time - Baylor-OU at 7:30 et on Fox Sports, Stanford - Oregon at 9 pm et on ESPN.

[dabigv13]

So insanely stupid. The potential biggest game of the college football season and it's on a Thursday. Ugh.

[dabigv13]

So insanely stupid. The potential biggest game of the college football season and it's on a Thursday. Ugh.

[ChicagoCard]

If Northern Illinois or Fresno St. finish with a higher BCS ranking than the winner of the AAC, are they in a BCS bowl? Hope that doesn't happen. Right now in the BCS standings Fresno is 17, N. IL is 18, and UCF is 23. Fresno's toughest opponent before the MWC champ. game looks like SJSU. N. IL's appears to be hosting Ball St.

[ChicagoCard]

If Northern Illinois or Fresno St. finish with a higher BCS ranking than the winner of the AAC, are they in a BCS bowl? Hope that doesn't happen. Right now in the BCS standings Fresno is 17, N. IL is 18, and UCF is 23. Fresno's toughest opponent before the MWC champ. game looks like SJSU. N. IL's appears to be hosting Ball St.

[PrinceLightfoot]

If Northern Illinois or Fresno St. finish with a higher BCS ranking than the winner of the AAC, are they in a BCS bowl? Hope that doesn't happen. Right now in the BCS standings Fresno is 17, N. IL is 18, and UCF is 23. Fresno's toughest opponent before the MWC champ. game looks like SJSU. N. IL's appears to be hosting Ball St.

Both teams could be BCS busters.

http://www.bcsfootball.org/news/story?id=4819597

3. The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, or the Sun Belt Conference (hereinafter "non-AQ group") will earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either:

A. Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or

B. Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls.

[PrinceLightfoot]

If Northern Illinois or Fresno St. finish with a higher BCS ranking than the winner of the AAC, are they in a BCS bowl? Hope that doesn't happen. Right now in the BCS standings Fresno is 17, N. IL is 18, and UCF is 23. Fresno's toughest opponent before the MWC champ. game looks like SJSU. N. IL's appears to be hosting Ball St.

Both teams could be BCS busters.

http://www.bcsfootball.org/news/story?id=4819597

3. The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, or the Sun Belt Conference (hereinafter "non-AQ group") will earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either:

A. Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or

B. Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls.

[Extra Point]

Also of note, perpetual Cardboard punching Bag Jon Wilner has us surprisingly high, at #4.

He is also the only one to rate that high:

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...ngleteamr/

But, Wilner is currently the lead bad voter on PollStalker. (You have to submit a rating to see the score.)

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...v,35/w,10/

[Extra Point]

Also of note, perpetual Cardboard punching Bag Jon Wilner has us surprisingly high, at #4.

He is also the only one to rate that high:

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...ngleteamr/

But, Wilner is currently the lead bad voter on PollStalker. (You have to submit a rating to see the score.)

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...v,35/w,10/

[stupac2]

[quote author=stupac2 link=topic=8688.msg72753#msg72753 date=1382887520]
Also of note, perpetual Cardboard punching Bag Jon Wilner has us surprisingly high, at #4.

He is also the only one to rate that high:

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...ngleteamr/

But, Wilner is currently the lead bad voter on PollStalker. (You have to submit a rating to see the score.)

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...v,35/w,10/
[/quote]

His method is idiosyncratic, so I'm hardly surprised that he rates poorly. I don't really find his reasoning to be bad, at least at this point in the season.

[stupac2]

[quote author=stupac2 link=topic=8688.msg72753#msg72753 date=1382887520]
Also of note, perpetual Cardboard punching Bag Jon Wilner has us surprisingly high, at #4.

He is also the only one to rate that high:

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...ngleteamr/

But, Wilner is currently the lead bad voter on PollStalker. (You have to submit a rating to see the score.)

http://www.pollspeak.com/component/optio...v,35/w,10/
[/quote]

His method is idiosyncratic, so I'm hardly surprised that he rates poorly. I don't really find his reasoning to be bad, at least at this point in the season.

[Embo]

So insanely stupid. The potential biggest game of the college football season and it's on a Thursday. Ugh.

dabigv, you probably missed this NY Times article that came out in August.  It's about the enormous effect of ESPN on college football.  Included is a specific discussion of why Stanford vs. Oregon is on a Thursday night.  The person directly responsible is a U.S.C. grad  Scroll down about a third of the way to the subheading, "Shaping the schedule."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/sports....html?_r=0

[Embo]

So insanely stupid. The potential biggest game of the college football season and it's on a Thursday. Ugh.

dabigv, you probably missed this NY Times article that came out in August.  It's about the enormous effect of ESPN on college football.  Included is a specific discussion of why Stanford vs. Oregon is on a Thursday night.  The person directly responsible is a U.S.C. grad  Scroll down about a third of the way to the subheading, "Shaping the schedule."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/sports....html?_r=0

[81alum]

The constant night games are a devil's bargain.

On the one hand, I detest any athletics program that is a drain on its university's academic budget.  Having a brobdingnagian source of outside money helps to prevent that.

On the other hand, I love traditions.  The more football dances to the ESPN tune and the less to the preferences of students and alums--the more disconnected from the college experience the whole enterprise becomes.  There comes a point when going to a game feels more like going to a movie set than to a collegiate celebration. 

On balance,  think I would prefer less television, less money, and a lower key sport that is fun to attend on a Saturday afternoon.  But I am local and an early riser, and those two factors bias me.  In all those years I was on the East Coast, I would have preferred any opportunity to see Stanford on TV--they were few and far between.

[81alum]

The constant night games are a devil's bargain.

On the one hand, I detest any athletics program that is a drain on its university's academic budget.  Having a brobdingnagian source of outside money helps to prevent that.

On the other hand, I love traditions.  The more football dances to the ESPN tune and the less to the preferences of students and alums--the more disconnected from the college experience the whole enterprise becomes.  There comes a point when going to a game feels more like going to a movie set than to a collegiate celebration. 

On balance,  think I would prefer less television, less money, and a lower key sport that is fun to attend on a Saturday afternoon.  But I am local and an early riser, and those two factors bias me.  In all those years I was on the East Coast, I would have preferred any opportunity to see Stanford on TV--they were few and far between.

[Cardinal96]

Any Baylor fan who was watching tonight, rooting for a Stanford loss, has to be incredulous that Stanford is ranked above the 59ers.  But with the Missouri loss, Stanford likely to be #5.

After seeing these teams play the last couple weeks, I don't agree with the rankings.  Miami shouldn't be ranked in Top 10, IMO.  OutsiderFan's Top 10:

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Baylor
5. Ohio State
6. Auburn
7. Missouri
8. Stanford
9. Clemson
10. Oklahoma

Missouri beat a depleted Georgia team and a bad Florida team.  They lost at home to a South Carolina team that isn't very good.

Also, what would you consider Baylor's marquee win to be?  UCLA, Washington, ASU, Oregon State and Utah are better than anyone they have played to date.

[Cardinal96]

Any Baylor fan who was watching tonight, rooting for a Stanford loss, has to be incredulous that Stanford is ranked above the 59ers.  But with the Missouri loss, Stanford likely to be #5.

After seeing these teams play the last couple weeks, I don't agree with the rankings.  Miami shouldn't be ranked in Top 10, IMO.  OutsiderFan's Top 10:

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Baylor
5. Ohio State
6. Auburn
7. Missouri
8. Stanford
9. Clemson
10. Oklahoma

Missouri beat a depleted Georgia team and a bad Florida team.  They lost at home to a South Carolina team that isn't very good.

Also, what would you consider Baylor's marquee win to be?  UCLA, Washington, ASU, Oregon State and Utah are better than anyone they have played to date.

[stupac2]

Also, what would you consider Baylor's marquee win to be?  UCLA, Washington, ASU, Oregon State and Utah are better than anyone they have played to date.

Baylor is going to drop a game. I think OSU probably does too. Hell, it's pretty likely that one of Alabama and FSU drops one too. People seem to forget that it's really hard to win out.

[stupac2]

Also, what would you consider Baylor's marquee win to be?  UCLA, Washington, ASU, Oregon State and Utah are better than anyone they have played to date.

Baylor is going to drop a game. I think OSU probably does too. Hell, it's pretty likely that one of Alabama and FSU drops one too. People seem to forget that it's really hard to win out.

[washingtonismoney]

Baylor is going to drop a game. I think OSU probably does too. Hell, it's pretty likely that one of Alabama and FSU drops one too. People seem to forget that it's really hard to win out.

Exactly. Everyone always makes a fuss about how there could be more than two teams unbeaten; it's only happened once in the BCS era with 3 unbeaten power conference teams. I would bet on a one-loss championship game participant before I'd bet on 3+ power conference unbeatens.

[washingtonismoney]

Baylor is going to drop a game. I think OSU probably does too. Hell, it's pretty likely that one of Alabama and FSU drops one too. People seem to forget that it's really hard to win out.

Exactly. Everyone always makes a fuss about how there could be more than two teams unbeaten; it's only happened once in the BCS era with 3 unbeaten power conference teams. I would bet on a one-loss championship game participant before I'd bet on 3+ power conference unbeatens.

[cardcoug]

[quote author=ChicagoOutsider link=topic=8688.msg72788#msg72788 date=1382897149]
If Northern Illinois or Fresno St. finish with a higher BCS ranking than the winner of the AAC, are they in a BCS bowl? Hope that doesn't happen. Right now in the BCS standings Fresno is 17, N. IL is 18, and UCF is 23. Fresno's toughest opponent before the MWC champ. game looks like SJSU. N. IL's appears to be hosting Ball St.

Both teams could be BCS busters.

http://www.bcsfootball.org/news/story?id=4819597

3. The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, or the Sun Belt Conference (hereinafter "non-AQ group") will earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either:

A. Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or

B. Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls.

[/quote]

You left off the next line: "No more than one such team from the non-AQ group shall earn an automatic berth in any year, unless non-AQ teams finish both No. 1 and No. 2 in the final BCS Standings. " Only way both teams get in is if the lower ranked gets taken as an at large, which won't happen, so its one BCS buster at most.

[cardcoug]

[quote author=ChicagoOutsider link=topic=8688.msg72788#msg72788 date=1382897149]
If Northern Illinois or Fresno St. finish with a higher BCS ranking than the winner of the AAC, are they in a BCS bowl? Hope that doesn't happen. Right now in the BCS standings Fresno is 17, N. IL is 18, and UCF is 23. Fresno's toughest opponent before the MWC champ. game looks like SJSU. N. IL's appears to be hosting Ball St.

Both teams could be BCS busters.

http://www.bcsfootball.org/news/story?id=4819597

3. The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, or the Sun Belt Conference (hereinafter "non-AQ group") will earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either:

A. Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or

B. Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls.

[/quote]

You left off the next line: "No more than one such team from the non-AQ group shall earn an automatic berth in any year, unless non-AQ teams finish both No. 1 and No. 2 in the final BCS Standings. " Only way both teams get in is if the lower ranked gets taken as an at large, which won't happen, so its one BCS buster at most.

[SamAtoms1980]

[quote author=dabigv link=topic=8688.msg72787#msg72787 date=1382896605]
So insanely stupid. The potential biggest game of the college football season and it's on a Thursday. Ugh.

dabigv, you probably missed this NY Times article that came out in August.  It's about the enormous effect of ESPN on college football.  Included is a specific discussion of why Stanford vs. Oregon is on a Thursday night.  The person directly responsible is a U.S.C. grad  Scroll down about a third of the way to the subheading, "Shaping the schedule."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/sports....html?_r=0
[/quote]

Every so often, you really CAN attribute it to malice....

[SamAtoms1980]

[quote author=dabigv link=topic=8688.msg72787#msg72787 date=1382896605]
So insanely stupid. The potential biggest game of the college football season and it's on a Thursday. Ugh.

dabigv, you probably missed this NY Times article that came out in August.  It's about the enormous effect of ESPN on college football.  Included is a specific discussion of why Stanford vs. Oregon is on a Thursday night.  The person directly responsible is a U.S.C. grad  Scroll down about a third of the way to the subheading, "Shaping the schedule."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/sports....html?_r=0
[/quote]

Every so often, you really CAN attribute it to malice....

[oman]

I LOVE that this game is on a Thursday night. 

[oman]

I LOVE that this game is on a Thursday night. 

[fullmetal]

I hate that OU-Baylor will be on at the same time.  I would love to watch OU's shoddy defense hold Baylor down. 

[fullmetal]

I hate that OU-Baylor will be on at the same time.  I would love to watch OU's shoddy defense hold Baylor down. 

[stupac2]

I hate that OU-Baylor will be on at the same time.  I would love to watch OU's shoddy defense hold Baylor down.

I'm really curious about Baylor, they're putting up videogame numbers, but they've played a truly laughable schedule so far. I wonder if they can manage to keep putting up those numbers against stiffer competition. I assume not, but it would be fun to watch.

[stupac2]

I hate that OU-Baylor will be on at the same time.  I would love to watch OU's shoddy defense hold Baylor down.

I'm really curious about Baylor, they're putting up videogame numbers, but they've played a truly laughable schedule so far. I wonder if they can manage to keep putting up those numbers against stiffer competition. I assume not, but it would be fun to watch.