2006 BCS, polls, Bowl Predictions and computer ratings

[buckeyeboy]

I don't know about UT being #2, but I don't think that you can drop them too low, as we do have several pieces returning from an undefeated championship team, and many of the top ranked teams are losing key players, and as someone said, ND returning some their defensive players isn't really a plus.

No argument here. I'd put UT around #5 w/OSU a spot or two ahead of them. Then again, I suppose it all has to do w/all teams having question marks right now. I was a little surprised to see LSU so low, however.

 

[ScarletBlood31]

Let's just hope that we can finish at #1, as well.

 

[rocketman]

I don't know about UT being #2, but I don't think that you can drop them too low...

I think being #1 and #2 going into the game would be the best for either team. If Texas loses, they lost to what the media considers the best team in the nation, they can't possibly drop past #7 or #8. Same applies for Ohio State. If we lose, then its to the #2 team in the nation and we'd still be in the top 10. Granted, at that point you'd be banking on other teams to lose in order to climb up, but the chances of several teams going undefeated is not that commonplace.

The question I have is if the rest of the media polls reflect the same ranking order, do the chances of Texas and OSU rematching in the NC game increase? Lets say we lose, and Texas jumps to #1, we drop to #5 or #6. Both teams go undefeated and every team between Texas and OSU loses late in the season and we jump up to #2. Could be pretty neat.

Only problem now is the ticket prices for the game are going to go through the roof!

 

[Tlangs]

In the pre-BCS era, I would rather start off in the low teens. That way there is no pre-season hype or pressure. You win the big 10 and go the Rose bowl. Nowadays, you have to start high in order to stay at the top. In 2002, we would have been #3 had there been a third undefeated team. JT's coaching style isn't the type that will impress voters. If we start at #1 and keep winning, it will be hard to drop below #2.

 

[Steve19]

My wife just got back from Harvard tonight. She walked in the door and saw that USA Today page on my computer screen and said, "Oh boy. This is gonna be a LONG season!"

YEEEE-HAAAA!

Buckeyes #1!


Oh, and I almost forgot, I am chairing a research presentation on Monday by a wonderful friend and Catholic priest who happens to be a professor at Notre Dame and a rabid Domer fan.

I think I have my random slide for the middle of his presentation!!!!

 

[Oh8ch]

Glad to see the Bucks #1. These rankings take a bit of pressure off the matchup in Austin because there will still be time for either team to recover from a loss. Given that there are so many ?-marks across the country we could easitly see a one-loss team in the Championship game.

On the other hand, I struggle with the credibility of a poll that putts ND #3.

 

[Dryden]

I think I have my random slide for the middle of his presentation!!!!

One slide that won't be random is Notre Dame eventually falling from #3 ... I think their slide will be quite predictible, really. :tongue2:

 

[Dryden]

Stewart Mandel's Blog:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_blogs/football/ncaa/2006/08/get-ready-for-no-1-vs-no-2.html

Get Ready for No. 1 vs. No. 2
8/04/2006 11:48:00 AM

The preseason coaches poll is out, and I can't say there were a whole lot of surprises. That the No. 1 team, Ohio State, must replace nine defensive starters, and the No. 2 team, Texas, must replace Vince Young, shows you just how few "sure things" there are in college football this season.

Whether or not you agree with the picks, it's pretty darn cool that we'll now likely be seeing a 1 vs. 2 game the second week of the season in Austin. That hasn't happened in the regular season since Florida-Florida State on Nov. 30, 1996. (Oklahoma and Nebraska met as No. 1 and 2 in the BCS standings in 2000 and '01.)

Some other observations:

∙ Oklahoma came in fifth, but the ballots were due before QB Rhett Bomar's dismissal. The first AP poll doesn't come out until Aug. 19. It will be interesting to see how big a disparity there will be between the Sooners' two rankings. Depending on which poll the TV network uses for, say, OU's Sept. 16 game at Oregon, you could be watching a top-five team or a top-15 team.

∙ The "big three" Florida schools continue to live off their past reputations despite their recent struggles. Florida (No. 8), Florida State (No. 10) and Miami (No. 11) all came in at least seven spots higher than where they finished last season.

∙ A year ago, Michigan began the season ranked fourth, Iowa 10th. Following disappointing 7-5 seasons, the Big Ten pair checks in at a more modest 15th and 17th, respectively. But the ironic thing is, they both have better-looking squads (at least on paper) going into this season than they did last year.

∙ Finally, there aren’t a whole lot of programs that could go 5-6 and still show up in the preseason Top 25 the next year. No. 23 Tennessee, apparently, is one of them.

 

[High Lonesome]

amen to that.

if OU is in freefall for losing their QB and now starting an inexperienced kid under center why is Texas so highly ranked when they are in exactly the same situation?

the last time the Texas QB snapped the ball it was on Friday night in a high school stadium! I'd take OU's situation over that -- Paul Thompson has at least played in a college game!

lots of times highly touted early season match-ups turn into a bust as one team is exposed as badly over ranked. thinking that may happen, but not to the team currently ranked #1 in the country!
:osu:

I agree with you that Texas is not the #2 team in the country(though I don't think they are much lower) but Texas and ou are not in the same situation, in fact far from it. Texas is returning one of the best o-lines in the nation. OU only goes 6 deep right now at their o-line......that's right 6, they have almost 0 experience and only slightly more talent. Paul Thompson is solid but nothing to wet your britches over and not only that He was their 2nd best receiver in what is a very shallow receiving corp.

So lets recap,
Texas- no qb, stud oline, stud running back, stud and very deep receiving corp
ou - iffy qb, dog sh!t oline, dog sh!t receiving corp, best running back in the nation

both defenses are powers

 

[G-FORCE]

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Arizona State 182, Boston College 87, Utah 84, Arkansas 64, South Carolina 55, Boise State 46, Wisconsin 37, UCLA 29, Georgia Tech 28, Fresno State 14, Tulsa 11, Iowa State 9, Minnesota 9, Maryland 8, Purdue 7, TEXAS AM 6, Memphis 5, Nevada 3, UTEP 3, Rutgers 2, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 2, Northwestern 2, Oregon State 2, Arizona 2, Brigham Young 2, Colorado 1, Duke 1.

#1 vs. #45 on September 2nd.

 

[Oh8ch]

That hasn't happened in the regular season since Florida-Florida State on Nov. 30, 1996.

That game was part of a two game match that spoke volumes about how little is really 'proven' on the field on any particular weekend.

Florida lost that game at FSU 21-24, "proving" of course that FSU was the better team.

But a month later in Nawlins Florida beat FSU by 32.

This is why I hate rematches. Let's just keep this dirty little secret in the closet.

 

[Bucks07]

In the pre-BCS era, I would rather start off in the low teens. That way there is no pre-season hype or pressure. You win the big 10 and go the Rose bowl. Nowadays, you have to start high in order to stay at the top. In 2002, we would have been #3 had there been a third undefeated team. JT's coaching style isn't the type that will impress voters. If we start at #1 and keep winning, it will be hard to drop below #2.

I agree with this, I guess even after 8 years or so with it I still have the pre-BCS mentality, and it didnt help that in '00 Oklahoma started like 19th and in '02 we started like 15th, which further reinforces that thinking. However I believe I now see the light of starting at the top and playing a big game early. If they win it looks great, and if they lose, they're still probably a top 5-7 team with 10 weeks to go for the teams in front of them to lose.

 

[EngineerHorn]

Does anyone else think Tennessee will make some noise? I'm certainly no Vol fan, and I hate their shade of orange, but up until this last class, they were recruiting as well as anyone in the nation not counting USC. They always have a pretty tough defense, and they get a bunch of starters back on offense. If Ainge can stay consistent and healthy, I can see them taking the SEC East.

As for Cal, I think they end up winning 10 or 11 games. Their backfield is excellent, their D is pretty darn good, and if Longshore was looking pretty good before he got injured last year.

By the way, I have both in my top 10.

 

[Dryden]

This is why I hate rematches. Let's just keep this dirty little secret in the closet.

Sometimes national titles slip away under the most bizarre circumstances.

 

[Buckin Crazy]

For the first time, I have gotten a little scared about this game. Why? It is going to be loud a hell there. I mean they are number 2, playing against number 1. You better bet they are going to be packed and yelling like crazy. I just hope they are ready for that.