AP poll respects Broncos; USA Today not as much

by Kevan Lee on Jan 9, 2009 9:30 AM PST in Boise State football Comment 13 comments

The AP poll and the USA Today poll often see things differently. The AP poll views college football using fairness; the USA Today uses a mood ring from a CrackerJack box.

This is why you can get two disparaging results in the final polls that were released today. Boise State finished No. 11 in the AP's version and No. 13 in the USA Today. But to the USA Today's credit, Georgia does have that one really good running back guy.

(Sidenote: The headlines for the two local papers regarding this story were quite teling. The Statesman chose a rather pessimistic "Boise State falls in final polls" and the Press-Tribune went with a neutral "Boise State NO. 11 in final AP poll." The Magic Valley Times-News has yet to catch wind of the story.)

All in all, a Top 15 finish is nothing to be ashamed of. We thought the Broncos would land around No. 12, so we can't complain one way or another with the way things turned out. Plus, finishing this high in the polls should set up Boise State very well for a preseason ranking in the summer.

We imagine it will be No. 20 in the AP poll, also receiving votes in the USA Today.

Read more: Polls and rankings [ESPN.com]

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Now, I know a lot happens in these polls, but I gotta say, I'm a bit frosted that Oregon is above us in both polls. If head to head games don't matter, why even play the games?

by JasonHaberman on Jan 8, 2009 9:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Now, I know a lot happens in these polls, but I gotta say, I'm a bit frosted that Oregon is above us in both polls. If head to head games don't matter, why even play 'em?

by JasonHaberman on Jan 8, 2009 9:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Now, I know a lot happens in these polls, but I gotta say, I'm a bit frosted that Oregon is above us in both polls. If head to head doesn't matter, why even play the games?

by JasonHaberman on Jan 8, 2009 9:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Good point, JH. I, too, am a little cheesed about that. Also, I think it's great to see so much respect for Utah, beating out Texas and USC for the #2 spot. Herbstreit and Mayes are having kittens about right now.

by BroncoFever on Jan 8, 2009 10:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah that got me too. Oregon gets too much love for "quality losses" and way too much credit for beating Oklahoma St. Oregon's best wins were over Arizona, Oregon St, and Oklahoma St.

Strenght of schedule should only count for the teams you beat, but unfortunately the pollsters – especially the coaches – pay too much attention to who you lost to.

I would say it is a non-BCS conspiracy, but that wouldn't explain the presence of BYU.

by BlueTurf on Jan 9, 2009 2:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That's mad respect if you think about it…a team that lost to Boise State finished in the top ten. You think a loss to Fresno State or the like would pay that dividend?

by FightFightBSU on Jan 9, 2009 2:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark Schlabach has Boise State ranked #8 in his "way-to-early 2009 top 25." I'd be shocked to see us ranked that high, but that would be sick. I'm guessing we'll be around #15 to start the season.

by Drofdarb23 on Jan 8, 2009 11:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Why even play the games or why even have a poll? If one doesn't count the other, then they both lose a little credibility. From your lips to God's ears, J Haberman.

by kevanlee on Jan 8, 2009 11:12 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I was surprised to see Schlabach's early poll, too. I just figured it was how he sees the poll looking by the end of next season, not by the preseason. After all, it's not like Boise State is Fresno or anything.

by kevanlee on Jan 8, 2009 11:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Rant! I can understand TCU being ranked ahead of BSU. But Oregon???? Are you KIDDING me? Guess beating them head to head means nothing – why play?! Guess I shouldn't be surprised – read an article earlier this week that many of the AP voters had not seen Utah play all year and did not watch the Sugar Bowl. That explains this ridiculous popularity contest we have going on here. The total lack of integrity shown by the voters is absolutely appalling.

Ponder! Things have changed in college football (just not enough). A non-BCS school that has two losses (TCU) one of those to a non-BCS school, with a marginal victory over a non-BCS school in a non-BCS bowl game is being ranked in the top ten in the country. Five years ago you would have been the laughing stock to have even considered something as crazy as that.

by BroncoNavy on Jan 9, 2009 7:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Apparently Graham has been reading OBNUG, with an eerily similar headline:

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/others/0-3-51/Media-li…

by BlueTurf on Jan 9, 2009 7:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The thing is, a big piece of the rankings is where the voters believe the team belongs right now. Meaning, most of them think a game between OR and BSU would end with an OR win. I know we all believe that is not the case, but apparently they do. Oregon got hot at the end of the year and put up huge points against pretty good teams. Don't sweat it – we will have our chance at them again in 8 months and then we will sky rocket (or dive bomb – noooo) after the game.

by Troy on Jan 11, 2009 12:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Oh yes, and the 1-4 WAC bowl record really hurt our season schedule credibility and final resting spot, while the Pac-10 surged with a 5-0 bowl record. Makes Oregon's schedule look much harder than ours in the voters eyes. We/WAC have to start winning bowl games on a more regular basis to get some street cred going!

by Troy on Jan 11, 2009 12:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs