OBNUG BlogPoll Week Eleven: Is USC the Fifth Best Team in the PAC-10?
by MKingery on Nov 17, 2009 11:26 AM PST
in Boise State football
30 comments
There is not much movement at the top of the draft poll this week. Florida is the only team that didn't look dominant, while TCU kept pace ahead of Boise State with a dismantling of Utah. Ohio State secured a Rose Bowl berth, but Wisconsin might be playing the best football in the conference right now. Oregon regains a foothold on the PAC-10 title thanks to an Arizona loss.
The final slots of the poll are a coin toss and any number of teams could be considered - except Notre Dame. The PAC-10 has invaded with five ranked teams. Are they the best conference top to bottom? After the jump, see who makes the Top 10, how far USC falls, and if Temple can climb for the third week in a row. Make comments and let your opinion decide the fate of Utah and their place in the final poll.
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| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama |  1 |
| 2 | Florida |  1 |
| 3 | Texas | |
| 4 | TCU | |
| 5 | Boise State | |
| 6 | Cincinnati | |
| 7 | Georgia Tech | |
| 8 | Oregon | 3 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh | 1 |
| 10 | Ohio State | 3 |
| 11 | Virginia Tech | 3 |
| 12 | LSU | 4 |
| 13 | Iowa | 4 |
| 14 | Penn State | 2 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 4 |
| 16 | Oklahoma State | 1 |
| 17 | Oregon State | |
| 18 | Stanford | |
| 19 | Miami (Florida) | 1 |
| 20 | Southern Cal | 8 |
| 21 | Clemson | 1 |
| 22 | Arizona | 4 |
| 23 | Houston | 8 |
| 24 | Navy | 1 |
| 25 | Nebraska | |
| Last week's ballot | ||
- TCU gets closer to being included with the "Big Three." Their win over Clemson is looking better and better, but I still say their SOS is not much different than Boise State's. (Tulsa is not helping that argument.)
- Iowa put up a good fight against Ohio State, losing in overtime at the Horseshoe with Ricky Stanzi watching from the sideline on crutches. Now Iowa fans can talk about what could have been if Stanzi was healthy and stop complaining that Chuck Long was robbed of the Heisman in 1985.
- Nebraska sneaks back in the top 25. If they have a chance to be two wins away from a BCS bowl, they should at least be ranked.
- Sadly, Temple falls out to make room for Stanford and Oregon State. If this were a Top 26 poll, they would be in.
- Utah and BYU however would not make it. BYU struggled with a New Mexico team that I have tied with Eastern Michigan as the worst team in the FBS. And Utah has that marquee win over Air Force?! In overtime no less.
- Central Michigan and Rutgers are other 2 loss teams left out of the poll. Rutgers might be the most overrated team in the nation. Their seven (7) wins are against teams that have a combined total of 14 FBS victories.
- Should LSU be even lower? I did not want to penalize them too much for a close win at home, but I am not sure they should be ahead of Iowa or Penn State.
- How far has USC fallen? They could be headed to the Vegas Bowl and play the loser of the BYU vs Utah game.
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Confused...
I can NOT believe that USC is still ranked… They lose to Washington, Oregon and Stanford (Oregon and Stanford manhandled them) and they are still ranked… RIDICULOUS!
by Gobluebroncs on Nov 17, 2009 11:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
The Trojans..
Believe me, it was hard to still rank USC. But who should vault ahead of them? Two of the losses (albeit blowouts) are to ranked teams and they also have quality wins over Ohio State and Oregon State.
I am open to moving USC down, I am just not sure who should pass them.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Nov 17, 2009 1:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, Nebraska!
My other fave team makes an appearance! Good for them. Here’s to beating Texas in the Big 12 Championship and really messing up the BCS (as long as it doesn’t keep Boise State out).
KY Stands for Kentucky, for crying out loud.
by KYBronco on Nov 17, 2009 12:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
That...
Would most definitely knock us out.
by BustersBFF on Nov 17, 2009 12:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
that would then ensure TWO team from the Big XII would get in. Not good for BSU at all.
by kunzy5 on Nov 17, 2009 1:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If Texas falls and Cincinnati falls, Boise will get in as a result of being ranked in the top 4. The top 4 teams get automatic bids, as long as no more than two of them are in the same conference.
by HawkeyedFrog on Nov 17, 2009 4:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That provision only applies to teams from the 6 AQ conferences
If any of the 10 slots remain open after application of provisions 1 through 5, and if no team qualifies under paragraph No. 5 and an at-large team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked No. 4 in the final BCS Standings, that team will become an automatic qualifier provided that no at-large team from the same conference qualifies for the national championship game.
If TCU wins out, the only way for Boise State to go to the BCS is as an at-large selection.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Nov 17, 2009 8:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not necessarily
It would definitely take away one of two open spots and might even get TCU into the National Championship game.
Nebraska would get the automatic
TCU the Championship Game
Texas an At Large
Cincinnati automatic
ACC champ – automatic – probably no one else for an at large
Oregon – automatic
Ohio State – automatic
Problem would be, would Boise State get an automatically because of TCU in the championship or would they be competing with the well traveling Iowa or pathetic Pitt?
KY Stands for Kentucky, for crying out loud.
by KYBronco on Nov 17, 2009 1:13 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Oops! supposed to be a reply to BustersBFF and Kunzy5
KY Stands for Kentucky, for crying out loud.
by KYBronco on Nov 17, 2009 1:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
True
I am not saying that it would be impossible for BSU if Nebraska beat Texas, but I firmly believe that BSU’s best shot is keeping that other At Large. What is the rule for a non-AQ is in the NC game and another meets the requirements. Is the only guaranteed spot reserved for TCU? I guess I will need to check it out.
by kunzy5 on Nov 17, 2009 1:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
Just wish that it could happen AND have Boise State with a great chance at a bowl.
But then again. I would love for Boise State to be the first non-AQ to go to the championship game and not TCU.
KY Stands for Kentucky, for crying out loud.
by KYBronco on Nov 17, 2009 1:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Good call on that
This year though, the biggest slap in the face to the BCS would be both TCU and BSU getting a berth, and both winning big. That would just make my year
by kunzy5 on Nov 17, 2009 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If TCU is #2...
They would earn two automatic qualifications.
1 for being in the top 2 and the other for being the top non-AQ member.
BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter
by utesfan100 on Nov 17, 2009 1:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That is an interesting scenario and it may work out better.
I don’t see a provision to provide another non-AQ another automatic bid if TCU goes to the championship. The automatice bid for a 3rd ranked or 4th ranked team only applies to BCS conference teams.
However with the order the bowls select, it may help BSU.
The UF/Ala winner would play TCU in the championship (TCU might not make it to #2 if the computers don’t follow)
The Sugar picks first for since the SEC champion is in the title game: they would take the UF/ALA loser.
The Orange Bowl picks next. With the ACC champ designated to the Orange Bowl, they probably could not pass up an At-Large Texas team.
The Fiesta Bowl would pick next with choices of Cinci/Pitt, Boise State or Penn St/Iowa. I doubt they would feel Cinci is that much bigger of a draw than BSU. I like the Broncos’ chances here.
The Sugar Bowl would get the last pick and have to take the automatically qualifying Big East champion.
NC: UF/Ala vs TCU
Sugar: UF/Ala vs Cinci/Pitt
Orange: Texas vs GA Tech
Fiesta: BSU vs Nebraska
Rose: Ohio State vs PAC 10
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Nov 17, 2009 1:39 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
That sounds good but....
Would we really want to play Nebraska? Seems like we would not get much more respect by playing a good but not great Nebraska team
by kunzy5 on Nov 17, 2009 1:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Why not?
No it’s not the best team to go up against. Probably similar to Utah and Pitt. But a chance of another BCS victory would be very good against another storied program for that. With 2010 season glasses on, it would look great going into a year where we play Oregon State and VaTech. Starting the season ranked even higher for winning a BCS game and returning pretty much everyone and then playing a respectable schedule. National Championship anyone?
But again. I would like for BSU to be the first non-BCS to go the national champ game.
KY Stands for Kentucky, for crying out loud.
by KYBronco on Nov 17, 2009 1:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Respect respect respect
Goal one is definitely go to the BCS, no matter who they play. But after that, I want what all of crave…..respect. Playing a Nebraska team that is on the way up, but not there yet won’t mean too much to all of the haters out there (Mark May, anybody? Though I think that he would still pick Nebraska to win, the douche). The key to getting a higher ranking for next year is beating a team the nation views as a power house. But a BCS game is a BCS game…
by kunzy5 on Nov 17, 2009 2:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You would get to shut up that congressman who talked about “Why doesn’t Utah play Nebraska’s schedule?” and get Tom Osborne’s attention for scheduling in the next few years. Sounds like a good deal to me.
by HawkeyedFrog on Nov 17, 2009 4:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Does a team have to be in the top 15 of the BCS to get an invitation? Unless Nebraska wins the Big 12 North and the championship game, I don’t see that happening. (If they don’t, they suffer another loss and will drop.)
by Egnowit on Nov 17, 2009 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It was a response to a reference of Nebraska winning the Big 12 Championship Game
Here’s to beating Texas in the Big 12 Championship and really messing up the BCS
Otherwise Nebraska would be no where close to an at-large bid.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Nov 17, 2009 1:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Ah, sorry. Sometimes I don’t read every word. Or the first half of a comment.
by Egnowit on Nov 17, 2009 3:21 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Nebraska would go if
They beat Texas. We are just trying to decide which situation would work out best for BSU. And I think that they have to be in the top 14.
by kunzy5 on Nov 17, 2009 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think it might be time to move TCU above Texas. Texas has been playing down to opponents too much, and with the exception of the Air Force game, TCU has been pretty dominant.
Their only common opponent is (well, will be) Wyoming, I think. But when you look at BYU/Oklahoma, I think that this is in TCU’s favor, too.
by Egnowit on Nov 17, 2009 1:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I considered it this week...
Their schedules are very similar. Texas’ opponents have 45 FBS wins, TCU opponents 44. I gave the nod to Texas with their best win over Oklahoma St and TCU’s marquee win against Clemson.
Both have blown out all but two opponents this year.
It is very close, and I could be talked into moving TCU to 3rd.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Nov 17, 2009 1:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If Texas struggles against a freefalling Kansas team, it would be time to move the Frogs up. Before that, despite TCU’s dominant performances, it would be premature.
by HawkeyedFrog on Nov 17, 2009 4:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
This weeks BlogPoll Summary..
can be found here.
Here is the vote distribution for Boise State.
One blog still has the Broncos ranked at #11. I suggest we find out who it is *cough Braves and Birds cough* and send them a little bit of Mikrino. Normally I would have thought that vote would have come from Buckeye Commentary, but they didn’t submit a ballot this week.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Nov 18, 2009 11:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
This is almost certainly too late
But maybe for next week: Penn State is ranked too high, and that record and team were not named “Penn State” there is no way they’d be ranked that high. They’ve lost, at home, badly, to the two good teams they’ve played, their OOC schedule was a joke, and their remaining Big-10 wins aren’t that impressive.
by killtacular on Nov 18, 2009 12:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I will keep that in mind for next week...
I think for some reason I was keeping them ahead of Wisconsin for head-to-head – but those teams didn’t play this week.
Penn State’s biggest win is probably Temple and then maybe Indiana. If this were 1980’s basketball that would seem impressive. I will move them down next week.
"...east and west is the problem, north and south the solution."
by MKingery on Nov 18, 2009 1:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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