Before we get the national polls, I thought I would make my own.

1. Southern Cal
2. LSU
3. California
4. South Florida
5. Wisconsin
6. Boston College
7. Ohio State
8. Kentucky
9. Cincinnati
10. Arizona State
11. Purdue
12. West Virginia
13. Conneticut
14. Florida State
15. Florida (*Loss was to Auburn)
16. Missouri
17. Oregon
18. South Carolina
19. Michigan State
20. Kansas State (*Loss was to Auburn)
21. Georgia
22. Oklahoma
23. Texas
24. Clemson
25. Central Florida

NOTE: In my world, teams rise significantly and fall significantly for a number of reasons. Playing a weak schedule and losing are some of the reasons teams fall.

I would put Connecticut in over UCF. Granted UCF played Texas tough, but Texas isn't that great.

I'll try to predict the Coaches Poll since it factors in the NCS.

1. USC
2. LSU
3. Cal
4. Ohio St.
5. Wisconsin
6. USF
7. Boston College
8. Kentucky
9. WVU
10. Florida
11. Oklahoma
12. Va Tech
13. Georgia
14. Hawaii
15. Missouri
16. South Carolina
17. Nebraska
18. Texas
19. Purdue
20. Rutgers
21. Kansas St.
22. Cincinnati
23. UCLA
24. Clemson
25. Boise St.

CatsClaw Wrote:I would put Connecticut in over UCF. Granted UCF played Texas tough, but Texas isn't that great.

On the flipside UConn hasn't played anyone of Texas caliber yet. I wouldn't rank neither one them although UCF is receiving votes and UConn isn't.

HiddenDragon Wrote:

CatsClaw Wrote:I would put Connecticut in over UCF. Granted UCF played Texas tough, but Texas isn't that great.

On the flipside UConn hasn't played anyone of Texas caliber yet. I wouldn't rank neither one them although UCF is receiving votes and UConn isn't.

Actually Connecticut is receiving votes in one of the polls.

I was referring to the coaches poll but that's cool. At least they are receiving votes.

My prediction for the 25 is:
1. USC
2. LSU
3. CAL
4. OHST
5. WI
6. KY
7. GA
8. USF
9. OK
10. FL
11. WV
12. BC
13. OR
14. SC
15. VT
16. TX
17. RUT
18. HI
19. AZST
20. CIN
21. MO
22. NE
23. PUR
24. CLEM
25. MIST

HiddenDragon Wrote:I was referring to the coaches poll but that's cool. At least they are receiving votes.

You're right, I forgot about the Coaches Poll. Ironically, since this thread, Connecticut has leaped UCF in BOTH polls.

10/07/2007 (In my world teams rise and fall dramatically)

1. LSU
2. California
3. South Florida
4. Boston College
5. Ohio State
6. Missouri
7. Arizona State
8. Cincinnati
9. South Carolina (loss to LSU)
10. Illinois (Loss to Mizzou)
11. West Virginia (loss to USF)
12. Virginia Tech (loss to LSU)
13. Florida State (loss to Clemson)
14. Connecticut (schedule issues)
15. Kansas (first big win vs Kan State)
16. Oregon (loss to Cal)
17. Oklahoma (loss to Colorado)
18. Southern Cal (loss to bad Stanford)
19. Hawaii (With all respect, their schedule stinks)
20. Texas A&M (loss to Miami(Fl)
21. Wisconsin (loss to Illinois)
22. Colorado (Losses to Arizona State and Florida State)
23. Kentucky (loss to South Carolina)
24. Virginia (Loss to Wyoming the first weak)
25. Auburn

I like the Chess Poll better than the real life polls as far as a lot of those rankings are concerned.

10/14/2007 (Remember, this poll is my world)

1. South Florida (wins vs Auburn, West Virginia)
2. Boston College (wins vs Wake Forest, Geo. Tech)
3. Ohio State (wins vs Purdue)
4. Arizona State
5. West Virginia (loss to USF)
6. South Carolina (loss to LSU)
7. Kentucky (loss to USC)
8. LSU (loss to UK)
9. Virginia Tech (loss to LSU)
10. Kansas (6-0) (only challenging win vs KSU)
11. Oregon (loss to Cal)
12. Oklahoma (loss to CU)
13. Southern Cal (loss to Stanford)
14. Virginia (loss to Wyoming)
15. California (loss to Ore State)
16. Auburn (loss to USF, Miss State. Beat KSU, UF, Ark)
17. Florida (loss to LSU, Auburn)
18. Kansas State (loss to Auburn, Kansas)
19. Hawaii (a terrible win for a stinky schedule)
20. Texas Tech (loss to Ok State)
21. Missouri (loss to OU, beat Illinois)
22. Tennessee (loss to Cal, Flor)
23. Connecticut (loss to UVA)
24. Wake Forest (loss to Neb, BC. Beat UMD, FSU)
25. Illinois (loss to Missouri, Iowa)/Michigan (loss to App State, Oregon)

FYI: Anyone from, say, 15 on is a crapshoot. Frankly, polls are crapshoots. I had to pick teams and leave teams out.

chess Wrote:10/14/2007

1. South Florida (wins vs Auburn, West Virginia)
2. Boston College (wins vs Wake Forest, Geo. Tech)
3. Ohio State (wins vs Purdue)
4. Arizona State* (Game still in progress)
5. West Virginia (loss to USF)
6. South Carolina (loss to LSU)
7. Kentucky (loss to USC)
8. LSU (loss to UK)
9. Virginia Tech (loss to LSU)
10. Kansas (6-0) (only challenging win vs KSU)
11. Oregon (loss to Cal)
12. Oklahoma (loss to CU)
13. Southern Cal (loss to Stanford)
14. Virginia (loss to Wyoming)
15. California (loss to Ore State)
16. Auburn (loss to USF, Miss State. Beat KSU, UF, Ark)
17. Florida (loss to LSU, Auburn)
18. Kansas State* (loss to Auburn, Kansas) (Game still in progress)
19. Hawaii (a terrible win for a stinky schedule)
20. Texas Tech (loss to Ok State)
21. Missouri (loss to OU, beat Illinois)
22. Tennessee (loss to Cal, Flor)
23. Connecticut (loss to UVA)
24. Wake Forest (loss to Neb, BC. Beat UMD, FSU)
25. Illinois (loss to Missouri, Iowa)/Michigan (loss to App State, Oregon)

* Games still in progress

I think Ciny deserves the ranking more than Hawaii.. For the most part, I would agree with your poll. The only thing is I don't see USF jumping Ohio State. I'm not saying I wouldn't put them at #1, If the voters rank them at #1, it will surprise me.

this has been a crazy year with upsets.
Over all I don't see USF from the BE and BC from the ACC, taking the 1 and 2 spot. BC hasn't played anyone good and probably only has VT and maybe FSU as good challenges to earn a top two rating. USF beat WVu and Auburn, those two wins look good but but LSU can still argue a better resume, even though they have one loss.
Kentucky will probably be ranked higher than WVU.

BC really can't argue a high ranking. BC beat Wake and GT. Wake loss to Nebraska which is 4-3. GT (also 4-3) lost to Virginia (6-1) which squeaked past UCONN by one point. Even FSU lost to WF and Clemson. The whole thing is a mess. The only game on BC's schedule is VT (6-1) with a loss to LSU.

USF has a better resume than BC and should be ranked higher. Beating up on UCF elevated USF a great deal. Add that to their other big wins and they are primed for the prime time.

It would be interesting to see what the polls do and how this years plays out. I don't think the BE and the ACC can occupy the 1 and 2 spots. The ACC is too weak a conference and the BE still has a soft reputation with SYR and Pitt and an overall weak record against BCS teams.

I think fans from other conferences are going to scream if the ACC and the BE take the two top spots.

Wow, I don't think I can disagree more.

frogman Wrote:BC hasn't played anyone good and probably only has VT and maybe FSU as good challenges to earn a top two rating.

Boston College has played a reasonable schedule. South Florida has played a reasonable schedule.

Ohio State has played a relatively weak schedule (YSU, Akron, Wash, Nwestrn, Minn (1-6), Purdue (yeah, a good team), Kent St).

I used the same logic when reviewing Boston College to South Florida to Ohio State to Arizona State. ASU has played a weaker schedule. They all have won and, as humans, we have to choose. I choose South Florida, Boston College, Ohio State, and Arizona State in that order.

Don't underestimate BC's and USF's schedules.

I don't think it is fair to judge a team because of "history". Ohio State historically has been a better program. That said, Boston College and South Florida should be ranked higher today based on their play.

In addition, don't be blind to the conferences. The ACC has many good teams. They do not have the "great teams" like LSU, USC, etc... but we are seeing good teams beat good teams in this conference.

Let's compare the ACC to the Big 10. We are seeing a number of Big 10 teams who played very weak non-conference schedules beating each other up. Seriously, how good is Purdue, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, etc...? We don't really know until they play each other.

Michigan, on the other hand, we do know. Michigan, who may win the Big 10, lost to App State (which may not be so bad at the end of the season to say you lost to the "championship series" champion) and a very good Oregon team.

MOUNTAINEERFAN64 Wrote:I think Ciny deserves the ranking more than Hawaii.. For the most part, I would agree with your poll.

I had to make some decisions and Cincinnati was a team I thought about.

Cincinnati beat an Oregon State team that has some interesting wins this year. This win is a great win for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati beat an average Rutgers team. Once again, a win to build a case on.

Cincinnati lost to a Louisville team that was falling apart. We all know Louisville is a better team than the level they are playing. In fact, if Louisville is back, the loss may not be that bad on the Bearcats' resume.

As for Hawaii, there is nothing they can do about their schedule. The voting media must decide how to handle this team. Can we reward a team that is playing a terrible schedule but winning? Or.... If BCS schools won't schedule the good non-BCS teams, should we reward a team based on potential?

The Boise State-Southern Miss game was a great game for Boise State because it created a "pecking order" to judge these teams. So far, Hawaii does not have this.

chess Wrote:Wow, I don't think I can disagree more.

frogman Wrote:BC hasn't played anyone good and probably only has VT and maybe FSU as good challenges to earn a top two rating.

Boston College has played a reasonable schedule. South Florida has played a reasonable schedule.

Ohio State has played a weak schedule (YSU, Akron, Wash, Nwestrn, Minn (1-6), Purdue (yeah, a good team), Kent St).

I used the same logic when reviewing Boston College to South Florida to Ohio State to Arizona State. ASU has played a weaker schedule. They all have won and, as humans, we have to choose. I choose South Florida, Boston College, Ohio State, and Arizona State in that order.

Don't underestimate BC's and USF's schedules.

I don't think it is fair to judge a team because of "history". Ohio State historically has been a better program. That said, Boston College and South Florida should be ranked higher today based on their play.

In addition, don't be blind to the conferences. The ACC has many good teams. They do not have the "great teams" like LSU, USC, etc... but we are seeing good teams beat good teams in this conference.

Let's compare the ACC to the Big 10. We are seeing a number of Big 10 teams who played very weak non-conference schedules beating each other up. Seriously, how good is Purdue, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, etc...? We don't really know until they play each other.

Michigan, on the other hand, we do know. Michigan, who may win the Big 10, lost to App State (which may not be so bad at the end of the season to say you lost to the "championship series" champion) and a very good Oregon team.

USF has played more then a reasonable schedule, they have beaten a Top 20 team on the road (and Auburn will move back into the Top 20 this week), and they beat a Top 10 team who is still in the Top 10.

I could see first place votes being split 3 ways between Ohio State, South Florida, and Boston College. OSU will I am pretty sure receive the number 1 ranking as voters way in all over the country.

I don't know how you could rank UConn after a loss, yet take UC completely out of the polls after a close loss. UC will bump down back into the 20's but not completely dissapear out of the scene. Its not like Louisville is a chopped liver team, a few bad losses aside.

CatsClaw Wrote:USF has played more then a reasonable schedule, they have beaten a Top 20 team on the road (and Auburn will move back into the Top 20 this week), and they beat a Top 10 team who is still in the Top 10.

I agree. South Florida is clearly the best team (i.e. should be ranked #1) in the country today.

Kit-Cat Wrote:I don't know how you could rank UConn after a loss, yet take UC completely out of the polls after a close loss. UC will bump down back into the 20's but not completely dissapear out of the scene.

I explained some of my logic concerning Cincinnati in a post above.

Although Connecticut has not played a tough schedule, they did lose to Virginia. The loss was close.

Like I said above, once you get out of the top 5-10 spots, the rankings become a crapshoot.

If you read my rankings, you see many more SEC teams than other conferences. To me, they are good teams and easier to rank with loses because it easy to create a "pecking order".

chess Wrote:

Kit-Cat Wrote:I don't know how you could rank UConn after a loss, yet take UC completely out of the polls after a close loss. UC will bump down back into the 20's but not completely dissapear out of the scene.

I explained some of my logic concerning Cincinnati in a post above.

Although Connecticut has not played a tough schedule, they did lose to Virginia. The loss was close.

Like I said above, once you get out of the top 5-10 spots, the rankings become a crapshoot.

If you read my rankings, you see many more SEC teams than other conferences. To me, they are good teams and easier to rank with loses because it easy to create a "pecking order".

You may want to read my post again because exactly what I talked about happened in this weeks polls.

1.USF picked up #1 votes.

2.UC stayed ranked in the 20's

3.UConn has no love.

Thank You very much.