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(09-27-2020 10:41 PM)C1ncy4Life Wrote:  

(09-27-2020 05:02 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(09-27-2020 04:53 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  The other thing that bothers me is we finished #21 last season to UCF's #24. We beat them head-to-head and we returned the bulk of the starters for this season. We also started the poll this year ranked above them one spot. You see other teams get preferential treatment/deference in the rankings or consideration based on past history. We typically get hosed up the wazoo. I know, we just need to keep winning but it's hard to get past our drop and UCF's rise based on who we've played thus far.

My guess is they’re looking at how we both play. Pollsters probably seeing a ceiling with who’s at QB.

I mean to be fair, I don’t really blame them. I’m not confident that we can go to UCF and come out with a win unless the QB play gets much better. It’s a shame because our defense is significantly better, our OL is better, and we have just as much talent at the skill positions. The difference may well be having a consistent QB.

Having watched both UC and UCF, I have to agree with your point about the QB situation at the present time. UC had abundant O line problems last year that had Ridder running for his life and the offense moving backwards constantly with penalties. That's not been a problem through two games but we're not seeing an improvement in passing efficiency one might reasonably expect given those other problems are resolved.

I was initially angry that teams are being included in the poll that haven't played, and won't play for another month. Alternately though, it's probably better they're in there now, as it would be a bigger insult to play another month, climb the rankings ladder, and get bounced out for teams that have never taken the field yet. So maybe this will preserve "earned" rankings better than arbitrarily dropping half a dozen new teams in later this fall.