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I don't understand poll rankings...
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Captain Bearcat Offline
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Post: #1
I don't understand poll rankings...
Last year, at many points I felt that UC was ranked solely because of our brand name.

This year... how are we not getting ANY votes right now? I thought we'd be about 27th-30th right now.

The only mark against us is that we got blown out by Ohio State. But now OSU is 5-0 with 5 blowouts, and UC's defense held OSU offense to its fewest # of points in the whole season.

Take a look at Boise: Boise squeaked by Marshall at home. They made Marshall look like a solid team, not the team that Cincinnati crushed 52-14 on the road. Is the lack of a loss really that important?

Take a look at UCF: Is beating 2-3 Stanford that much better than beating 1-4 UCLA? Is losing to 3-2 Pitt by 1 that much better than getting blown out by Ohio State?
 
09-29-2019 02:46 PM
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doss2 Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
The voters are mostly hacks who do little work or analysis. I doubt many watched Either team vs Marshall. I watched both and you are correct as UC humbled Marshall at Marshall whereas Boise made Marshall look great at Boise.
 
09-29-2019 02:52 PM
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UCGrad1992 Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
I'm sure the home win against 1-4 UCLA is part of it. Yes, they went on the road and beat a ranked Wash St but they lost Saturday to Zona. We have blown out two meh teams so we really haven't beaten anyone to this point. Win Friday night and we'll be back in the ranking conversation.
 
09-29-2019 03:11 PM
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doss2 Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
Had we not played OSU and played and beat a MAC team we at least would be getting some votes. Boise beat a once good FSU and we beat a once good UCLA. We mauled Marshall and they survived Marshall.
 
(This post was last modified: 09-29-2019 03:42 PM by doss2.)
09-29-2019 03:18 PM
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colohank Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
Does it matter? I'd rather that UC be underestimated by opponents than to be highly ranked and exposed as wannabes on the field. If we win consistently and convincingly, we'll earn the recognition that homers think we deserve.
 
09-29-2019 04:08 PM
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Dannyboy Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
We don’t really deserve a ranking unless we win our next game.
 
09-29-2019 04:31 PM
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Cataclysmo Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
(09-29-2019 04:08 PM)colohank Wrote:  Does it matter? I'd rather that UC be underestimated by opponents than to be highly ranked and exposed as wannabes on the field. If we win consistently and convincingly, we'll earn the recognition that homers think we deserve.

Yes? Rankings decide who from the G5 gets an Access Bowl. If it comes down to us vs. Boise then it absolutely matters.
 
09-29-2019 05:48 PM
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Bcatbog Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
Gotta beat UCF. Early rankings are meaningless.
 
09-29-2019 05:51 PM
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cincy7718 Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
(09-29-2019 04:08 PM)colohank Wrote:  Does it matter? I'd rather that UC be underestimated by opponents than to be highly ranked and exposed as wannabes on the field. If we win consistently and convincingly, we'll earn the recognition that homers think we deserve.

I’d much rather have a nationally respected program than constantly hoping to be underestimated.
 
09-29-2019 07:35 PM
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C1ncy4Life Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
(09-29-2019 05:48 PM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  
(09-29-2019 04:08 PM)colohank Wrote:  Does it matter? I'd rather that UC be underestimated by opponents than to be highly ranked and exposed as wannabes on the field. If we win consistently and convincingly, we'll earn the recognition that homers think we deserve.

Yes? Rankings decide who from the G5 gets an Access Bowl. If it comes down to us vs. Boise then it absolutely matters.

I agree with you. That said, let’s see how the season plays out. If our only loss this year is at OSU then we may very well be the highest ranked Group of 5 member. That said, that’s a long long way off and not really worth worrying about at this point. Boise State may very well end up dropping game considering how closely Marshall played them. If we can beat UCF, then we will start getting more attention and even then we will have a long way to go before really needing to worry about a NY6 bowl game.
 
09-29-2019 07:43 PM
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nachoman91 Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
(09-29-2019 05:51 PM)Bcatbog Wrote:  Gotta beat UCF. Early rankings are meaningless.

This is not correct at all. Early season rankings mean a ton. Its much harder to climb into and up in the polls if you start the season unranked. And its darn near impossible to jump over a team in the polls if the team above you doesn't lose.

Not to mention the PR that you get from being in the polls which helps with recruiting and increasing the overall brand of the team. The entire reason Boise is above UC is because of this. They have a respected national brand, UC does not.
 
09-30-2019 06:59 AM
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bearcatlawjd2 Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
(09-30-2019 06:59 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  
(09-29-2019 05:51 PM)Bcatbog Wrote:  Gotta beat UCF. Early rankings are meaningless.

This is not correct at all. Early season rankings mean a ton. Its much harder to climb into and up in the polls if you start the season unranked. And its darn near impossible to jump over a team in the polls if the team above you doesn't lose.

Not to mention the PR that you get from being in the polls which helps with recruiting and increasing the overall brand of the team. The entire reason Boise is above UC is because of this. They have a respected national brand, UC does not.

I argued earlier that playing Ohio State was like a season killer. So much better off playing a buy game against the MAC. Imagine sitting 4-0 going into Friday.

A program like Cincinnati should never play road games at elite programs. Those games can become season and reputation killers. Play anyone else and you give yourself a chance at a special season.
 
09-30-2019 07:16 AM
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dubcat14 Offline
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Post: #13
RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
Not sure how anyone can say rankings don't matter, or even early season rankings don't matter. As a G5, ranking is how you get to the New Years bowl and it's easier to get their when you're ranked early in the season.

That said, the AAC in general is getting decent respect this year. We have 2 teams ranked in AP and coaches and another sitting just outside in each. We beat UCF, you can add us to that list too.

Current computer rankings:

ColleyMatrix: 26
ESPN FPI: 29
Congrove: 29 (Boise 35, UCF 36)
Massey:26
Sagarin: 31
 
09-30-2019 07:36 AM
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BearcatMan Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
(09-30-2019 07:36 AM)dubcat14 Wrote:  Not sure how anyone can say rankings don't matter, or even early season rankings don't matter. As a G5, ranking is how you get to the New Years bowl and it's easier to get their when you're ranked early in the season.

That said, the AAC in general is getting decent respect this year. We have 2 teams ranked in AP and coaches and another sitting just outside in each. We beat UCF, you can add us to that list too.

Current computer rankings:

ColleyMatrix: 26
ESPN FPI: 29
Congrove: 29 (Boise 35, UCF 36)
Massey:26
Sagarin: 31

And take out UCF. No chance they're still ranked or even receiving votes if they're 3-2.
 
09-30-2019 07:41 AM
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Def Berkkat Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
I think what you're really saying is that you don't understand poll rankERs.

You're assuming that the people who vote in these polls are experts. Some, if not most, of them are total idiots.
 
09-30-2019 07:56 AM
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OKIcat Offline
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Post: #16
RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
I'll side with those who say rankings do matter, given the box the G5 has been placed in by the CFP system.

I had to laugh out loud this weekend when I saw that it took two polls to get three AAC teams ranked. It's as if there is an unwritten rule that no more than two G5 teams from a single conference can be ranked in any one poll. Pick some teams ranked higher and see how deserving those teams are. #18 Michigan is my poster child this week on how ludicrous this system really is. Wins over dumpster fire Rutgers, Middle Tennessee, and a last gasp win over a good G5 Army squad. Harbaugh's record against teams with a pulse is abysmal.

So we should be pulling for multiple AAC teams to be ranked and for Boise to stumble, if the American wants to continue to build the P6 narrative.
 
09-30-2019 08:12 AM
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BigDawg Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
I don't get it. The weirdest one might be CBS complete rankings (Those usually seem to be pretty solid) where we fell a spot from 42 to 43, while Boise went up 6 spots to 16 for beating Air Force 30-19.

Just take care of business Friday and it will take care of itself.
 
09-30-2019 08:15 AM
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bearcatmark Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
(09-30-2019 08:15 AM)BigDawg Wrote:  I don't get it. The weirdest one might be CBS complete rankings (Those usually seem to be pretty solid) where we fell a spot from 42 to 43, while Boise went up 6 spots to 16 for beating Air Force 30-19.

Just take care of business Friday and it will take care of itself.

Boise State is undoubtedly overrated, but that's the value of not playing against an elite team. Yes there is value if you can manage to beat great competition, but the penalty for losing is greater than the value of winning. Boise State is 50 in SP+ while UC is 38. The good news is Boise still has a road trip to Utah State (better in SP+ than Boise) and games over decent competition like Hawaii, Wyoming, BYU... (plus the conference championship should they get there).
 
09-30-2019 08:36 AM
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nachoman91 Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
(09-30-2019 07:16 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  
(09-30-2019 06:59 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  
(09-29-2019 05:51 PM)Bcatbog Wrote:  Gotta beat UCF. Early rankings are meaningless.

This is not correct at all. Early season rankings mean a ton. Its much harder to climb into and up in the polls if you start the season unranked. And its darn near impossible to jump over a team in the polls if the team above you doesn't lose.

Not to mention the PR that you get from being in the polls which helps with recruiting and increasing the overall brand of the team. The entire reason Boise is above UC is because of this. They have a respected national brand, UC does not.

I argued earlier that playing Ohio State was like a season killer. So much better off playing a buy game against the MAC. Imagine sitting 4-0 going into Friday.

A program like Cincinnati should never play road games at elite programs. Those games can become season and reputation killers. Play anyone else and you give yourself a chance at a special season.

Finally, someone who gets it. I've been preaching this for years. Everyone gets excited when UC schedules high profile teams like OSU and Michigan. The reality is those games are horrible for UC right now. Getting blown out by OSU just keeps UC's football reputation at the second-class level. Look at the 2009 season when UC was undefeated. They scheduled winnable games against Illinois and Fresno and thus finished the season #3 and one play from playing in the national championship. If they had scheduled OSU that season and lost they aren't even in the Top 10.

Being 12-0 with a questionable schedule is ALWAYS better than being 11-1 with a blowout loss to the only good team on the schedule.
 
09-30-2019 12:57 PM
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OKIcat Offline
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RE: I don't understand poll rankings...
(09-30-2019 12:57 PM)nachoman91 Wrote:  
(09-30-2019 07:16 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  
(09-30-2019 06:59 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  
(09-29-2019 05:51 PM)Bcatbog Wrote:  Gotta beat UCF. Early rankings are meaningless.

This is not correct at all. Early season rankings mean a ton. Its much harder to climb into and up in the polls if you start the season unranked. And its darn near impossible to jump over a team in the polls if the team above you doesn't lose.

Not to mention the PR that you get from being in the polls which helps with recruiting and increasing the overall brand of the team. The entire reason Boise is above UC is because of this. They have a respected national brand, UC does not.

I argued earlier that playing Ohio State was like a season killer. So much better off playing a buy game against the MAC. Imagine sitting 4-0 going into Friday.

A program like Cincinnati should never play road games at elite programs. Those games can become season and reputation killers. Play anyone else and you give yourself a chance at a special season.

Finally, someone who gets it. I've been preaching this for years. Everyone gets excited when UC schedules high profile teams like OSU and Michigan. The reality is those games are horrible for UC right now. Getting blown out by OSU just keeps UC's football reputation at the second-class level. Look at the 2009 season when UC was undefeated. They scheduled winnable games against Illinois and Fresno and thus finished the season #3 and one play from playing in the national championship. If they had scheduled OSU that season and lost they aren't even in the Top 10.

Being 12-0 with a questionable schedule is ALWAYS better than being 11-1 with a blowout loss to the only good team on the schedule.

I agree with your premise. But scheduling doesn't occur in a perfect world. With football game contracts signed as much as a decade in advance who knows what you'll get when you reach the opening coin toss any given year? OSU may just have their best team ever this year until proven differently; a tough draw for UC and everyone else on the Buckeyes schedule so far. But it originally was a cash rich deal over the long term that was pretty enticing when UC needed a stadium modernization and practice facility to keep growing our program.

Conversely, we got a pair of games with Purdue when they were worse than most of the MAC and convincingly swept a B10 opponent, home and away. Ditto, UCLA.

How about this today from espn.com,

To date, Alabama and Clemson have occupied nine of 20 total CFP spots since the playoff began in 2014. Throw in Oklahoma and Ohio State, and four teams have accounted for 14 bids.

Unless it's some home and home arrangement or just too much money to ignore, let's not schedule any of those four again anytime soon. A super elite class has emerged in college football that appears unbeatable by more than 95% of the other schools.
 
09-30-2019 02:22 PM
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