Week Eleven BlogPoll Ballot Submitted
by T Kyle King
on Nov 9, 2008 8:30 PM EST
in Football
9 comments
Like Vinnie Barbarino, I am so confused. I am also still struggling to fight off whatever combination of seasonal allergies, the common cold, and a sinus infection it is that has reared its ugly head repeatedly over the course of the last month, and which has made a return appearance with a vengeance these last several days.
Fatigue, illness, and the side effects of certain over the counter medications having taken their toll, I started with the final version of last week’s ballot and adjusted accordingly in view of the most recent week’s results. I know, I know, but I’ll get back to doing this full-bore after next weekend, since Georgia has a bye week coming up before the season ender against Georgia Tech.
In any event, here is the first draft of this week’s ballot, with the emphasis on the words "first draft":
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| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | -- |
| 2 | Texas Tech | -- |
| 3 | Florida |  1 |
| 4 | Texas | 1 |
| 5 | Southern Cal | 2 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | -- |
| 7 | Utah | 2 |
| 8 | Penn State |  5 |
| 9 | Boise State | 1 |
| 10 | Ohio State | 3 |
| 11 | Missouri | 1 |
| 12 | Georgia | 2 |
| 13 | North Carolina | 2 |
| 14 | Oklahoma State | 6 |
| 15 | Ball State | 3 |
| 16 | Michigan State | 3 |
| 17 | Cincinnati | 7 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh | 5 |
| 19 | TCU | 8 |
| 20 | Florida State | 6 |
| 21 | Brigham Young | 5 |
| 22 | Virginia Tech | 4 |
| 23 | Oregon State | 2 |
| 24 | South Carolina | 2 |
| 25 | Georgia Tech | 5 |
Air Force, Boston College, and Oregon all received a look but, ultimately, fell into the category of "others receiving consideration."
I watched the Buffalo-Miami (Ohio) game on Tuesday, the Ball State-Northern Illinois game on Wednesday, and the Maryland-Virginia Tech game on Thursday (because I couldn’t get the Texas Christian-Utah game for some incomprehensible reason). On Friday, I watched as much of the Fresno State-Nevada game as I could before falling asleep on the couch (to reiterate: I am sick). On Saturday, I watched the entirety of the Georgia-Kentucky game, parts of the Alabama-Louisiana State and Clemson-Florida State games, and the Boston College-Notre Dame game.
What looks weird on that ballot? What requires further explanation? As I hope is evident by now, I cast my initial ballot on Sunday night but give real consideration to arguments offered afterwards, upon which I often rely when making revisions prior to the final deadline.
If something in those rankings strikes you as wrong, tell me what and tell me why in the comments below. I thank you in advance for your constructive criticisms.
Go ‘Dawgs! Auburna delenda est!
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I dropped all of the mid majors.
Did you watch these teams? They look like a slightly more mature version of Hoover High School. I am a strict resume guy, rewarding playing well despite outcome, but these guys prep all year for their ONE big game of the year against a BCS conf team, while that BCS conf team looks at the game as an easy win. Directions for letdown city?
by FSUncensored on
Nov 10, 2008 1:09 AM EST
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I realize Florida is probably playing better than anyone in the country right now, but strictly on resume Texas should be above them. Texas lost to a top ten team on the road on the last play of the game. Florida lost to a mediocre team at home…
by kerouacinjapan on
Nov 10, 2008 2:28 AM EST
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LSU falls out after taking Bama to OT?
me no understand.
by hound dog on
Nov 10, 2008 11:04 AM EST
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It was a quality loss . . .
. . . but it was still a loss. At home. In a game in which the Fighting Tigers’ quarterback threw four interceptions.
That, coupled with the relative weakness of the scalps in the Bayou Bengals’ possession and their poor showings against Georgia and (particularly) Florida, sunk L.S.U. At least all of South Carolina’s losses were close.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on
Nov 10, 2008 10:23 PM EST
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My Top Five
1. Alabama
2. Texas Tech
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. Oklahoma
Texas has beaten a more impressive collection of teams thus far than has Florida. (Admittedly I think Florida wins a UF/UT matchup at the moment). While OU’s schedule to this point isn’t anything to write home about I feel USC has an even less impressive resume. One school lost to a team who for a few weeks anyway was ranked #1 in the country. The other school lost to Oregon State.
by Texan_Dawg on
Nov 10, 2008 12:06 PM EST
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Missouri should be below Oklahoma State
same record, same conference, Oklahoma State won at Missouri, Tigers have no marquee wins to offset that
by drothgery on
Nov 10, 2008 1:51 PM EST
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Good point
This is exactly why Brian has us post our draft ballots; I totally dropped the ball on that one. Thanks for pointing that out to me.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on
Nov 10, 2008 10:16 PM EST
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Georgia/Ohio State/Oklahoma State/Missouri
I think you can almost lump these 4 schools together with the distinction that they all have 2 losses, but have only lost to elite teams, and defeated everyone else.
That said…
Oklahoma State beat Missouri – AT MISSOURI!
OSU’s 56-20 loss AT TECH isn’t any worse than Missouri’s 56-31 loss at Texas or Georgia’s 49-10 loss vs Florida or Ohio State’s 35-3 loss to USC. All 4 teams got crushed.
Beyond that, look at loss #2 for each team:
Oklahoma State – Texas by 4 in Austin
Georgia – Alabama by 11 in Athens (trailed 31-0)
Ohio State – Penn State by 7 in Columbus
Missouri – Oklahoma State by 5 in Columbia
And their best wins:
Georgia – LSU by 14 in Baton Rouge, South Carolina by 7 in Columbia
Oklahoma State – Missouri by 5 in Columbia
Ohio State – Michigan State by 38 in East Lansing
Missouri – Illinois by 10 in St Louis? Nebraska by 35 in Lincoln?
If you believe Missouri and Michigan State > LSU, then Ohio State would appear to get the edge in best win, followed by Oklahoma State. OkState’s loss at Texas also represents the best effort in defeat.
I would do it:
10. Ohio State (USC margin of loss mitigated by no Pryor or Beanie)
11. Oklahoma State (beat Missouri and went toe-to-toe with Texas)
12. Georgia (blown out early vs Bama and late vs Florida)
13. Missouri (lost at home to OkState)
I don’t think North Carolina belongs above any of the other 4. They lost @ Virginia and at home to Virginia Tech, and their best wins are over flawed ACC opponents (BC, Georgia Tech)
by wino1618 on
Nov 10, 2008 9:52 PM EST
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Well done
I’m tempted to quote a movie line on the clarity and precision with which that was presented—-I’m torn between Fred Gwynne in “My Cousin Vinny” and Peter O’Toole in “The Lion in Winter”—-but both of those compliments immediately preceded the speaker’s ignoring the fine points that had been made.
That was well-argued and persuasive, wino1618. Nice job.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on
Nov 10, 2008 10:19 PM EST
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