ATQ Preseason Blogpoll: It will be fun to point and laugh at this later
by jtlight on Aug 25, 2011 12:08 PM PDT
in ATQ Blogpoll
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PrintYou know the season is fast approaching when the preseason BlogPoll's come out. For those of you new to the site this season, SBNation has a rundown for the goals of the poll, and why it is the best poll around:
One: By virtue of their tendency to sit around and watch 12 hours of college football every weekend, BlogPoll voters are often better informed than mainstream media members, most of whom spend their Saturday obsessively covering one particular game, or coaches, who all obsessively cover one game.
Two: All votes are totally transparent. The poll makes a point of calculating various poll statistics so it can examine outlying ballots (especially those that are biased in favor of the home team), and asks voters to justify their stranger picks.
Three: The BlogPoll has an explicitly declared poll philosophy that voters are directed to follow. Not every voter and every ballot manages to do so, but the philosophy effects the poll as a whole. This usually manifests itself in a skepticism of teams that play very weak schedules. The 2007 Hawaii team, which cruised through its regular season and was crushed by Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, is the most obvious example.
The BlogPoll focuses on resume ballots. We don't focus on recruiting rankings or putting Texas simply because they're Texas. We look at the resumes that each team has compiled, and rank accordingly.
Now, the preseason ballot is the one exception. Because we have nothing to go off, this is pure conjecture on the parts of the voters. After the jump, my guesses for how things will shake out this year. As always, all comments are appreciated and will affect my ballot, which can be changed before the Monday deadline.
My only real thought in putting this together is that I don't think Oklahoma is the top team in the country. Instead, I'm going with Alabama. They should once again have a stellar defense, and have quite a bit of talent on offense. It's tough to evaluate them due how tight-lipped Saban has been, but right now, they're the team to beat. Oklahoma will be good, but I think they'll drop at least one game along the way. Oregon, Stanford, and LSU round out the top 5.
Also, yeah, I'm being a little Pac-12 homerish in this poll, ranking 3 teams from the south. I don't know why everyone is so down on USC. I think they're a top 15 team, and will bounce back from last years 7-5 team. I'm not as excited as some about ASU, but I'm downright bullish on Arizona compared to many others out there. Mike Stoops has been building a solid program, and they have as as much talent as any other non-USC teams from the south.
Addicted To Quack Ballot - Week 1
| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama Crimson Tide | -- |
| 2 | Oklahoma Sooners | -- |
| 3 | Oregon Ducks | -- |
| 4 | Stanford Cardinal | -- |
| 5 | Wisconsin Badgers | -- |
| 6 | LSU Tigers | -- |
| 7 | Florida St. Seminoles | -- |
| 8 | Boise St. Broncos | -- |
| 9 | TCU Horned Frogs | -- |
| 10 | Texas A&M Aggies | -- |
| 11 | Oklahoma St. Cowboys | -- |
| 12 | Arkansas Razorbacks | -- |
| 13 | Virginia Tech Hokies | -- |
| 14 | South Carolina Gamecocks | -- |
| 15 | USC Trojans | -- |
| 16 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | -- |
| 17 | Michigan St. Spartans | -- |
| 18 | Ohio St. Buckeyes | -- |
| 19 | Mississippi St. Bulldogs | -- |
| 20 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | -- |
| 21 | Georgia Bulldogs | -- |
| 22 | Florida Gators | -- |
| 23 | Arizona St. Sun Devils | -- |
| 24 | Arizona Wildcats | -- |
| 25 | Missouri Tigers | -- |
SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings "
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I don’t know if I agree with Alabama at the top. They lost a lot on offense & a stud on the DL, there defense should be good again but I’m not sure about there offense yet although they still have Richardson.
ok, how do I get the twitter follow button into my sig?
Follow @TomahawkNation
Tomahawk Nation Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
by Bud Elliott on Aug 25, 2011 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions
You are well endowed in the credibility department.
Now with mustache guarantee!
by HoodRiverDuck on Aug 25, 2011 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
I swear it did not show up when I posted that.
Follow @TomahawkNation
Tomahawk Nation Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
Sorry, that was a bit of an inside joke.
Not a jab at you.
Now with mustache guarantee!
by HoodRiverDuck on Aug 25, 2011 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
There was a bit of a twitter tuffle recently where a journalist cited an author's number of "followers".
This was understandably interpreted by many as the journalist saying the author lacked credibility because he had very few followers.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-M-A-R-G-I-N-A-L-I-Z-E-D".
The loser waiting outside the daisyduck club because the bouncer won't let me in.
I see you've broadened your customer base.
Selling pillz nationwide now, huh?
"It's not about style. It's about winning the game. That's it." - Chip Kelly
by Duckfanatic10 on Aug 25, 2011 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions
FSU
Why does everyone think FSU deserves a #6 ranking? While they may end up with a good record at the end of the year (thanks to a horribly weak ACC), they have not shown that they deserve such a high ranking on the field. Sure, they are the talk in February with their high recruiting rankings.
But they were 10-4 last year in a weak conference. They only beat 2 teams that finished in the top 25. They beat 0 teams that finished in the top 20. They lost Ponder to the NFL. I know Manuel has some promise and he may end up really good, but he’s thrown more INTs in his career than TDs.
To me, this team is just overhyped as they were last year and like Miami the last several years. I would rank them around #15
I think the main problem is there are a lot of teams that are overhyped. The more I think about it, the more I like Wisconsin. I should probably bump them to 6. But Oklahoma St. and Texas A&M are flirting with the top 10, and they haven’t done much either.
Should FSU be below BSU or TCU?
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I hate to say it
but I think fBSU is more proven than FSU at this point.
/flagsself
"It's not about style. It's about winning the game. That's it." - Chip Kelly
by Duckfanatic10 on Aug 25, 2011 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Proven more last year? Or this this year? I don’t think either team has proven anything so far.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
last year
But they’ve done it more consistently in the last couple years, and that’s all we have to go on right now. Obviously, it’s all conjecture til the games start.
"It's not about style. It's about winning the game. That's it." - Chip Kelly
by Duckfanatic10 on Aug 25, 2011 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions
BSU has proven that they can win the WAC, or at least tie for it. With Moore, they’ll be competitive in every game they play this season, and they would have an advantage early in the season. But I’d still take teams like FSU ahead of them. And really, in thinking about it, I’ll take TCU ahead of them too.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
With most high level programs
I’d agree. But FSU has new coaches and hadn’t been at that level for a while. I guess I’m just harder to please. I want to see proof that they are really back at that level before I give them a top ten ranking.
"It's not about style. It's about winning the game. That's it." - Chip Kelly
by Duckfanatic10 on Aug 25, 2011 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s the joy of preseason polls. I do understand the skepticism, but I think that FSU will be better next year than BSU. I hope I’m proven right.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I'm glad you have to put your thoughts out there instead of me.
And I really really really hope you are right. Why? Cause fuck Boise State!
"It's not about style. It's about winning the game. That's it." - Chip Kelly
by Duckfanatic10 on Aug 25, 2011 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Playing seven bowls teams, including Oklahoma, not enough?
I think most of this has to do with people not understanding what went on during the Bowden years.
And Oregon beat one ranked team last year, correct (Stanford)?
'11: Minimum Goal: Win 10 games again
'10: 7th in offense, 41st in defense. Division Champions. 10-4. (6-3)
'09: 3rd in offense, 107th in defense. 7-6 (4-4)
Tomahawk Nation Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
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by Bud Elliott on Aug 25, 2011 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions
USC and Arizona were ranked when we played them
we played six bowl teams (if you count SC, which would have been in one had they been eligible), and annihilated five of them.
I actually think FSU will be very good this year. They’ve always had the talent, they seem to have the coach again to put it back together.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
His qualifcation was “finished the year ranked.”
Last year was quite silly for FSU, having played ELEVEN bowl teams.
My prediction for FSU this year is to be within a game of 10-2. It helps not to have coaches engaging in fisticuffs in the shower and on the team plane.
Follow @TomahawkNation
Tomahawk Nation Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
It helps not to have coaches engaging in fisticuffs in the shower and on the team plane.
Psh, whatever. If the coaches aren’t fired up, how can they expect the players to be?
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
"Playing bowl teams" really doesn't mean shite any more.
It’s as meaningful as “playing teams that had a winning record.” Which is better than playing teams with losing records, I guess, but it’s not exactly a high bar you’re trying to get across. Especially when you’re in a large conference that gets eight automatic bids each year.
Don’t get me wrong, I think FSU’s going to be pretty solid and I have them winning the ACC. Since that’s one of the top six conferences I have no problem with them at #6.
The "Beano Cook" of ATQ.
I don’t really give playing bowl teams credence given that 5+ teams in every major conference end up going to bowls. And I’m not saying FSU isn’t a good team or can’t go undefeated this year. But “We don’t focus on recruiting rankings or putting Texas simply because they’re Texas. We look at the resumes that each team has compiled, and rank accordingly.”
To me, Wisconsin, fBSU and TCU should be ranked ahead of them. Wisconsin is a solid team and now has a QB that beat FSU last year. As much as I hate fBSU and they’re weak conference schedule, they’re more proven than FSU (including a win over VT, who FSU lost to). And TCU is fresh off a BCS bowl win. I just think FSU’s high ranking is the product of their last two recruiting classes, than success on the field.
As far as a comparison to Oregon, Oregon has won the Pac-10 back to back years. And while we only beat one ranked team that finished in the top 25, that Stanford team destroyed the ACC conference champion.
My thoughts...
I am not very high on Arizona. Would expect Utah to be better than them in the P12-S this year.
Wondering how much effect Holgerson’s leaving will have on the Okie State offense?
Not sure how anyone can project what will happen with Ohio State. That is a lot of turmoil and personnel change to overcome.
Well did you hear, there's a natural order?
Those most deserving will end up with the most?
That the cream cannot help but always rise up to the top,
Well I say,... "Shit floats."
As relevant as ever.
Notre Dame
hahahahahahahaha
I’m also not very optimistic on Arizona. Having to replace all five starting O-Linemen is tough.
Agree with you on SC, I think they are the class of the south.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
Arizona will take a couple brutal losses in the first month. But they could easily end up with 8-9 wins. The South isn’t exactly a murderers row this year.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Hey! He said laugh at it LATER!
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-M-A-R-G-I-N-A-L-I-Z-E-D".
The loser waiting outside the daisyduck club because the bouncer won't let me in.
Some things are always funny,
now and later.
"It's not about style. It's about winning the game. That's it." - Chip Kelly
by Duckfanatic10 on Aug 25, 2011 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Seriously, who is Oklahoma going to lose to?
FSU maybe because it’s a road game, but does anyone remember what OU did to FSU last year? Both OU and Bama have some serious reloading to do, although with all the injuries for OU last year, at least they have some experience. Bama’s schedule is brutal with @Florida, @Penn St, @MSU, @Auburn and LSU at home. Ugh. I say Bama drops before OU does.
"the putz from that UO blog, Matt Daddy" - Steve Tannen
The Daily Faberian
They are going to lose to Texas.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-M-A-R-G-I-N-A-L-I-Z-E-D".
The loser waiting outside the daisyduck club because the bouncer won't let me in.
Michigan State is too low.
>
Hoover: They confiscated everything, even the stuff we didn't steal!
by DamienS on Aug 25, 2011 12:54 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
They're proven.
Their opponent’s field is blue.
Now with mustache guarantee!
by HoodRiverDuck on Aug 25, 2011 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I think Stanford falls back from last year’s 12-1 season. The loss of Harbaugh, both coordinators, three starting d-linemen including an all-conference nose tackle and THREE STARTERS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE has to be felt. Luck has new targets at wide receiver also.
This
Stanford looses 3 of their last 5 games. Luck’s beard will be so thick by then he won’t be able to clearly see the field through the mass of fur.
Both gold and muck come out of the same shaft...
You know.. in order for that to happen
He needs to actually grow a bread above his chin..
When I first saw that thing I was like.. wtf is… that a beard.. on his neck and throat?…
YES IT IS!
ssshhh....
Here are my quibbles.
- I’d replace Arizona with Utah.
- Having Coaches BOOM and FOOD at Florida isn’t enough for me to want to rank them until I can see something resembling an offense with a pulse. I’d have WfVU up there instead, and likely higher than UF is right now.
- I’d have the Broncos higher and the Seminoles a few spots lower.
- I’m not too hot on either Michigan State or Ohio State, and I’d probably rank them lower.
Otherwise, yeah, looks pretty good to me.
"[Autzen Stadium's] steep concrete banks and closed ends turn a small but rabid crowd from WAC-sized cheering section into a horde of bees with megaphones capable of reaching 127 decibels of hatenoise." -Spencer Hall
Oklahoma looks really loaded, and they don’t have to face a conference title game this year. If they get past Florida State on the road, it’s a pretty smooth cruise in the Downsized Nine.
Arizona? Eh.
"And like lambs to the slaughter, the Braves take the field."- Skip Caray
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Aug 25, 2011 5:30 PM PDT reply actions
I'm on Arizona this season too.
They’re going to put points on the board, their schedule is pretty favorable.
You have Stanford too high. And Notre Dame, as usual. Oklahoma has a much, much easier road to 12-0 than Bama, so you’d think they’d be #1.
Are these rankings based on how good you think the teams are now, or how they’re going to wind up at the end of the year?
The "Beano Cook" of ATQ.
They’re going to put points on the board, their schedule is pretty favorable.
Except for the first half.
Most brutal half a schedule in the nation…
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-M-A-R-G-I-N-A-L-I-Z-E-D".
The loser waiting outside the daisyduck club because the bouncer won't let me in.
Only if they lose more than one game.
The "Beano Cook" of ATQ.
by benzduck on Aug 25, 2011 7:56 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, I’m going to drop ND. I’m not really sure what I was thinking.
As far as the ranking, I’m viewing this more as a power rankings than where they’ll end up.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Update to the Blogpoll
I’ve dropped ND to 20th, and bumped TCU above BSU.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I’ve gotta disagree with having TCU over BSU due to the loss of Andy Dalton. I think they’ll feel that, and I don’t think there’s any way TCU beats Boise at home.
"[Autzen Stadium's] steep concrete banks and closed ends turn a small but rabid crowd from WAC-sized cheering section into a horde of bees with megaphones capable of reaching 127 decibels of hatenoise." -Spencer Hall
by ProbablyMonty on Aug 26, 2011 6:11 AM PDT up reply actions
As the season progresses, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Houston show up somewhere around 20-25 in the rankings. The have Case Keenum back from injury and a decent schedule.
Just go with it.
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