Final 2009 CBS Sports Blogpolll - College Football Rankings

by Jon Johnston on Jan 11, 2010 8:30 AM CST in BlogPoll Comment 6 comments

I should have done this over the weekend and asked for comments, but that's what a new xbox and COD will do for you.

Over the past few days, many in the SEC have come to hate this site as I unknowingly attacked Alabama and defended Texas. Were that I one to continue to slag on the SEC, I might rank Boise State #1 and Alabama #2. If I did, I'd have to have a justification for doing so.

Both were undefeated. Both had great seasons. What bugs me most about people who would discount Boise State out of the top position is scheduling. They'll all point to how Boise State only played two ranked teams and that they play in a weak conference, yet none of their schools would stoop to play Boise State even if the Broncos came to their stadium.

That smacks of the highest of hypocrisy. We tend to forget those sorts of things because we have short attention spans, and don't remember that the end of the season is set up by the beginning, where powerhouse teams regularly refuse to play anyone out of conference anymore.

I would be remiss if I didn't cite Alabama's willingness to start the season playing Virginia Tech, although the rest of their non-conference schedule was pretty lousy. Oh, I know, they have to play in the tough tough though, universally acknowledged hell on earth SEC. Whatever.

Rank	Team	Delta

1	Alabama
2	Boise State	2
3	Texas	1
4	Florida	2
5	TCU	2
6	Ohio State	1
7	Iowa	5
8	Virginia Tech	3
9	Cincinnati	4
10	Penn State	1
11	Oregon	3
12	Georgia Tech	2
13	Brigham Young	2
14	Nebraska	3
15	Wisconsin	10
16	Pittsburgh	2
17	LSU	3
18	Utah	5
19	Texas Tech
20	Miami (Florida)	7
21	Mississippi
22	Southern Cal
23	Central Michigan	1
24	Clemson
25	West Virginia	5
Last week's ballot

Dropped Out: Oregon State (#16), Stanford (#19), Arizona (#21), Oklahoma State (#22).

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Comments

Funny...

Was just discussing this yesterday with my brother and I made the comment “I think Nebraska would have a lot tougher time beating Boise St than they would Alabama.”

by Mr. Bump on Jan 11, 2010 9:05 AM CST reply actions

I could find about 20 teams

that could have rolled through Boise’s (non-Oregon) schedule at least as easily or even more easily than Boise did. So why should we be impressed when about half their schedule is approximately on the same level as Nebraska’s Sun Belt opponents?

by PopeSoria on Jan 11, 2010 12:49 PM CST reply actions

the key

is – whenever you put Boise State on a big stage, they tend to win their game.

Rather than making Boise State “prove it”, I think it’s time for the few big-name teams they play to beat them.

And reiterate – powerhouse schools don’t want to play them. That speaks volumes about who they are.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
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by Jon Johnston on Jan 13, 2010 12:12 PM CST up reply actions

They need to be held to as high as standard as other teams

They play a weak conference schedule, plus a not particularly impressive non-conference schedule (except 1 game). That one quality game does not make up for all the gimmes on the rest of the schedule.

Every BCS team has an Oregon-quality opponent on their schedule. They also have multiple other quality opponents, and no conference opponents nearly as bad as the dregs of the WAC. To get to a respectable schedule I think they need the non-conference schedule to be something like a Top 10, 2 Top 25s, and a Top 35 team. Even if that means going on the road for all the games w/out a return home game. The onus is on Boise to set up the schedule.

I’m not sure Boise even wants to do that though. I think they realize they can’t compete in a BCS conference-level schedule, so they do what’s smartest for them: Play one big game; if you win it, coast through the rest of the schedule and most likely make a BCS game.

by PopeSoria on Jan 14, 2010 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

Comments

How could you move VT up 3 for beating a NR opponent while Penn St moved down one for beating a ranked opponent? I also don’t understand where all the infatuation with USC comes from. Stanford beat them EASILY then lost to OU, Oregon beat them EASILY then lost to Ohio State, they lost to 5-7 Washington, then beat a 4 loss BC by 11 and they deserve to sniff the T25?!? Oregon State beat USC then lost to your #13 but somehow they’re out an USC is in?!

by HuskerINtheArmy on Jan 11, 2010 1:18 PM CST via mobile reply actions