Final Blog Poll v.16.1
by GopherNation
on Jan 9, 2009 10:16 AM CST
8 comments
Round 1 of my final ballot...
Yes, I did put Utah as #1. I have been down on the non-BCS teams all year (BYU still is overrated) but Utah was very good in their win over Alabama. This vote is in part a protest vote (picture me burning my bra as I flip off the BCS or don't try to picture it, your choice). But the current system eliminated Utah before the season ever began. Unless you are a BCS program you have absolutely no chance of being the mythical national champion.
Let's take a blind look at two teams and you tell me which should be the national champion.
Team A - beat two teams ranked in the final top 10, three in top 20, four in top 25
Team B - beat two teams ranked in t final top 10, three in top 20, three in top 25
razor slim slight edge to Team A
Team A - beat only common opponent 31-17
Team B - beat only common opponent 31-20
slight edge to Team A
Team A - undefeated
Team B - lost, at home
advantage Team A
Team A - non-BCS conference (hint: team A is Utah)
Team B - BCS conference
TRUMP CARD - Team B wins
Utah did everything in its power to put itself in position to be the best. They scheduled two BCS caliber teams and TCU who finished 7th in the final poll. When they scheduled Michigan who would have thought the Wolverines would have their worst season in school history? Not exactly Utah's fault. The Utes knew they would need a tough schedule to even get into a BCS game. They went to Michigan, went to Oregon State, hosted TCU and hosted BYU.
Scheduling the one FCS school hurt them, but does anybody believe that if they would have scheduled a MAC school or Boise State or Minnesota that they would have actually been in the title game? No chance. It should also be noted that Oklahoma and Florida both played FCS schools, it didn't seem to harm their stature.
Are they the "best" team in the country? We will never know but Utah did absolutely everything they had to do, the reason they finish #2 is because they are not in the country club. I believe that even if Michigan was a top 20 team and they had scheduled a BCS team in place of the FCS team they would still be sitting at #2.
Florida comes in at #2 on my poll because they did beat an Oklahoma team that I thought was very good. USC was incredible in the Rose Bowl and if there were a playoff I think they would win it. I think they are the "best" team out there. But I'm not predicting here, just voting on what I have to work with.
4th and 5th are as they are because Texas beat Oklahoma and they won their BCS game so I believe they belong one spot ahead (title game be damned).
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| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah |  8 |
| 2 | Florida | 2 |
| 3 | Southern Cal |  1 |
| 4 | Texas | 1 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 4 |
| 6 | Alabama | -- |
| 7 | Penn State | 2 |
| 8 | Ohio State | -- |
| 9 | Oregon | 4 |
| 10 | TCU | 6 |
| 11 | Mississippi | 13 |
| 12 | Texas Tech | 5 |
| 13 | Georgia | 4 |
| 14 | Boise State | 4 |
| 15 | Oklahoma State | 3 |
| 16 | Iowa | 4 |
| 17 | Cincinnati | 6 |
| 18 | Virginia Tech | 3 |
| 19 | Oregon State | 4 |
| 20 | Florida State | 6 |
| 21 | Michigan State | 6 |
| 22 | Missouri | 4 |
| 23 | California | 3 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh | 5 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 1 |
Unless I get ripped for missing an obvious team or blatantly mis-ranking someone this will be my final ballot.
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Thank You!
For having the courage to vote Utah #1. I think they deserve it. I absolutely HATE the argument that some people make when they say, “Well would Utah beat Oklahoma, Florida, or USC—I don’t think so!” Those same people would have included Alabama on that list as well had they hung on against Florida. And guess what—they beat Alabama rather decisively.
Furthermore, Utah’s conference should not be held against them because the conference is pretty damn good. Utah, TCU, BYU are all capable of beating anyone. I think the Mountain West Conference was better than the Big East or the ACC this year, yet we had to watch Virginia Tech and Cincinnati play in the Orange Bowl. I think TCU/Boise State was much more intriguing and deserving.
by rencito on
Jan 9, 2009 12:01 PM CST
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count me as
one who said they wouldn’t be able to beat USC/FLA/OK/Bama, but they did beat Bama. I still think they would have zero shot against USC, but this isn’t intended to predict what may or may not happen down the road. USC is the most talented team in the country imo.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
by GopherNation on
Jan 9, 2009 12:47 PM CST
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Why Zero Shot?
I agree with you that USC is the best team out there. While I know you can’t really triangulate games, the fact that a team like Oregon State (not a bad team at all, but not a top 10 team either) can beat USC proves that Utah has a shot—in particular because they beat Oregon State.
I’m not dwelling on the USC/OSU/Utah triangle, but any team that knows how to go 13-0 at least has a shot at beating anyone. That is what i don’t understand, why are they discounted as having no chance?
by rencito on
Jan 9, 2009 2:51 PM CST
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The who can beat who argument....
…can be spun forever, especially in college football where the opponents are so disparate. That’s why the only thing we really can go on is performance on the field. Utah lived up to their bargain and went undefeated – which is what they had control over. Florida did not. Texas did not. USC did not. They should have to live with the consequences, and Utah should be #1.
by JG2112 on
Jan 9, 2009 3:33 PM CST
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Would you both agree
that USC would be the favorite if they were to play? I think Utah would have a shot, but I don’t think they would be favored to win vs. USC. I know they weren’t favored versus Alabama either, but even factoring that into the equation USC would be the favorites if they set the game up in a neutral site. USC has been playing near flawless football down the stretch.
by GreasyLlama on
Jan 9, 2009 4:37 PM CST
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I would agree
that USC would be favored. My point is that Utah should have been in the championship game. Against which of the four teams (Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, USC) is debatable.
by rencito on
Jan 9, 2009 5:01 PM CST
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Also
Speaking of Virginia Tech/Cincinnati, didn’t Va Tech win that game? If so, should they be ranked ahead of Cincy?
Other than that, I think TCU should be ranked ahead of Oregon. Everything else looks pretty good to me.
by rencito on
Jan 9, 2009 12:05 PM CST
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yes
that would be an appropriate swap.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
by GopherNation on
Jan 9, 2009 12:54 PM CST
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