Pre-season Polls

[S2M]

....I know there is not many people here today, so this may fall on blind eyes. And it isn't about dicks - so Stevie won't respond. But.....

To the people who follow college sports - What do you think about pre-season polls and rankings?

The reason I ask is that I think that being ranked a preseason #1 is such an arbitrary way to rank a team. Unless this is just a way to make sure the right team gets into the BCS standings....

If UF hadn't lost to AL it would have been #1 since the preseason rankings......but there would have been 3 or 4 other UNDEFEATED teams in the league whose only crime was not being ranked #1 in preseason polls and rankings....

....thoughts?

[Rockindeano]

I've always maintained an idea all my own too, that rankings shouldn't come out until week 5 or 6. By then, the season has unfolded and ranking officials can at least look at the toughness of a team's OOC. Florida although quite good, plays cream puffs while USC played a tough schedule. It's my belief that if college football went to a mid season ranking system, teams like UF wouldn't be scheduling the Citadel and Florida Int'l, or Penn State wouldn't have Buffalo on its' schedule at all. Teams would have to play decent OOC to be in the hunt for the Nat'l Championship. This would also make it more fair for a mid major like Cincinnati or TCU who could schedule some good OOC and bolster its' resume. What's the difference if a TCU plays in a weak conference with a tough OOC, or a decent team like Penn State plays in a tough conference with a weak, really weak OOC? It would be harder to rule out Mid Majors' if this were the case and create a more fair system. Of course if we had a 16 team playoff.................

Preseason rankings are a guesstimate anyways, and the same can be said for NCAA basketball too. The difference of course is your preseason ranking in basketball doesn't matter, because you have the ultimate decider- the playoff system, ie, March madness.

[Michigan Girl]

They're stupid every year, but 2007 NCAAF was a huge joke if you rely on these polls!!
I agree w/^^^^ the first few weeks are too early, wait until week 5 or 6!!

[S2M]

I've always maintained an idea all my own too, that rankings shouldn't come out until week 5 or 6. By then, the season has unfolded and ranking officials can at least look at the toughness of a team's OOC. Florida although quite good, plays cream puffs while USC played a tough schedule. It's my belief that if college football went to a mid season ranking system, teams like UF wouldn't be scheduling the Citadel and Florida Int'l, or Penn State wouldn't have Buffalo on its' schedule at all. Teams would have to play decent OOC to be in the hunt for the Nat'l Championship. This would also make it more fair for a mid major like Cincinnati or TCU who could schedule some good OOC and bolster its' resume. What's the difference if a TCU plays in a weak conference with a tough OOC, or a decent team like Penn State plays in a tough conference with a weak, really weak OOC? It would be harder to rule out Mid Majors' if this were the case and create a more fair system. Of course if we had a 16 team playoff.................

Preseason rankings are a guesstimate anyways, and the same can be said for NCAA basketball too. The difference of course is your preseason ranking in basketball doesn't matter, because you have the ultimate decider- the playoff system, ie, March madness.

Agree with NCCA hoops points BUT a team with a preseason top 4 or 5 will get a good bracket and location and thus get that advantage with the selection committee.

Also, these schedules are made out years in advance.....who knows how good a syracuse, a UNC, or a Kansas will be year to year.....conversely, how good a TCU, Boise state, bowling green, or Hawaii will be.....

Its bad enough some power conferences won't play certain cupcakes, making it hard for these lessers to ever get better.....

[Rockindeano]

Its bad enough some power conferences won't play certain cupcakes, making it hard for these lessers to ever get better.....

That's my point. Michigan would have to stop playing Eastern Illinois State and play say a Utah or a Cal or maybe a Wyoming....decent clubs....or risk losing points in the OOC race. USC schedules traditional toughies all the time. Notre Dame, Ohio State and Kansas State. Usually, that would net you points in the OOC race versus say UF's OOC of Fla Intl, Citadel and Eastern Florida Tech.

[S2M]

Its bad enough some power conferences won't play certain cupcakes, making it hard for these lessers to ever get better.....

That's my point. Michigan would have to stop playing Eastern Illinois State and play say a Utah or a Cal or maybe a Wyoming....decent clubs....or risk losing points in the OOC race. USC schedules traditional toughies all the time. Notre Dame, Ohio State and Kansas State. Usually, that would net you points in the OOC race versus say UF's OOC of Fla Intl, Citadel and Eastern Florida Tech.

I'm the biggest Duke fan, but tired of seeing Fairfield, Penn, FL. Int., and the likes on their OOC sked.....I don't know the last time, if ever, Duke played someone in the top 10 that wasn't in the ACC?

[Rockindeano]

Its bad enough some power conferences won't play certain cupcakes, making it hard for these lessers to ever get better.....

That's my point. Michigan would have to stop playing Eastern Illinois State and play say a Utah or a Cal or maybe a Wyoming....decent clubs....or risk losing points in the OOC race. USC schedules traditional toughies all the time. Notre Dame, Ohio State and Kansas State. Usually, that would net you points in the OOC race versus say UF's OOC of Fla Intl, Citadel and Eastern Florida Tech.

I'm the biggest Duke fan, but tired of seeing Fairfield, Penn, FL. Int., and the likes on their OOC sked.....I don't know the last time, if ever, Duke played someone in the top 10 that wasn't in the ACC?

You talking basketball? If so, doesn't matter as much because of the tournament. If Duke plays the patsies and then rules the ACC, who gives a shit? They're legitimate.

[ScarabGator]

Deano, when you play in the SEC then its ok to schedule some OOC creampuffs. We do schedule Florida State every year also and last season when we won our last NC we did play Miami and Hawaii, as well as FSU. Remember, each year we play LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, Ole MIss, South Carolina, etc etc etc. I think that speaks for itself.

[Babyblue]

Deano, when you play in the SEC then its ok to schedule some OOC creampuffs. We do schedule Florida State every year also and last season when we won our last NC we did play Miami and Hawaii, as well as FSU. Remember, each year we play LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, Ole MIss, South Carolina, etc etc etc. I think that speaks for itself.