Chaos Rankings

Monday, October 30, 2006

"The previous play is under review"

This week's rankings seem kind of screwy to me. Clemson lost, but stays in the top 10 with 2 losses, above all the one-loss SEC teams, while previously-undefeated USC lost, but plummets in the rankings. Temple finally gets a win, but still sits in last place behind winless Duke and Stanford. I'm sure there are some other weird occurances going on in the middle too. I'm going to treat these standings as "preliminary" until I conduct a full investigation to make sure that what's going on with the numbers is actually what's supposed to be going on. Take this opportunity to curse the abuse of the replay system by lazy officials or get up and make yourself some more bean dip.

Week 9 Top 30

Rank
Score
Team
Previous Rank
Score Change
11.0Ohio State10.0
20.95252Michigan2-0.02387
30.902849West Virginia4-0.050624
40.888007Louisville5-0.061711
50.878311Boise State3-0.077921
60.875491Rutgers6-0.041755
70.85427Texas90.290661
80.833823Florida160.322738
90.825794Wisconsin100.276727
100.822979Auburn140.306111
110.808533Texas A&M150.297338
120.806982Clemson80.22986
130.801549California110.27616
140.801364Tennessee170.29932
150.796656LSU120.27209
160.776937USC7-0.122727
170.774009Notre Dame190.287597
180.773467Tulsa220.292117
190.766845Boston College230.307159
200.757254Arkansas210.272815
210.738236Missouri130.216231
220.737675BYU240.291352
230.721684Oklahoma250.277267
240.711773Virginia Tech300.285527
250.709523Pittsburgh200.224954
260.702894Oregon270.267252
270.688728Hawaii260.252041
280.686739Wake Forest280.254877
290.680782Georgia Tech350.267756
300.665816Nebraska180.172665

Week 9 Bottom 10

Rank
Score
Team
Previous Rank
Score Change
1100.133204UNLV111-0.008599
1110.131014Miami (Ohio)1130.004193
1120.130802Eastern Michigan112-0.006414
1130.129582North Carolina107-0.022307
1140.094358Buffalo114-0.028477
1150.077211Utah State1170.001153
1160.073245Florida International115-0.047023
1170.029579Duke116-0.053643
1182.73E-4Temple1192.73E-4
1190.0Stanford118-0.028153

Friday, October 27, 2006

Expect delays (not due to weather)

Just a heads up - I'm going down to Atlanta this weekend (if my 4-hour "weather" delayed flight ever actually leaves town) to see the 'Canes get their butts whipped by GT for Homecoming. I'll be back Sunday night, but may not have a chance to get the weekly rankings done until Monday.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Week 8 Recap

My apologies to the State University of New Jersey. I said a few weeks ago that they'd never make it to their Nov 9th date with Louisville undefeated as they had to get past Navy and Pitt. Turns out that neither team was much of a problem for Rutgers top-rated defense and their unstoppable running game. They still have to get past UConn, but at this point, I don't think it's unrealistic to think that Rutgers is likely to get past Louisville unscathed as well.
Coaching changes are a-brewin'. John Bunting is officially out at UNC. FSU boosters are calling for Bowden to step down. Larry Coker is reportedly safe, but I would still not be surprised to see him axed at the end of the season. John L. Smith is probably done at the end of the season (a record-breaking comeback against Northwestern hardly offsets Notre Dame's similar miracle comeback a month ago). His teams always have flashes of greatness and then descend back into medicrity.
Speaking of which, what's up with all the over-hyped, one-side matchups this year? Has there been a single really-well-publicized matchup that was actually worth watching? The latest victim was Georgia Tech's complete and utter lack of offense against Clemson. So much for progress. Even our usually stout defense crumbled, which I blame entirely on the offense. Clemson's O-line outweighs Tech's D by 40 pounds a piece, so they were bound to get tired, and it showed in the second half when no one could make anything even resembling a tackle. But when the offense is on the field for 3-and-out almost every possession, you're just going to exacerbate the problem. Congrats to Clemson's running tandem on their huge game. Tech had better get their act together this week before facing off with Miami for the ACC Coastal lead.
Troy Smith increased his supremacy in the Heisman race while everyone else kind of fell by the wayside. Slaton got bottled up, giving Pat White a huge game instead. Calvin Johnson had 0 catches and negative yardage. Brady Quinn might have been the only one really helping his chances this weekend, thanks entirely to Jeff Samardzija. Garrett Wolfe had a second straight lousy week. Ray Rice had some big runs against a quality opponent, but without posting an undefeated season, he's probably got no real shot (though an undefeated season is looking more and more realistic). I'm still throwing in my (non-existant) vote with Ian Johnson though.
I'd also like to give a shoutout to Ty Willingham. He seems to have things turned back in the right direction at Washington and I'm excited to see where things to from here. They're not winning yet, but they're right on the doorstep. I wouldn't be surprised to see them at 8-4 next season and knocking off a good opponent in a bowl game.

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Week 8 Top 24

Rank
Score
Team
Previous Rank
Score Change
11.0Ohio State10.0
20.976391Michigan2-0.01135
30.956233Boise State3-0.012058
40.953473West Virginia40.013903
50.949719Louisville60.03371
60.917246Rutgers70.014683
70.899665USC5-0.021743
80.577122Clemson90.023878
90.563609Texas8-0.0092
100.549067Wisconsin130.028295
110.525389California120.003668
120.524565LSU170.027751
130.522004Missouri180.027306
140.516867Auburn150.011936
150.511195Texas A&M160.008428
160.511084Florida14-0.005275
170.502043Tennessee190.022776
180.493151Nebraska10-0.053122
190.486411Notre Dame200.010464
200.484568Pittsburgh11-0.047288
210.484438Arkansas270.044644
220.481349Tulsa210.01599
230.459686Boston College240.010078
240.446323BYU300.02646

Week 8 Bottom 10

Rank
Score
Team
Previous Rank
Score Change
1100.147833Colorado101-0.030362
1110.141804UNLV104-0.020018
1120.137216Eastern Michigan1150.046774
1130.12682Miami (Ohio)111-0.012026
1140.122835Buffalo110-0.025143
1150.120269Florida International1160.041999
1160.083222Duke1170.018111
1170.076058Utah State114-0.015724
1180.028153Stanford118-0.009447
1190.0Temple1190.0

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Maybe Tuberville has the Alzheimers?

You know, I got to thinking, didn't LSU win a national title a couple years back before Nick Saban left for the Dolphins? Turns out my brain still remembers a few things every now and again (including the fact that they crushed UGA twice that season). LSU did in fact win the BCS Championship in January 2004 over Oklahoma, 21-14. Maybe I'm confused here, someone help me out. During the 2003 season, LSU was a member institution of the SEC, right? And part of the Western Division (also home to, I dunno, let's say Auburn) to be precise. And the game they won, the Sugar Bowl, was part of the BCS, right? Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was. Wait wait wait. I'm still confused. An SEC team, from the west division no less, won the BCS Championship in the last 5 years. But how is that possible? I mean, if you listen to Coach Tommy "Whack-a-do" Tuberville, it isn't possible. Apparently, LSU didn't actually win their national championship, which explains why the universe hasn't imploded. Or maybe the more logical explanation is that they DID win a national championship 3 years ago, meaning it's entirely possible for an SEC team to get into that game, and that Auburn's head coach is a total cry-baby, whiney-pants, nut job. And to add injury to insult, a brief fact-checking mission turned up the fact that Tennessee won the BCS crown after their 1998 season. Huh. Two SEC teams have won the BCS since its inception. The only other conference than can say that is the Big XII. The SEC hasn't even sent the fewest teams to that game. That dubious honor belongs to the Big 10, probably for all the same reasons that Coach Whiney is crying foul about regarding the "toughness" of the SEC. But do you see the Big 10 teams complaining? No. You see them busting their asses in practice to prepare for upcoming games and then beating the snot out of each other on the field in the hopes of claiming a Big 10 title an earning a trip to the coveted Rose Bowl (BCS game or not). Maybe if you'd spent more time preparing your team and less time grandstanding, you wouldn't have gotten waxed by Arkansas and would likely be #2 in the BCS right now. So, with all due respect (little though it may be), shut up and get back to work Coach.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Heisman Hype

Based on ESPN's Heisman poll, I can only conclude that the entire sports world has lost it's collective mind. True, Garret Wolfe had a bad game being held to 42 rushing yards. But someone explain to me how Calvin Johnson is #2? He didn't even play this week! Brady Quinn didn't play and he's #4? Steve Slaton and Ted Ginn had huge games, so did Chad Henne. I don't get it. Also, why isn't Boise State's Ian Johnson getting any consideration at all? Has no one watched him play? Dude's an absolute beast. It takes an entire defensive unit to bring him down, and he's still going to outmuscle them for the first down before that happens. It's not like he plays for medicore Northern Illinois either, he plays for an undefeated team with a very very good shot at a BCS game. Did everyone just panic when Adrian Peterson broke his collarbone and go "oh crap, I don't know who to vote for now, um, Troy Smith and um, I'll just randomly pick some players I've heard of before." Craziness. I mean, don't get me wrong, "go CJ #21!!!" and all, but let's be realistic here folks. If he puts up huge numbers en route to a win over Clemson, I think #2 is probably justified, but right now, not so much.

Week 7 Recap

Coach Whiney is at it again. As I said before, yes, there are BCS issues, but that's not really the point. I love that Tommy was up in arms until they got stomped by Arkansas, then he shut his yap. Now that they've beaten UF, he's up in arms again. Does he make some good points? Sure. A 1-loss team can be better than an undefeated team. But I'm pretty sure that come Selection Sunday, the teams in question are going to be Michigan and Ohio State. They both look invincible and yet one of them has to lose to the other. I think either team would obliterate Auburn. So while Tubby makes a good point, it's somewhat moot given that Florida, Auburn, Tennesee, UGA, LSU, or Arkansas is not one of the two best teams in the country. I think the first 3 on that list could school USC if it makes you feel any better... If anyone has a beef, it should be the Big 10 right now since it's unlikely to get both Michigan and Ohio State into the championship game when I think they're clearly the two best teams in the country. By the way Auburn, the best way to get an SEC team into the national championship would have been for you to throw the game against Florida. I'm just saying. Moving on.
On the flip side of best, you have Miami. Everytime I think they've hit rock bottom, they find a new way to dig themselves a deeper hole. Read the quotes by Miami players and tell me they're not the most conceited assholes since FSU's Chris Rix. An all-out brawl? With FIU? Really? So maybe FIU started it. Maybe. But Miami's the "better" team in a more prestigious conference. How do you let it escalate into players clubbing each other with their helmets, stomping on unprotected legs with their cleats, kicking guys on the ground in the face, and so on. Shame on you Miami; shame on you FIU. 3 fights in 7 games for the 'Canes? This isn't hockey people! Based on the precedent set by the Clemson/USC brawl, I think Miami should voluntarily remove themselves from bowl consideration. FIU won't have that problem, but I'm sure we can cook up some punishment. The players most involved have already been suspended, currently for at least one game. That seems like barely a slap on the wrist. You could have killed someone, I vote you don't get to play the rest of the season. There's no place for that kind of crap in college football, and a message needs to be sent to reinforce that. As for Coker, he's probably a goner in Coral Gables. The only way to keep his job next season was probably to win an ACC Championship this year or at the very least go to a good bowl game and win it. But with a number of starters out next week, they'll be vulnerable against even Duke, and if the suspensions are extended, they'll have a time time the following week in Atlanta. A loss to the Jackets would virtually shut out Miami from any ACC title discussions. Meanwhile, the Sunbelt needs to dole out some similar sanctions. Perhaps in the form of pulling scholarships. Enough of that. You guys know what happened, we'll wait and see what the final fallout is.
I have to laugh at UGA for a second. Losing to Vandy, for homecoming? Suckers. They've had a couple other close calls, like when the Buffs came to visit. UGA and USC are very similar. It's only a matter of time before someone knocks off USC. They're vulnerable and it's going to happen.
Props to BC for taking out VT, making an ACC championship appearance for GT more likely. Unfortunately, I still don't think we know how good GT is yet, and this Saturday will be the biggest test of the season, especially after a bye week. Also, give it up for Rutgers, who absolutely dominated Navy to move to 6-0. What's up with the Big East? Even I thought they were a bunch of washed up nobodies a couple years ago, but here they are with 3 undefeated teams and a genuine shot at keeping all 3 in the top 15 at season's end. Dear Big East: do you want Miami and VT back? They kinda suck now and we don't want them anyone. Signed, the ACC. P.S. We're keeping BC. How is it that none of the ACC's "power" teams are even ranked, while Clemson, GT, BC, and WAKE FOREST, are? As Emily said, we might have stepped into some sort of alternate plane of existence where sports are backwards. I mean, the Tigers are going to the World Series, what more proof do you need?

Week 7 Top 24

Rank
Score
Team
Previous Rank
Score Change
11.0Ohio State10.0
20.987742Michigan2-0.001534
30.968291Boise State3-0.014432
40.939569West Virginia6-0.003322
50.921408USC8-0.010806
60.916008Louisville7-0.021523
70.902563Rutgers95.57E-4
80.57281Texas100.01762
90.553244Clemson110.005411
100.546273Nebraska120.006762
110.531857Pittsburgh160.029182
120.52172California140.005246
130.520771Wisconsin150.013308
140.51636Florida4-0.461746
150.50493Auburn210.017909
160.502767Texas A&M180.009702
170.496814LSU190.006964
180.494697Missouri5-0.459716
190.479266Tennessee13-0.052769
200.475947Notre Dame17-0.022969
210.465359Tulsa280.019398
220.460103Georgia Tech20-0.029047
230.451724Alabama24-0.006438
240.449608Boston College370.036103

Week 7 Bottom 10

Rank
Score
Team
Previous Rank
Score Change
1100.147979Buffalo104-0.019986
1110.138847Miami (Ohio)1150.056973
1120.137993San Diego State1120.026093
1130.133806Louisiana Tech101-0.039921
1140.091783Utah State1160.011412
1150.090442Eastern Michigan114-0.005222
1160.078269Florida International113-0.018598
1170.065111Duke117-0.009586
1180.037601Stanford118-0.00771
1190.0Temple1190.0

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Week 6 Top 24

Rank
Score
Team
Previous Rank
Score Change
11.0Ohio State10.0
20.989277Michigan2-0.002955
30.982723Boise State30.001173
40.978106Florida40.002258
50.954414Missouri60.001548
60.942892West Virginia90.007635
70.937531Louisville100.008573
80.932214USC8-0.007226
90.902005Rutgers7-0.044857
100.55519Texas160.018196
110.547832Clemson150.010099
120.53951Nebraska170.004768
130.532036Tennessee180.021802
140.516473California200.01991
150.507463Wisconsin190.010567
160.502674Pittsburgh240.016113
170.498916Notre Dame210.005429
180.493064Texas A&M260.014873
190.489849LSU14-0.078328
200.48915Georgia Tech270.011489
210.487021Auburn5-0.469843
220.47209Iowa290.007647
230.464727UCLA310.01742
240.458162Alabama340.019071

Week 6 Bottom 10

Rank
Score
Team
Previous Rank
Score Change
1100.131742Florida Atlantic1130.027307
1110.122005Colorado107-0.02347
1120.111899San Diego State110-0.009607
1130.096867Florida International1150.007236
1140.095665Eastern Michigan1170.050489
1150.081873Miami (Ohio)114-0.009832
1160.08037Utah State1190.08037
1170.074697Duke112-0.034345
1180.045311Stanford116-0.027194
1190.0Temple118-0.001868

Back by (popular?) demand

I've received a couple votes (and one vague allusion) for changing back to the old 25+10 format, but with a few minor changes. I will now show the top 24 (for Margaret via Tim) teams each week, provided that Florida (for Matt) and Georgia Tech (for me) are in that set. Should they not be in that group, but in the top 30, I will show the top 30, otherwise, I will revert back to 24 again. The bottom 10 will remain unchanged. This week's rankings will be posted as soon as I can get data from the NIU at Miami (OH) game tonight.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Week 5 Rankings

Rank
Score
Team
Previous Rank
Score Change
11.0Ohio State50.013411
20.992232Michigan1-0.007767
30.98155Boise State70.007536
40.975847Florida6-0.008211
50.956864Auburn8-0.007683
60.952865Missouri4-0.033834
70.946863Rutgers11-0.012241
80.939441USC12-0.011768
90.935257West Virginia2-0.061017
100.928958Louisville3-0.063676
110.923827Georgia160.007359
120.905298Wake Forest15-0.020732
130.902566Oregon190.034721
140.568177LSU20-0.01982
150.537732Clemson240.025383
160.536993Texas230.016556
170.534741Nebraska21-0.017233
180.510234Tennessee270.014104
190.496895Wisconsin310.020577
200.496563California290.018077
210.493487Notre Dame280.003103
220.493003Texas Tech25-0.016456
230.487799Oklahoma22-0.034218
240.48656Pittsburgh360.027521
250.485525Virginia Tech9-0.476877
260.478191Texas A&M10-0.480955
270.477661Georgia Tech330.010134
280.46982Houston13-0.472427
290.464443Iowa14-0.462237
300.456052Navy530.047519
310.447307UCLA500.033194
320.44362Washington460.013941
330.442083Southern Miss470.015282
340.439091Alabama26-0.058242
350.436457Purdue17-0.460802
360.435532Washington State30-0.042042
370.43401Boston College480.012999
380.417545TCU18-0.462182
390.416772Tulsa39-0.035095
400.4157Kentucky550.020208
410.414826South Carolina37-0.041574
420.414088Florida State42-0.029856
430.410121Penn State570.030165
440.409572BYU580.034877
450.408892Western Michigan40-0.042301
460.408148San Jose State590.033817
470.407444Utah32-0.067984
480.406893Northern Illinois560.02284
490.397137Air Force610.03695
500.389556Syracuse52-0.021815
510.384847Oklahoma State41-0.059132
520.381248Nevada670.055736
530.379843Michigan State35-0.079306
540.379302Arkansas54-0.022877
550.376837Kansas State34-0.083063
560.373774Oregon State38-0.078531
570.372815Colorado State690.049891
580.37003South Florida49-0.049894
590.365912Kansas44-0.068039
600.363107Arizona State45-0.067691
610.361133Miami680.038196
620.356408Kent State740.03797
630.350833Maryland60-0.022436
640.349932Minnesota51-0.063555
650.34733Middle Tennessee State800.066262
660.344992Hawaii770.042629
670.344033SMU750.030748
680.343358Bowling Green790.058126
690.33386Connecticut43-0.102747
700.328302Iowa State62-0.028175
710.311447Vanderbilt920.063363
720.301854Baylor820.024805
730.294025UAB940.049294
740.289236Arkansas State950.052138
750.288408Ohio63-0.065695
760.288158Cinncinati880.025919
770.285405UTEP900.030925
780.282531Illinois930.035402
790.281127East Carolina860.016647
800.277561Akron64-0.067556
810.276348Louisiana Lafayette850.00734
820.274665New Mexico66-0.061369
830.271463Central Michigan73-0.04812
840.269995Arizona71-0.052198
850.269502Fresno State72-0.050898
860.264182Virginia1060.092699
870.262465New Mexico State78-0.038866
880.261878North Carolina State87-0.002171
890.254222Toledo65-0.085761
900.239767UCF83-0.033898
910.238697Buffalo1010.026656
920.237266Indiana76-0.065267
930.221966Wyoming96-0.008449
940.220415Mississippi98-0.007468
950.218583Marshall1050.022291
960.213549Army70-0.109093
970.21162UNLV81-0.065675
980.210388North Carolina1020.003697
990.204228Northwestern91-0.04595
1000.202044Idaho1100.066453
1010.196139Memphis97-0.033077
1020.194519Tulane84-0.076621
1030.184256Mississippi State99-0.030012
1040.17842Rice1140.086763
1050.171455Louisiana Monroe100-0.041362
1060.166384Louisiana Tech89-0.093596
1070.145475Colorado1130.044101
1080.143045Ball State103-0.055109
1090.142583Troy108-0.019291
1100.121506San Diego State109-0.020491
1110.111512North Texas107-0.051921
1120.109043Duke104-0.088613
1130.104435Florida Atlantic1170.088172
1140.091705Miami (Ohio)111-0.035439
1150.089631Florida International112-0.021712
1160.072505Stanford115-0.011034
1170.045175Eastern Michigan116-0.016971
1180.001868Temple118-0.014029
1190.0Utah State1190.0

Democracy doesn't work...

...because it requires active participation. Since no one spoke up about how they wanted to see the results, we're going to resort to just showing the entire 119 teams. That way everyone gets to see where their favorite team falls and how much ground they have to make up to get past their biggest rival or out of the bottom half or whatever your goa for your team is. Why all the polls starting doing 25 in the first place is sort of beyond me. It's just an arbitrary number. So, as your Chaos Rankings dictator, I am also making an arbitrary decision.