November 1, 2005
Fanblogs XIV Poll - Week 10
Poll of the Fanblogs.com authors & contributors for games played through October 31, 2005:
First place votes in parenthesis. Weighted ballot points appear beside team name. Teams are ranked on likelihood to beat lower ranked teams on a neutral field, rather than a forecast of final season rankings.
1. Texas (7) 163
2. Southern California (5) 161
3. Virginia Tech 143
4. Alabama 124
5. Miami (Fla.) 113
6. LSU 98
7. Notre Dame 83
8. Florida St. 82
9. UCLA 68
10. Penn St. 57
11. Georgia 52
12. Ohio St. 36
13. Wisconsin 27
14. Florida 17
Others Receiving Votes:
Boston College 12, Oregon 9, California 5, West Virginia 5, Texas Tech 4, Northwestern 1
How they voted:
Kevin Donahue:1) Texas, 2) Southern California, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Alabama, 5) LSU, 6) Miami (Fla.), 7) Notre Dame, 8) Ohio St., 9) Penn St., 10) Florida St., 11) UCLA, 12) Boston College, 13) Wisconsin, 14) Florida
Pete Holiday:1) Texas, 2) Southern California, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Notre Dame, 5) Miami (Fla.), 6) Georgia, 7) Alabama, 8) Florida, 9) Penn St., 10) LSU, 11) Florida St., 12) Ohio St., 13) Wisconsin, 14) UCLA
Dave Frey:1) Texas, 2) Southern California, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Miami (Fla.), 5) LSU, 6) Alabama, 7) UCLA, 8) Notre Dame, 9) Florida St., 10) Penn St., 11) Ohio St., 12) Georgia, 13) Wisconsin, 14) Oregon
Jeff Quinton:1) Texas, 2) Southern California, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Miami (Fla.), 5) Florida St., 6) Alabama, 7) LSU, 8) UCLA, 9) Georgia, 10) Penn St., 11) Ohio St., 12) Notre Dame, 13) Florida, 14) Northwestern
John Ludwig:1) Texas, 2) Southern California, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) LSU, 5) Alabama, 6) Miami (Fla.), 7) Florida St., 8) Penn St., 9) Notre Dame, 10) Ohio St., 11) Wisconsin, 12) Georgia, 13) Florida, 14) UCLA
Mike Boone:1) Southern California, 2) Texas, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) UCLA, 5) Alabama, 6) LSU, 7) Florida St., 8) Miami (Fla.), 9) Notre Dame, 10) Oregon, 11) Ohio St., 12) Wisconsin, 13) Boston College, 14) Florida
Josh McClain:1) Southern California, 2) Texas, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Alabama, 5) UCLA, 6) Miami (Fla.), 7) Florida St., 8) Boston College, 9) Wisconsin, 10) LSU, 11) Georgia, 12) Notre Dame, 13) West Virginia, 14) Penn St.
Dave:1) Southern California, 2) Texas, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Alabama, 5) Notre Dame, 6) Miami (Fla.), 7) LSU, 8) Georgia, 9) Florida St., 10) Penn St., 11) UCLA, 12) Florida, 13) Ohio St., 14) Texas Tech
Robert Knodell:1) Texas, 2) Southern California, 3) Alabama, 4) Virginia Tech, 5) Florida St., 6) Miami (Fla.), 7) LSU, 8) UCLA, 9) Penn St., 10) Notre Dame, 11) Georgia, 12) West Virginia, 13) Oregon, 14) Wisconsin
Michael Hickerson:1) Texas, 2) Southern California, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Alabama, 5) Florida St., 6) Miami (Fla.), 7) Notre Dame, 8) LSU, 9) Georgia, 10) California, 11) Penn St., 12) Texas Tech, 13) Wisconsin, 14) Ohio St.
Aaron White:1) Southern California, 2) Texas, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Alabama, 5) Miami (Fla.), 6) LSU, 7) UCLA, 8) Notre Dame, 9) Penn St., 10) Georgia, 11) Florida St., 12) Wisconsin, 13) Ohio St., 14) Florida
MisterIrrelevant.com:1) Southern California, 2) Texas, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Alabama, 5) Miami (Fla.), 6) Notre Dame, 7) LSU, 8) UCLA, 9) Penn St., 10) Georgia, 11) Ohio St., 12) Florida St., 13) Wisconsin, 14) Oregon
Comments:
Ranjit said:
posted on November 1, 2005 2:13 PM — 151.193.220.27 — link — abuse?
There are quite a few ridiculous things, like "Hick"erson not including UCLA among the top 14 teams in the nation. A struggle against Stanford (but a win, no less), but this team is still UNDEFEATED. This person even included California, a team which lost to UCLA, as well as Texas Tech. This guy should have his voting credentials revoked. I think the only teams which can be justified in being ahead of UCLA are the other 4 undefeated teams, and possibly LSU and Miami.
posted on November 1, 2005 2:16 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue said:
By it's very nature, the Fanblogs poll doesn't measure how teams fare against any third team, but a straight-up matchup on neutral field. IMHO, the Texas defense doesn't suffer matchup problems against USC. Meanwhile, USC has had trouble with teams that can stretch the field (especially their cover corners) and run from the spread. Texas would, IMHO, beat USC more often than not, so UT is my #1.
As far as the Vince Young hype, Vince isn't the Heisman front runner in my book - not even second. I think he's fifth (Bush, DeAngelo Williams - Memphis, Brian Calhoun - Wisc, Leinart, Young). I've watched Young sail too many passes this year to believe he's "it". At one point against OKState, he was 5-15 and at least seven of those were Vince missing a wide open pass.
There's no question that ALL of the teams in the top 10 are good (except maybe FSU who still has a hit-or-miss offense). That said, Texas is tops.
posted on November 1, 2005 2:32 PM — 156.56.81.178 — link — abuse?
Kevin is spot on, and let's not forget how many teams USC has allowed to hang around for almost the entire game.
Any given Saturday. Just because a team struggles once doesn't mean they're not as good as we thought, it just means they struggled one game. If they struggle a lot (*cough* USC in the first half *cough*) it might mean more, but even still not necessarily. For just one of many examples, look at 'Bama... they let Arkansas hang around and then they throttle Florida.
I'm not sure why people consistently insist on pointing at individual close wins as evidence of a team's shortcomings for the entire season without a more detailed look at the game.
Don't fret, if USC can get by UCLA (should be no problem) all of these questions will be answered at season's end, so it really doesn't matter who is #1 or #2 right now.
Bry422 said:
posted on November 1, 2005 3:13 PM — 152.50.0.194 — link — abuse?
Where is ASU and Tenn this week? I'm kidding.
I think it is a pretty solid list. I don't have a problem with the flip-flopping between UT and USC. I believe USC is better, but I can buy UT as #1 for now.
I know Alabama is still perfect, but they are DYING for someone to beat them. I just don't see how they put enough points on the board to beat LSU or Auburn or any of the teams listed behind them. I know the Tide defense is legit, but the Chicago Bears play great defense, too, and there comes a time when scoring 13 and holding the opponent to 9 isn't going to be good enough.
I could be wrong, but I don't see Alabama as this years Auburn (not enough offense).
Tim said:
posted on November 1, 2005 10:35 PM — 70.153.129.161 — link — abuse?
1) USC & UCLA both play patty-cake schedules against pathetic defenses. No wonder they both score 50 points a game. That's not to say that they aren't good, but more to say that that's why they are undefeated. When you have an offense that can't be stopped by a mediocre defense, then nobody will beat you if you play mediocre defenses. However, if you play alot of teams with good defenses (ACC/Big10/SEC schedules), your offense will struggle some of the time and you can then be challenged and possibly beaten. I don't think USC or UCLA could put up 28 points on Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Alabama, Penn State, or Texas (well, maybe Texas). But I also don't think USC's defense is good enough to shut down any of those teams (except maybe Alabama w/o Prothro).
2) How can Maurice Drew be left off the Heisman list and Brian Calhoun, Reggie Bush, and DeAngelo Williams are? Maurice Drew is averaging well over 250 total yards per game rushing, receiving and returning punts/kicks.
3) How bout Michael Robinson for Heisman? He has more total touchdowns than Leinart and has lead several game winning drive and 1 should have been game winning touchdown drive (ie. Michigan). Now, I'm not seriously suggesting that MRob should win the Heisman, but he's at least as worthy as Leinart and/or Vince Young.
4) How is ND ranked higher than FSU, UCLA, Penn State, Georgia, & Wisconsin with 2 losses? It's not like they lost to USC AND Texas or VT, they lost to Michigan State... Drop them off the list. They get treated with kid gloves by everyone from the BCS to the media and now to you. Their defense is mediocre at best and while their offense is good, they couldn't beat a good defensive team.
posted on November 2, 2005 1:05 AM — 12.223.242.140 — link — abuse?
Alabama has serious offensive questions, that's true... but their opponent's last 15 Red-Zone possessions have resulted in 18 total points, no touchdowns...
In that same span of games, Alabama has had 16 red zone opportunities, scoring 13 times for 8 touchdowns and 71 points.
Until they run into a team that they can't beat with that sort of defense, they're still in my top 10. Mind you, I have them way lower than most of the other voters (7th) but that's only on account of the weak offense... if it ever starts clicking, they're going to zoom up the charts on my ballot.
posted on November 2, 2005 8:59 AM — 68.35.231.61 — link — abuse?
I can understand the disagreement with Notre Dame's ranking. The game against USC turned everyone's heads, but with 2 weeks to prepare thats the sort of game that I would have expected. I need to see them beat a good team before I'll be completely sold.
pimpdaddy said:
posted on November 2, 2005 10:16 AM — 64.12.116.139 — link — abuse?
Some one really dropped the ball by putting Notre Dame with two losses above Miami Alabama and Georgia. Dude this cat needs to relinquish his vote. What a joke. Notre Dame lost to Mich. St. and USC who has let a lot of teams hang around. Don't know if I'll visit this site much longer with college football wannabe's insight that is more like some tool sitting around with no clue voting on a sport he knows nothing about, obviously.
Ranjit said:
posted on November 2, 2005 10:27 AM — 151.193.220.27 — link — abuse?
Apparently one good game against a good opponent gives a team some sort of "immunity" from their other games. Notre Dame came close to beating a USC team in which Leinart threw 0 TDs and 2 INTs, but apparently that means that Notre Dame is good. If some other 1-loss team (say, Oregon or Texas Tech) had done that, do you think they would get the same consideration? Notre Dame is a decent team, but doesn't deserve to be ranked above any of the unbeatens or even in the top 10. Stop giving Notre Dame credit because USC had a bad game.
Fanofthepac said:
posted on November 2, 2005 10:49 AM — 63.87.122.42 — link — abuse?
Tim (#6) says SC and UCLA play patty-cake schedules against teams with pathetic defenses. He obviously hasn't looked at who Alabama has played this year: Middle Tenn St., So. Miss, Old Miss, Old Miss St., Utah St., South Carolina, Arkansas - check the comparative score there. My God, no wonder Alabama is undefeated. USC would be averaging about 70 a game if they played this schedule. How much do you want to bet SC would beat Old Miss by more than a last second field goal and they sure as hell could score more than six points against Tennessee. Alabama would be about 2 and 6 if they played SC's schedule with that pathetic offense of theirs. The SEC may have been better than average in the past, but this year they are just slightly ahead of the Big East. Watching an SEC game is like watching grass grow. There is absolutely no talent on offense in this conference which makes it seem like these teams have a defense. Alabama is really nothing more than a good Liberty Bowl caliber team. Same goes for Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
posted on November 2, 2005 12:37 PM — 156.56.72.29 — link — abuse?
9. pimpdaddy - "Don't know if I'll visit this site much longer"
Promise?
10. Ranjit - "If some other 1-loss team (say, Oregon or Texas Tech) had done that, do you think they would get the same consideration? "
Yep. You see how well Texas Tech held up against Texas, right? Plus, Notre Dame held Lienart, a heisman winner and contender, to zero touchdowns and collected two INTs. That doesn't make their loss less legit, it makes it more legit.
11. FanofthepacUSC might put up 50 on most of Alabama's schedule, but they'd also give up twice to three times as many points... and that's if they actually took care of business instead of letting the opponent hang around.
Also, you might want to check your facts... the Tide hasn't played MSU yet, and they've also played (and beaten) Tennessee and Florida. USC has beaten two teams of any consequence: Cal and Notre Dame... and they're ranked #1. Alabama is ranked below them. What's your gripe, exactly? UCLA has yet to prove anything on the field... but they're still getting respect.
But the bottom line is that you can't really tell how 'Bama would do in the PAC or how UCLA/USC would do in the SEC... because it's two completely different styles of football. Neither USC nor UCLA would put up 50 points on Alabama or Georgia or Tennessee... but would they put up enough to win? There's no way to even make an educated guess.
Fanofthepac said:
posted on November 2, 2005 12:59 PM — 63.87.122.42 — link — abuse?
Pete (12)
You might want to check your facts. SC hasn't played Cal yet and they've beaten a ranked Oregon team.
UCLA has yet to prove anything on the field? They've beaten everyone they've played, including two teams Texas has played.
Also, I would hardly call beating a downtrodden Tennessee team by a 6-3 score a victory of any consequence.
I agree with your last statement though - impossible to tell what would happen.Tim said:
posted on November 2, 2005 9:40 PM — 68.59.239.160 — link — abuse?
FanofthePac,
Look, USC is good, however, their defense is suspect at best. Sure they beat Oregon, but come on, my high school team could score 35 points on Oregon. I'm a Penn State fan, but it's not impressing anyone for me to say "We put up 63 points on Illinois!!" because Illinois' defense is pathetic. However, I'll bet Illinois' defense is better than Oregon's, Washington's, and Hawaii's defense. The point is that offense wins games but defense wins championships and USC is putting up big numbers against teams that they SHOULD blow out, but they're letting them hang around longer. Their defense was very good last year, but this year, not so much. While USC has won some ungodly number of games in a row (and remember, last year doesn't count), their schedule this year doesn't have any good defensive teams on it. Which will hurt them in the bowl...
I just don't think USC would still be undefeated if it played in the Big Ten, ACC, or SEC against some of the better defenses in the nation. You can say that it's good defense or bad offense or whatever, but the stats don't lie. Good defense usually beats good offense... just look at the Colts as a good example.
And UCLA is a good team, but again, they've put up big numbers and late comebacks against teams that shouldn't be beating them if they were good. And if they had a good defense, they wouldn't have to score 70 points to make it look impressive.
deo in sin city said:
posted on November 7, 2005 3:35 PM — 68.108.117.180 — link — abuse?
oh yeah rex......
let's see that dominating SEC defense get put down by Notre Dame, a team that SC barely beat.....
Now imagine if SC played Tennessee, can you imagine it Rex......
thought so.......
imagine a higher scoring SC playing against that so-called dominating SEC defense........
nuff said.....
FIGHT ON MEN of TROY
fightin irish fan said:
posted on June 9, 2006 12:29 AM — 12.208.50.29 — link — abuse?
USC sucks. Just wait until this year because old Notre Dame is going to the championship, along with their future Heisman trophy winner Brady Quinn. Oh and by the way, ND has like 9 Gatorade high school all americans coming to play this year...and Southern Cal and Texas has who?
So Cal USMCr said:
posted on June 9, 2006 6:52 PM — 204.62.104.211 — link — abuse?
Fight Irish, Since you asked...
USC 2006 team:
http://www.teamandras.com/USC/2006_USC_Football_Charts_Rev10_2006_05_28.html"Coming to play this year" USC's 2006 Class:
http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2006... take particular note of the caked-on level of talent at LineBacker... and WR/TE... and prospective RBs. I think youve got the definition of the word "sucks" mixed up.
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Andrew said:
posted on November 1, 2005 1:40 PM — 128.194.220.24 — link — abuse?This is pretty ridiculous. Texas gets the number one spot after struggling versus a doormat team that they should have handled, and only after a second half adjustment do they win.
USC throttles their doormat team by 42, never being outscored in any quarter, and never losing at any point of the game and they lose one first place vote (strange that this week only has 12 voters whereas last week had 13, nevertheless, I digress).
Also, VT handily beats #13 BC, shutting them down to only 183 yards total offense and goes no where. IMO, they've played an equally hard schedule as Texas, probably harder, and picked up no respect for it at all.
You voters could have done better than to let the VY/Texas media hype get to you. Sure they're a good team, but there's two other equally as good teams at this point in the season.