Poll Me Over
I’m sooooo mad. I’m so mad I could choke somebody. I finally got a chance to look at the final college football polls following the end of all the bowl games. If you have been reading along the last few days, you know that Tennessee won in the Cotton Bowl over Texas A&M. STOMPED them, fact. So, Tennessee wins at one of the high level bowls (no, it was not one of the big four BCS bowls: Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, or Rose; but certainly in the next tier) and wins by a huge margin, yet the Coaches poll ranks us as #15. FIFTEEN?!!! Bring me somebody…anybody…I gotta punch somebody now! The AP poll has us at #13, which is more reasonable but still not right.
We spanked the Aggies on New Years Day (with a third screen quarterback and a key tackle on the sidelines in a location that is basically home field for the Aggies), play all year in the SEC, one of the most difficult conferences in the nation (If not THE most), finish 10 and 3, (with two of those losses to the #2 team) and were 15th!!! Line those Coaches Poll voters up. I’m gonna soooo kick somebody in the teeth!
I have been so seething, I haven’t tried to figure out where I feel we should be. So, let’s look at the top 15:
-1. Southern Cal (USC) - They did not lose a game. They have more depth and any other teacm out there and a QB with a Heisman trophy. They deserve #1.
-2. Auburn - also did not lose a game, but didn’t perform as well as USC in the bowls. Becuase I think bowl games carry more weight, they can’t share #1. They deserve #2.
-3. Oklahoma - only loss was to #1 USC..and that was in Orange Bowl. Where they were SPANKED, and bowl games carry weight. They should be #4
-4. Texas - the best of the teams with only one regular season loss. Would like to put them at #6 because they barely beat Michigan (1 point) in bowl game, but have tougher schedule overall than Louisville (who is only other one - loss team). Texas goes to #5.
-5. Utah - Some people say they shouldn’t be ranked so high becuase they play in Mountain West Conference instead of one of the big “important” conferences. But the fact is, nobody beat em. They go to #3 on my list.
-6. Georgia - 2 losses, to: #2 Auburn and Tennessee. Won bowl against #18 Wisconsin by only 3 points. Bump down to #7.
-7. Louisville - See #4. Louisville goes up to #6.
-8. Iowa - 2 losses, to: #12 Michigan and unranked Arizona St. Won bowl by almost a touchdown. Keep at #8.
-9 California - lost to #1 USC and lost bowl to #18 Texas Tech by big margin. Last of 2 - loss teams, so gets to keep #9.
NOW things shake up.
-10. Virgina Tech. 3 losses, one of which in bowl game (which carries weight) and one to unranked team. Plays ACC conference which has no high ranked teams. Bump down to #12.
-11. Miami. 3 losses, all three within the weak ACC conference. Two of the unranked. Bump down to 13.
-12. Michgan. 3 losses, lost their bowl, lost to low ranked team, and lost to unranked team. And they are ahead of Tennessee????? Isn’t it enough they stole our Heisman Trophy from Peyton Manning in 1997? Michgan drops to at least #15.
-13. Boise State. Only one loss, but play in a very weak conference. But still with only one loss, they deserve better. Poor conference keeps them out of Top 10. Bump up to #11.
-14. Florida State - Another ACC 3 - loss team. Three losses aren’t bad IF YOU PLAYED ANY TOUGH TEAMS! They lost to Miami, so should stay beneath them, but won their bowl, so should be ahaed of Michgan. That means they stay at #14 in my ranks.
-15. Tennessee. 3 losses. Twice to #2. One to unranked. Went to conference championship game. Stomped opponent in bowl game. Should be #10. If Boise State had been in a stronger conference, I’d say #11. But they weren’t , so I’m sticking with 10.
Tony’s Final Poll:
Southern Cal (1)
Auburn (2)
Utah (3)
Oklahoma (4)
Texas (5)
Louisville (6)
Georgia (7)
Iowa (8)
California (9)
TENNESSEE (10)
Boise State (11)
Virginia Tech (12)
Miami (13)
Florida State (14)
Michigan (15)