Who Should be #2 Behind OSU?

#1
TennTradition

TennTradition

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#1
This is today's ESPN poll. The choices:

Michigan
USC
Texas
West Virginia

I would like for someone to explain to me how in the world Texas is on this list!! Auburn and Florida are ranked above Texas in the BCS..and Tennessee should be. And...please don't say because their only loss is to OSU....for that matter...then how will we ever decide which order to rank Michigan and Texas at the end of the season when they both have one loss and it is to OSU. And while we're at it, let's put ND right behind Michigan since that is there only loss. Michigan has the lead right now (as I think they should), but Texas and WV are pretty much tied...which I like a whole lot. I would like to know how Texas made it to this list.
 
#3
#3
Michigan should be no. 2. Texas like it or not, and i don't, has only one loss to the no. 1 team in the nation. it's at least as quality a loss as our FL game. we have gotten more credit for losing to UF by 1 than we ever got for beating Air Force.

after that...it's a crap shoot. Auburn, FL and TN should be ranked in that order, no matter where they are on the board. and truth be known, ARK should be probably be ahead of us, or at least right behind us.

check this out...ARK beat Auburn who beat FL who beat TN. All have one loss..and ARK lost to USC, who is undefeated and 2 or 3 depending on what poll you look at. ARK is the only team undefeated in conference play. hm...i think if i were an ARK fan, i'd be chirping a bit.
 
#4
#4
Throwing Texas in there is a business decision. They know it stirs up controversy and, therefore, the ESPN website experiences more hits. Most likely they chose Texas due to the large fan base which will at least keep their percentage competitive enough to continue to draw in college football fans to vote on one of the other teams. It is truly brilliant marketing.
 
#6
#6
What therealUT said, and Texas is borderline top 5 in the polls anyhow.

Anyways, my vote goes to Michigan as the #2 squad in the land.
 
#7
#7
I think you can't go wrong with either Michigan or USC. All 3 at the top are pretty dang good.
 
#8
#8
therealUT said:
Throwing Texas in there is a business decision. They know it stirs up controversy and, therefore, the ESPN website experiences more hits. Most likely they chose Texas due to the large fan base which will at least keep their percentage competitive enough to continue to draw in college football fans to vote on one of the other teams. It is truly brilliant marketing.
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do you think it also might have something to do with the fact that they are the defending national champioins that only lost really one HUGE player from last year's team? it's not like they suck either. they come in the season ranked in the top 5, lose to the no. 1. team in the country...hardly an indictment on the program, and certainly not worthy of being out of the top 10.

now, go lose to someone you're not supposed to...'nother story.

they will likely win their conf. and be 12-1. not exactly chopped liver and certainly not subject the "thrown in to stir up contraversy and get the website more hits" theory.

is it beneficial for TX to be good? of course. huge fan base, traditional powerhouse, etc...but it's not any more beneficial than Mich/OSU/FSU/Miami etc...being good.
 
#9
#9
VolinArizona said:
Texas lost to the #1 school ... SO WHAT?! They have 2 top 40 wins. TWO.
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And it took a very, very late FG to get one of those on Neb. And why WV. That one irks me more than any top ranked team in the country.
 
#10
#10
jakez4ut said:
do you think it also might have something to do with the fact that they are the defending national champioins that only lost really one HUGE player from last year's team? it's not like they suck either. they come in the season ranked in the top 5, lose to the no. 1. team in the country...hardly an indictment on the program, and certainly not worthy of being out of the top 10.

now, go lose to someone you're not supposed to...'nother story.

they will likely win their conf. and be 12-1. not exactly chopped liver and certainly not subject the "thrown in to stir up contraversy and get the website more hits" theory.

is it beneficial for TX to be good? of course. huge fan base, traditional powerhouse, etc...but it's not any more beneficial than Mich/OSU/FSU/Miami etc...being good.
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I am not arguing that Texas is not a Top 5 team. I am saying that they are clearly not the number 2 team in the nation, when 4 teams from BCS conferences are undefeated(ok, 5, but I do not think Rutgers counts.) Also, the benefit ESPN is getting, is not from Texas being ranked high. The benefit they receive is from additional revenue from companies that advertise on their site as their hit count increases.
 
#11
#11
therealUT said:
I am not arguing that Texas is not a Top 5 team. I am saying that they are clearly not the number 2 team in the nation, when 4 teams from BCS conferences are undefeated(ok, 5, but I do not think Rutgers counts.) Also, the benefit ESPN is getting, is not from Texas being ranked high. The benefit they receive is from additional revenue from companies that advertise on their site as their hit count increases.
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10-4. i agree that they are not the #2 team either.
 
#12
#12
GVF said:
And why WV. That one irks me more than any top ranked team in the country.
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It's a case of voters ranking a team for how they think they'll finish vs. how good they actually are. It's not right, but it's the way it is. IMO WVU is in the 8-10 range realistically, but are looking at finishing undefeated in a BCS conference. Although a lot of east coast media folks are starting to write them off with a loss to the 'Ville, Pitt or Rutgers. I don't see it happening.

Oh well.
 
#13
#13
therealUT said:
I am not arguing that Texas is not a Top 5 team. I am saying that they are clearly not the number 2 team in the nation, when 4 teams from BCS conferences are undefeated(ok, 5, but I do not think Rutgers counts.) Also, the benefit ESPN is getting, is not from Texas being ranked high. The benefit they receive is from additional revenue from companies that advertise on their site as their hit count increases.
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They play the same crap conference schedule as WV. Might as well suck them right on up to no.12. I think members of the Big East should be restricted in how high they rank. They are basically 1-AA anymore.
 
#14
#14
milohimself said:
It's a case of voters ranking a team for how they think they'll finish vs. how good they actually are. It's not right, but it's the way it is. IMO WVU is in the 8-10 range realistically, but are looking at finishing undefeated in a BCS conference. Although a lot of east coast media folks are starting to write them off with a loss to the 'Ville, Pitt or Rutgers. I don't see it happening.

Oh well.
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Yes but Auburn's non-conference strength of schedule is stronger than 7/8 of the entire Big East member base. They are falsely admired as a power. Except for their beating on UGA. But, even inbreds get laid outside the family sometimes.
 
#15
#15
West Virginia is tricky. If they finish the regular season without a loss, then depending on who they draw in their BCS game, they could easily win by double digits. There are definitely teams in the top 25 that I think would matchup well against WVU, however, there are a lot of top 10 teams that will have a tough time stopping their running attack.
 
#16
#16
GVF said:
They play the same crap conference schedule as WV. Might as well suck them right on up to no.12. I think members of the Big East should be restricted in how high they rank. They are basically 1-AA anymore.
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The same essential team at WVU is responsible for beating Georgia last season.

Rutgers and Pitt really have yet to play anybody or prove in any way that they're any good. Hell, Pitt was soundly defeated by an awful Michigan State squad.
 
#17
#17
GVF said:
Yes but Auburn's non-conference strength of schedule is stronger than 7/8 of the entire Big East member base. They are falsely admired as a power. Except for their beating on UGA. But, even inbreds get laid outside the family sometimes.
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WVU is good. they can play with just about anybody. they'd get 9 wins in the SEC at least.
 
#19
#19
GVF said:
Yes but Auburn's non-conference strength of schedule is stronger than 7/8 of the entire Big East member base. They are falsely admired as a power. Except for their beating on UGA. But, even inbreds get laid outside the family sometimes.
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Cincinnati, Louisville and Syracuse all play non-conference schedules unquestionably tougher than Auburn's.

And lucky or not, West Virginia beat the best team from the best conference.
 
#20
#20
therealUT said:
If I may expand on this, Jake, WVU would probably win the SECE this year and finish third or fourth in the SECW.
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i think UF matches up with them very well...their speed on D would be the best to match up with their speed on offense...plus CRR and CUM both run similar offenses, so both should be able to defend it you'd think. that would be a good game.

I think they could win the west.

Either way, WVU can play. and i'm pretty sure they'd kill us. if you think AF's option was tough....i'd hate to see us try to stop Pat White and Steve Slaton. those guys are good.
 
#21
#21
jakez4ut said:
WVU is good. they can play with just about anybody. they'd get 9 wins in the SEC at least.
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I know they're good, and maybe they are that good, and referencing the above post of RealUT, maybe they would win the SECE this year. I don't know. But, other than their win over UGA last year, they haven't played nor beat anyone of sgnificance. With their conference schedule, you'd think they would toughen up the non-conf games for proof positive.. I haven't bought into them yet. I know they've always been fun to watch. And they hang around most seasons. Quality program...I agree. One of the Big boys...Beat another top team in a big bowl this year, that is not Big East.
 
#22
#22
GVF said:
I know they're good, and maybe they are that good, and referencing the above post of RealUT, maybe they would win the SECE this year. I don't know. But, other than their win over UGA last year, they haven't played nor beat anyone of sgnificance. With their conference schedule, you'd think they would toughen up the non-conf games for proof positive.. I haven't bought into them yet. I know they've always been fun to watch. And they hang around most seasons. Quality program...I agree. One of the Big boys...Beat another top team in a big bowl this year, that is not Big East.
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If WVU was beating folks in their current schedule 13-10, i'd agree with everything you said...but they are lighting everyone they play up. completely destroying everyone in their way.

which says a lot about their competition obviously. but that's what really good teams do to teams that are not on their level.

it's the same with OSU...who have they played? TX and.......?

but everyone else on their schedule, they obliterate. game is never in question.

i'm not saying WVU is as good as OSU...but the way they are beating folks down is hard to ignore. they ain't squeaking by these cupcakes. they're swallowing them whole and asking for more.
 
#23
#23
GVF said:
I know they're good, and maybe they are that good, and referencing the above post of RealUT, maybe they would win the SECE this year. I don't know. But, other than their win over UGA last year, they haven't played nor beat anyone of sgnificance. With their conference schedule, you'd think they would toughen up the non-conf games for proof positive.. I haven't bought into them yet. I know they've always been fun to watch. And they hang around most seasons. Quality program...I agree. One of the Big boys...Beat another top team in a big bowl this year, that is not Big East.
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and in the end, when they do finally get in to that big game this year, whether it be a bowl or against L'ville or someone, maybe the lack of competition gets to them and find themselves in a competitive game.....and can't react to it well. it's real easy to win 40-10. they haven't been in a game that's 20-17 and you're protecting a 3 pt lead or are trying to come from behind....i could see that being a problem for them at some point.
 
#24
#24
jakez4ut said:
and in the end, when they do finally get in to that big game this year, whether it be a bowl or against L'ville or someone, maybe the lack of competition gets to them and find themselves in a competitive game.....and can't react to it well. it's real easy to win 40-10. they haven't been in a game that's 20-17 and you're protecting a 3 pt lead or are trying to come from behind....i could see that being a problem for them at some point.
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That and your above post all good points, and very valid arguments. I'd expect to destroy UCONN, even if I were coaching WV. Like you said, they haven't been in a dog fight in a while. That's why I reserve judgment until they get in one and win. (More than just UGA last year. Something current). If you don't dig trenches occasionaly you blister easily. All good points about OSU, and anybody in the big 12 as well. Outside of Mich, and OSU, is the Big 10 a mere halloween mask over the Big East? Boo!
 
#25
#25
GVF said:
That and your above post all good points, and very valid arguments. I'd expect to destroy UCONN, even if I were coaching WV. Like you said, they haven't been in a dog fight in a while. That's why I reserve judgment until they get in one and win. (More than just UGA last year. Something current). If you don't dig trenches occasionaly you blister easily. All good points about OSU, and anybody in the big 12 as well. Outside of Mich, and OSU, is the Big 10 a mere halloween mask over the Big East? Boo!
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i agree about the Big 10...OSU/Mich is it...Wisc is ok, and Iowa is, uh, ok. the big 12...TX, OK, Neb...and the last two aren't great.

if i'm ranking conferences...
1. SEC
2. Pac 10
3t. Big 10
3t. Big East
5. Big 12
6. ACC
 
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