THERE ARE ONLY TWO POLLS THAT COUNT: ELECTION DAY, NOV 7 AND THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLLS
HRP is a political page. Always has been, always will be. We are posting numerous times daily on the Nov 7 congressional elections.
This column will be a short and more light hearted break from the normal politics and a foray into that other controversial poll, College Football. Every year at this time, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) comes out after this weekend. The angst of every college football fan begins Monday of next week. Before the BCS is released next week, I am going to make some predictions and speculate who is going to be the top 6 teams in the country from now on until the second week of December. I am not going to pick the teams to play in the National Championship game at the Fiesta Bowl in January. There are just too many games to be played at this point, however 9 teams have a realistic chance to be #1 or #2. Stewart Mandel is the first to name them, so he deserves som credit. You can read his article here.
Those 9 teams are: Florida, Ohio State,Michigan,Texas,Tennessee,Southern Cal, West Virginia Louisville and Cal. There are three head to head games between those 9, so really there are only 6.
Let’s suppose that Ohio state, Florida and Southern Cal win out. If this happens, there will be a great scramble for the #1 and #2 spots. One of these three will be left out and there will be great wailing and gnashing of teeth in the college football world.
I might as well say this now and avoid the rush. If Florida wins out, they will have beaten at least 5 top ten teams. They will be the #1 team and the seconds spot will be between OSU and SoCal. If Michigan beats Ohio State, it will be Florida Vs. SoCal and Michigan will be left out in the cold (ala Auburn two years ago). Michigan deserves better, but all the poll love goes to SoCal in a three way race. If OSU wins it will be between them and Florida. A loss by two of those teams or all of them will throw the whole thing into the air. A win over OSU and a loss by either Florida or SoCal puts Michigan into the Championship game.
Besides the aforementioned four undefeated teams, there are three one loss teams ready to pounce: Tennessee, Texas and Cal. Forget Louisville or West Virginia because they do not have a marquis game against enough apponents to place them any higher than 6th. Of the three one loss teams in the best position, Tennessee has the best chance to get to the National Championship. The Vols have played three top ten teams and only lost to Florida a single point,and have three more marquis teams left on the schedule. But the biggest reason Tennessee is in the catbird seat is that season opening win over Cal. They thoroughly whipped Cal 35-18 in a game that was not near as close as the score indicated. They were ahead 35-0 with only six minutes played into the third quarter. This is important because if Cal defeats SoCal, the Vols can finish no lower than third or fourth if they win out. Cal has been outstanding following that loss. Texas has an outstanding team that lost early to Ohio State. The win over Oklahoma was a great one, but because the Big 12 is woefully bad this year, they have no marquis games left on the schedule and no way to push the Vols or Cal (if they beat SoCal) out of the way, so will probably finish 4th or 5th either way.
If Michigan loses to Ohio State the Vols will be third on 1 Dec, and will have to hope that Florida loses in the SEC Championship game, probably against Auburn or Arkansas.
But, of course, as in real politics, two or three weeks can change the BCS picture drastically, but the teams I have mentioned seem to be at the top of their game and getting better.
It will be interesting November and December.
I will publish a weekly article on the state of College Football every week. Be sure to check back and comments. Please keep it clean!!!
Posted by Republicanpundit
October 11th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
NOT that I know about a lot of teams, but I’m not so sure I’d rule out WV at this stage of the game(s). . .
But I’m sure you know better than I.
October 11th, 2006 at 7:34 pm
The Ohio State-Michigan game is always a lot of fun Ann Arbor and Columbus are close enough that many students attend the away game–they call it the “mass migration.” College football is one of my fondest memories from undergraduate school even though I played hockey instead.
October 11th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
COgirl. WV has a great team, but they will get no love from the pollsters.
October 11th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
DavidM. that is the unique thing about college football. The pageantry and the fervor of the students and fans.
Unmatched in any other sport.
October 11th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
But I’m sure you know better than I
Comment by Cogirl.
I doubt that I know better than you , I am just dumb enough to predict the future.
October 11th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
Well, either way, I’m just a girl so what could I possibly know about football!
I know about those pollsters too. They don’t like Georgia Tech either.
October 11th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
And, RP, you might be dumb enough to make predictions, I’m dumb enough to be commenting on them.
October 11th, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Remember the Auburn Fiasco two years ago.
Polls are biased toward Big Ten and Pac 10 and Notre Dame. Been that way since the 20’s
October 11th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
RP…
Florida–Ohio–Michigan–Southern Cal–West Virginia–Louisville–Cal…
I know where Texas and Tennessee are…
But, now…where exactly are these other colleges you’re talking about…
October 11th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Sir R.
Out west and up north somewhere!!!
:smile:
October 11th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
Hey, any of the Poli regulars notice a big difference here at HRP?
NO ADS!!!!!
October 11th, 2006 at 9:22 pm
It do make it nice. I have been shamelessly promoting HRP at Poli. Hope more of them come over. Not that I am trying to take readers from Poli. I monitor both all the time.
October 11th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
hey, CharlyG. The only ad we have is for Ed’s Playhouse and that’s because Ed is special to us. And we do it for free too!
October 11th, 2006 at 9:59 pm
That’s not an ad, it’s a public service announcement. I learned that in my Broadcasting class!
October 11th, 2006 at 10:00 pm
I think Ed offered the ladies a playhouse.
October 11th, 2006 at 10:00 pm
HOw are things, Charly. Are you still working at the same place? Missed hearing from you.
October 11th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
RP - Not to worry. SoCal will lose to Cal. OSU will inexplicably lose to Mich. I am also afraid that U of Fla MAY be in for a surprize at the annual outdoor cocktail party in J’ville cause Ga. has a habit of playing over their heads at the most inopertune moment.
If SoCal, OSU, Fla, & Mich all end with 1 loss, look for Notre Dame to be high on the list IF they are the ones to beat SoCal. You know the Irish travel well and their supporters spend lots of dollars and they have also shown that they can positively affect the TV ratings. Personally I believe that the Irish may end up with 2 losses, but even that will probably get them into the top 10 and into a New Year’s Day bowl.
Most likely pairing based on relative strength of teams and schedules would be U of Fla against OSU. By the by, I think you will find that just about all sports reporters and coaches now consider the SEC the top football conference in all the land, followed by the Big 10 and the ACC and the Pac 10 either 4th or 5th behind the Southwest Conference. There are about 2 strong teams in the PAC 10 but that is about it.
October 11th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
Oh, RP, I wish he would do that! We just like the fuzzy cuddly type and Ed has a special place in our hearts.
October 11th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Workin at Universal Music, permanent, been there since a year ago Sept. We bought a huge truck and a 25 ft Travel Trailer and went to SDak for my hometown’s quasquicentennial. Come on, how many is that?
We love the whole RV thing, I’m slowly trying to talk the wife into full timing before we get too old.
I WILL drive Highway 61! Well, from Jackson Miss, through Memphis and to Chicago anyway!
October 11th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Caleb, How bad will that 1 point loss to Florida that Tenn suffered if both win out? Oh, the pain, the pain.
October 11th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
Ed’s playhouses look cozy and cuddly, I wouldn’t know about Ed!!!!
October 11th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
Caleb. Understand you have a new addition!!
October 11th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Good night all.
“To sleep, perchance to dream”
October 12th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
Early College FootballBCS Championship Analysis
This college football season is getting more interesting by the day. There are currently 16 teams in the top 16 in the AP Poll. Each of them (except Texas)must play at least one other team in the top 16. I gave my analysis. Please go…
October 14th, 2006 at 1:28 am
Maybe it’s just because I’m at grad school at Michigan State, but Michigan is only Big 10 good, whereas Ohio State is Fiesta Bowl good. OSU, USC, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee are still the teams to beat. Auburn, Michigan, and West Virginia are going to be also-rans.
October 14th, 2006 at 11:12 am
I agree that OSU is probably Fiesta bound. However, Michigan has a chance to spoil their trip and take if for themselves. Tonight’s game against Penn State should be interesting, since Michigan’s is without it’s difference maker, Manningham.
Game of the day is at Auburn. A win today by the Gators will probably push them past OSU into the #1 spot.
October 14th, 2006 at 11:19 am
Not that I know anything about anything - I’m for Penn State.
October 14th, 2006 at 11:36 am
I hope Penn State wins. Not that I have anything against Michigan. I would like to see Paterno keep winning.
Also, I think Florida will beat Auburn.
November 23rd, 2006 at 1:01 pm
The Arkansas Razorbacks deserve more consideration than they’ve been getting.