Comparing the undefeateds

[Hook'Em0608]

We can consolidate all the whining and hand ringing of disrespect to one thread. We can compare schedules using multiple different sources. I will use CBS (only human element I know that ranks all FBS teams) and a few computer models.

The order of opponent ranks will be CBS, Sagarin, and Massey
Good wins = top 25 by at least one ranking
Decent wins= top 50 by at least one ranking

Alabama
*Virginia Tech #42 #31 #36
@Texas A&M #14 #16 #13
Colorado St #73 #83 #78
Ole Miss #26 #25 #18
Georgia State #126 #194 #122
@Kentucky #100 #99 #90
Arkansas #85 #84 #72
Tennessee #58 #64 #52
LSU #21 #11 #15
@Miss St #57 #51 #47

Good wins @Texas A&M, Ole Miss, LSU
Decent wins *Virginia Tech, @Miss St

Florida St
@Pittsburgh #68 #54 #56
Nevada #91 #109 #96
Bethune-Cookman FCS
@Boston College #51 #57 #54
Maryland #48 #74 #60
@Clemson #8 #10 #11
NC State #86 #106 #94
Miami #32 #44 #39
@Wake Forest #75 #87 #73
Syracuse #67 #68 #55

Good wins @Clemson
Decent wins Maryland, Miami

Ohio St
Buffalo #61 #58 #59
SDSU #74 #96 #75
@California #109 #118 #99
Florida A&M FCS
Wisconsin #12 #5 #7
@Northwestern #65 #66 #69
Iowa #46 #41 #43
Penn St #40 #67 #62
@Purdue #108 #169 #109
@Illinois #84 #77 #80

Good wins Wisconsin
Decent wins Iowa, Penn St

Baylor
Wofford FCS
Buffalo #61 #58 #59
UL Monroe #83 #143 #95
West Virginia #80 #76 #70
@Kansas St #44 #23 #21
Iowa St #110 #101 #87
@Kansas #95 #112 #83
Oklahoma #20 #30 #23
*Texas Tech #38 #45 #41

Good wins @Kansas St, Oklahoma
Decent wins Texas Tech

Ohio St and Baylor are closer to Florida St than people are giving them credit for. For the moment I would still rank them Alabama, Florida St, Ohio St, Baylor

 

[Hook'Em0608]

I don't necessarily agree with all the computer data. Like Kansas St being a top 25 win at the moment for example. Just pulled a couple well known computer models out my ass.

 

[rmilia1]

Pretty solid Hookem. Although I probably would have averaged the computer rankings for opponents and the data would look a little different. FSU has 3 wins ( Pitt, Syracuse and BC) that really arent any worse wins than giving Bama credit for a win over Miss State. Good work though.

 

[Hook'Em0608]

I agree completely about Miss St and many ACC teams that hover around .500 or better.

 

[rmilia1]

The average ranking for a Bama opponent is 59, an FSU opponent is 62, a Baylor opponent is 66 and an OSU opponent is 70 ( at least using these particular computer rankings). Much closer than I would have though between all 4 teams.

 

[sakau2007]

The average ranking for a Bama opponent is 59, an FSU opponent is 62, a Baylor opponent is 66 and an OSU opponent is 70 ( at least using these particular computer rankings). Much closer than I would have though between all 4 teams.

but over a 10 game sample size, 11 spots is pretty significant. if alabama and ohio state's schedules were identical over a 6 game sample, that would mean that over those next 4 games, while ohio state played teams with an average rank of 40, alabama would be playing teams with an average rank in the top 15.

 

[rmilia1]

but over a 10 game sample size, 11 spots is pretty significant. if alabama and ohio state's schedules were identical over a 6 game sample, that would mean that over those next 4 games, while ohio state played teams with an average rank of 40, alabama would be playing teams with an average rank in the top 15.

Oh 11 is significant. Its just not as wide a gap as I would have thought.

 

[PIBuckeye]

Someone posted the SOS the other day. Kind of shocking.

based on the way 90% of the so called sports experts, tards on this board talk, baylor, bama, and FSu all have top 10 SOS, but OSU's is 126............... thats kinda not the case..........

and after this weekend OSU's SOS isn't going to be very far away from the "invincibles" at 1 and 2.....

 

[Hook'Em0608]

The biggest thing fueling Bama and FSU is name recognition. OSU also has the name recognition but suffers from the feeling that the Big 10 is a poor conference because of bowl results from the past decade. The ACC also has poor bowl history, but not a lot has been expected from them or hype thrown their way over the years so the effect isn't the same. The Big 10 has schools like Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St, Nebraska, and Wisconsin were a lot is expected from them on a year to year basis. When they fail to live up to the expectations it draws more attention. It's the same concept as the Big 12 totally relying on Texas and Oklahoma to carry their reputation. Nobody believes Baylor or Oklahoma St can be for real because they aren't national powers and they don't recruit all that well from a recruiting services standpoint. The two heavy hitters in the ACC are Clemson and Florida St and they are both up right now. Miami also received some hype this year prior to their only offense being hurt. Name recognition is the key. Bama is SEC and they've won a million titles in a row so nothing to add there.

 

[Rolltide94]

Georgia State #126 #194 #122

Not saying it's not accurate, but damn, #194...

of course adding them in while at the same time not adding in Bethune-Cookman, and Florida A&M for Florida State and Ohio St does tend to shift the numbers...Bama's avg without Georgia St is 50 not 59...even if we assume that Cookman & Florida A&M are #100 this would be a significant shift...of course all that becomes moot after this weekend when we play Chattanooga.

 

[rmilia1]

Georgia State #126 #194 #122

Not saying it's not accurate, but damn, #194...

of course adding them in while at the same time not adding in Bethune-Cookman, and Florida A&M for Florida State and Ohio St does tend to shift the numbers...Bama's avg without Georgia St is 50 not 59...even if we assume that Cookman & Florida A&M are #100 this would be a significant shift...of course all that becomes moot after this weekend when we play Chattanooga.

Good point RT

 

[sakau2007]

The biggest thing fueling Bama and FSU is name recognition. OSU also has the name recognition but suffers from the feeling that the Big 10 is a poor conference because of bowl results from the past decade. The ACC also has poor bowl history, but not a lot has been expected from them or hype thrown their way over the years so the effect isn't the same. The Big 10 has schools like Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St, Nebraska, and Wisconsin were a lot is expected from them on a year to year basis. When they fail to live up to the expectations it draws more attention. It's the same concept as the Big 12 totally relying on Texas and Oklahoma to carry their reputation. Nobody believes Baylor or Oklahoma St can be for real because they aren't national powers and they don't recruit all that well from a recruiting services standpoint. The two heavy hitters in the ACC are Clemson and Florida St and they are both up right now. Miami also received some hype this year prior to their only offense being hurt. Name recognition is the key. Bama is SEC and they've won a million titles in a row so nothing to add there.

a lot of what you are saying does have some truth to it, but i don't have a rooting interest for ohio state or florida state, and i think florida state has been the better team so far. however, i don't think either team has really faced (or will face) a sufficient number of legitimate tests.

 

[Hook'Em0608]

One thing that has proven over and over again is the prettiest team isn't always the best team. Florida St has passed the eyeball test over and over again on both sides of the ball. However, that doesn't lead me to believe that they are necessarily better than Ohio St or Baylor. Bama has earned the benefit of the doubt by winning the big games when they needed to under Saban. I don't think any of the other 3 has earned anything just yet. It a shame it appears this is going to come down to a popularity contest this year. I have no idea how any of these 4 teams would perform when facing each other. None of us do. It's all opinion and that sucks. Especially when the 3 teams ranked behind Bama all will end the year very similar on paper.