CBSSports.com Preliminary BlogPoll Ballot: Week 2
6 comments so far
September 7, 2009 by
My week two BlogPoll ballot is below for your perusal. Final edition is due Wednesday so you've got two days to sway/berate me.
You'll see some folks go with a strict resume ranking now that we've got a game under our belts and I understand the reasoning behind that. Personally, however, I don't see the value in making BYU the number one team in the country because they had the best opening week win when no one likely thinks they're better than Florida. That sort of approach generally sorts itself out but I feel a little more duty bound to my preseason poll (i.e. my ego).
 | ||
| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | |
| 2 | Texas | |
| 3 | Alabama |  3 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State | 7 |
| 5 | Southern Cal |  1 |
| 6 | Penn State | 1 |
| 7 | California | |
| 8 | Boise State | |
| 9 | Brigham Young | 9 |
| 10 | Mississippi | 2 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | 8 |
| 12 | Virginia Tech | 3 |
| 13 | TCU | |
| 14 | Georgia Tech | 1 |
| 15 | LSU | 1 |
| 16 | Ohio State | 6 |
| 17 | Georgia | 1 |
| 18 | Kansas | 1 |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1 |
| 20 | Notre Dame | |
| 21 | Clemson | |
| 22 | Missouri | |
| 23 | Pittsburgh | |
| 24 | Miami (Florida) | |
| 25 | North Carolina | |
| Last week's ballot | ||
OUT
Illinois is the only team that actually lost and dropped out but that was a painful one as I was high on the Illini. Meanwhile, Iowa's last second escape against Northern Iowa and West Virginia's field goal fest against Liberty were unimpressive enough for me to drop them for...
IN
Of all the unranked teams, none had a more surprising debut than Missouri. Welcome to the mix Tigers. I probably sold North Carolina short initially so they get in and, begrudgingly, I'll start the Irish out at #20 after shutting out Nevada.
METHODOLOGY
--We knew Alabama had a top five defense but their ability to run the football has them looking like a legit top three overall so they replace Oklahoma.
--Oklahoma State makes the second biggest leap of the week (7 spots) with their win over Georgia. This was a must win for the Cowboys and, after a shaky start, they got it.
--Boise State doesn't move at all for their win over Oregon because I already had them at #8 and didn't have the Ducks ranked.
--BYU is the biggest mover of the week and I still don't feel like I'm doing them justice. I have the Cougars #9 largely because that was the first place I could justify getting them in but I'm starting to feel like maybe they should be swapped with Penn State at #6 for two reasons: 1) I feel like Cal and Boise State are pretty rock solid at #7 and #8 respectively after their week one performances, and 2) the Nittany Lions rolled for a half before putting it on cruise control and going scoreless for the second half. No shame in that but I'm generally not high on the Big 10.
In that vein, Iowa and Illinois are both out of the rankings and Ohio State is the second biggest loser of the week behind Oklahoma for their closer than it shoulda been win over Navy. Simply put, the Buckeyes looked like a two or three loss team to me. Now the question, as it pertains to BYU, is this: Is dropping Penn State simply piling on or justified as part of the overall conference trend (Minnesota didn't help matters)? I'm willing to be swayed.
--Beyond the top fifteen, everything else fell more or less in place. I swapped Georgia Tech and LSU after the Tigers close win in a tough road trip and Georgia doesn't get punished either for losing on the road to Okie State.
The only game we're waiting on is tonight's Miami-Florida State game. If the Seminoles win, they can replace the 'Canes.
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tim Sep 07 09
oklahoma state ranked #4 are you kidding they beat a georgia team replacing their leading passer, rusher, and receiver
Austin Sep 07 09
Good poll,
I would have Okie St a little lower around 7, and Ohio St a little higher around 12.
Okie St was the favorite in that game and it was at home, so I don't see why they make such a large jump.
Ohio St won their game... even though it was ugly, they still won and shouldn't be penalized so much. Maybe a 2 or 3 spot drop.
Brandon Sep 07 09
Part of the reason I have the Cowboys so high is personal bias. I expected Okie State to lose outright. That they didn't--while rebounding from an early deficit--impressed me.
Another part of the reason is, barring something unforeseen, it feels like a pretty good bet that the top two teams in the Big 12 South at the end of the year are going to be in the hunt for the Top 5 overall.
But maybe they are a tad high. I'll likely drop them behind at least USC.
darren Sep 08 09
Check out the guts on Brandon - admitting some personal bias. If only we got that kind of thoughtfulness from the AP and the coaches... :)
Though, really, I respect the reasoning. OSU *might* just have a defense, folks. If so, they are worthy of that lofty ranking. Take the brand name off of the helmet. They look tough.
bnahusker Sep 08 09
I understand the giddy reaction to the BYU upset but I would not have raised them 9 nor dropped OU 8 spots. Alas, there are another 3 months to figure it all out.
All in all, not a bad poll.
GBR!
Bob
caveman99 Sep 09 09
Still no love for Cincinnati?