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JWilson’s Power Rankings - Week 8 »


Week 2 of my computer ratings, week 8 of the season. I still don’t have Excel installed, so it is still 100% objective. Once I get a more complex spreadsheet tool, I can make this more complex. I still think this ranking creates some serious talking points around media bias, strength of schedule, etc.

Power Ranking Team Points BCS Rank
1 Ohio State 13.12 1
2 Boston College 12.57 2
3 Kansas 12.29 9
4 LSU 11.88 3
5 Arizona State 11.86 4
6 Virginia 11.75 15
7 Missouri 11.43 13
8 South Florida 11.29 10
9 Oregon 11.14 5
10 Oklahoma 10.88 6
11 West Virginia 10.86 7
12 Virginia Tech 10.71 8
13 USC 10.29 12
14 Kentucky 10.12 14
15 Florida 9.43 11
16 South Carolina 9.38 16

Remember: to be eligible for the power rankings, you must be in the top 16 of the BCS rankings (this will help inject some subjectivity in my rankings, and I’m too lazy to do the math for all the D1 teams). The formula takes in to account strength of schedule, quality of wins and quality of your win’s wins.

Media Bias 101 »


An email conversation by some friends of the Mountaineers….

Matt Stewy sends this article:

DAVID JONES: writer for the Harryburg Patriot Times… ya’ll favorite newspaper

Why do the ESPN analysts insist every year on using their considerable influence to cross off party-crashers such as South Florida as soon as they get a single loss? While, at the same time, propping up fat cats like Louisiana State, Southern California and Oklahoma?

It makes you wonder whether more sinister forces are at work behind the anchor suits, pushing for the schools with massive national alumni bases who provide consistently higher ratings and buzz for the Worldwide Leader.

Prior to Thursday’s 30-27 South Florida loss before a wild snake pit at Rutgers, Kirk Herbstreit appeared on one of ESPN’s insipid and incessant advertiser-linked features: Good Call, Bad Call, named after the slogan of a watery beer. On it, he insisted that a one-loss LSU or Oklahoma should be rated ahead of an undefeated South Florida at season’s end, should the Bulls run the table!

Then, the instant USF’s loss was sealed in the final seconds, Chris Fowler proclaimed the Bulls’ BCS title dreams dead.

If this isn’t blind bias, what is?

Let’s see: USF goes into Auburn and wins. It loses a league game by three points in front of one of the rowdiest crowds in America, basically thanks to two fake kicks and three other USF special-teams gaffes by the same halfwit.

Meanwhile, LSU loses on the road to a Kentucky team that’s very comparable to Rutgers and barely squeaks by Auburn in Baton Rouge, on the last play of the game, and LSU is now clearly a better team? I’m stumped.

This example is even worse. Actually much worse. Oklahoma loses at 4-4 Colorado, the nation’s 50th-ranked team, hyperventilates to beat back a truly wretched Iowa State side 17-7 on Saturday, and this is clearly a more worthy team? Please explain.

And pollsters, please pay attention to the facts and not stuffed shirts on TV. The computers are actually better judges. They have USF at No. 5 and Oklahoma at No. 14. Unfortunately, the hype-infected poll voters, who account for two-thirds of the BCS formula, are inexplicably voting the Sooners at No. 4 and the Bulls at No. 12.

The net BCS ranking? Oklahoma at No. 6 and still in the hunt. South Florida at No. 10 and very likely just what Fowler said — out of it.

That’s what you call a self- fulfilling prophecy.

Matt Stewy: USF getting the shaft lil bit, but maybe it’ll work its way out…. I would also like to add WVU to this as well since they have one loss as does USF and with USF beating WVU and yet they are ranked a few spots ahead of USF. Giv’em the heater Ricky!

Couchburner: couldn’t agree more…Pete Carroll loses to a 41 pt dog AT HOME and they fall from #2 to #10 in human polls…USF falls from #2 to #12 at a close loss to Rutgers… i guess it comes down to WHEN the loss occurred rather than where…

Matt Stewy: yea its always been WHEN more than anything. but oh well, the endless debate could go on and on and on…. i want BC, ASU, Hawaii, Kansas to go undefeated and all get the shaft. that would be great.

MountaineerBob: Continue this conversation in the comments. I think this season is really going to show the bias of the media. This has been going on for years, in the 90’s it was Notre Dame and Ohio State and Florida State, the bias is always there it just fluctuates with the TV $$$.

A little tune for Penn State fans »


Couchburner sent me this tune that sums up Penn State football.

Joe Pa

 
icon for podpress  The Joe Pa Song: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (12678)

The Scarlet “Michael” Knights: Oh, how they suck »


The New Scarlet Knight (Rider)Let me count the ways, the many ways that Rutgers suck.

First, there mascot sucks, just look at him.

Second, they are from Jersey.. nuff said.

Third, they beat USF and that screwed us in the BCS this week. Although, this could end up being a good thing, I felt we needed them to win for a couple more weeks to help our strength of schedule. It already effected us with the BCS week 2 rankings. We did move up a bit, but not as far as we should have. #7 isn’t bad, #5 would have been better. If USF could have taken care of business Thursday, there’s no doubt it would have helped us with the damn computers.

Fourth, and most importantly, they pose a real threat this weekend and they weren’t supposed too. They are coming off of a great win over a #2 team. Now a #6 team is coming to town. They are going to be pumped 2 straight weeks in a row. Their Big East Champ dreams are still alive, so beating us will really make that possible. We need to be careful with this game. Rice is a bad ass and we need to figure out how to stop him and stop their passing game.

Fifth, that stupid 3rd down fight song/Metallica/Bill and Ted air guitar thing they do is fucking annoying.

Sixth, just 2 years ago, they were a joke, and now they get more props that teams in the Big East that have actually done something. The ESPN pundits will call for Rutgers to upset again this weekend, just watch.

Now I ask you all, what do you hate about Rutgers. Add to the list.

He’s baaaaaack »


The first play of the game. Sick!

A PITT Home Game »


Pitts Homecoming

WVMS Picks: Week 7 »


Sorry this is so late. Also sorry not formated all purdy. Will try to fix later.

To Couchburner and JWilson’s credit they made these before the USF game last night and made a good pick.

Couchburners Picks:

Top Ten:
Michigan St @ #1 Ohio State - MSU
#2 South Florida @ Rutgers - Rutgers (see Cojones post on Thursday)
#4 Oklahoma @ Iowa St - OU
Vandy @ #6 South Carolina - USC
#7 Oregon @ Washington - Oregon
#14 Florida @ #8 Kentucky - Florida
Mississippi State @ #9 WVU - WVU
#10 Cal @ UCLA - Cal

Big East Predictions:
Louisville @ UConn - Louisville
Cincinnati @ Pitt - Cincy
Buffalo @ Syracuse - Buffalo

For Shits & Giggles:
Penn State @ Indiana - PSU
#15 Kansas @ Colorado - Jayhawks
#22 Texas Tech @ #15 Missouri - Texas Tech

 JWilsons Picks:

Top Ten:
#1 OSU over Michigan State
Rutgers over #2 USF
#4 LSU over #17 Auburn
#5 OK over Iowa State
#6. SC over Vandy
#15 Florida over #7 Kentucky
#9 WVU over Miss St
#10 Oregon over Washington

Big East
Louisville over Uconn
Cincinnati over Pitt
Syracuse over Buffalo

MountaineerBob’s Picks:

Top 10
Michigan St @ #1 Ohio State - MichState Upsets and Knocks off yet another undfeated team.
#2 South Florida @ Rutgers - USF .. I already screwed up this pick see the previous posts.
#4 Oklahoma @ Iowa St - Oklahoma
Vandy @ #6 South Carolina - South Carolina rolls
#7 Oregon @ Washington - Washington shows some ballz
#14 Florida @ #8 Kentucky - Kentucky pulls it out and shows they deserve better than #8
Mississippi State @ #9 WVU - Palleeeeeeze
#10 Cal @ UCLA - Cal bounces back easily

Big East Predictions:
Louisville @ UConn - UCONN!!! (i’m watching this right now and UCONN just scored for the lead so this pick might be a little skewed)
Cincinnati @ Pitt - Cincy destroys PITT at their Homecoming game.. hahahahaahaha
Buffalo @ Syracuse - ‘Cuse gets win #2

What a pisser… »


pisserNope I’m not talking about the USF debacle. Couchburner sent me this funny ass story.

Here’s an exerpt:

WACO, Texas - The Baylor assistant football coach cited for public urination resigned Thursday.

Offensive line coach Eric Schnupp was suspended indefinitely by the university this week after being cited for urinating on the bar at a tavern. His resignation was effective immediately.

Keepin’ it classy in Texas! Read the full story here.

Does USF have the cojones? »


Dead KnightGet ready for the huge Big East showdown tonight up in Jersey. USF takes on Rutgers in what is being called, by the USF fans, a revenge game. Last year Rutgers went to USF and beat them in a close game that came down to a missed 2 point conversion.

I think this will be the game that really seperates USF from the crowd and will prove that they deserve to be #2 and quite possibly #1 by the end of the weekend. I think the point spread is only 2.5 in favor of USF so the guys in Vegas are thinking this could be a spoiler for the Bulls. We’ll see soon.

Rutgers are still a good team, Rice is still a great running back, and playing in a cold, wet, hostile environement is going to be a change for USF. Also, Rutgers know they have to get their season back on track after 2 consective losses to Cincy and Maryland.. so Rutgers are going to be scrappin’ and playing their hearts out to make sure they can get into a bowl. If the Scarlet Knight’s coaching staff took a good hard look at the mistakes WVU made they should be able to keep that fast defense of USF under control. WVU just tried to play “their” game and it blew up in our faces.

I don’t think it will be a high scoring game, the USF defense will do a good job of keeping Rice from busting out multiple big runs. The weather will keep the ball on the ground.

My pic: USF over Rutgers 27 - 21.

Can USF handle the huge spotlight put on them this year and the pressure of #2? What are your thoughts and predictions?

Pitt vs. WVU tickets available this a.m. »


The loyal PITT fanbase (insert sarcasm here) has yet again shown that PITT has officially turned it’s back on it’s football program. According to reports, they have returned tickets to the Mountaineer Ticket office.

These tickets will go back on sale for real fans of the backyard brawl around 9am this morning. Call 1-800-WVU-Game or, if your lucky enough to still be livin’ in motown, stop by the Coliseum Ticket Office in person to pick up your tickets to the 100th edition of the BACKYARD BRAWL. See ya there!