College Football AP Poll: Which Teams Get The Most Love Munching Cupcakes?

College Football polls are tricky things, especially when the season is only a couple of weeks old.  Many believe that a teams ranking should be based on who that team has defeated.  This may work well at the end of the season, but four weeks into the season, preferences, biases, and expectations still play a huge role.  This slide show lists the five teams that are getting the most "Love", aka. high ranking in the AP poll in spite of not beating any body worth noticing.

Please note that I am not calling these overrated.  It is just clear that the reason they are ranked so high has little to do with the quality of teams they have beaten so far.  Also, there countless ways to measure the quality of a football team.  In order to avoid subjective influences I will base the the quality of these 5 teams' opposition on who they have beaten. 

 Let's Begin.

#5 Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NB - SEPTEMBER 25: Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard #15 of the Nebraska Cornuskers intercepts a ball from wide receiver Aaron Rollin #5 of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during second half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on September 25,

Ranking: #6

Record: 4-0

Teams defeated: Western Kentucky 0-4, Idaho 2-2, Washington 1-2, FCS South Dakota State 0-3.

# of wins opponents have over FBS teams: 2 (UNLV and Syracuse)

# of wins opponents have over BCS teams: 1 (Syracuse)

Comments: Western Kentucky is riding a 25 game losing streak.  Since joining the FBS ranks 4 years ago, the Hill Toppers have defeated only 1 FBS team.  FCS South Dakota State has yet to win a game this season.  Idaho's 2 wins came against FCS North Dakota and UNLV (1-3).  Washington's only win came at the expense of mighty Syracuse.

In spite of complete lack of quality opponents, Nebraska is ranked higher that 19 other undefeated teams.  Nebraska's current ranking clearly has more to do with their almost beating Texas last year and embarrassing Arizona in their bowl game.

#4 Oregon

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EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 18: Running back LaMichael James #21of the Oregon Ducks heads to the end zone for a touchdown as defensive end Jack Forbes #99 and linebacker Kevin Takeno #35 of the Portland State Vikings give chase in the second quarter of the gam

 Ranking: #4

Record: 4-0

Teams defeated: New Mexico 0-4, Tennessee 2-2, Arizona St. 2-2, FCS Portland State 1-2.

# of wins opponents have over FBS teams: 1 (UAB)

# of wins opponents have over BCS teams: 0

Comments:  My initial response was "They've beaten 2 BCS teams that are currently 500.  They won't fit in this category."  Then I looked into Tennessee's and Arizona St.'s wins.  Arizona's 2 wins were against FCS competition. Tennessee's were against FCS Tennessee Martin and UAB at home in overtime.  Now, I think these two teams, particularly ASU, could manage to produce decent seasons, but if we stick to the "Who have you beat" methodology, these 2 are way down at the bottom of the list.

Oh, and New Mexico's smallest margin of defeat four games into the season is 35. 

I think Oregon definitely is a top 5 team, but once again, it is for reasons other than who they have beat.

#3 Arkansas

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FAYETTEVILLE - SEPTEMBER 25: Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks passes the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Alabama won 24-20. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Get

Ranking: #15

Record: 3-1

Teams defeated: FCS Tennessee Tech 1-3, UL-Monroe 1-2, Georgia 1-3,

# of wins opponents have over FBS teams: 1 (UL-Lafayette)

# of wins opponents have over BCS teams: 0

Comments: The 3 teams Arkansas has beaten have only 1 win against and FBS team this season.  In spite of the lack of quality opponents (Personally I think Georgia counts as quality, but sticking to our established criteria, they get lumped into a group with the rest of 1-3 teams whose lone win came against a lower tier non AQ program), the 3-1 Razorbacks are ranked ahead of 11 undefeated teams.

Personally, I think this Razorback team is better than #15 and wouldn't be surprised to see them in the top 10 after they beat Texas A&M and Auburn.  However, if most teams were 3-1 with wins against teams that have a combined 1 FBS victory, they probably wouldn't even get a vote.  (Almost beating the best team in college football goes help ones case though.)

#2 Wisconsin

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MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 18: Montee Ball #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs for a first down against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Camp Randall Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Ranking: #11

Record: 4-0

Teams defeated: UNLV 1-3, San Jose St. 1-3, Arizona St. 2-2, FCS Austin Peay 2-2

# of wins opponents have over FBS teams: 0 (UNLV did beat New Mexico, but I am regulating New Mexico to FCS until they can stay within 5 TDs of an opponent)

# of wins opponents have over BCS teams: 0

Comments: Wisconsin's opponents have yet to defeat an FBS team, yet the Badgers are ranked ahead of 14 other undefeated teams.

#1 Utah

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EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 19: Quarterback Terrance Cain #7 of the Utah Utes celebrates his touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won the game 31-24. (Photo by Ste

Ranking: #13

Record: 4-0

Teams defeated: UNLV 1-3, San Jose St. 1-3, Pitt 1-2, New Mexico 0-4.

# of wins opponents have over FBS teams: 0 (UNLV did beat New Mexico, but I am regulating New Mexico to FCS until they can stay within 5 TDs of an opponent)

# of wins opponents have over BCS teams: 0

Comments: Utah went from unranked to #13 by beating 4 teams who have yet to defeat an FBS school this season.  Are the Utes deserving of a top 15 ranking?  I think so, but it certainly isn't because of the competition they have faced this year.