BCS Standings Week 9: 10 Teams the Computers Can't Figure Out
The BCS Standings for Week 9 just came out, and the computer rankings are having a hard time figuring some teams out.
Since margin of victory is no longer a part of the computer formulas, the computers have been churning out some questionable rankings.
There are a few teams with large discrepancies between the human and computer polls, and some teams that have been misranked by both.
These 10 teams don't belong where the computers put them, meaning that 1/3 of their BCS ranking is based on a mistake.
Oregon Ducks (No. 8 Computers, No. 2 BCS)
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Everybody and their uncle knows that the Ducks have the nation's most explosive offense, scoring 55.1 points per game.
But because they haven't beaten anyone outside of Stanford, the computers rank them at No. 8.
You'd be hard-pressed to find an educated college football fan that thinks there are seven teams better than Oregon, but that's how the computers work.
Since they don't factor in the Ducks enormous margin of victory (39.2 points per game), Oregon is vastly underrated by the computers.
Their strong remaining schedule (Washington, Cal, Arizona, Oregon State) will fix this injustice, but for now, the BCS computers are puzzled on Oregon.
And if you watch the Ducks, there is nothing to be confused about.
They are really good.
Boise State Broncos (No. 6 Computers, No. 3 BCS)
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Despite the fact that people like to claim that there is a human conspiracy against Boise State, it's the computer polls that hurt them.
The smurf-turfed Broncos are ranked just sixth in the computers even though they have already played two of their three toughest opponents (Virginia Tech and Oregon State).
With a win over Nevada, the Broncos will at least be able to stay afloat, but the computers' strong emphasis on strength of schedule will hurt Boise, especially since margin of victory is not considered.
You can say that the BCS-bias in the human polls will hurt Boise State all you want (ESPN is doing it right now), but its real problem lies in the hands of the machine.
Missouri Tigers (No. 2 Computers, No. 6 BCS)
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The computers really messed this one up.
Missouri proved it is a very good team by beating No. 1 Oklahoma last week, but who really thought that the Sooners were the nation's best team?
Oh yeah, I forgot, the computers did...
The computers simply built on last week's injustice of putting Oklahoma at No. 1 by putting the team that beat them as the new No. 2.
I'm not trying to discredit the Tigers, but all they've done is beat Oklahoma.
There's just no way they're better than Oregon, Boise State, TCU, and Alabama (just to name a few) like the computer rankings dictate.
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Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 12 Computers, No. 7 BCS)
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Despite the fact that they have one loss, Alabama is one of the most (if not the most) talented teams in the country.
They should absolutely be ranked behind the undefeated squads (maybe not Utah), but since there are only seven undefeated teams, who are these four one-loss teams that are supposedly better than Alabama?
According to the computers, they are Ohio State, Wisconsin, LSU, and Oklahoma.
We all know these teams couldn't match up with Alabama.
At least my theory will be proven on the field in two weeks, when the Crimson Tide steamroll LSU.
Oklahoma Sooners (No. 5 Computers, No. 9 BCS)
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The computers must be having some sort of love affair with Oklahoma.
They were exposed last week after ranking the Sooners No. 1, when they lost to Missouri.
This was their chance to nullify this mistake, yet they still somehow rank Oklahoma No. 5.
How could you rank a one-loss Oklahoma team over undefeated Boise State? And Oregon?
I have no idea.
LSU Tigers (No. 6 Computers, No. 12 BCS)
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Mighty LSU, who torches opponents secondaries to the tune of 138.8 passing yards per game (113th out of 120 FBS teams), is ranked No. 6 after losing?
Yes, they lost to the No. 1 team in the country, but again, how are they not behind Boise State and Oregon?
I understand the importance of strength of schedule, but the computers got this completely wrong, undervaluing the fact that this team has a loss, a pretty significant scar that both the Broncos and Ducks lack.
Baylor Bears (No. 25 Computers, No. 25 BCS)
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Baylor had an impressive victory last week, beating then-No. 22 Kansas State, 47-42.
But they have two losses, and outside of this win, they haven't beaten anyone.
One loss came in a massacre against No. 4 TCU (which could be overlooked if it was their only blemish), but the Bears also lost to Texas A&M.
That's one blowout loss to a top team, one bad loss, and only one pretty solid win?
How does that get them in the top-25?
Shame on you, computers (and humans).
Virginia Tech Hokies (No. 28 Computers, No. 25 BCS)
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This is another case where the results on paper don't tell the whole story, and the computers are dead wrong.
If it weren't for their shocking loss after a short week of rest to FCS James Madison (ouch), we'd be looking at an ACC team who has only lost to the No. 3 team in the country.
But the computers rank them 28th?
Purely by the numbers, the computers are probably right, but this team is really good.
They lost a heartbreaker to Boise State 33-30, and are storming through the ACC with ease.
There aren't 27 teams better than the Hokies out there, and they'll prove that throughout the rest of the year.
Iowa Hawkeyes (No. 19 Computers, No. 18 BCS)
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Iowa might turn out to be the 18th best (or better) team in the nation if they can beat Ohio State in a few weeks, but right now, this ranking is way too generous.
The Hawkeyes played Arizona and Wisconsin tough, but they lost both games.
If they had some marquee wins then you might be able to merit them this position, but their only win of note came last week against a struggling Michigan team.
Other than that, they haven't proven a thing.
Since they've failed their only two real tests, how is Iowa ranked No. 19, ahead of a team like South Carolina who took out Alabama?
I couldn't tell you.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (No. 18 Computers, No. 21 BCS)
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This is yet another frustrating case of a team who is overrated based on losing to good teams, rather than winning.
The Bulldogs have only lost to Auburn and LSU, both acceptable losses, but their only meaningful win was against Florida, which isn't all that impressive this year.
If they could somehow go out and beat Alabama and Arkansas in the next few weeks they'll certainly prove me wrong, but in all likelihood they'll end the season with at least four losses.
At least their schedule will put them in their place.
But for the meantime, why make this mistake in the first place, computers?
Behind the Rankings
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If you want to see the full computer rankings, go here.
Also, if you want to know more about how the computer rankings are formulated, go here.
And finally, do you agree with me? Disagree? Did I leave someone out?
Tell me what you think in the comments.
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud
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