BCS Rankings Week 3: How BCS Rankings Differ from the AP and Coaches Polls
BCS Rankings Week 3 are here, but how much did they scare you?
The new BCS, AP, and USA Today Coaches polls came out on Halloween. Just looking at these rankings give me the shivers...man, I have no life.
Throughout the slide, I'll compare each poll's rankings, from No. 25 to No. 1, and tell you who got it right and which rankings should be thrown into the nearest paper shredder.
So without further delay, here are the rankings and my take on them.
No. 25: Wolfpacks Galore
1 of 25
BCS: North Carolina State
AP: Nevada
Coaches: North Carolina State
My take: Nevada surely deserves a higher ranking than the AP gave the school. There's a reason the squad has risen into the Top 25: They're playing stellar ball. Dual threat Colin Kaepernick has emerged as a dangerous weapon and running back Vai Taua has 928 yards and 11 touchdowns in just eight games. Doesn't it always seem Nevada has a good running game?
No. 24: Concensus For The Sliding Seminoles
2 of 25
BCS: Florida State
AP: Florida State
Coaches: Florida State
My take: I agree with this ranking. And they apparently agree with each other. No controversy with these rankings? Must be the end of the world.
Despite the loss against North Carolina State and the unfortunate fumble by Christian Ponder, I still like the Seminoles better than NC State.
No. 23: Nevada Getting Voter and Computer Love
3 of 25
BCS: Nevada
AP: North Carolina State
Coaches: Nevada
My take: I agree with Nevada in this spot. I question the AP's judgment in placing North Carolina State this high. I realize they beat Florida State, but they lost to East Carolina. I would say that's the more telling game of this team.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 22: The Bears Proving They're No Fluke
4 of 25
BCS: Virginia Tech
AP: Baylor
Coaches: Baylor
My take: Sure, Virginia Tech has disappointed this season (two losses is all it takes in this day and age) after being picked by many to be one of the elites. But their two losses came in the first two games, with one against Boise State. They've played like the team they were supposed to play like since then.
Baylor is justified here.
No. 21: Computer's The Only One Dissing The Bulldogs
5 of 25
BCS: Baylor
AP: Mississippi State
Coaches: Mississippi State
My take: I like Mississippi State over Baylor here. Their two losses came against Auburn and LSU, and they beat Florida this season. Plus, any team that can run like this has the ability to control games. The Bulldogs are ranked 15th in the nation in rushing.
No. 20: Hokies On Path To Recovery After Early-Season Mess
6 of 25
BCS: Mississippi State
AP: Virginia Tech
Coaches: Virginia Tech
My take: No. 20 is a good place for Virginia Tech. Those two losses undoubtedly hurt them but I don't feel they deserve to be dropped below the Top 20. They're too good a football team.
No. 19: Nobody Agrees in This Spot
7 of 25
BCS: South Carolina
AP: Oklahoma State
Coaches: Arkansas
My take: South Carolina and Arkansas deserve better. Oklahoma State should be about right here. Arkansas' only crime was playing both Alabama and Auburn and predictably losing. South Carolina lost to Auburn too.
No. 18: Mallett and Razorbacks Feel The BCS Love
8 of 25
BCS: Arkansas
AP: South Carolina
Coaches: Oklahoma State
My take: Arkansas should be ahead of South Carolina based on their schedule. South Carolina is about right here. Oklahoma State should be lower.
No. 17: Are The Cowboys Really Better Than The SEC Teams?
9 of 25
BCS: Oklahoma State
AP: Arkansas
Coaches: South Carolina
My take: Way too high for Oklahoma State. Arkansas is about right. I might even bump Arkansas up a little bit but two losses is two losses, and that's an understandable ranking.
No. 16: Not Sure How Iowa Got This Far Off The Radar
10 of 25
BCS: Iowa
AP: Michigan State
Coaches: Iowa
My take: I think this is too low for Iowa. They throttled Michigan State last game after all and their only two losses come against ranked opponents, including powerful Wisconsin. The loss to Arizona was nothing to be ashamed of. Ricky Stanzi is money.
No. 15: BCS Computers Like Arizona
11 of 25
BCS: Arizona
AP: Iowa
Coaches: Michigan State
My take: I like Iowa here. Michigan State should be lower. Arizona should be higher at 7-1.
No. 14: Tigers Tumble After First Loss of 2010
12 of 25
BCS: Michigan State
AP: Missouri
Coaches: Missouri
My take: It's hard to give Michigan State this high a ranking after its loss to Iowa. This is about right for Missouri. QB Blaine Gabbert has played well for the Tigers.
No. 13: It's a Pac 10 Spot, But Which School Belongs?
13 of 25
BCS: Stanford
AP: Arizona
Coaches: Arizona
My take: This is too low for Stanford. They deserve better. Their only loss came to Oregon, and we know how good they are. Andrew Luck is undoubtedly the difference-maker for Stanford. He's playing at a Heisman-caliber level.
Keola Antolin and Nic Grigsby are a solid one-two running back punch for Arizona and a big reason they are where they are.
No. 12: Another Spot Where No One Can Agree
14 of 25
BCS: Missouri
AP: LSU
Coaches: Stanford
My take: About right for Stanford. LSU is too low considering the only team they've lost to is Auburn. LSU's balance is what gives them their edge, as well as a solid defense.
No. 11: Sooners Going To Be a Threat Later?
15 of 25
BCS: Ohio State
AP: Oklahoma
Coaches: LSU
My take: I agree with Oklahoma here. It had one blemish, and that was a loss to Missouri. Things could be worse, but losing that one game hurt them. DeMarco Murray is a Heisman contender.
No. 10: Tigers Feeling Some Top-10 Love
16 of 25
BCS: LSU
AP: Stanford
Coaches: Nebraska
My take: Nebraska is too low here, albeit not by much. Stanford's a little too high. LSU seems like right choice here.
No. 9: Computers Like Badgers, But They're The Only Ones
17 of 25
BCS: Wisconsin
AP: Nebraska
Coaches: Oklahoma
My take: I like Nebraska here situated above Oklahoma and slightly below Wisconsin. Running back John Clay is the X factor for Wisconsin. Nobody's been able to stop him yet.
No. 8: Two of Three Agree This Is The Spot For Buckeyes
18 of 25
BCS: Oklahoma
AP: Ohio State
Coaches: Ohio State
My take: Ohio State should be about here. I don't agree with Oklahoma this high. Ohio State's lone blemish came against Wisconsin, which is not a horrible loss. Terrelle Pryor has been a Heisman contender as usual.
No. 7: Do Huskers Belong This High?
19 of 25
BCS: Nebraska
AP: Wisconsin
Coaches: Wisconsin
My take: This is my first big squabble with the BCS rankings. Wisconsin is the better team and they beat vaunted Ohio State. Nebraska lost to Texas, who was supposed to be a top team this year, but have turned out not to be. It's not even close in my opinion.
No. 6: Crimson Tide Lurking Behind The Spoilers
20 of 25
BCS: Alabama
AP: Utah
Coaches: Utah
My take: Alabama should be higher than No. 6 and higher than Utah. Sure, Utah's 8-0 and they've looked like the real deal, but the fact is they've played one ranked team while Alabama has played four. Strength of schedule is a big determinant here for me.
No. 5: Utes Surging, But For How Long?
21 of 25
BCS: Utah
AP: Alabama
Coaches: Alabama
My take: BCS, you're starting to get on my nerves...Alabama belongs here.
No. 4: Horned Frogs Here, But Only One Mountain West Team Will Survive
22 of 25
BCS: Boise State
AP: TCU
Coaches: TCU
My take: What will it take for Boise State to get respect? I'm starting to wonder if college football wants Boise State to even have a chance. I realize their strength of schedule isn't great, but they've still beaten two ranked teams and they're undefeated. This team has been a great team for two years now and deserves to play for the BCS National Championship Game if they continue to play like this.
This is a good spot for TCU. Although they are 9-0, they've played just one ranked team, and I feel Boise State is a the superior squad. But Andy Dalton sure can throw.
No. 3: Broncos Slip With Computers
23 of 25
BCS: TCU
AP: Auburn
Coaches: Boise State
My take: This is the right spot for Boise State, with Auburn and Oregon deserving the top two spots.
No. 2: Tigers Fall Despite Doing Nothing Wrong
24 of 25
BCS: Auburn
AP: Boise State
Coaches: Auburn
My take: I like the AP's spirit, giving Boise State some credit, but what Auburn has done deserves praise. Hardly anyone expected them to be this good—maybe ranked—before the season. But the team has gone 9-0, beating South Carolina, Arkansas and LSU. QB/RB Cameron Newton is the leading candidate for the Heisman, throwing 15 TDs, running for 14 and even catching one. Can't get more dominant than that.
No. 1: I Love My Ducks, I Love My Ducks!
25 of 25
BCS: Oregon
AP: Oregon
Coaches: Oregon
My take: Yes, Oregon is the right choice. They embarrass everybody they play and they scored 50-plus points against their two ranked opponents, Stanford and USC. The Trojans were actually ahead 32-29 in the beginning of the third quarter against the Ducks. The rest of the game: a 21-0 spanking by Oregon. The Ducks can't do wrong now and with Heisman contender LaMichael James leading the way, they may never relinquish the No. 1 ranking.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
