BCS Standings Week 9: 4 Teams That Deserved More Respect from Computers

There are certain teams (like the Stanford Cardinal) who are undoubtedly outraged once again by the BCS Standings, and rightfully so.

Whoever decided we needed computers to help us rank college football teams anyway?

While there is certainly human error involved in grading which teams are better than others, there is no need to add computer error to the equation. Let's not forget, in 2007 the BCS computers ranked the Virginia Tech Hokies ahead of an LSU Tigers team that beat them 48-7.

The computers always spit out some interesting numbers, and this week is no different.

With the second BCS Standings of the 2011 college football season coming out, here are the teams the computer rankings are underrating.

Stanford Cardinal

The Stanford Cardinal has been just about perfect this season. Andrew Luck has led his team to a 7-0 start in which they've beaten every opponent by at least 20 points, and five of them by 30 or more. While they haven't played the toughest schedule, they have been absolutely dominant against the teams they've played. Their ranking in the human polls (No. 3/No. 4) seems much more logical than their BCS Ranking at No. 6.

Michigan State Spartans

One thing about computers: they're not influenced by emotions. So I guess that thrilling Michigan State victory over Wisconsin didn't do anything for them. Michigan State has just finished an impressive three game stretch in which they beat the Ohio State Buckeyes (on the road), Michigan Wolverines, and the Wisconsin Badgers in consecutive weeks. Yet their BCS ranking (No. 11) is lower than their ranking in the Coaches Poll, which is arguably too low itself.

Wisconsin Badgers

Just as they undervalue the Spartans, the computers are likewise unimpressed by the Badgers. However, Wisconsin had been nearly flawless coming into yesterday's game with Michigan State, and they lost that one on a Hail Mary. I think Russell Wilson and Co. still deserve to be ranked in the top 10. One game does not a season make. The BCS rankings are especially unkind to Wisconsin, dropping them to No. 15 despite the Badgers No. 12/No. 13 ranking in the human polls.

Arkansas Razorbacks

The only loss the Razorbacks have suffered all season is the one that came at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide, a team that looks more like it belongs in the NFL. Arkansas has won two big games, against the Auburn Tigers and against the Texas A&M Aggies in the Cotton Bowl. They've proven that they are a solid team, as most pollsters seem to agree when they rank them No. 8. But the BCS computers see things differently, and so the Razorbacks find themselves at No. 10 in the only top 25 ranking that matters.