2014 College Football Season

[USUC]

6 Pac 12 teams ranked in the top 25. Such a mediocre conference.

Utes move up to 23 and USC in at 25. Arizona into the top 10.

Didn't you make a comment in the last week that it's debatable Utah should be ranked? The committee is definitely all up in the PAC's jockstrap.

[wapiti]

6 Pac 12 teams ranked in the top 25. Such a mediocre conference.

Utes move up to 23 and USC in at 25. Arizona into the top 10.

Yes, Utah's nail-biter victory over their bitter rival proved that they should move up two spots. It's clear that the committee doesn't put much thought into anything beyond the top 10 or so. I can't blame them.

[pelagius]

6 Pac 12 teams ranked in the top 25. Such a mediocre conference.

Utes move up to 23 and USC in at 25. Arizona into the top 10.

The PAC-12 is, of course, a very good conference but that seems like a favorable set of rankings for that conference. Not that it is perfect (although it tends to have better predictive power than anything but markov chain models that take into account intra game scoring), but here is a pure MOV ranking of the PAC-12 teams (my own so it doesn't do any post model human adjustment to the ratings):

Rank  Team                    Rating   W   L
6     Oregon                  96.546  11   1
16    Southern Cal            87.702   8   4
22    UCLA                    86.330   9   3
24    Arizona                 85.647  10   2
28    Stanford                84.208   7   5
31    Arizona St              83.066   9   3
35    Utah                    80.388   8   4
40    Washington              78.988   8   5
54    California              74.433   5   7
74    Washington St           69.196   3   9
82    Oregon St               67.536   5   7
83    Colorado                66.808   2  10

[USUC]

The PAC-12 is, of course, a very good conference but that seems like a favorable set of rankings for that conference. Not that it is perfect (although it tends to have better predictive power than anything but markov chain models that take into account intra game scoring), but here is a pure MOV ranking of the PAC-12 teams (my own so it doesn't do any post model human adjustment to the ratings):

Rank  Team                    Rating   W   L
6     Oregon                  96.546  11   1
16    Southern Cal            87.702   8   4
22    UCLA                    86.330   9   3
24    Arizona                 85.647  10   2
28    Stanford                84.208   7   5
31    Arizona St              83.066   9   3
35    Utah                    80.388   8   4
40    Washington              78.988   8   5
54    California              74.433   5   7
74    Washington St           69.196   3   9
82    Oregon St               67.536   5   7
83    Colorado                66.808   2  10

I just noticed they have 9-3 UCLA above 10-2 Missouri, the SEC East champ. Condi with her PAC-12 bias strong arming the committee.

[wapiti]

The PAC-12 is, of course, a very good conference but that seems like a favorable set of rankings for that conference. Not that it is perfect (although it tends to have better predictive power than anything but markov chain models that take into account intra game scoring), but here is a pure MOV ranking of the PAC-12 teams (my own so it doesn't do any post model human adjustment to the ratings):

Rank  Team                    Rating   W   L
6     Oregon                  96.546  11   1
16    Southern Cal            87.702   8   4
22    UCLA                    86.330   9   3
24    Arizona                 85.647  10   2
28    Stanford                84.208   7   5
31    Arizona St              83.066   9   3
35    Utah                    80.388   8   4
40    Washington              78.988   8   5
54    California              74.433   5   7
74    Washington St           69.196   3   9
82    Oregon St               67.536   5   7
83    Colorado                66.808   2  10

Looks low for Oregon and Arizona and high for USC. Arizona is a better team today than they were early in the season when the just squeaked by some pretty bad teams (UTSA, Nevada, and Cal).

[pelagius]

Looks low for Oregon and Arizona and high for USC. Arizona is a better team today than they were early in the season when the just squeaked by some pretty bad teams (UTSA, Nevada, and Cal).

Sure, all models are false. Although, I suspect it's more likely that Oregon and Arizona are both a bit overrated by the conventional/human polls.

[scottie]

http://footballscoop.com/news/sources-nebraska-seems-locked/

Per sources, Nebraska is targeting Arkansas Bret Bielema and is in serious talks with him. Eichorst and Bielema has an extensive relationship from their time at Wisconsin and from what we hear this got serious quick.

[Paperback Writer]

http://footballscoop.com/news/source...-seems-locked/

Rumor denied by a couple of sources at ESPN and by Bielema himself.

http://www.omaha.com/huskers/brett-bielema-shoots-down-report-of-interest-in-husker-coaching/article_38c47c2c-7b26-11e4-b16e-1be5324c2d9e.html

I don't really like the smugness of Beilema but he would have been a good hire for Nebraska. I've read that Kyle Whittingham is being considered. Not that he has been contacted only he's a prime target. From what I've heard about Nebraska's AD, I would be surprised if news of Nebraska's next HC is leaked too much before the official announcement.

[MarkGrace]

Rumor denied by a couple of sources at ESPN and by Bielema himself.

http://www.omaha.com/huskers/brett-bielema-shoots-down-report-of-interest-in-husker-coaching/article_38c47c2c-7b26-11e4-b16e-1be5324c2d9e.html

I don't really like the smugness of Beilema but he would have been a good hire for Nebraska. I've read that Kyle Whittingham is being considered. Not that he has been contacted only he's a prime target. From what I've heard about Nebraska's AD, I would be surprised if news of Nebraska's next HC is leaked too much before the official announcement.

That's weird. Coaches usually admit when they're in talks with other schools.

[smokymountainrain]

That's weird. Coaches usually admit when they're in talks with other schools.

lol

[cougjunkie]

That's weird. Coaches usually admit when they're in talks with other schools.

Especially the Bielemas. They seem to have a solid track record of honesty.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Especially the Bielemas. They seem to have a solid track record of honesty.

I wonder if the wife he met playing blackjack in Vegas views Nebraska as a downgrade. It is hard for a guy making a lot of money to meet attractive women in Vegas.

[YOhio]

CSU pres is refusing to budge on the buyout for McElwain. Hilarious.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11976248/jim-mcelwain-florida-gators-hold-due-colorado-state-rams-buyout

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

CSU pres is refusing to budge on the buyout for McElwain. Hilarious.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...te-rams-buyout

I like it, what's the point of a buyout if everyone just agrees to lower or eliminate it?

[YOhio]

I like it, what's the point of a buyout if everyone just agrees to lower or eliminate it?

Especially when the buyout would about equal CSU's TV revenue for half a decade. If Florida ends up paying the total amount they'll have shelled out $13.5M in buyouts, including Muschamps severance.