stripes361 Ballot for 2018 Week 8
Ballot Type: Hybrid
Submitted: Oct. 16, 2018, 9:41 a.m.
Overall Rationale: Performance/team quality ranking, based primarily on ESPN's FPI and Football Outsiders' S&P+ rankings. Not intended to be a resume ranking. Teams moved up and down from their spots in the computer rankings based on eye test, coaching, QB play, and other subjective factors.
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
|
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
|
| 3 |
Clemson Tigers
|
Clemson is actually 2nd on both FPI and S&P+ but I'm still withholding judgment slightly on Trevor Lawrence. This week's game against NC State will be a perfect test of his ability to perform against a premier defense. |
| 4 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
Yes, I'm keeping the 'Dawgs up this high despite the humiliating loss this week. This is a good place to remind everyone that 1) This is not a resume poll and 2) Sequencing doesn't matter in my rankings. In theory, I would rank Georgia the same if this loss happened in Week 1 as I would if it happened last week. Overall, Kirby Smart's team has been dominant. They have great coaching. They have solid QB play. And they are the 4th best team in the country according to my FPI/S&P+ composite. |
| 5 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
Michigan is basically a toss-up with Oklahoma according to my computer rankings. I'm placing Michigan in the Top 5 for now so that I can experience utter humiliation and ridicule when they lose 20-6 to Michigan State this week. |
| 6 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
|
| 7 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
|
| 8 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
|
| 9 |
LSU Tigers
|
|
| 10 |
Washington Huskies
|
|
| 11 |
Florida Gators
|
|
| 12 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
|
| 13 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
|
| 14 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
|
| 15 |
Wisconsin Badgers
|
|
| 16 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
Miami is 2017 Michigan-lite. Great defense, no QB play. |
| 17 |
Fresno State Bulldogs
|
Can't resist moving these guys and their impressive computer numbers up anymore. They look good according to the eye test as well. |
| 18 |
Utah Utes
|
|
| 19 |
UCF Knights
|
|
| 20 |
NC State Wolfpack
|
Legitimate competitor for Clemson in the ACC Atlantic. |
| 21 |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
|
| 22 |
Texas Longhorns
|
|
| 23 |
Utah State Aggies
|
Matt Wells has had an impressive career with the Aggies so far. Deserves national recognition. |
| 24 |
West Virginia Mountaineers
|
|
| 25 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
Texas Tech defense looked legitimately impressive this week. |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Clemson Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
1.00 |
| 5 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.16 |
| 6 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
0.62 |
| 7 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
-1.15 |
| 8 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
1.70 |
| 9 |
LSU Tigers
|
-0.47 |
| 10 |
Washington Huskies
|
1.23 |
| 11 |
Florida Gators
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
2.94 |
| 13 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.55 |
| 14 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
0.73 |
| 15 |
Wisconsin Badgers
|
1.92 |
| 16 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
6.02 |
| 17 |
Fresno State Bulldogs
|
7.73 |
| 18 |
Utah Utes
|
6.77 |
| 19 |
UCF Knights
|
-1.44 |
| 20 |
NC State Wolfpack
|
-0.67 |
| 21 |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
-1.12 |
| 22 |
Texas Longhorns
|
-3.48 |
| 23 |
Utah State Aggies
|
1.31 |
| 24 |
West Virginia Mountaineers
|
-1.81 |
| 25 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.00 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
Oregon Ducks
|
2.42 |
Cincinnati Bearcats
|
0.66 |
USF Bulls
|
0.40 |
Washington State Cougars
|
0.35 |
Michigan State Spartans
|
0.19 |
Total Score: 46.84