Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Oct. 29, 2018, 11:56 a.m.

Overall Rationale: See previous ballots for an in-depth description of my methodology. The basic overview is that it's a resume-based algorithm that factors in what your record is, who you've played, where you played them, how badly you beat them, and who you have left to play. It scales each component slightly differently based on how much of the season has already gone by, so that the past matters more and the future matters less as the season goes on.

• Ballot
• Analysis

Rank	Team	Reason
1	Clemson Tigers	2451
2	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	2156
3	Alabama Crimson Tide	2127
4	LSU Tigers	2103
5	Michigan Wolverines	1961
6	Oklahoma Sooners	1777
7	Georgia Bulldogs	1713
8	Kentucky Wildcats	1623
9	Ohio State Buckeyes	1518
10	UCF Knights	1438
11	Texas Longhorns	1424
12	Florida Gators	1409
13	West Virginia Mountaineers	1403
14	Washington State Cougars	1388
15	UAB Blazers	1383; Below this point is about where all the chaos happened this week, and below this point is where the algorithm seems to start throwing in a mix of the best teams in the worst conferences and the above-average teams in the best conferences. Oh, you wanted me to defend putting UAB so high? It's because they're 7-1 and have two of the best wins of the G5, over two-loss UNT and Louisiana Tech. UNT's only other loss is to Tech, and Tech's is to #4 LSU. UAB has also only allowed 35 points total in their last 5 games, 21 of which were to a very good UNT, and on top of that, UAB is the only FBS team to post two FBS shutouts yet this season.
16	Penn State Nittany Lions	1366
17	Houston Cougars	1314
18	Fresno State Bulldogs	1294
19	Iowa State Cyclones	1254
20	Buffalo Bulls	1224
21	Syracuse Orange	1218
22	Cincinnati Bearcats	1217
23	Michigan State Spartans	1198
24	Texas Tech Red Raiders	1194
25	Iowa Hawkeyes	1180; Next 5 out: Army (1178), Texas A&M (1177), Georgia Southern (1174), USF (1152), Utah State (1148)

Teams Ranked:

Rank	Team	Unusualness
1	Clemson Tigers	0.46
2	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	0.00
3	Alabama Crimson Tide	-0.96
4	LSU Tigers	0.00
5	Michigan Wolverines	0.00
6	Oklahoma Sooners	0.00
7	Georgia Bulldogs	0.00
8	Kentucky Wildcats	0.26
9	Ohio State Buckeyes	0.00
10	UCF Knights	0.00
11	Texas Longhorns	0.73
12	Florida Gators	0.00
13	West Virginia Mountaineers	0.00
14	Washington State Cougars	-0.54
15	UAB Blazers	6.47
16	Penn State Nittany Lions	-0.07
17	Houston Cougars	0.00
18	Fresno State Bulldogs	0.00
19	Iowa State Cyclones	5.59
20	Buffalo Bulls	3.65
21	Syracuse Orange	0.00
22	Cincinnati Bearcats	1.66
23	Michigan State Spartans	1.20
24	Texas Tech Red Raiders	1.20
25	Iowa Hawkeyes	-1.01

Omissions:

Team	Unusualness
Utah Utes	2.76
Utah State Aggies	0.78
Mississippi State Bulldogs	0.32
Virginia Cavaliers	0.52
Boston College Eagles	0.28

Total Score: 28.44