Back to poll results >>

MADBuc49 Ballot for 2023 Week 15 & Bowls

Ballot Type: Hybrid

Submitted: Dec. 3, 2023, 6:23 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Week 15 notes: Deservedness keeping the high-rated 2-loss teams such as Oregon and Penn State behind low-rated 0-loss teams such as Liberty, high-rated 3-loss teams such as LSU and Louisville behind low-rated 1-loss teams such as James Madison, and high-rated 4-loss teams such as Oregon State and Utah behind low-rated 2-loss teams such as Toledo. General notes: FIRST layer (computer portion): SP+, opponents’ SP+, opponents’ opponents’ SP+, opponents’ win %, opponents’ opponents’ win %. SECOND layer (human portion): home/field/away, key injuries, P5/G5 status, watched game factors (ex: offensive/defensive line domination, rush yards after contact, average point of first contact, defensive penetration on non-inside screens, missed tackles, quarterback throwing release speed, overall turnovers, average starting field position, etc). THIRD layer (human portion): wins/losses vs higher-/lower-/non-ranked teams, recency of those results. FOURTH layer (computer portion): Deservedness = team cannot be ranked over another team with 2+ fewer losses (ex: 6-2 Notre Dame can be ranked over 7-1 Missouri, but 6-2 Notre Dame cannot be ranked over 7-0 Liberty even if Notre Dame beat Liberty heads up, rankings have Notre Dame over Liberty, and/or I think Notre Dame is better than Liberty)

Rank Team Reason
1 Michigan Wolverines Rose Bowl. Pick to make it to title game
2 Washington Huskies Sugar Bowl
3 Texas Longhorns Sugar Bowl. Pick to make it to title game
4 Florida State Seminoles Rose Bowl
5 Alabama Crimson Tide Orange Bowl. Pick to win
6 Ohio State Buckeyes Peach Bowl. Pick to win
7 Georgia Bulldogs Peach Bowl
8 James Madison Dukes Cotton Bowl. Pick to win
9 Liberty Flames Cotton Bowl
10 Oregon Ducks Fiesta Bowl. Pick to win
11 Penn State Nittany Lions Fiesta Bowl
12 Missouri Tigers Would be ahead of James Madison if not for Deservedness
13 Ole Miss Rebels Would be ahead of James Madison if not for Deservedness
14 Oklahoma Sooners Would be ahead of James Madison if not for Deservedness
15 LSU Tigers Would be ahead of James Madison if not for Deservedness
16 Louisville Cardinals Orange Bowl
17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Would be ahead of James Madison if not for Deservedness
18 Arizona Wildcats Would be ahead of James Madison if not for Deservedness
19 NC State Wolfpack Would be ahead of James Madison if not for Deservedness
20 SMU Mustangs Would be ahead of Liberty if not for Deservedness
21 Iowa Hawkeyes Would be ahead of Liberty if not for Deservedness
22 Troy Trojans Would be ahead of Liberty if not for Deservedness
23 Tulane Green Wave Would be ahead of Liberty if not for Deservedness
24 Miami (OH) RedHawks Deservedness not affecting where they stand among 0- or 1-loss teams
25 Toledo Rockets Lowest-rated 2-loss team keeping 4-loss teams behind them. Next eleven: Oregon State, Utah, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Tennessee, Kansas, West Virginia, North Carolina (all would be ahead of James Madison if not for Deservedness), UTSA, Memphis (both would be ahead of Miami (OH) if not for Deservedness), New Mexico State, Ohio (lowest-rated 3-loss team keeping 5-loss teams behind them)

Back to poll results >>