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quantum_jedi Ballot for 2024 Week 9

Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Oct. 21, 2024, 8:01 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Wins and losses are weighted by the difference in "rank" between the winner/loser and the median team. Scaled such that beating strong teams matters more than beating weak teams, and losing to bad teams is worse than losing to strong teams. Winning is weighted slightly more than losing. Results are now (as of week 4) scaled by offensive and defensive points per drive efficiencies, and strength of schedule determined by cumulative opponents score. Preseason rankings are weighted by returning production, talent composite, and previous season success. Next five out: Wisconsin, UNLV, Memphis, Michigan, Nebraska

Rank Team Reason
1 Oregon Ducks (+1) Easy win in West Lafayette. Oregon looks focused and determined.
2 Penn State Nittany Lions (+1) Idle this week. Intriguing matchup next week with a spicy Wisconsin team.
3 Miami Hurricanes (+2) Another controversial officiating decision goes Miami's way. Regardless, Cam Ward looks good and Miami keeps winning.
4 Texas Longhorns (-3) Texas o-line got mauled all night by Georgia. Now the Longhorns get a sneaky good Vanderbilt team.
5 Indiana Hoosiers (+4) Does postgame win expectancy go over 100%? Absolutely vaporized Nebraska. GameDay and a spiraling Washington team come to Bloomington next week as Indiana looks to go 8-0.
6 Georgia Bulldogs (+4) Dominant performance by Georgia. The Bulldogs look much better than the last few weeks.
7 Iowa State Cyclones (+0) Squeaked out a win against UCF in a bizarre game.
8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+0) Cruised to a win against a good Georgia Tech team. Very interesting matchup against an undefeated Navy squad next.
9 Clemson Tigers (+2) After being left for dead early in the season, Clemson has hit their stride and looks like the favorite in the ACC once again.
10 BYU Cougars (+2) Somehow beat Oklahoma State in a game neither team seemed to want to win. Regardless, BYU is 7-0 and rolling through the Big12.
11 Ohio State Buckeyes (-5) Idle. Victim of bye week bias in the model. Expect the Buckeyes to rise back up the rankings with a Nebraska team coming off being steamrolled by Indiana.
12 LSU Tigers (+2) Defense finally looking competent? The next two weeks will be very telling how good this LSU team actually is.
13 Kansas State Wildcats (+5) Strong second half to close out the game against West Virginia. The Sunflower Showdown doesn't look quite the same as expected preseason, but anything can happen in a rivalry game.
14 Tennessee Volunteers (+1) What an awesome win for the Vols! The offense may not be as good as previous iterations, but the defense is for real. A well earned bye week next.
15 Alabama Crimson Tide (-11) Welcome to the Kalen DeBoer experience 'Bama fans. '23 Washington played 10-consecutive games decided by 10 or fewer points. This is still a very talented team, but there was always going to be a transitional period after Saban retired.
16 Missouri Tigers (+0) Whew, required a 4th quarter comeback to beat Auburn. Expect a wild ride next week against Alabama as both teams need this win to stay alive for an SEC title and playoff spot.
17 Pittsburgh Panthers (-4) Idle. Pitt has done well so far, but enters the meaty part of their schedule.
18 Texas A&M Aggies (+1) Maybe Mississippi isn't as bad as everyone thinks? A&M continues to win with their only loss being to a strong Notre Dame. Big matchup next against LSU.
19 Duke Blue Devils (+2) First ever win over FSU has to feel good for the Blue Devils! The next two weeks will tell us if Duke is for real. Regardless of the outcome, Duke fans should feel great about this season.
20 Illinois Fighting Illini (+6) Methodically controlled the game against Michigan. Huge game against Oregon looms.
21 Ole Miss Rebels (-4) Idle. Lots of ups and downs this season for Ole Miss, but get an Oklahoma team that just fired its OC.
22 Washington State Cougars (+6) Took care of business against Hawaii to move to 6-1. Cougs are making the best of their situation this year.
23 Army West Point (+7) Army is 7-0! Bryson Daily is a stud and Army is a really tough football team.
24 SMU Mustangs (+1) Rolled over Stanford to improve to 6-1. Huge game next against Duke.
25 Syracuse Orange (+2) Idle. Weird Thursday night game at Pitt next for the Orange.

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