May 18, 2013

SB Nation BlogPoll Ballot – Week 2

September 7, 2011 by

The results of the two Top 20 matchups last week caused a great deal of shuffling in our Week 2 ballot.

SB Nation BlogPoll Top 25 LogoLSU handed Oregon its second straight loss to an SEC team.  Turnovers plagued the Ducks all night, while the Tigers played the SEC ‘smash mouth’ game to perfection.  We give ‘The Hat’ some respect this week and move the Tigers up accordingly.  For the BlogPoll as a whole, the Tigers take the number 1 spot home this week.

On the flip side, Georgia tried, but couldn’t use the same strategy against Boise State.  Quarterback Kellen Moore carved up the Bulldogs 3-4 defense to the tune of 261 PaYds and 3 TDs.  Never seen the Georgia Dome empty that fast before.

We were also very impressed with Wisconsin in their 51-17 win over UNLV.  Pairing transfer quarterback Russell Wilson with a talented running back combo like Monte Ball and James White makes the Badgers a dangerous team.

Notre Dame and USC fall out after disappointing performances, as does TCU.  The Horned Frogs, without a defense (gave up half-a-hundred to Baylor) look like just another Mountain West team right now.

You can see the complete BlogPoll over at SBNation.com.  Here’s our RBN Week 2 ballot:

Rank Team Record Previous Comments
1 Alabama 1-0 1 McCarron gets leg up in the QB battle. Nittany Lions next.
2 Oklahoma 1-0 2 A week to rest before visiting Florida St. Sept 17.
3 Stanford 1-0 8 Heisman front runner Luck, Cardinal throttle SJSU 57-3.
4 LSU 1-0 9 Tigers jump after ‘D’ holds Ducks to 95 rush yards.
5 Boise St. 1-0 7 QB Moore picks apart UGA. Richt in trouble…already?
6 Wisconsin 1-0 13 Badgers, QB Wilson serve notice, drop Rebels 51-17.
7 Virginia Tech 1-0 4 RB David Wilson (162 RuYds, 3TDs) lets VT roll 66-13.
8 Florida St. 1-0 5 Noles win, but no style points in 34-0 victory vs. ULM.
9 Nebraska 1-0 6 QB Taylor ‘T-Magic’ Martinez-251 TotYds vs. UT-Chat.
10 Arkansas 1-0 10 Joe Adams electric in Hogs 51-7 win over Missouri St.
11 Texas A&M 1-0 11 Aggies RBs Gray & Michael prove too much for SMU.
12 Oklahoma St. 1-0 12 Cowpokes roll ULL 61-34. Host #25 Arizona Thurs.
13 Oregon 0-1 3 Ducks can’t handle another smash mouth SEC team.
14 South Carolina 1-0 14 Spurrier spots ECU 17-point lead, rallies for 56-37 win.
15 West Virginia 1-0 16 HC Holgorsen, QB G. Smith can light up the scoreboard.
16 Mississippi St. 1-0 20 RB Ballard runs wild on Memphis. At Auburn on Sat.
17 Ohio St. 1-0 NR Buckeyes still have players…upend Akron 42-0.
18 Clemson 1-0 21 New QB Tajh Boyd hits 3TDs in debut…43-19 Troy win.
19 Arizona St. 1-0 22 6-8 QB Osweiler is a freak Throws for 262 vs. UC-Davis.
20 Michigan St. 1-0 23 Spartans struggle to put away Youngstown St. 28-6.
21 Texas 1-0 24 Longhorns rally late to drop Rice 34-9. Host BYU next.
22 Missouri 1-0 25 Mizzou out of the gate slow, drop Miami OH 17-6.
23 Georgia 0-1 15 After Boise loss, Sat. game vs. USC looms large.
24 Florida 1-0 NR Muschamp gets first win as Gator HC…41-3 over FAU.
25 Arizona 1-0 NR QB Nick Foles 5TDs leads Wildcats over N.Arizona.
 
Others considered: USC, Notre Dame, Maryland, Pittsburgh, BYU, Houston, Penn St., South Florida, Baylor, Illinois, North Carolina St., Michigan, Iowa, Cincinnati, San Diego St., Central Florida, California, Northwestern, Air Force, Texas Tech, Hawaii, TCU,  Miami, Fla.
Filed Under: Arkansas Razorbacks, Football, NCAA Tagged With:
  • Jim Dogg

    Those fans that want to have a playoff championship game just got a positive boost from the idiots doing the polls.* The BCS has a lot of problems but ignoring available data is not one of them. Only one poll got it right: ESPN. Asked as to why the other polls did not rank LSU no. 1, as did ESPN, ESPNer Pat Forde explained that coaches and writers get it stuck in their minds before the season what teams should be where in a poll and results be damned. It should be obvious that leaving standings in the hands of pollsters alone is worse than the BCS, although the latter does incorporate some polls as well as data (mysterious at times) in its analysis. Let’s see, no. 3 LSU beats no. 4 and stays relatively the same behind the Sooners and Alabama who beat unranked teams.** Tom Murphy of the Demo-Zette ranked Boise no. 1 after its beating of apparently overrated 19 Georgia. HUH? He ranked Arkansas above MSU who had a very impressive showing against Memphis. HUH? Apparently pollsters (except ESPN)*** rank teams on the basis of homerism, “instinctive feelings”, and preseason hype and their own ignorance about other teams and their coaches. Remember the pollsters embarrassment when they were all calling for a national championship rematch between Ohio State and Michigan who both flopped in their bowl games. Polling is not a science, at least not in the hands of those doing the polling. It will all fall out in the end and it’s hard to judge after one game and that’s why the BCS waits. And don’t forget what VATech did last year when Beamer righted an almost sunken ship. But I agree with the Playoffers in that performance on the field should best determine standings not bias and illogic.

    * Just for the record, I reiterate my position that a playoff is not feasible with 120 teams, numerous conferences, and TV and bowl money (as well as other factors involved). Gene Stallings has said, in somewhat a demented way, that a playoff will occur but with 4 super conferences each with two ten team divisions. Uh Gene, the numbers for conference play don’t add up. Realignment of conferences can produce a playoff scheme but not Gene’s way.

    ** Consider this possible crazy polling outcome. No. 5 FSU plays no. 1 Oklahoma in two weeks. Assuming that the polls stay the same and FSU beats Oklahoma does that vault FSU into 1st place ahead of LSU based on an illogic thinking that the Sooners deserved to be in 1st place to begin with. Or that if the Sooners win and stay in first place, but LSU had beaten the then 3rd place team, Oregon. Makes sense doesn’t it?. In Murphy’s case Boise had beaten a 19th place GA team but Oregon is still ranked at 13th and the Dogs are out of the top 25. Bring on the BCS.

    *** Ex-ND coach Bob Davie said one of the dumbest things regarding polling. He said that although the writers and fans get worked up about it the coaches do not. Does he expect us to believe that? Interestingly he left out players who are concerned about bragging rights. As well as those coaches that will use the polls to stimulate their teams. I imagine that coach Mullens is using the lack of respect for MSU to exhort the Dogs to put it to Auburn given the chance.

    • http://www.therazorbackblogger.com/ GonzoHog

      What’s so great about beating up on Memphis that Miss. St. should jump over the Hogs? Memphis sucks.

      Also, by beefing up LSU because they exposed a lousy Oregon defense, does’t automatically qualify them for #1 in the polls. Their D is very good, but so is Bama’s.

      OU did what they were supposed to do against Tulsa, and so did Bama against lowly Kent St.

      What are we gonna do, punish them for it?. LSU will be lucky if they win 10 games this season, wait -n- see.

      • Jim Dogg

        C’mon Gonzo, I thought you had more sense than that to fall into the same trap as the writers and coaches pollsters. This is about performance on the field, not widgie board speculation. The polls said Oregon no. 3. Evidently, the pollsters could have been wrong but we deal with facts and the fact is that Oregon was number 3. As the season plays out so will things settle down. Are you telling me that Memphis is worse than MO-SU ? Memphis is lousy but the experts feel that MO-SU is just as bad in their own lower division. Arkansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma have not played anyone to challenge them yet. Bama’s test comes at PSU, and Oklahoma’s at FSU. (of the three, the Sooners have had the toughest opponent). I’ll be at War Memorial for NM, but I think it will be another scrimmage. Troy will be the first test before the dust settles with Bama. This is why the BCS has to wait for some games to be played before it calculates rather than purely speculates. Insofar as you not thinking that LSU is any good, I agree, let’s wait and see. I’m not sure why you believe that unless you think that the experts were totally wrong with Oregon. After all Oregon was favored. I would like to see LSU win all of its games making the battle in Read Stick (I’ll be there)one of national attention.

        Something I forgot to mention which leads into Oregon perhaps being overrated (relative to the PAC 12, I don’t think so, and they are still favored to duke it out with Stanford for the North title). It was because of the national media hype that the Duck players received, especially all-world, superman, and savior ot he Pacific Northwest, LeMichael James. I had to laugh when Musberger during the game (not at the end) said let’s not forget about this fella and the Heisman. Well Brent, LSU just kiboshed his Heisman trophy chances. Better not run against anymore SEC West defenses. Other Oregon players such as the QB were being touted as all West Coast. And what did the Tigers have? A substitute QB and no name marque players. Remember Oregon gave Auburn a game and the Ducks were coming back with their main offensive weapons. At the end Musberger was blaming the loss, or rather magnitude of it, on a missing CB, Ahh, Brent, it was the running, not the passing game that was killing the Ducks. Bottom line is media hype can distort matchups. (Except for Cam Netwon who was the real deal). I couldn’t tell whether the announcers were embarrassed or dumb founded. Everyoone is looking for the SEC to fail. Now tell me again that ESPN was wrong. Lastly, Gonzo, be careful as to what you blog, Oregon plays MOSU later. I don’t think Kelly will be in the mood to be very kind.

      • http://www.therazorbackblogger.com/ GonzoHog

        Well, it’s like this, the hype on Oregon was over rated because they never really had a great football team.

        Say what you want about the offense, but their O-line was physically whipped by bigger and better athletes more than willing to give them a good mouth smacking.

        As we saw last season in the NC game, AU didn’t even have as good a defense as LSU did the other night. Their D-line was good and made enough big plays throughout the game to endure, but they were no where close to being a great defensive football team.

        AU’s LBs were fast, but not any better than what Arkansas had last season.

        Their secondary?….Please.

        Oregon’s offense was much faster than any defensive opponent they faced last season in the Pac 12. That’s why they looked so dominant, the exact same way OU looked 3 years ago before they faced a real defense with Florida in the NC.

        The Ducks averaged almost 50 points a game last season before they layed an egg against an overall, barely above average D last season in the NC game against AU, but they were physically whipped up front. (sound familiar?)

        OU averaged almost the same until they were held to 14 points by the Gators in the ’08 NC.

        Here’s the deal on all these so called great Pac 12/Big 12 football teams. So far, in recent years, they’ve all been over rated on offense because they play against terrible, terrible pass defenses, (Big 12) and/or run defenses, (Pac 12) allowing over inflated numbers to occur.

        Their teams look very good going into these NC games, but they’re hardly prepared for a team who’s survived the rigors of a very physically and mentally challenging SEC schedule, especially one that’s managed to go unscathed after 13 games consisting of a top 10 SOS.

        Is LSU’s win over Oregon really all that suprising?…..hardly. Do they deserve to jump ahead of Bama and OU right now, just because Oregon was hyped at #3?

        Ok, well then let’s put it this way. Would the Hogs have done better against LSU in Jerry’s world?…..yep.

  • Hawgfan100

    “Just for the record, I reiterate my position that a playoff is not feasible with 120 teams, numerous conferences, and TV and bowl money (as well as other factors involved).”

    See: Wetzel Plan, The

    • Jim Dogg

      With all due respect, I pay no attention to pinhead sports writers who try to put square pegs in round holes. Anyone can come up with a schema for a playoff but facing reality is completely diferent. Now I happen to be one who can count without taking my shoes and socks off. Consider stallings 20 team conferences with two divisions. Now that means that each team will play 9 games in their division leaving three for interdivision play and none for interconference games. Sorry, won’t fly. Better to have 8 ten team conferences and then have a playoff between the winners. See how easy that was. Yeah, right, now all you have to do is get the teams to agree to it and and kick out the other 36 NCAA teams. Right now, evrything is in chaos (Thanks to Texas) and a playoff is still a far off fantasy. Even the experts on ESPN haven’t a clue and someone made a cogent point in that disgruntled teams may depart from the NCAA, form their own association and leaving policing and enforcement up to …..who? Really is a mess and Wetzel, Witzel, or whoever can get copy for whatever unpredictbble assumptions can be made.. One thing is for sure, as one expert said, things will not be the same.

      • Hawgfan100

        Not sure what you mean exactly. The ‘pinhead’ and his partners have come up with an excellent idea for a playoff system which involves the winners of every conference race plus selected others (as in basketball tourney-style selection) in a 16 team field. Their method was put out before the ‘Mega-Conferences’ became an idea let alone a distinct possibility, so I’m not sure what impact, if any, that would have (other than to perhaps shorten the field).

        No need I can see to ‘kick out’ anyone (allowing for the fact that some teams, ie Baylor et al, simply aren’t going to make the cut in the first place for a spot in one of the Mega-Conferences).

        The ‘chaos’ hasn’t even begun yet but shouldn’t last too long once its been demonstrated legal action is useless. Once the dust settles (1-3 years perhaps?), a playoff system should be swiftly put in place (simply too much money sitting there for the taking for it not to be…).

        We may see the ‘disgruntled’ (whoever they may be) attempt to break off and do their own thing but I foresee market forces acting to curb and ultimately bring that sort of thing under control (a la the USFL).

        Believe this: the ‘pinhead’ and his pals have done a lot more research and have a lot more experience than you or I on this. No offense but I think I’ll go with them.

  • Hawgfan100

    And, for a further interesting take on this:

    http://cfn.scout.com/2/1103732.html

    Enjoy.

  • http://www.razorbloggers.net Walking on Sunshine

    Where’s all the Boise St. haters this week?

    • OwassoHog

      Still here… just out on business for the day. Still don’t believe that they are that good. Georgia is definitely not the Georgia of old.

      There… I said it! Put it another way… if Boise State played Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas, what do you think their record would be? I think I made my point! ;-)

      • Hawgfan100

        2-1…what point would that be, again?

      • OwassoHog

        At best 1-2… at best!

    • Hawgfan100

      You say ‘tomayto’ and I say ‘tomahto’…

  • Defense Wins Champio

    Good win for BSU but I would not put too much confidence in the win since I really did not expect Georgia to do well in the game. You had to believe that GA was over rated to start the season. Georgia has a fantastic man as headcoach but I will be surprised if he puts GA on top as far as wins go but I still like his attitude with his players. That should trump wins but alas it will not. He is just the caretaker until Tenn. coach proves his metal and then moves to GA. However, if I were him, I would stay with Tenn.

  • Defense Wins Champio

    Oh yes! My friend in SW Idaho is really happy this week! Nice area…that Boise State.

  • http://www.therazorbackblogger.com/ GonzoHog

    I’ve always thought Boise St. was over rated, but that was a nice win over Georgia though. Congrats to them.

    I didn’t watch the game, but heard through the grapevine and media that Boise was very physical up front with their o-line. That is a bit suprising, considering they almost never have to in their league.

    I guessed wrong. I assumed since Georgia was returning several starters on D, combined with the fact they continue to recruit very well, they would be much improved on D and too over whelming for Boise. Not sure what’s going on there.

    Mark Richt is a very good man. I like him, but standards are very high at UGA. If he doesn’t turn it around this week against SC, I’m afraid he’ll be on his way out soon.

    • Hawgfan100

      Word is over here in Georgia that Richt has to whip South Carolina to even have a hope of keeping his job (and some would still want him out even so).

      • Jim Dogg

        Its not as mcuh as losing to Boise but that they lost it somewhat like they did the Liberty Bowl. Outp;layed. By not giving Boise a more competitive game, that’s what hurts Richt the most. Nutt didn’t damage himself that much although that fumble by an inexperienceed quarterback did break the ole Miss fans hearts. But Reb fans know that they played a better more talented team and the “bears” hung in there and nearly won. Richt’s Dogs better give a better accounting of themselves against USC (ole ball coach may have been looking ahead) or else pull a “Beamer” the rest of the season.

  • soupdhog

    Boise State was dominant in that game, particularly in the 4th quarter. I don’t think Georgia was a pushover either, I just think Boise has it this year – a great QB, good running game, and a dominant D line. Boise’s D line pushed GA around the whole game. I look for GA to be competitive in the SEC West – which in my opinion resembles the Pac 12 if you think about it.

    I expect GA to give SC a tough game.

    • http://www.therazorbackblogger.com/ GonzoHog

      You mean the SEC East?

    • soupdhog

      oops – yes, thanks for that correction Gonzo