Which team do you think can actually do it?
The #3 Arkansas Razorbacks will travel to Baton Rouge, LA to face off against the #1 LSU Tigers. The entire season is on the line in this game with this being the last weekend before conference championships. A win by LSU, and the Tigers clinch the SEC West. If the Hawgs win, then we have to wait for the final BCS rankings to decide who goes to the SEC Championship Game. Because there will be three one loss SEC West teams if Arkansas loses, the team that goes to the championship is the team that won the heads up battle between the two rated the highest in the BCS rankings. Arkansas vs LSU: Can the Hawgs win in Baton Rouge?
Two-thirds of the BCS Formula depends on the judgment of human voters, while the other third of the formula is determined by the average of 6 computer rankings. The issue I am concerned with is what guides the decision of the human voters in the Harris Interactive and the Coaches poll, for each is one-third of the formula. See BCS Explained for a thorough explanation of how the BCS rankings are compiled. A voter has full discretion in deciding how and where they place a team in their rankings. There is no clearly defined criteria guiding the voter. It's to each, his own! We are going to discuss a few things that voters and the media regularly state as what they base their votes on. Afterwards, I want you to vote for what you believe is the best criteria for a voter to base his decision on. Also, if you have your own thoughts on this issue, please share them with me in the comment section.Rankings Based on the NumbersSome voters rank teams solely based on numbers. They take into account what a team's record is and the strength of its schedule. Teams with fewer losses and with the presumed most difficult schedules get ranked the highest. A team is rewarded for big wins, which typically results in a boost in the ranking by this type of voter.King of the HillSome voters use their pre-season ranking as the basis for a sliding scale in which teams move up and down based on pure outcomes. This can be explained as a King of the Hill approach. As long as #1 or #2 doesn't lose a game, then they don't drop in the polls and won't be jumped by another team in this type of voters ranking. It's not just at the top. As long as a team doesn't lose, they maintain their spot and can move up when those above them lose.The Smell-TestUnder this evaluation method, the voter doesn't really care about wins or losses. They go by the "smell test." This means even though a team has a few losses, if the voter believes a team looks good then the voter ranks them really high. It's based solely on the whim of a voter. If they perceive a team to be visually more complete on the field than another team, it doesn't matter whether they've lost more games than another team. This type of voter will still put them ahead of that team. The voter ranks the team he/she believes is the best, higher in their poll. Nothing else matters...only their opinion. Obviously, an evaluating system that takes all three of these methods into account is ideal and the best way a voter could base their rankings on. However, this is not what happens. So which do you believe is the most important method for a voter to use when making their rankings? If you have a better way of them making their evaluations, share it with me in the comment section. I'd love to hear other ways people would evaluate teams when attempting to rank the top 25.
Currently, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are #3 in the BCS Rankings behind the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers. Next weekend, OSU plays the #10 Oklahoma Sooners for the Big 12 Championship. The LSU Tigers will be playing in the SEC Championship Game versus the Georgia Bulldogs. Alabama, however, will not be playing because their season is over after having lost the SEC West to LSU. If OSU beats Oklahoma by a blowout, will they be able to jump Bama in the BCS?
The Alabama Crimson Tide were defeated by the LSU Tigers 9-6 in overtime in front of their home crowd. However, despite the loss, they remained ahead of the undefeated Stanford Cardinal in the BCS Rankings. Was this just?Should Alabama be ahead of Stanford in the BCS?
Oklahoma's running backs are the second best group in the Big 12 Conference, according to an ESPN.com blogger. Big 12 blogger David Ubben continued his position rankings by analyzing each running-back group in the conference.
#1 Anderson Silva - MMA -27-4 UFC -12-0 #2 Georges St. Pierre - MMA- 21-2 UFC - 15-2 #3 Jose Aldo - MMA- 18-1 WEC - 7-0 #4 Fedor Emelianenko - MMA - 31-2 StrikeForce - 1-1 #5 Eddie Alvarez MMA - 21-1 Bellator - 5-0 #6 Frankie Edgar - MMA - 13-1-1 UFC - 8-1-1 #7 Nick Diaz - MMA- 23-7 StrikeForce- 4-0 UFC - 6-4 #8 Alistair Overeem - MMA 34-11 StrikeForce 3-0 #9 Dominick Cruz - MMA 17-1 WEC 7-1 #10 Jake Shields - MMA 26-4-1 StrikeForce 3-0 UFC 1-0
We are going to come out with our new rankings in a couple of weeks but before we do we want to establish a clear criteria for being ranked. We have been receiving complaints about it not being fair for ranked MC's not to battle regularly when of unranked MC's are battling frequently but remain unranked. So we want to ask our fans, the ones who help make our league one of the biggest battle leagues in the world, how long should MC's be able to go without battling before he is considered inactive and unrankable?
OU's schedule features five teams ranked in the top 25 and top individuals at every turn.
Heisman Watch: RB Cyrus Gray (SN - 8th); WR Jeff Fuller (PS - 19th) Preseason All-Americans: WR Jeff Fuller (L, PS - 2nd; A, SN - 3rd); RB Cyrus Gray (SN - 2nd; PS - 4th) National Position Rankings: Athlon: RB - 3rd, WR/TE - 4th, OL - 4th, DB - 7th; Lindy's: QB/RB - 4th, WR - 4th, DB - 6th; Steele: WR - 4th, RB - 9th, OL - 10th, QB - 24th, LB - 36th, DL - 37th Quick Outlook: "If the Aggies can continue to improve defensively and maintain their high-powered offense, this is a team that could win the school's first outright league title since 1998." - Athlon
June 19, 2011 The Navy football team was ranked 86th out of 120 teams in Phil Steele's 2011 College Football Power Rankings. Seven teams on Navy's schedule were ranked ahead of the Midshipmen: No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 12 South Carolina, No. 31 Southern Miss, No. 48 Air Force, No. 63 SMU, No. 66 Rutgers and No. 75 Troy. Navy opponents ranked lower than the Midshipmen include: No. 89 East Carolina, No. 96 San Jose State, No. 106 Army and No. 114 Western Kentucky. Delaware, who played in the FCS National Championship game last year, was not part of the rankings. Senior fullback Alexander Teich was ranked as the eighth best fullback in the country, senior center Brady DeMell was tabbed as the 43rd best center and senior defensive end Jabaree Tuani was named the 58th best defensive end in the country. Steele ranked Navy's offensive line as the 28th best offensive line in the country. DeMell and Tuani were the only Navy players named First Team All-Independent, which is now a bit tougher to make with the addition of BYU and all four Independents went to a bowl game last year. Teich, senior offensive guard John Dowd, senior linebacker Max Blue and senior corner Kwesi Mitchell were all named to the Second Team. Eight Navy opponents were named Preseason All-Americans. South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and defensive lineman Devin Taylor were named to the first team, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, corner Stephon Gilmore and Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd were named to the second team, while Notre Dame kicker David Ruffer and safety Harrison Smith as well as Troy defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi were named to the fourth team.
June 19, 2011
The Navy football team was ranked 86th out of 120 teams in Phil Steele's 2011 College Football Power Rankings. Seven teams on Navy's schedule were ranked ahead of the Midshipmen: No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 12 South Carolina, No. 31 Southern Miss, No. 48 Air Force, No. 63 SMU, No. 66 Rutgers and No. 75 Troy.
Navy opponents ranked lower than the Midshipmen include: No. 89 East Carolina, No. 96 San Jose State, No. 106 Army and No. 114 Western Kentucky. Delaware, who played in the FCS National Championship game last year, was not part of the rankings.
Senior fullback Alexander Teich was ranked as the eighth best fullback in the country, senior center Brady DeMell was tabbed as the 43rd best center and senior defensive end Jabaree Tuani was named the 58th best defensive end in the country. Steele ranked Navy's offensive line as the 28th best offensive line in the country.
DeMell and Tuani were the only Navy players named First Team All-Independent, which is now a bit tougher to make with the addition of BYU and all four Independents went to a bowl game last year. Teich, senior offensive guard John Dowd, senior linebacker Max Blue and senior corner Kwesi Mitchell were all named to the Second Team.
Eight Navy opponents were named Preseason All-Americans. South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and defensive lineman Devin Taylor were named to the first team, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, corner Stephon Gilmore and Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd were named to the second team, while Notre Dame kicker David Ruffer and safety Harrison Smith as well as Troy defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi were named to the fourth team.
Currently, the Oregon Ducks are ranked #4 in the BCS behind #3 Alabama, #2 Oklahoma State, and #1 LSU. Directly behind Oregon is Oklahoma at #5 and Arkansas at #6. The following is basically a few notes to consider when voting on this poll:Oregon lost to #1 LSU TigersThe best game left on Oregon's schedule is in this week's game of the week versus #18 USC Trojans.Bama plays an FCS opponent this week, which should hurt them some in the BCS computer rankings.Bama will most likely not play in the SEC Championship Game, and hence, they most likely won't win the SEC Title.Oklahoma will play Oklahoma State in the last game of the seasonArkansas will travel to Baton Rouge to play LSU in the last weekend of the regular seasonIf Arkansas beats LSU, then there will be a tie between three one-loss SEC West teams. The SEC decides chooses a divisional representative in this scenario by checking the BCS rankings. If any of the three teams are within five spots of each other, then the SEC Western Title is given to the winner of the heads up match between the two highest ranked teams.As you can see, there is a great possibility of total anarchy occurring this season. The question is, however...Can the Oregon Ducks get to the BCS National Championship Game?
Since 2000 college football has produce perhaps the best crop of receivers over a 10 year span ever. The new wide-open style of college football has allowed receivers to showcase their talent at the highest level. This is a very high-profile list and a few very very good receivers failed to make the list. It is based on career achievements as well as how dominant they were, even if its just a year. While someone may have better stats they might not have impacted the game as much, however it is noted that a solid and consistent career should be rewarded too. Here is the list of the 25 best of the 21st century to date:Begin Slideshow
Since 2000 college football has produce perhaps the best crop of receivers over a 10 year span ever. The new wide-open style of college football has allowed receivers to showcase their talent at the highest level. This is a very high-profile list and a few very very good receivers failed to make the list. It is based on career achievements as well as how dominant they were, even if its just a year. While someone may have better stats they might not have impacted the game as much, however it is noted that a solid and consistent career should be rewarded too. Here is the list of the 25 best of the 21st century to date:
Begin Slideshow
June 17, 2011 SKILLMAN, N.J. -- Senior Denise Muresan (Lincolnshire, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) and freshman Brooke Bolender (Delray Beach, Fla./Kaplan) of the University of Michigan women's tennis team both earned All-America honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Thursday (June 16). It is the first time Michigan has had two honorees in the same season. Muresan earned the distinction in both singles and doubles, with Bolender nabbing the honor in doubles. Muresan is the first Wolverine to earn back-to-back singles honors and the first to earn singles and doubles accolades in the same season. She is one of 11 players in the country this season to be an All-American in both singles and doubles. To earn ITA All-America honors in singles, a player must be a top-16 seed in the NCAA Singles Championships, reach the round of 16 in the NCAA Singles Championships, or finish in the top 20 of the final ITA rankings. In doubles, a team must be a top-eight seed in the NCAA Doubles Championships, reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championships, or finish in the top 10 of the final ITA rankings. Muresan, the 2011 Big Ten Player of the Year, finished the season as the No. 6-ranked singles player. It is the highest season-ending ranking ever for a Wolverine. She went 34-11 during the 2010-11 season, including a 20-6 mark at the No. 1 position during singles action. Muresan ended her career as the all-time leader in singles wins, winning 111 matches during her four-year tenure. On the doubles court, Muresan and Bolender teamed up for a 25-7 overall record and a 23-4 dual-match record. The duo earned a No. 5-8 seed for the NCAA Doubles Championships and finished the season ranked No. 11. It is the first time Michigan has had anyone earn All-America in doubles. The Wolverines won their second consecutive Big Ten championship in 2011, finishing the season with a 24-5 record and 10-0 mark in Big Ten action. U-M reached the round of 16 in the NCAA Championships before falling to No. 7 Miami (Fla.). Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423
June 17, 2011
SKILLMAN, N.J. -- Senior Denise Muresan (Lincolnshire, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) and freshman Brooke Bolender (Delray Beach, Fla./Kaplan) of the University of Michigan women's tennis team both earned All-America honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Thursday (June 16). It is the first time Michigan has had two honorees in the same season.
Muresan earned the distinction in both singles and doubles, with Bolender nabbing the honor in doubles. Muresan is the first Wolverine to earn back-to-back singles honors and the first to earn singles and doubles accolades in the same season. She is one of 11 players in the country this season to be an All-American in both singles and doubles.
To earn ITA All-America honors in singles, a player must be a top-16 seed in the NCAA Singles Championships, reach the round of 16 in the NCAA Singles Championships, or finish in the top 20 of the final ITA rankings. In doubles, a team must be a top-eight seed in the NCAA Doubles Championships, reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championships, or finish in the top 10 of the final ITA rankings.
Muresan, the 2011 Big Ten Player of the Year, finished the season as the No. 6-ranked singles player. It is the highest season-ending ranking ever for a Wolverine. She went 34-11 during the 2010-11 season, including a 20-6 mark at the No. 1 position during singles action. Muresan ended her career as the all-time leader in singles wins, winning 111 matches during her four-year tenure.
On the doubles court, Muresan and Bolender teamed up for a 25-7 overall record and a 23-4 dual-match record. The duo earned a No. 5-8 seed for the NCAA Doubles Championships and finished the season ranked No. 11. It is the first time Michigan has had anyone earn All-America in doubles.
The Wolverines won their second consecutive Big Ten championship in 2011, finishing the season with a 24-5 record and 10-0 mark in Big Ten action. U-M reached the round of 16 in the NCAA Championships before falling to No. 7 Miami (Fla.).
Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423
Pittsburgh's non-conference schedule is slim these days.In five years, Pitt will renew its interstate rivalry with Penn State.But that's five years from now, what about sooner?Who should the Panthers take on from other conferences to ultimately boost their credibility in the BCS rankings?Here are eight opponents I would like to see Pittsburgh take on in the future.Begin Slideshow Read Full Article
Pittsburgh's non-conference schedule is slim these days.
In five years, Pitt will renew its interstate rivalry with Penn State.
But that's five years from now, what about sooner?
Who should the Panthers take on from other conferences to ultimately boost their credibility in the BCS rankings?
Here are eight opponents I would like to see Pittsburgh take on in the future.
Larry King
March Madness
Natasha Fame Leslie
Ryan Seacrest
Sanu Dellafiore
John Armstrong
Fred Hanna
Georgia Hester
