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Maybe the voters didn't see the game? That is a puzzler.

QUOTE:

Originally posted 06:46 PM ET  09.07 by Armpit

Fresno beat Cincy by 14. Both teams have played one game. Cincy has more "others rcving votes" than does Fresno (9 to 5). How and why?

I don't know how Cincy can receive any votes at all. Fresno, maybe. But Cincy doesn't deserve any.

9 and 5... it's in the noise and several voters are idiots.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 07:15 PM ET  09.07 by Grue

I don't know how Cincy can receive any votes at all. Fresno, maybe. But Cincy doesn't deserve any.9 and 5... it's in the noise and several voters are idiots.

There are 9 voters who are Cincy grads and work for the school in their marketing department?

Were the votes counted in Florida? That could explain a lot.

Excellent observation. That really is a stunner. Fresno gave it to Cincy, so if either of them get any votes at all, it should be Fresno.

Once again, East Coast bias at it's finest.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:35 PM ET  09.07 by Dr. B-f-G

Were the votes counted in Florida? That could explain a lot.

ROFLMAO

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:38 PM ET  09.07 by OM: 2010 Champs

Excellent observation. That really is a stunner. Fresno gave it to Cincy, so if either of them get any votes at all, it should be Fresno. Once again, East Coast bias at it's finest.

Not so sure that its not simply voters that don't pay attention. Kinda indicative of the fine system we use now though.

Great question Armpit. And it brings up even deeper ones.

I hadn't looked at either poll until after I read your post, but I almost knew you were talking about the Coaches Poll - and you were.


Here's (most likely) the problem:

Preseason rankings. They're a big guess.

Timing. Coaches just don't have the time to spend on this.
Most coaches (probably) start their lists in Aug by going off some of the services that provide a full preseason list, and then they add a few of their own twists. After that, they (probably) have a computer program that uses that Sat's results and puts a 'W' or 'L' after each team. Then the coaches can just slide the L's down 4 or 5 spots... Everything else falls into place.

Preason Rankings:
Lindy's - Cincy 22, FSU 53 (6 of the 30 in between lost)

Athlon - Cincy 43, FSU 59 (5 of the 15 in between lost)

Phil Steel - Cincy 43, FSU 50 (3 of the 6 in between lost)


So - regardless of Fresno State's win, they were destined to not move past Cincy. They can blame the system, or the teams ahead of them that didn't lose.

Silly?
Yep.

I have seen a number of times (and it is usually the coaches poll) that votes seem to have been cast before all the scores are even in. It does usually happen for the teams near the bottom of the top 25. In general, I think less care goes into all the polls early in the season because even the voters know it doesn't matter.

I was watching some of the Cincy/Fresno game early on and Cincy was up 14-0 in the second quarter. I was surprised when watching highlights later that they had lost. I am fairly sure some of the coaches that played afternoon games may have gone to bed thinking Cincy had that one in hand.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 05:55 AM ET  09.08 by JPax

I have seen a number of times (and it is usually the coaches poll) that votes seem to have been cast before all the scores are even in. It does usually happen for the teams near the bottom of the top 25. In general, I think less care goes into all the polls early in the season because even the voters know it doesn't matter. I was watching some of the Cincy/Fresno game early on and Cincy was up 14-0 in the second quarter. I was surprised when watching highlights later that they had lost. I am fairly sure some of the coaches that played afternoon games may have gone to bed thinking Cincy had that one in hand.

JP, good call. Easy to test that-if the numbers make more sense on next week's poll then you nailed it.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 04:16 AM ET  09.08 by Crazy Rabbit

Here's (most likely) the problem:Preseason rankings. They're a big guess.Timing. Coaches just don't have the time to spend on this.Most coaches (probably) start their lists in Aug by going off some of the services that provide a full preseason list, and then they add a few of their own twists. After that, they (probably) have a computer program that uses that Sat's results and puts a 'W' or 'L' after each team. Then the coaches can just slide the L's down 4 or 5 spots... Everything else falls into place.Preason Rankings:Lindy's - Cincy 22, FSU 53 (6 of the 30 in between lost)Athlon - Cincy 43, FSU 59 (5 of the 15 in between lost)Phil Steel - Cincy 43, FSU 50 (3 of the 6 in between lost)So - regardless of Fresno State's win, they were destined to not move past Cincy. They can blame the system, or the teams ahead of them that didn't lose.Silly?Yep.

This one gets my vote.

In ranking teams, pollsters seem to consider not only the week's games, but also previous rankings. Cinci had 135 votes in the coaches poll suggesting some had them in the top 20 preseason. Cinci probably got dropped 6-8 places for losing, but still ended up with a few votes. FSU had no points preseason, and couldn't get past all the other teams that had some preseason votes and also won.

Another example of the "previous" factor- Miami, Georgia and Florida St. looked a lot better against their cupcakes than Florida, Oklahoma and even Texas did against theirs, but that doesn't reflect in this week's poll.

At this time of the year CFB coaches are about the busiest people on the planet. They really don't have time for the comings and goings of any team not on their schedule. Along with a personal stake for some in the results, coaches are a poor choice for the task of ranking all CFB teams.

Ours is not to wonder why, our is but to embrace the vagaries of pollsters with the knowledge that the wisdom of polls is a better way to decide a champion than playing a contest that subjects the "better" team to the possibility of an upset.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 01:17 PM ET  09.08 by Tribute to Troy

This one gets my vote. In ranking teams, pollsters seem to consider not only the week's games, but also previous rankings. Cinci had 135 votes in the coaches poll suggesting some had them in the top 20 preseason. Cinci probably got dropped 6-8 places for losing, but still ended up with a few votes. FSU had no points preseason, and couldn't get past all the other teams that had some preseason votes and also won. Another example of the "previous" factor- Miami, Georgia and Florida St. looked a lot better against their cupcakes than Florida, Oklahoma and even Texas did against theirs, but that doesn't reflect in this week's poll. At this time of the year CFB coaches are about the busiest people on the planet. They really don't have time for the comings and goings of any team not on their schedule. Along with a personal stake for some in the results, coaches are a poor choice for the task of ranking all CFB teams. Ours is not to wonder why, our is but to embrace the vagaries of pollsters with the knowledge that the wisdom of polls is a better way to decide a champion than playing a contest that subjects the "better" team to the possibility of an upset.

Coaches!!!! Lazy slackards.....why, I oughta.....

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:35 PM ET  09.07 by Dr. B-f-G

Were the votes counted in Florida? That could explain a lot.

I counted them at 5:30 am when I got home the other night. Who played again?

Anybody want to come mow my lawn? Anyone?

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 05:32 PM ET  09.08 by BackRoads

Anybody want to come mow my lawn? Anyone?

I'll pass

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 05:32 PM ET  09.08 by BackRoads

Anybody want to come mow my lawn? Anyone?

Only if you have hot naked lawn gnomes....

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 05:32 PM ET  09.08 by BackRoads

Anybody want to come mow my lawn? Anyone?

Depends what type of grass?

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 01:17 PM ET  09.08 by Tribute to Troy

Ours is not to wonder why, our is but to embrace the vagaries of pollsters with the knowledge that the wisdom of polls is a better way to decide a champion than playing a contest that subjects the "better" team to the possibility of an upset.

Nice.