Pollspeak: Humans vs. computers

2008-12-08T14:13:55-05:00

2008-11-03T13:31:09-05:00

2008-11-05T21:39:36-05:00

Tarstark

Salinas 598739

19 Yeah, I don't understand that either. I mean, okay, OK lost 3 weeks ago, so they've had time to climb the polls. So put one or the other right above one or the other, that's cool. But by 5 whole margins in some cases? When TX won on neutral ground, and lost on at a night away game? I don't see how that works out to say that OK is better than TX. 3257164

2008-11-03T15:05:36-05:00

1595

Klee Irwin

Nome 582256

4 anyone who would rank Oklahoma behind Texas after Texas just beat them a few weeks ago needs to immediately have their vote privileges rescinded. People whine about no playoff in college football, and when we DO have the closest thing you can get to a playoff (the top teams playing each other), then the same ignoramuses ignore what just happened on the field a few weeks ago. What a bunch of dipthongs. Proof that there is too much human media bias and we need to give the computers more weight, like 50% of the formula. 3229372

2008-11-05T13:38:08-05:00

181

CuseFanInSoCal

San Diego 190925

anyone who would rank Oklahoma behind Texas after Texas just beat them a few weeks ago needs to immediately have their vote privileges rescinded.

18 That wouldn't be so bad if Oklahoma had wins it could stack up against Texas' and say that losing to Texas in Dallas is about the same as losing at Texas Tech, but had accomplished more otherwise. But that's not the case here. OU has beat a Cinci team that should be ranked, a TCU team that's highly ranked, and a Kansas team that used to be ranked. Which is pretty good. But Texas has taken down Oklahoma, Missouri, and Oklahoma State. 3252172

2008-11-04T13:40:27-05:00

533

beachgator

Lucedale 174427

16 Any team that has fans who use the term "jackarse" or "arse" in general, should be excluded from Div I-A for an eternity. The proper term is jackass on this side of the pond, whether or not it gets asterisks. Jackass. 3240071

2008-11-04T14:52:38-05:00

1595

Klee Irwin

Nome 582256

Any team that has fans who use the term "jackarse" or "arse" in general, should be excluded from Div I-A for an eternity. The proper term is jackass on this side of the pond, whether or not it gets asterisks. Jackass.

17 Jackass.Jackass.Jackass.Jackass.Jackass.Jackass.Jackass.Jackass.Jackass.Jackass.Jackass. I think I got it. Jackass. 3241227

2008-11-04T13:40:27-05:00

533

beachgator

Lucedale 174427

2008-11-04T02:20:44-05:00

2444

Sandy Underpants

Los Angeles 481510

15 The BCS moved USC to #7 where the humans put them last week. So if anything, the humans are ahead of the computers. I can't wait to hear you explain next weeks rankings to me when USC moves up again. 3234995

2008-11-03T20:15:48-05:00

2444

Sandy Underpants

Los Angeles 481510

USC dropped from 5th to 7th in the BCS even though their rank in both the human polls stayed the same. I love it. The computers know. You can't fool the computers. The biased media...

13 Pud-knocker, the human voters dropped USC from #5 to 6 and 7 a week before the computers did. So, so much for conspiracy theories. And computers just calculate the information (good and/or bad) that the humans input, so there's no real difference anyway. 3233182

2008-11-04T01:13:22-05:00

1595

Klee Irwin

Nome 582256

Pud-knocker, the human voters dropped USC from #5 to 6 and 7 a week before the computers did. So, so much for conspiracy theories. And computers just calculate the information (good and/or bad) that the humans input, so there's no real difference anyway.

14 I was talking about this week jackarse. Pay closer attention next time. Despite not moving down in the human polls, their computer ranking alone cost them 2 spots in the BCS. That's what happens when you only play 2-3 tough games a year. 3234870

2008-11-03T18:31:30-05:00

1595

Klee Irwin

Nome 582256

11 USC dropped from 5th to 7th in the BCS even though their rank in both the human polls stayed the same. I love it. The computers know. You play in that weak **** pud conference called the Little Sisters of the Pac 10, it comes back to bite you. You can't fool the computers. The biased media and the Dirty Tricks Watergate USC alums don't get it, but the unbiased computers can't be fooled. 3232273

2008-11-03T20:15:48-05:00

2444

Sandy Underpants

Los Angeles 481510

USC dropped from 5th to 7th in the BCS even though their rank in both the human polls stayed the same. I love it. The computers know. You can't fool the computers. The biased media...

2008-11-03T19:54:27-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/884/14/thumb/al.jpg 81 CA

Franco

San Francisco 88714

12 The Pollspeak article on the flaws of the BCS was very good, nice work. You did have a few minor typos but no one is perfect (and it was a loooooong piece). However, it was very thoughtful and well reasoned. I'd say I agree with you -- however, IIRC, the basis for using the AP and Coaches poll was that each group gave a national championship trophy and the six conference commissioners/presidents wanted to tie that into together into one trophy. Unfortunately, the AP folks wouldn't play ball and only the coaches (ACFA) signed that contract to vote the winner #1 (irrespective of their actual feelings). I do think you're right, for good or bad, the BCS has convinced enough voters of its legitimacy to name the "national champion" that they could act without the coaches poll. However, I'm not sure the conference commissioners/presidents that make it up will do so. Finally, I think one of the reasons it likely is run like someone's hobby in the basement family room is that, again, the conference commissioners/presidents want to control the ball of wax as much as possible, rather than allowing the BCS to be a truly independent organism of its own. 3232983

2008-11-03T18:31:30-05:00

1595

Klee Irwin

Nome 582256

2008-11-03T16:57:18-05:00

1595

Klee Irwin

Nome 582256

10 want some funny reading, you got to go to this Jon Wilner's poll at his paper and read the comments following his AP ballot. He is getting eviscerated. 3231290

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/images/11/03/julio-jones-swp.jpg" alt="Double Click to select a Photo" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">We have a new No. 1 in 'Bama, but we don't have BCS peace : AP</div> </div> <p><em>By Hugh Falk, <a href="http://www.pollspeak.com/" target="_blank">Pollspeak.com</a></em><br /><br /><strong>TO HELL WITH THE BCS</strong></p> <p>With Texas losing, all Hell has broken loose in the polls.  If you need proof, note Penn State received six (6) first-place votes in the AP Poll and Texas Tech received six (6) in the Coaches' Poll. Harris Interactive just released its sixth (6) poll of the season. There are six (6) computer polls and if you include the AP Poll and the BCS Standings, six (6) of ten rankings have <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?r=T&s=5&p=8&w=11&t1=3&t2=0&v=0" target="_blank">Alabama</a> No. 1. Oh, and this is my sixth (6) blog of the season. Three (half of 6) different teams received a No. 1 ranking from the BCS components: Alabama, <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?r=T&s=5&p=8&w=11&t1=3&t2=0&v=0" target="_blank">Texas Tech</a> and <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?r=T&s=5&p=8&w=11&t1=94&t2=0&v=0" target="_blank">Texas</a>. Two of those teams feature <em>red</em> as their school colors (crimson & scarlet), and while Texas may be orange, it's <em>burnt</em> orange. Can the signs be more obvious?</p> <p>Not only do the BCS components disagree, there's plenty of disagreement within the human polls as well. In the AP, four different teams received a No. 1 vote (<a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&v=0&t1=3&w=11&r=T" target="_blank">Alabama</a> (46), <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&v=0&t1=96&w=11&r=T" target="_blank">Texas Tech</a> (12), <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&v=0&t1=79&w=11&r=T" target="_blank">Penn State</a> (6) and <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&v=0&t1=27&w=11&r=T" target="_blank">Florida</a> (1)), while four did in the Coaches' Poll (Alabama (40), Penn State (14), Texas Tech (6) and Oklahoma (1)) and five in Harris Interactive (Alabama (79), Penn State (17), Texas Tech (16), Florida (1) and Texas (1)). While this isn't dissension of Biblical proportions, it's a far cry from the near-Nirvana of the past two weeks.</p> <p><strong>DESPERATELY SEEKING SAGARIN</strong></p> <p>Recently, I've received some feedback about the Sagarin Ratings. It can be hard to determine BCS rankings at the <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt08.htm" target="_blank">official Sagarin Ratings site</a> because teams are ordered by Sagarin's standard rating instead of the ELO_CHESS rating, which the BCS uses. The inclusion of FCS teams at the official site complicates matter further, because only FBS teams play in the BCS. This week, for example, James Madison finished No. 20 in the ELO_CHESS ratings and Appalachian State ranked No. 50. Sagarin Ratings are usually the first of the BCS components made public on Sunday morning, but you can easily read the actual BCS list <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?r=V&s=5&p=8&w=11&t1=0&t2=0&v=402" target="_blank">here at Pollspeak</a>.</p> <p>Since we're plugging Pollspeak, we just published an article <a href="http://pollspeak.com/football_2008_SaveTheBCS.htm" target="_blank">detailing some BCS flaws</a> and how to fix them. There are some serious concerns, including issues with security, which could be the BCS's undoing if not corrected. Hopefully these concerns can be addressed because I am actually a fan of the BCS overall.</p> <p><strong>SECRET DIS-SERVICE</strong></p> <p>One part of the BCS I don't like, however, is the use of secret ballots. This week I would really like to know how the coaches dropped <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=8&v=0&t1=94&w=11&r=T" target="_blank">Texas</a> to No. 7. That's a big drop for an away team losing on a last second play to another top 10 team, especially when Texas has played the toughest schedule in the top 10 (Sagarin ranks the Longhorns' schedule seventh overall).</p> <p>Looking at the AP for some clues, <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&t1=80&t2=106&v=398&w=11&r=V" target="_blank">Maurice Patton</a> ranks Oklahoma over Texas by the largest margin (five), but amazingly, <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&t1=75&t2=94&v=14&w=11&r=T&o1=diff" target="_blank">16 other voters followed him</a>.  Some voters have exceptionally short memories.</p> <p><a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&t1=0&t2=0&v=35&w=11&r=V" target="_blank">Jon Wilner</a> not only cast the lone No. 1 vote for Florida, he was also the only voter to rank Texas over Texas Tech. Although the coaches may be low-balling Texas, Texas Tech is certainly one team that can rightfully jump over the Longhorns.</p> <p>Finally, if you need more proof that all Hell has broken loose this week, note that in <a href="http://prwolfe.bol.ucla.edu/cfootball/ratings.htm" target="_blank">the current Wolfe Ratings</a> Central Methodist is ranked 666. If that's not a sign, I don't know what is.</p> <p>For more poll analysis, go to <a href="http://www.pollspeak.com/" target="_blank">pollspeak.com</a>.</p>

The SI Staff

New York City 21244 19921 <div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/images/11/03/julio-jones-swp.jpg" alt="Double Click to select a Photo" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">We have a new No. 1 in 'Bama, but we don't have BCS peace : AP</div> </div> <p><em>By Hugh Falk, <a href="http://www.pollspeak.com/" target="_blank">Pollspeak.com</a></em><br /><br /><strong>TO HELL WITH THE BCS</strong></p> <p>With Texas losing, all Hell has broken loose in the polls.  If you need proof, note Penn State received six (6) first-place votes in the AP Poll and Texas Tech received six (6) in the Coaches' Poll. Harris Interactive just released its sixth (6) poll of the season. There are six (6) computer polls and if you include the AP Poll and the BCS Standings, six (6) of ten rankings have <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?r=T&s=5&p=8&w=11&t1=3&t2=0&v=0" target="_blank">Alabama</a> No. 1. Oh, and this is my sixth (6) blog of the season. Three (half of 6) different teams received a No. 1 ranking from the BCS components: Alabama, <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?r=T&s=5&p=8&w=11&t1=3&t2=0&v=0" target="_blank">Texas Tech</a> and <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?r=T&s=5&p=8&w=11&t1=94&t2=0&v=0" target="_blank">Texas</a>. Two of those teams feature <em>red</em> as their school colors (crimson & scarlet), and while Texas may be orange, it's <em>burnt</em> orange. Can the signs be more obvious?</p> <p>Not only do the BCS components disagree, there's plenty of disagreement within the human polls as well. In the AP, four different teams received a No. 1 vote (<a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&v=0&t1=3&w=11&r=T" target="_blank">Alabama</a> (46), <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&v=0&t1=96&w=11&r=T" target="_blank">Texas Tech</a> (12), <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&v=0&t1=79&w=11&r=T" target="_blank">Penn State</a> (6) and <a href="http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollstalker.php?s=5&p=9&v=0&t1=27&w=11&r=T" target="_blank">Florida</a> (1)), while four did in the Coaches' Poll (Alabama (40), Penn State (14), Texas Tech (6) and Oklahoma (1)) and five in Harris Interactive (Alabama (79), Penn State (17), Texas Tech (16), Florida (1) and Texas (1)). While this isn't dissension of Biblical proportions, it's a far cry from the near-Nirvana of the past two weeks.</p>