AP Poll Released
2 12 2007The AP Poll has been released, and here are the rankings:
1. Ohio State (50) 1,578
2. LSU (11) 1,519
3. Oklahoma (1) 1,423
4. Georgia (1) 1,421
5. Virginia Tech (1) 1,380
6. USC 1,346
7. Missouri 1,195
8. Kansas 1,164
9. Florida 1,071
10. Hawaii (1) 1,050
For the 2nd time this season, 6 teams get #1 votes in the AP poll (the last time it occurred before this season was 1990), and yes, someone accepted my challenge to vote Hawaii #1 (though I’m doubting my challenge influenced that decision…).
Now, this is the AP poll, so it isn’t in the BCS, but it could give us an idea of how at least the Harris poll might vote (since it seems to vote similarly to the AP Poll). Remember, the actual rank of teams doesn’t matter in the BCS, it’s the number of points that matter. So let’s see the scores all of the BCS #2 hopefuls would get if the AP poll were in the BCS:
LSU: 0.9348
Oklahoma: 0.8757
Georgia: 0.8745
Virginia Tech: 0.8492
Southern Cal: 0.8283
If these teams keep the same computer rankings from last week (I know that won’t happen, but it could simulate if the margin between them in the computers stay constant), the rankings would shake out thus:
LSU: 0.8865
Georgia: 0.8597
Virginia Tech: 0.8361
Oklahoma: 0.7671
Southern Cal: 0.7655
Since Oklahoma and Southern Cal both had double-digit computer rankings coming into the week, I would find it difficult for either of them to slip into the #2 spot. They’d have to be clear #2 in the polls and that isn’t happening. The question will become how much LSU can gain in the computers, and how many people will move them to 2nd in the polls.
Given the man juice being created over LSU last night on the TV, I find it no surprise that LSU is #2 in the AP poll. The question is where will they be in the Harris and Coaches? They jumped from 5th to 2nd in the AP, only jumping over Georgia. They’re 7th in the Coaches poll, however. (they’re also 5th in the Harris).
The other implication of all this is that Kansas may not get an automatic bid into the BCS, giving the Fiesta Bowl the option to choose Arizona State if they wish.
And just for kicks, here is the average rank of the top 6 teams on ballots:
Ohio State: 1.7 (the average rank of those who didn’t rank OSU 1st was around 4th)
LSU: 2.6 (average rank of those who didn’t rank LSU 1st was around 3rd)
Oklahoma: 4.1
Georgia: 4.1
Virginia Tech: 4.8
Southern Cal: 5.3
Interpret that as you may.
