Don Best Linemakers Poll Vs BCS Standings
Entering the ninth week of the college football season, the latest Don Best Linemakers Poll is out and there are key differences as always when compared to the BCS Standings.
First off, what exactly is the poll and how is it put together by Kenny White?
It is a power poll based on the actual strength of teams rather than popularity and does not easily waver with a single loss or win. In a hypothetical situation where every school in the nation played each other, home and away, the rankings are where the team’s records would stack up.
Also, the ratings assigned to teams can be used to create a line for any matchup.
Right now in the BCS Standings, the LSU Tigers are ranked No. 1 with the Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 2. However, the DB Poll has backed ‘Bama all year by placing them in the first spot with LSU currently No. 2.
The matchup between these heavyweights has been brewing all season long and on November 5, the Tigers will be in Tuscaloosa to battle the Tide in a critical game for the SEC, the BCS and the Linemakers Poll.
As for the Oregon Ducks, they do have one loss this season but it was opening week on a neutral field against LSU. With that loss they are still a top-5 ranked team according to White, and the Ducks are No. 7 in the BCS and on the AP. The two rankings almost agree with each other here, but there is some disagreement with a couple of undefeated squads.
Quarterback Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal are No. 3 on the Don Best Poll while they are No. 6 in the BCS behind Oklahoma State, Boise State and Clemson. Stanford has won and covered every single week in 2011 sitting at 7-0 straight up and against the spread.
For a shot at a national title, the Cardinal will have to beat both Oregon and USC. Kenny sees this program as being worthy of the top-5 as illustrated in the rankings.
Then there is Kansas State, whose place on the polls is one of the most significant differences between the two. Sitting undefeated at 7-0, the Wildcats are No. 8 in the BCS. On the Linemakers Poll, however, the Wildcats are not even top-20, sitting just outside at No. 21.
K-State has even moved up to earn that spot with a schedule that has worked out favorably for the 'Cats. This week they will host an Oklahoma squad coming off of its first loss of the season.
The weekly swings in the BCS are easily explained due to 'human polls' – the USA Today coaches poll and Harris Poll – accounting for two-thirds of the process. The Don Best Linemakers Poll removes the subjectivity and emotions following a big loss or big win, focusing instead on objective team and player performances.
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DON BEST LINEMAKERS POLL - NCAA College Football Rankings
RANK TEAM RATING BCS
1 Alabama 123.5 2
2 LSU 121.9 1
3 Stanford 120.6 6
4 Oklahoma State 119.0 3
5 Oregon 118.2 7
6 Boise State 118.0 4
7 Oklahoma 117.8 9
8 Wisconsin 117.1 15
9 Clemson 114.5 5
10 Arkansas 113.6 10
11 Michigan State 112.4 11
12 Florida State 112.0 NR
13 Georgia 111.7 22
T-14 Michigan 111.5 18
T-14 Texas A&M 111.5 16
16 Virginia Tech 111.4 12
T-17 Nebraska 110.5 14
T-17 Arizona State 110.5 21
19 Notre Dame 110.4 NR
20 Southern California 109.6 NR
21 Kansas State 109.0 8
22 Miami 108.8 NR
23 Florida 108.7 NR
T-24 Houston 108.6 17
T-24 Cincinnati 108.6 NR
26 Penn State 108.5 19
T-27 Texas 108.1 24
T-27 West Virginia 108.1 25
29 South Carolina 108.0 13
30 Ohio State 107.9 NR
Don Best Linemakers Poll - Updated October 24, 2011
Entering the ninth week of the college football season, the latest Don Best Linemakers Poll is out and there are key differences as always when compared to the BCS Standings.
First off, what exactly is the poll and how is it put together by Kenny White?
It is a power poll based on the actual strength of teams rather than popularity and does not easily waver with a single loss or win. In a hypothetical situation where every school in the nation played each other, home and away, the rankings are where the team’s records would stack up.
Also, the ratings assigned to teams can be used to create a line for any matchup.
Right now in the BCS Standings, the LSU Tigers are ranked No. 1 with the Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 2. However, the DB Poll has backed ‘Bama all year by placing them in the first spot with LSU currently No. 2.
The matchup between these heavyweights has been brewing all season long and on November 5, the Tigers will be in Tuscaloosa to battle the Tide in a critical game for the SEC, the BCS and the Linemakers Poll.
As for the Oregon Ducks, they do have one loss this season but it was opening week on a neutral field against LSU. With that loss they are still a top-5 ranked team according to White, and the Ducks are No. 7 in the BCS and on the AP. The two rankings almost agree with each other here, but there is some disagreement with a couple of undefeated squads.
Quarterback Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal are No. 3 on the Don Best Poll while they are No. 6 in the BCS behind Oklahoma State, Boise State and Clemson. Stanford has won and covered every single week in 2011 sitting at 7-0 straight up and against the spread.
For a shot at a national title, the Cardinal will have to beat both Oregon and USC. Kenny sees this program as being worthy of the top-5 as illustrated in the rankings.
Then there is Kansas State, whose place on the polls is one of the most significant differences between the two. Sitting undefeated at 7-0, the Wildcats are No. 8 in the BCS. On the Linemakers Poll, however, the Wildcats are not even top-20, sitting just outside at No. 21.
K-State has even moved up to earn that spot with a schedule that has worked out favorably for the 'Cats. This week they will host an Oklahoma squad coming off of its first loss of the season.
The weekly swings in the BCS are easily explained due to 'human polls' – the USA Today coaches poll and Harris Poll – accounting for two-thirds of the process. The Don Best Linemakers Poll removes the subjectivity and emotions following a big loss or big win, focusing instead on objective team and player performances.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DON BEST LINEMAKERS POLL - NCAA College Football Rankings
RANK TEAM RATING BCS
1 Alabama 123.5 2
2 LSU 121.9 1
3 Stanford 120.6 6
4 Oklahoma State 119.0 3
5 Oregon 118.2 7
6 Boise State 118.0 4
7 Oklahoma 117.8 9
8 Wisconsin 117.1 15
9 Clemson 114.5 5
10 Arkansas 113.6 10
11 Michigan State 112.4 11
12 Florida State 112.0 NR
13 Georgia 111.7 22
T-14 Michigan 111.5 18
T-14 Texas A&M 111.5 16
16 Virginia Tech 111.4 12
T-17 Nebraska 110.5 14
T-17 Arizona State 110.5 21
19 Notre Dame 110.4 NR
20 Southern California 109.6 NR
21 Kansas State 109.0 8
22 Miami 108.8 NR
23 Florida 108.7 NR
T-24 Houston 108.6 17
T-24 Cincinnati 108.6 NR
26 Penn State 108.5 19
T-27 Texas 108.1 24
T-27 West Virginia 108.1 25
29 South Carolina 108.0 13
30 Ohio State 107.9 NR
Don Best Linemakers Poll - Updated October 24, 2011
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