There are eleven undefeated teams left in the collegiate ranks, but I'd say that only about six of them are legitimate. Does it not bug anyone else that teams like Miami (FL) and Clemson are ranked so highly after not playing anyone? Likewise, Vanderbilt has talent, but they've yet to be tested. I was breaking down each team's record, and it turns out all the teams Vanderbilt, Sam Houston State, Ole Miss, Miami (FL), and Clemson have played teams with collective records of 50% or less, with Ole Miss' opponents having a 50% record, Vanderbilt's 49.2%, Miami (FL)'s 47.9%, Sam Houston State's 40.3%, and Clemson's 39.4%. Meanwhile, Kansas has knocked off Arizona and Southern Cal, Texas has knocked off Tennessee and UCLA, Pitt just knocked off Duke, Washington State beat Gonzaga, and Memphis beat UConn, Oklahoma, and Southern Cal. Also, while Georgetown's only marquee win is over Alabama, their place at the top of the rankings has been theirs since the preseason. My concern is moreso with the teams that have risen due to a weak schedule, not those (Georgetown) that have just maintained their rankings. So what are everyone's opinions on these five (or six) paper tigers? Are they legitimate, and should they be ranked amongst teams with greater talent levels and more difficult schedules? This happens every year, and while this year hasn't been particularly bad for that, it still upsets me to see teams like Miami (FL) and Clemson ranked, with teams like Ole Miss on the verge of the top 25.
at least Clemson won @ Miss St and against Purdue and South Carolina, I wouldn't really classify them as *pushovers*, even though they aren't the top tier talent.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Dec 21 2007, 01:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>at least Clemson won @ Miss St and against Purdue and South Carolina, I wouldn't really classify them as *pushovers*, even though they aren't the top tier talent.</div> I agree that Purdue's not a pushover, but that was a home game that could have easily be won by Purdue. Mississippi State (and South Carolina to an extent) is a bit of a pushover this season; hell, South Alabama just knocked them off, and their game came right down to the wire as well. For what they've done this season, a unanimous #15 ranking is a bit too much. I can see Clemson getting absolutely pounded when the go into Alabama on the 1st.
I never understood why coaches would make such easy non-conference schedules. You want to challenge your players so they're prepared for conference and postseason play, not coddle them so that they get swept in the first month of legitimate action. We'll probably see Clemson go 7-9 in conference again. Err, who knows, maybe they can pull 8-8.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Voodoo Child @ Dec 21 2007, 01:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I never understood why coaches would make such easy non-conference schedules. You want to challenge your players so they're prepared for conference and postseason play, not coddle them so that they get swept in the first month of legitimate action. We'll probably see Clemson go 7-9 in conference again. Err, who knows, maybe they can pull 8-8.</div> I can see the lesser teams try to learn how to win, jell as a team, and try to make a run for there confrence. I dont understand why the better teams play cupcakes.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ed the Decider @ Dec 23 2007, 06:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Voodoo Child @ Dec 21 2007, 01:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I never understood why coaches would make such easy non-conference schedules. You want to challenge your players so they're prepared for conference and postseason play, not coddle them so that they get swept in the first month of legitimate action. We'll probably see Clemson go 7-9 in conference again. Err, who knows, maybe they can pull 8-8.</div> I can see the lesser teams try to learn how to win, jell as a team, and try to make a run for there confrence. I dont understand why the better teams play cupcakes. </div> The only problem when lesser teams play cupcakes is that they dont take anything from it. If you schedule teams that are going to challenge you, maybe not blow you out, but give you a challenge you can learn and adjust more.
