First Poll is out. Sagarin has Kansas #1. What do you think?

Question

Sagarins computer poll is out. His section that the BCS uses is as follows:

1. Kansas
2. Louisiana State
3. Oregon
4. Arizona State
5. Missouri
6. Ohio State
7. Oklahoma
8. West Virginia
9. Virginia Tech
10. Georgia.

His overall ranking, which the BCS doesn't use is:
1. Kansas
2. Louisiana State
3. Oregon
4. Oklahoma
5. Ohio State
6. West Virginia
7. Florida
8. Arizona State
9 Missouri
10 Southern Cal

What are your thoughts?
I think that Kansas' weak SOS (#97) should hurt them more as opposed to Oregon (#12) and LSU (#19).
In addition, Kansas has play no ranked teams (according to Sagarin), whereas Oregon is 2-0 against top 10

I'd have the Ducks at #1, LSU 2nd, and Kansas third.
What are your thoughts?

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt07.htm

Answer 1

There is an arguement for all 3 teams. People have to remember that after today some of these SEC teams will no longer be ranked. Iknow people will say (SEC fans) that it is because the SEC is so strong. Well I personally think it is because there are just a lot of average teams in there. We are now seeing what the real SC, Alabama, Auburn, and Kentucky are. These are just good teams. That is it. Just because team lose in the conference doesnt make them all a powerhouse.

Just as Oregon is 1 fluke play away from being undefeated, the same can be said for LSU is 3 or 4 plays from having 3 loses.

I would rank the top 3 Oregon, LSU, Kansas.

Answer 2

Why should Kansas? First of all, they have played absolutely nobody. Only three teams they have faced have winning records. The most wins one team has is 6. The best they have faced as far as record wise, is Central Michigan. OSU has faced seven teams with winning records. Two top 25 teams. And just now they have fallen to a very tough Illinois team. Second of all, Kansas hasn't been in the situation for decades. South Florida had shown signs of being a force in the past couple years. BC has steadily gained ground in becoming a powerhouse. South Florida did play people and so did BC. Now why would someone with a strong history of losing, has not played anybody, squeaked by Texas A&M and Colorado, and somehow is undefeated? We really have nothing in the past to say, this team is for real. OSU went undefeated throughout last regular season, they even posted up another great season the year before, but now just because Kansas is having a dream season they should be #1? They have the benefit of playing in the Big 12 (what many consider the weakest BCS conference), will not be tested until the last game of the season. By the time the whole season is over, they may have played against one single team with a winning record. Yeah, they definately should be #1. Think a little bit about things. Sorry dude, but anyone with a brain only sees one L for LSU. They win and that is all there is too it. Doesn't matter how or when, but as long as they can consistently knock off ranked oppenents, while Kansas knocks off 3-8 opponents, then LSU deserves the nod over Kansas. To Kevin l: Sorry LA Tech kinda slipped by after seeing Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Florida, Auburn, and Alabama. After playing six ranked opponents, I think they deserve a fluff.

Answer 3

Kansas as #1...nah! I'd have them at #3, behind LSU and Oregon. Oregon is a damn good team this year, but I think LSU played a tougher schedule (6 top-18 teams versus Oregon's 3 top-9). LSU played Florida, Kentucky, Auburn, and Alabama in consecutive weeks, losing only to #17 Kentucky. Oregon beat USC and Arizona State, but lost to #6 Cal. Cal has dropped in the rankings considerably since that win. Looks bad for Oregon. I think it would be one hell of a BCS title game between LSU and Oregon, though. Oregon definitely deserves it more than Kansas to this point. If Kansas beats Missouri two weeks from now and Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, then they would have some respect.

Answer 4

Fact: Lsu has played 6 ranked teams so far this year. By the end of the year they will have played 7 now that they are in the SEC championship. On sos alone they are # 1. The rest of these postings about non conference games is all opinions. Kansas still has some very tough games ahead of them. If they go undefeated tehn I will put them as #1 going into the NC.Until then it is LSU, Ore, then KU.

Answer 5

i think i would have 1.Oregon 2. LSU 3. Kansas too. I think Oregon is a slightly better team athletically than LSU. LSU is the best team of all the power conferences but with all of the SEC teams sliding out of the top 25 I think their strength of schedule is diminished. Kansas lets face hasnt beaten any one outside of K-State who got spanked by Nebraska. I think a win over Missouri makes Kansas the consensus number 1 team in the polls.

Answer 6

I wonder if it was a name like Nebraska, Michigan, USC, Florida State that was the ONLY unbeaten team from a BCS conference, would they be #1 with the same schedule Kansas has had. I think they would. In fact before this weekend Ohio State was #1 for being unbeaten with a weak schedule. Right now, KU remains the only choice for #1. If they lose to Missouri or Oklahomna, then they obviously would have to fall in the rankings, but the polls should not punish them for being Kansas. And look at how they are beating teams. They scored 76 points on Nebraska. Nobody has ever scored 76 on Nebraska before. KU's basketball team scored 76 on Nebraska last year, but never in football.

Answer 7

Everyone is arguing that LSU has it in strength of schedule but Sagarin disagrees. LSU has the 19th hardest schedule, Oregon has the 12th hardest.

I would rank them in this order:
#1 Kansas
#2 Oregon
#3 LSU

Oh, and senSAINTional, Oregon has beaten Michigan, Cal, USC, and Arizona St. They've earned their spot.

Answer 8

You can make the argument that Kansas hasn't played anyone, and they haven't, but you can't make that argument with Oregon. Non-conference wins over Houston, Michigan, and Fresno State (which is much better than LSU's non-conference schedule of Virginia Tech and three high-school teams) and having to play everyone in their conference, which is not that far behind the SEC, whereas LSU has missed both Georgia and Tennessee this year.

Answer 9

Nos. 1 & 2 should be LSU and Oregon in either order. I give LSU a slight edge because of the number of games against top teams. Funny how people say they are overrated because they beat top 15 teams by small margins.

Answer 10

BIAS..BIAS..BIAS...
All you SEC'ers need to be consistent in your arguement, or shut up.
When SEC teams lose to each other, thier fans claim that it proves how tough their program is, but when other teams lose in conference it's because that conf. is weak.

Well Oregon beat a then-top-ten ranked AZ St. team and USC.
They play every team in their conference, and beat Michigan, at the Big House and played good Houston and Fresno teams.
As the posted pointed out they have a TOUGHER SOS than LSU (12 vs 19).
HAH!