What does it say about rankings when....

[lowhandicapper]

The #17 team (#14 in coaches poll) playing at home is a touchdown underdog to the #24 team (unranked in coaches poll)?
What exactly does this say about rankings and/or putting your money where you mouth is.
Not interested in hearing the stuff about how bookies try to even out the betting. The facts are nobody would bet on them in an even up scenario or line would reflect such.

 

[marshall23]

The #17 team (#14 in coaches poll) playing at home is a touchdown underdog to the #24 team (unranked in coaches poll)?
What exactly does this say about rankings and/or putting your money where you mouth is.
Not interested in hearing the stuff about how bookies try to even out the betting. The facts are nobody would bet on them in an even up scenario or line would reflect such.

Perhaps it says more about Pitt than the rankings/polls?

 

[AWS1022]

The #17 team (#14 in coaches poll) playing at home is a touchdown underdog to the #24 team (unranked in coaches poll)?
What exactly does this say about rankings and/or putting your money where you mouth is.
Not interested in hearing the stuff about how bookies try to even out the betting. The facts are nobody would bet on them in an even up scenario or line would reflect such.

Says to me that Tennessee is being over hyped as usual. My guess is Pitt beats them (I hope not, but I’m not sold on Tennessee yet).

 

[WPTLION]

In theory Tennessee would be a 12 point favorite at home, right?

 

[lowhandicapper]

But why rank a team ahead of another team if the general consensus is that they would lose to that team? Makes zero sense. None.
Does anyone really think NC State is 14 spots better than say Penn State. My gut says PSU would be favored if they were to play.
Has ranking become about the path a team takes to a final record as opposed to how good they are among their peers?

 

[AWS1022]

But why rank a team ahead of another team if the general consensus is that they would lose to that team? Makes zero sense. None.
Does anyone really think NC State is 14 spots better than say Penn State. My gut says PSU would be favored if they were to play.
Has ranking become about the path a team takes to a final record as opposed to how good they are among their peers?

Part of the rankings for Pitt is the fact that looking at their schedule, they could (and should) easily go 10-2 or so. Not the same for Tennessee or PSU.

 

[YYZ86]

Part of the rankings for Pitt is the fact that looking at their schedule, they could (and should) easily go 10-2 or so. Not the same for Tennessee or PSU.

Not touching the Pitt vs Tennessee game today. The line begs you to take Tenn, but I don’t think Tenn is very good. Was thinking about the over though.

 

[PSUSignore]

The #17 team (#14 in coaches poll) playing at home is a touchdown underdog to the #24 team (unranked in coaches poll)?
What exactly does this say about rankings and/or putting your money where you mouth is.
Not interested in hearing the stuff about how bookies try to even out the betting. The facts are nobody would bet on them in an even up scenario or line would reflect such.

It says that the people that determine the rankings are different from those that set betting lines and they have different opinions. Besides, we all know rankings are pretty useless and inaccurate for at least another 4-6 weeks.

 

[AWS1022]

It says that the people that determine the rankings are different from those that set betting lines and they have different opinions. Besides, we all know rankings are pretty useless and inaccurate for at least another 4-6 weeks.

And even after 4-6 weeks they’re still not that good. About the only ranking that can be done with any accuracy is within a conference. A good record in the ACC or the PAC 12 doesn’t really point to a strong team.

 

[BBG65]

Even within a conference, schedule is such a big factor. Pitt will likely be favored every game after today until Miami, the last game. They miss the top teams in the ACC, Florida State, Clemson, and NC State.

 

[CJFisJoePaII]

No holding there... another joke non-call.

 

[CJFisJoePaII]

The #17 team (#14 in coaches poll) playing at home is a touchdown underdog to the #24 team (unranked in coaches poll)?
What exactly does this say about rankings and/or putting your money where you mouth is.
Not interested in hearing the stuff about how bookies try to even out the betting. The facts are nobody would bet on them in an even up scenario or line would reflect such.

What does it say when you have 5 ACC teams ranked??? How about Miami being ranked #15??? Based on what precisely??? When's the last time Miami even finished a season ranked?

 

[lowhandicapper]

So should a team be ranked higher because they look good and play good and lose tough games against quality competition or because they have a good record, regardless of competition?
You can't have it both ways.
Is a no loss UCF better than a 2 loss LSU?

 

[AWS1022]

So should a team be ranked higher because they look good and play good and lose tough games against quality competition or because they have a good record, regardless of competition?
You can't have it both ways.
Is a no loss UCF better than a 2 loss LSU?

But they shouldn’t be ranked if they look bad and win a close game against a bad opponent (of they should at least drop in the rankings). And they certainly shouldn’t be ranked if they get absolutely embarrassed by another team in their first game of the year. At that point they should drop out and have to earn their way back in.

 

[LandoComando]

The #17 team (#14 in coaches poll) playing at home is a touchdown underdog to the #24 team (unranked in coaches poll)?
What exactly does this say about rankings and/or putting your money where you mouth is.
Not interested in hearing the stuff about how bookies try to even out the betting. The facts are nobody would bet on them in an even up scenario or line would reflect such.

This means absolutely nothing

 

[marshall23]

But why rank a team ahead of another team if the general consensus is that they would lose to that team? Makes zero sense. None.
Does anyone really think NC State is 14 spots better than say Penn State. My gut says PSU would be favored if they were to play.
Has ranking become about the path a team takes to a final record as opposed to how good they are among their peers?

Because rankings come from different sources than betting odds?

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

Because rankings come from different sources than betting odds?

Exactly.

 

[lowhandicapper]

This means absolutely nothing

Rankings absolutely matter because they setup your ability to ascend. No matter how good or bad you are, your perception (aka ranking) is what facilitates your speed to ascend up the rankings. Your performance can only do so much because people just won't leapfrog you all that much. Mainly because media types do have agendas....Paul Finebaum is always gonna rank a one loss SEC team ahead of a one loss B1G team, because it's aligned with his agenda.
All that said, ranking suck. The people who make them are really bad at it. This week is a prime example, where the perception that teams like Notre Dame or Texas A&M are "top" teams. Meanwhile they are losing at home to teams that will likely never be worthy of being a ranked team.
It's sad for kids that a bunch of media types who never played a competitive sport dictate these things....and make no mistake a team can only control their own destiny if they win their conference and secure a "decided" berth, which is a maximum of say 6 teams in the country any given year, otherwise you fall victim to the perception lense. A lense decided by people who have minimal "real football" knowledge. It's really quite silly and based on the new playoff proposal the ranking becomes even more important for the "next 6" that get in and the "top 4" to get the bye.
So yes, rankings matter, no matter how much we like them or how non legit they truly are....which is a lot. But they ultimately determine what will happen with non conference champ in the postseason, which is the goal of the regular season.

 

[lowhandicapper]

So yes, rankings matter, no matter how much we like them or how non legit they truly are....which is a lot. But they ultimately determine what will happen with non conference champ in the postseason, which is the goal of the regular season.

Additionally, the problem with college football has never really been deciding who gets the #1 seed in any give year, it's who gets the other spots for whatever, the playoff, NY6, upper teir bowl, whatever. Because to this day college football has still not found a fair and appropriate way to determine the difference between a one loss Texas, one loss Oregon, a one loss ND and a one loss Ohio State.
It's 2022 and we have not figured out or implemented a system or program that assists in determining teams that have like records without like opponents.
So just make it who the beholder thinks it is.....seems fair and just. Great idea. #Tradition

 

[CJFisJoePaII]

Additionally, the problem with college football has never really been deciding who gets the #1 seed in any give year, it's who gets the other spots for whatever, the playoff, NY6, upper teir bowl, whatever. Because to this day college football has still not found a fair and appropriate way to determine the difference between a one loss Texas, one loss Oregon, a one loss ND and a one loss Ohio State.
It's 2022 and we have not figured out or implemented a system or program that assists in determining teams that have like records without like opponents.
So just make it who the beholder thinks it is.....seems fair and just. Great idea. #Tradition

In the season-starting AP Poll, ND, aTm and Utah were ranked 5, 6 and 7 respectively. All have lost to Unranked teams at the time they played them in the first two weeks of season. IOW, 30% of the AP Polls inaugural top-ten shouldn't even be ranked at all.

 

[lowhandicapper]

In the season-starting AP Poll, ND, aTm and Utah were ranked 5, 6 and 7 respectively. All have lost to Unranked teams at the time they played them in the first two weeks of season. IOW, 30% of the AP Polls inaugural top-ten shouldn't even be ranked at all.

It really sucks.
Let's just keep this one in the chamber.....Never forget what the Big Ten media entourage did to the 1994 Penn State team both the team with regard to ranking and the fact they wouldn't come together to solidify Collins or Carter as the Heisman trophy winner. It was criminal an act they would never produce for Ohio State or Michigan. Sad and pathetic. Non objectivity ruins many things, but it sure is popular.

 

[LandoComando]

Rankings absolutely matter because they setup your ability to ascend. No matter how good or bad you are, your perception (aka ranking) is what facilitates your speed to ascend up the rankings. Your performance can only do so much because people just won't leapfrog you all that much. Mainly because media types do have agendas....Paul Finebaum is always gonna rank a one loss SEC team ahead of a one loss B1G team, because it's aligned with his agenda.
All that said, ranking suck. The people who make them are really bad at it. This week is a prime example, where the perception that teams like Notre Dame or Texas A&M are "top" teams. Meanwhile they are losing at home to teams that will likely never be worthy of being a ranked team.
It's sad for kids that a bunch of media types who never played a competitive sport dictate these things....and make no mistake a team can only control their own destiny if they win their conference and secure a "decided" berth, which is a maximum of say 6 teams in the country any given year, otherwise you fall victim to the perception lense. A lense decided by people who have minimal "real football" knowledge. It's really quite silly and based on the new playoff proposal the ranking becomes even more important for the "next 6" that get in and the "top 4" to get the bye.
So yes, rankings matter, no matter how much we like them or how non legit they truly are....which is a lot. But they ultimately determine what will happen with non conference champ in the postseason, which is the goal of the regular season.

I didn't say ranking didn't matter--I said the original post meant nothing