leppycole said:
How far could ND move up, top 10 in the BCS, we need to get to 12.
You can estimate where ND will be in the two polls each week usually within a slot but the computer ratings vary so much among the 6 systems it's hard to estimate what they're going to turn up. I spent some time last night looking back through the past computer rating looking at the impact of losses and rankings. Even put a spread sheet together but it's still was quite wide.
Review of the BCS Weekly Rating shows:
Week 1 of BCS ND was ranked 11th and 12th in the polls, average 11.5, was#25 in the computer rankings for a #16 BCS ranking.
Week 2 of BCS ND was ranked 10th and 10th in the polls, average 10, was #23 in the computer rankings for a #15 BCS ranking.
Week 3 of BCS ND was ranked 9th and 9th in the polls, average 9, was #22 in the computer rankings for a #14 BCS ranking.
The computers are very slowly advancing ND forward hindering BCS progress,
ND has been ranked about 5 slots lower in the BCS than in the Harris/Coaches average.
So with ND's current #7 ranking in the polls anticipate at least #12.
I think we could be as high as #9, with
#10 being my estimate.
The different computer systems treat wins and losses differently. With some a Win over VT is the same as a win over Temple and a 3 point loss to USC is no different than a loss to Div II, UC-Davis. Curiously some teams have dropped 7 slots with a loss, the same as the human pollsters "rule of thumb". Some computers take strength of schedule as relative strength between teams. Other compute Strenth of Schedule as simple Wins and Losses weighted heavily and which Conference the team is in but don't seem to differentiate between Appalachian State. So if you beat a weak team for strong conference that has fatten it's record on Div II opponents you get credit for that those wins, Opponents Opponents Wins.
Bottom line the next BCS poll show have ND BCS "eligibile" but keep in mind there's no guarantee unless ND finishes in the Top 6. ND still needs to win out and have enough 1 loss teams lose another game or in Bama's case lose 2.