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Famboo28
Guest
That USC lost just a week ago to a lowly Oregan State team and they're still in the top 5 of the BCS.
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Stealingshrimp
Guest
Yes, and no.
USC has played a pretty strong schedule and still have Cal and us to play.
The whole "if you are going to lose, do it in September" is a pretty crappy statement. What it's saying is, the polls aren't objective and treat late losses more severely simply because they are fresh on their mind.
Now USC isn't still that high because of this, but because of their absurd amount of coverage in the media. BUT, they deserve the ranking because they are after all a 1-loss team who has played a tougher schedule than any top10 team.
Sidenote..
ND playing on CSTV really hurt us this last weekend, Brady Quinn (I believe) had his best showing in blue and gold. He was right of target all day, and I think every ball that was an incompletion was dropped, maybe one was knocked at the line of scrimmage.
USC has played a pretty strong schedule and still have Cal and us to play.
The whole "if you are going to lose, do it in September" is a pretty crappy statement. What it's saying is, the polls aren't objective and treat late losses more severely simply because they are fresh on their mind.
Now USC isn't still that high because of this, but because of their absurd amount of coverage in the media. BUT, they deserve the ranking because they are after all a 1-loss team who has played a tougher schedule than any top10 team.
Sidenote..
ND playing on CSTV really hurt us this last weekend, Brady Quinn (I believe) had his best showing in blue and gold. He was right of target all day, and I think every ball that was an incompletion was dropped, maybe one was knocked at the line of scrimmage.
scooper
Cincy Bail Bonds
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USC has beaten a couple good teams. And they POUNDED a top 6 team. Their loss sucked, but it was once bounce the other direction from being very similar to our MSU or UCLA wins. At the moment, I can't complain about their ranking.
Even so, when they are ranked close, I will never complain about USC's ranking when the Irish have an opportunity to take care of that piece of business without getting any help. Beat USC and it sorts itself out.
Even so, when they are ranked close, I will never complain about USC's ranking when the Irish have an opportunity to take care of that piece of business without getting any help. Beat USC and it sorts itself out.
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jerseyborn1971
Guest
ND is in a great spot. USC is ranked #3, but I think ND has a great shot against them. They have had good wins that weren't scary great. Oregon is a chump although they are still considered good. They got blown out by both USC & CAL and should have lost to Oklahoma. Nebraska is a good win, but Nebraska isn't terrifying either. Arkansas was a good win, but McFaddn didn't play and neither Dick nor Mustain was qb.
Bottom line, USC looks great on paper & in the rankings, but ND definitely has a chance to beat them.
I totally agree with Famboo. If the Irish lost to anyone outside the top 25, all we would hear about was what a crappy coach CW was and how overrated ND was. It would also take us 3 or 4 weeks to get anywhere near the top 10 in any of the polls again. In the case of USC, all we hearis how they [Ialmost cameback to win. The biases in the voters is incredible
LOVEMYIRISH
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I felt that way, but when I go down the list, I can see why...
I think they should be below Florida and us though.
LOVEMYIRISH
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Yeah...they say "Champions find ways to win"
They do not say "Champions find ways to ALMOST win"...unless of course it's USC.
It's not crazy. Oregon State is ranked (Sagarin http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt06.htm) about the same as VT, BC, BYU, AUB, PSU, NU, WF, GT, and UCLA. Hit the link and check the Rating, the W/L, and Strength of Schedule. Just coincidence that the guys with 4 losses like OR St play the toughest schedule while most of the unbeaten and 1 or 2 loss teams play far easier schedules.
Oregon State isn't a lowly team.
As for the Trojans find someone who's played a tougher out of conference schedule this year. Arkansas, Nebraska, and Notre Dame. The entire Big East Conference doesn't play one team like that much less three!
I don't like USC but give them their due.
The last 4 games on USC's schedule are also tougher than the entire Big East's schedule: Oregon, CAL, ND, and UCLA.
or notre dame last year... just sayin...
there's no "anti-notre dame bias". USC has played good football all year, and they're a one loss team like all the others. They've played a VERY difficult schedule, and they certainly deserve to be in the top 10.
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polishdomer
Guest
Great post BGIF...I especially like the VS Top 30 ranking more than Top 10...more accurate predictor.
The individual rankings are subjective to some degree as to who is #23 or #24 but when you look at the records along with the competition together the beauty contest of the polls becomes apparent.
jiggafini19
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Interesting they were on the road, getting killed by Oregon State and LOST the game close.
Why do I still have to hear about ND's close call against a hapless MSU team on the road and THEY WON THE GODDAMNED GAME????
The Beavs and Slappy's Spartans both share wins over Idaho. Idaho, baby.
Why do I still have to hear about ND's close call against a hapless MSU team on the road and THEY WON THE GODDAMNED GAME????
The Beavs and Slappy's Spartans both share wins over Idaho. Idaho, baby.
Yes, but true none the less. "So goes Iowa; so goes the Nation"
When were the polls ever objective? Really?
Are they voting for the best team as of today? Best Team at the end of the year? Or team most likely to have the fewest losses based on a cupcake schedule? Now add "influences" such as Conference Revenue sharing, Conference/Bowl Contracts, Coaches Incentive Pay, media subscription base or Neilsen Ratings, and just plain tribal instincts ('93 no SEC team in contention for NC so they vote for Bobby Bowden's team - regional mentality), the tribal instinct includes the local AP writers, non-BCS Bias, Non-Conference Bias, etc.
They've justified on the field a Top 5 ranking as I noted in a post above.
So true, weren't his passes crisp. It looked like a clinic. Mulitiple targets. Finding the open man for maximum gain. As Charlie noted, Perfection except for three drops, a deflection, and ball just overthrown to a open receiver deep in the endzone. I thought he was going to have a 6 TD day.
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onenybrother
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Our only loss was against the number 2 team in the country. If we beat the number 3 team in the country and end up in the Championsip game watch the haters come out. I say Fawk em. Let's Go Dame!!!!!
LOVEMYIRISH
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AMEN!
Vince Young
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Don't forget, USC was hangin' around the bottom of the top 10 right down with Notre Dame... until Upset Saturday.
They benefitted from the upsets just as much as we did. They won, the teams ahead of them lost, and they moved up just like we did. Only difference is they leap-frogged Florida and we didn't.
No mystery to me. USC is still SCARY good.
They benefitted from the upsets just as much as we did. They won, the teams ahead of them lost, and they moved up just like we did. Only difference is they leap-frogged Florida and we didn't.
No mystery to me. USC is still SCARY good.