Rankings are a joke

[TheRealVille]

I understand how there weren't enough voters willing to rank Louisville after the WF game, despite winning three games in a roll in the same dominating fashion.

But to rank UCF at #25 just 9 days after they were throttled by East Carolina just doesn't make sense. Yes, they just beat Cincinnati, but they didn't blow out the 10th ranked team by 27 points.

And they know that Louisville beat UCF at their place but apparently the BC loss is what really matters. They know the Louisville team today is not the team that lost to BC. But that doesn't matter.

I know the rankings mean shit but it just irritates the hell out of me how hard it is for Louisville to get its due.

 

[BPGhost]

I understand how there weren't enough voters willing to rank Louisville after the WF game, despite winning three games in a roll in the same dominating fashion.

But to rank UCF at #25 just 9 days after they were throttled by East Carolina just doesn't make sense. Yes, they just beat Cincinnati, but they didn't blow out the 10th ranked team by 27 points.

And they know that Louisville beat UCF at their place but apparently the BC loss is what really matters. They know the Louisville team today is not the team that lost to BC. But that doesn't matter.

I know the rankings mean shit but it just irritates the hell out of me how hard it is for Louisville to get its due.

Keep the team and coaches hungry and with a chip on their shoulders I say.

 

[TheRealVille]

Doesn't the football experts and pundits love teams with defense? How many times throughout the years are teams like Wisconsin and Iowa praised for their defense?

Right now, Louisville is 5 and 3 winning three games in a roll with a dominating defense. Over a respected Pitt team and the 10th ranked WF team. They are definitely on the upswing.

The voters didn't care about Louisville's defensive stats. The Cards lead the nation in sacks and forcing turnovers.
They also saw Malik Cunningham again play through pain and they all have praised him before.

So here's a team with a dynamic QB who had a slow start, but is now being held up by a top level defense and Louisville is suddenly a team opponents are worried about. If I were a voter, they sure look like a Top 25 team to me, especially when teams like Tulane, Oregon State and UCF are ranked.

I wonder if we get ranked if we beat James Madison convincingly?

 

[2330859]

UL loss to BC, particularly giving up 30+ points, explains the subdued exuberance by the media. It’s early …..let’s see how the rest of the season progresses. UK and UL have clearly reversed their respective trends and Saturday’s two performances show just how much things can change from one week to the next.

 

[Guardman]

It's clear the loss to BC is a big caution warning sign for voters.

 

[Thecycle27]

Rankings are brand driven. SEC teams and Big Ten teams are given a lot of cushion. For teams like Louisville can’t lose to teams like BC. It think that is fair.

 

[TheRealVille]

Rankings are brand driven. SEC teams and Big Ten teams are given a lot of cushion. For teams like Louisville can’t lose to teams like BC. It think that is fair.

Then shouldn't UCF's blowout loss to ECU do the same? Just 10 days ago.

The BC loss should mean little today after the Cards blowout win over WF. If it had been Clemson instead, would the BC defeat still keep the voters away from Louisville? Remember, WF lost to Clemson in OT.

Voters know this isn't the same Louisville team that played BC a month ago. Like I said, it doesn't mean much being ranked but no way should UCF be ranked ahead of Louisville.

 

[TheRealVille]

Louisville received just one vote in the AP poll. Troy received 7 votes.

The bias against Louisville football is confirmed.

 

[CardHack]

We're not a Top 25 team at least not yet.

 

[beantowncard]

I agree the rankings are a joke. So I don’t care about them. Like the “playoff committee” it’s just opinions. In the words of Harry Callahan, opinions are like a$$holes….everybody’s got one.

 

[Rollem Cards]

We're not a Top 25 team at least not yet.

True

Last thing this team and staff need is to be told they’re good.

Hungry and on edge has been working.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Maybe teams from the 15 range to 45 range have little difference. Parity.

And yeah maybe this keeps the team wanting to prove more people wrong, etc like other posters are saying.

 

[TheRealVille]

We're not a Top 25 team at least not yet.

Compared to who? Do you think UCF should be ranked?

The lower part of the poll are made up of teams moving in and moving out. There's not an abundant of teams that should be in a top 25 poll, but there's 25 spots so you get suspect teams in.

To say this Louisville team hasn't deserved that now is just unbelievable. Everyone agrees that this is a tough schedule for Louisville, yet they're leading the nation in sacks and forced turnovers. That's not worthy of a #25 ranking?

Right now, look at the teams ranked 20 to 25 and ask would the Cards beat them next Saturday?

 

[BPGhost]

Compared to who? Do you think UCF should be ranked?

The lower part of the poll are made up of teams moving in and moving out. There's not an abundant of teams that should be in a top 25 poll, but there's 25 spots so you get suspect teams in.

To say this Louisville team hasn't deserved that now is just unbelievable. Everyone agrees that this is a tough schedule for Louisville, yet they're leading the nation in sacks and forced turnovers. That's not worthy of a #25 ranking?

Right now, look at the teams ranked 20 to 25 and ask would the Cards beat them next Saturday?

Cards are 2-1 against the current 20-25 teams with a game against another one in two weeks. That said, I could see them winning against all of them and, I could also see them losing against all of them. That’s what four years of unpredictability from week to week brings.

 

[rentalman]

I understand how there weren't enough voters willing to rank Louisville after the WF game, despite winning three games in a roll in the same dominating fashion.

But to rank UCF at #25 just 9 days after they were throttled by East Carolina just doesn't make sense. Yes, they just beat Cincinnati, but they didn't blow out the 10th ranked team by 27 points.

And they know that Louisville beat UCF at their place but apparently the BC loss is what really matters. They know the Louisville team today is not the team that lost to BC. But that doesn't matter.

I know the rankings mean shit but it just irritates the hell out of me how hard it is for Louisville to get its due.

I would bet a lot of the voters didn't know Louisville beat UCF. That's why I don't pay much attention to the rankings outside of the Top 10.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

I would bet a lot of the voters didn't know Louisville beat UCF. That's why I don't pay much attention to the rankings outside of the Top 10.

Agree, they aren't comparing profiles too deeply. A win over Cincy who made the playoff last year jumps out at them maybe a little more than a win over WF.

 

[TheRealVille]

Agree, they aren't comparing profiles too deeply. A win over Cincy who made the playoff last year jumps out at them maybe a little more than a win over WF.

But the blowout loss to ECU the week before doesn't stand out?

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

But the blowout loss to ECU the week before doesn't stand out?

My guess is they are unaware they lost to ECU the week before. It is fair to question how much football they are watching and how many final scores they are following.

 

[TheRealVille]

My guess is they are unaware they lost to ECU the week before. It is fair to question how much football they are watching and how many final scores they are following.

No way. They know what happened in prior games. I'm sure they know the Cards lost to BC a month ago?

For whatever reason, the AP voters don't respect Louisville football and they're not willing or ready to recognize them. They worry as soon as they vote for the Cards, they'll go back to looking like crap.

Even if Louisville blows out James Madison, it won't be enough to get ranked. It's going to take beating Clemson before the voters relent and let the poor Cardinals in the poll.

 

[OldhamCard335]

Recency is important. It’s better to be improving now than overrated at the beginning of the season. But, I believe, once voters get past the first 15 teams they are just looking for anyone to fill out their ballots and don’t put a lot of thought into teams 16-25. On the other hand, the Wake beat down was on every sports show since Saturday afternoon. You would think some of the voters would have acknowledged that. Voters may also be looking down the road knowing we will play Clemson in two weeks so why rank us just to later unrank us. Maybe that’s a reach.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

No way. They know what happened in prior games. I'm sure they know the Cards lost to BC a month ago?

For whatever reason, the AP voters don't respect Louisville football and they're not willing or ready to recognize them. They worry as soon as they vote for the Cards, they'll go back to looking like crap.

Even if Louisville blows out James Madison, it won't be enough to get ranked. It's going to take beating Clemson before the voters relent and let the poor Cardinals in the poll.

The ECU/UCF didn't get much publicity.

But BC actually beating anybody would be somewhat eye catching because they really suck. Mainstream Sports Media probably put that result on the TV because it's newsworthy they are so bad. "BC won a game? Really? No way. Who they beat? Louisville? Really? Wow. Ok."

That BC win coming against UofL is something that could stick in the mind of the voter.

I don't think voters are crunching the #'s in a deep dive analytical way.

UCF also only has 2 losses so it could just be that. The AP has nobody in the poll with 3 losses.

There's no way to really know, since neither of us have a vote.

 

[PushupMan]

I understand how there weren't enough voters willing to rank Louisville after the WF game, despite winning three games in a roll in the same dominating fashion.

But to rank UCF at #25 just 9 days after they were throttled by East Carolina just doesn't make sense. Yes, they just beat Cincinnati, but they didn't blow out the 10th ranked team by 27 points.

And they know that Louisville beat UCF at their place but apparently the BC loss is what really matters. They know the Louisville team today is not the team that lost to BC. But that doesn't matter.

I know the rankings mean shit but it just irritates the hell out of me how hard it is for Louisville to get its due.

We play 4 teams with a combined record of 24-7 (just under 80%) winning percentage. Keep winning and the rankings will come.

 

[2330859]

It’s taken me a while to acknowledge what I have always suspected, and something that I hate to admit, but the SEC is in a class by itself. From top to bottom it is the best football conference in America. I know there are some Ohio State fans out there that might argue, but I put Tennessee, UGA, Alabama and Ole Miss as the top 4 in the country. It why I believe Clemson would be out of their minds to ever think about leaving the ACC for the SEC …… it would be hard to imagine them beating any of the aforementioned this year.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

It’s taken me a while to acknowledge what I have always suspected, and something that I hate to admit, but the SEC is in a class by itself. From top to bottom it is the best football conference in America. I know there are some Ohio State fans out there that might argue, but I put Tennessee, UGA, Alabama and Ole Miss as the top 4 in the country. It why I believe Clemson would be out of their minds to ever think about leaving the ACC for the SEC …… it would be hard to imagine them beating any of the aforementioned this year.

Realignment is about $ IMO everything else is a residual outcome that is not as important to the decision makers.

I'm not sure I'd put Ole Miss in that group but those other 3 you mentioned are on a level of their own.

tOSU does have an elite group of WR and QB play so they could be in the conversation. They will get their chance if they can beat Michigan this year.

 

[Mayoman]

It’s taken me a while to acknowledge what I have always suspected, and something that I hate to admit, but the SEC is in a class by itself. From top to bottom it is the best football conference in America. I know there are some Ohio State fans out there that might argue, but I put Tennessee, UGA, Alabama and Ole Miss as the top 4 in the country. It why I believe Clemson would be out of their minds to ever think about leaving the ACC for the SEC …… it would be hard to imagine them beating any of the aforementioned this year.

Your points are well taken. However, if the money is the driving force....the right amount of money would entice them to leave the ACC and also give them a chance to prove they are equal to the challenge of the SEC/B10 teams on the field....plus better finances for the school. Hard to pass on that for anyone. JMO.

 

[BPGhost]

Your points are well taken. However, it the money is the driving force....the right amount of money would entice them to leave the ACC and also give them a chance to prove they are equal to the challenge of the SEC/B10 teams on the field....plus better finances for the school. Hard to pass on that for anyone. JMO.

I mean how this basic fact escapes people is mind boggling.

 

[2330859]

You are 100% correct Mayoman; it has always been about money. We, as UL fans have no influence on what Clemson, or for that matter FSU, Miami, etc will do about conference realignment, but they should all be real careful for what they wish for, as it could easily result in each school losing its prestigious tradition when they start losing well beyond what they enjoyed in the ACC.

Clemson won a NC many years back when Ford was coaching there, but it went down rather sharply after that, at least until Dabo arrived. Not sure just how much Death Valley fans will support an 8-4 or 7-5 Tiger football team each year in the SEC if they are no longer in the NC discussion.

 

[Rollem Cards]

How’s that extra money working out in the win/loss column for Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, Maryland, and aTm, among others?

If we were flys on the wall I’d wager Presidents and BoTs like “expansion” more than most coaches.

 

[2330859]

The KSU beatdown on OSU was truly an unbelievable shocker.

 

[Gvilleknight]

The KSU beatdown on OSU was truly an unbelievable shocker.

But Gundy is a MAN! He can take it.

 

[jalovell23]

It's crazy to think that UofL could easily be at 7 - 1 instead of 5 - 3. Two of the 3 losses are by 4 points or less

 

[2330859]

High preseason expectations explains why so many of us were quick to criticize Satterfield when we lost at Syracuse.

 

[RealStateBird]

Just Win!