Bias and consistency from pollsters? Fair drop for the Vols?

#2
#2
This is also a reason why pre-season rankings are meaningless.

If pre-season rankings didn't exist and you only had to go by what you saw on the field in week 1, where would you have ranked UT? Was a 20-13 OT win, at home, vs. App. State worthy of a #9 ranking?

Regardless, it really doesn't matter unless you take care of business during the 4 game stretch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9 people
#3
#3
It all boils down to one thing: winning. If we win some big SEC games, the rankings and respect will come. Until we do that, we will continue to be questioned nationally.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#5
#5
I agree that UT has been unfairly dropped due to lack of confidence in voters from past results and that to date their first 2 games were highly watched games that have been overly scrutinized compared to other teams.

Name any other team that has won 8 in a row, preseason top 10, 2-0 to start the year and dropped this much while winning?

You can't because that 8-0 streak is only bested by Bama amongst power 5 teams.

Go Vols!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#6
#6
I can appreciate the argument for them. But, in the end, we play in the SEC, all we need to do is keep winning. Even if they are all ugly wins by come from behinds and 1 point games. Just keep winning. Because I don't care how we get to the championship. I just want to get there. And it doesn't matter how ugly the win is, the Sears Trophy will still look just as beautiful. Go Vols!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#8
#8
Boca Vol said:
This is also a reason why pre-season rankings are meaningless.

If pre-season rankings didn't exist and you only had to go by what you saw on the field in week 1, where would you have ranked UT? Was a 20-13 OT win, at home, vs. App. State worthy of a #9 ranking?

Regardless, it really doesn't matter unless you take care of business during the 4 game stretch.
Click to expand...

Agree. We weren't even a top 25 team for the first 5 quarters of the season....not close. We looked really good in some spots, decent in some spots and still nothing to write home about in some others the last 3 quarters.

I couldn't care less about where we're ranked right now. Just gotta beat Florida and go at least 2-2 through the beginning of SEC play and, unfortunately, nothing I've seen so far gives me confidence that we can.

Bottom line, just find ways to win and get to the SECCG and all will be good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#9
#9
VolsnRavens said:
I can appreciate the argument for them. But, in the end, we play in the SEC, all we need to do is keep winning. Even if they are all ugly wins by come from behinds and 1 point games. Just keep winning. Because I don't care how we get to the championship. I just want to get there. And it doesn't matter how ugly the win is, the Sears Trophy will still look just as beautiful. Go Vols!
Click to expand...

Boy, you're going to be highly disappointed! lol
 
#10
#10
#12
#12
Rankings make absolutely no sense and there is no rhyme or reason to them except popularity and the preconceptions of the voters. Take Georgia for example, they struggle with an atrocious FCS level team that has only won 9 games during the past 3-4 years at the FCS level and they drop 2-3 spots. UT struggles with a 10 win bowl team and they drop 8 spots. There are many other examples each and every year. There should be a playoff system like every other major sport. It is idiotic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#13
#13
Jnunn said:
It all boils down to one thing: winning. If we win some big SEC games, the rankings and respect will come. Until we do that, we will continue to be questioned nationally.
Click to expand...

This. If they come out of the 4 game gauntlet with 3 or 4 wins, their ranking will definitely show it. The first two weeks were obviously a case of "what have you done for me lately?" All the teams sans Georgia have all been more consistently good than bad, and so they are giving them the benefit of the doubt. I also think Georgia is getting a pass, because of Smart's pedigree, and their talent level.

However, Butch is still unproven, and what credibility he was building up had taken a hit early last year with all the chokes. He somewhat redeemed himself with a strong finish to the year, but it all instantly evaporated when it appeared they were right back to week 2 2015 levels of frustration (especially on that O Line which has always been their weakest link). Bottom line he and his staff must get that O Line to sack up and play much better than they have for the past 3 years, and many experts don't have a whole lot of faith in that happening. Here is to hoping that Butch proves them wrong.
 
#14
#14
There has been a lot of overreactions in the polls for the first two weeks. Tennessee shouldn't have fallen so far after the App State game, UGA shouldn't have moved up as much after beating UNC, Wisconsin got way too big of a jump for barely beating what might be an average to ok LSU team, and Michigan State not moving back at all after struggling with Furman is laughable. Iowa is also being way overrated and Texas took too big of a jump in one poll after beating ND. I don't think I have ever seen so many overreactions in the polls.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#16
#16
utvols83 said:
There has been a lot of overreactions in the polls for the first two weeks. Tennessee shouldn't have fallen so far after the App State game, UGA shouldn't have moved up as much after beating UNC, Wisconsin got way too big of a jump for barely beating what might be an average to ok LSU team, and Michigan State not moving back at all after struggling with Furman is laughable. Iowa is also being way overrated and Texas took too big of a jump in one poll after beating ND. I don't think I have ever seen so many overreactions in the polls.
Click to expand...

TN dropping was fair. Clemson not dropping as far and Oklahoma still being ranked so high is inconsistent, though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#17
#17
Having teams that's only played one game, especially when that one game was a struggle vs Furman and having teams that's lost a game already both ahead of us is kinda odd.

I understand it's about who you play but all I've heard is "just win" and when you prove you belong you will be there. TN has won both games and there's teams with only one game/win that may be better but have not proved they belong ahead of UT yet.

It still don't matter cause if the Vols deserve to be higher we will know over the next 4-5 weeks and if they earn it, they will get it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#18
#18
voldawgforever said:
When we tried to discuss this earlier in this forum, a mod with too many drinks moved it to the ncaa forum, where it died.

Clemson seemed to be treated differently than Tn and Ga. they squeaked by TROY and dropped 3 spots.
Click to expand...

Voters may be looking ahead at each teams respective schedule. Clemson only has to show up one Saturday this season when they play Florida State, maybe two if they get Louisville; the rest of their schedule looks like Florida's annual opening three weeks. The Vols on the other hand are looking at a murderers row coming up after Ohio. You don't want to vote a team top ten then watch them go 0 for October.
 
#19
#19
1974Vol said:
Voters may be looking ahead at each teams respective schedule. Clemson only has to show up one Saturday this season when they play Florida State, maybe two if they get Louisville; the rest of their schedule looks like Florida's annual opening three weeks. The Vols on the other hand are looking at a murderers row coming up after Ohio. You don't want to vote a team top ten then watch them go 0 for October.
Click to expand...

Well, Clemson did open the season at Auburn and end the season with S. Carolina. That's 2 P5 opponents from the SEC.
 
#20
#20
Boca Vol said:
This is also a reason why pre-season rankings are meaningless.

If pre-season rankings didn't exist and you only had to go by what you saw on the field in week 1, where would you have ranked UT? Was a 20-13 OT win, at home, vs. App. State worthy of a #9 ranking?

Regardless, it really doesn't matter unless you take care of business during the 4 game stretch.
Click to expand...

I agree with you and gave you a like but I have questions.

Unless things change, how are we going to jump up more than 8 spots? Unless things change, the only highly rated team we will see is the bammers. So if we beat them, then we will need to jump lots of spots to be in the top 4.

If we lose then it will not matter unless we beat the team out of the west(which very well may be the bammers). At that point we will have to make a huge jump in order to reach the playoffs. At that point it will be up to the committee to just place us in the top 4?

Bottom line: I am a little worried that such a high ranking now will set us up for being left out of the playoffs. Especially if we lose to the bammers...
 
#22
#22
Boca Vol said:
This is also a reason why pre-season rankings are meaningless.

If pre-season rankings didn't exist and you only had to go by what you saw on the field in week 1, where would you have ranked UT? Was a 20-13 OT win, at home, vs. App. State worthy of a #9 ranking?

Regardless, it really doesn't matter unless you take care of business during the 4 game stretch.
Click to expand...

Well said, Boca. I completely agree and have always felt the same way. In fact I have always felt like the entire AP poll should not even be published until approximately week four, week three at the absolute earliest. Ranking teams before they play a game is senseless.
 
#23
#23
KBVol said:
Agree. We weren't even a top 25 team for the first 5 quarters of the season....not close. We looked really good in some spots, decent in some spots and still nothing to write home about in some others the last 3 quarters.

I couldn't care less about where we're ranked right now. Just gotta beat Florida and go at least 2-2 through the beginning of SEC play and, unfortunately, nothing I've seen so far gives me confidence that we can.

Bottom line, just find ways to win and get to the SECCG and all will be good.
Click to expand...

Are you ever positive?
 
#24
#24
We lost the game to App State on effort and performance. We were very lucky to survive overtime with Hurds fumble recovery in the end-zone.
We lost to Va Tech on effort and stats - save turnovers. Va Tech handed us the game with endless turnovers.
We are 2-0 despite being outplayed by our opponents until Va Tech melted down. Our performance has been worthy of 0-2. I cannot complain that the pollsters noticed.

Hopefully, this offense gets it's act together. Play-calling, line protection and QB accuracy...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#25
#25
We will be in the top 10 again with a win over florida! From Florida on, we will be handing 4 SEC teams their first loss of the season! Sky is the limit.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top