The Vols getting some preseason ranking love

[sporto]

The lack of respect in the coaches poll is strange. The average pre-season rankings have been updated to bring in the new data from the coaches poll:

Average Preseason Rankings

 

[VolKnight9]

They are a better team then last years.

Nowhere close.

 

[GrizzlyVol]

We would've beat Pitt last year if one of Milton's over throws was on target, I can remember 2 where they were wide open a walk in touchown

 

[Mccage]

Not a lot of love at all for the SEC, aside from Bama/Ga/aTm. Only 6 total teams and 3 of the 6 are 21st or lower. And call me crazy but I think FL and TN may be better than 4 of the six ranked SEC teams.

You think TV ratings play a part?

 

[Jaws]

You think TV ratings play a part?

In some instances yes, but that can work both ways. Take TN and Pitt. Tv would want that to be a matchup of ranked teams, one would think. Same with Utah at Florida.

 

[VolsSince78]

Thank you for the post. After reading the poll information, I read the list of the 66 coaches that vote in the coaches poll. I was VERY surprised to see that CJH is NOT one of them. Does anyone here have any insight on how these coaches get picked? Is CJH not a member of the AFCA coaches board? Thanks in advance.

“Random draw from a pool of coaches who indicated to AFCA (coaches’ association) they would be interested in participating in poll”.

Some of the coaches who currently vote in the poll:
Nick Saban
Kirby Smart
Billy Napier
Sam Pittman
Butch Jones
Greg Schiano
Brady Hoke
Tyson Helton
Dave Clawson
Dave Doeren
Mel Tucker
Hugh Freeze

 

[1974Vol]

Ball State was a middling at best G-5 team last year. They averaged 24.1 ppg and lost their starting QB and production at WR. Their D wasn't very good allowing 28 ppg in the MAC... and then lost half their top 10 tacklers.

Overall, they weren't a good team and got worse. UT should score points early and often. The 1st rotation on D should smother them. I don't gamble but would take UT and give the points.

I'm not a gambler either but I have known a number of them. In general they don't wager on games with spreads this large. The reasoning is the Vols could be up 42 at half and then play everyone who dressed and win by 30 and no one cares but the poor slobs who laid the 32. But yeah I'm with you, I will be highly disappointed if this isn't a laugher from kickoff to double zeros on the clock. I want to see a 52-17 and know it could have been worse if we didn't play some people unlikely to see action when a game is in doubt. Then go to Pittsburgh a 10 point fav and beat the spread again.

 

[Tman44]

“Random draw from a pool of coaches who indicated to AFCA (coaches’ association) they would be interested in participating in poll”.

Some of the coaches who currently vote in the poll:
Nick Saban
Kirby Smart
Billy Napier
Sam Pittman
Butch Jones
Greg Schiano
Brady Hoke
Tyson Helton
Dave Clawson
Dave Doeren
Mel Tucker
Hugh Freeze

Thank you for that information. Earlier today, I decided to follow up with UT Athletics for an official response. I have yet to get a response from Mr. Scott Altizer. He is Tennessee's director of football relations. I have yet to receive a response; however, this was the message...

Mr. Altizer,
After viewing the initial The USA TODAY Coaches poll, I noticed that Coach Heupel is not listed as a voter. Is this an oversight on their part? Thank you and have a great day.

I will post when I am sent a response.

 

[stevenrich2003]

They return 14 starters from a team that went 11-2. Why wouldn’t they be in the top ten?

This is true. However, it does not matter what ND did the previous season. They are always in the top 10. Ever single season.... regardless of what is going on.....

 

[kxtop]

Mondays first Coaches Poll was pure BS, Kentucky at number 21 and VOLS not ranked…give me a break!!

 

[Boston Vol]

This is true. However, it does not matter what ND did the previous season. They are always in the top 10. Ever single season.... regardless of what is going on.....

Yes this is the fifth consecutive year that they’ve started out ranked in the top ten. In the previous four years their record is 44-7. The lowest they’ve finished the season was at 11th. So it seems that they’ve been living up to their preseason billing. Before 2018, they had only been ranked in the preseason top ten twice in the past 21 years. So no they’re not always ranked in the preseason top ten.

 

[utchs81]

They return a ton on the O-Line and Defense line. Quick Snippet from a college football preview that I respect. They have Pitt power rated at 16.

View attachment 478491

Not sure of validity of this chart, According to line quoted they are favored in11 of their games yet are predicting 9 win season.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Not sure of validity of this chart, According to line quoted they are favored in11 of their games yet are predicting 9 win season.

You can be favored in all 12 games of the regular season and have a predicted W-L of 6-6.

How?

Say you're favored 51% to 49% in every game. Really, they're all coin tosses. But because of that extra 1%, you're "favored." But you're still likely to go 6-6.

So Pitt are probably favored by like 53% or 57% in three or four of their games. That's how "favored in 11" and "9 predicted wins" can go together.

Stats are some complicated stuff.

Go Vols!