Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2009, 9:21 PM | 2 comments |
 

Spectacle of the Week and Top 10 Chart
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What's the Spectacle of the Week?
California at Oregon (3:30 p.m., ABC regional)
Miami at Va. Tech (3:30 p.m., ABC regional)
Arkansas at Alabama (3:30 p.m.,CBS)
Iowa at Penn State (8:00 p.m., ABC)
Notre Dame at Purdue (8:00, ESPN)
View results

There aren't too many blockbuster games this weekend, but the ones we do have should be worth watching.

Obviously, a lot of folks around here will be paying attention to Iowa at Penn State. But the games I think will be best are Cal at Oregon and Miami at Virginia Tech. All four teams would make big statements by winning, especially the two road teams.

As for the Top 10 chart, the Sagarin index goes against the human wisdom once again. I am fascinated by the fact that Miami has the top rank in Sagarin. Their 2-0 record includes wins over Florida State and Georgia Tech, both of which were ranked at the time. But the Hurricanes barely made the AP Top 10, and are No. 13 in the Coaches Poll.

Cincinnati's lofty perch is also interesting. The Bearcats probably have to run the table in the Big East to get anyone's respect, but even if they do we'll see if they remain at or near No. 3.

I'm heading out of town for the weekend. Let me know in the comments which games will have your attention.
Rank
AP
Coaches
Sagarin
1.
Florida
Florida
Miami
2.
Texas
Texas
Florida St.
3.
USC
Alabama
Cincinnati
4.
Alabama
Penn State
Boise St.
5.
Mississippi
Mississippi
LSU
6.
Penn State
California
USC
7.
California
LSU
Iowa
8.
LSU
Boise State
Georgia Tech
9.
Boise State
Oklahoma
Alabama
10.
Miami
USC
California
Posted by Jonathan Tannenwald @ 9:21 PM  Permalink | File Under: Football | | National | | Penn State | 2 comments
2
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:28 AM, 09/25/2009
    Two reasons... first, it's an entirely computer-based analysis, so it's good to compare that perspective to the human-based polls. Second, the Sagarin rankings are one of the computer-based rankings that factor into the BCS equation. So they have some consequence in that respect too.
    — Jonathan Tannenwald


2 comments
About Jonathan Tannenwald
I fell in love with the Big 5 at first sight upon moving to Philadelphia in 2002. At various points in my journalistic career, I've covered all six of the region's Division I teams. During that time, I've eaten many soft pretzels from the Palestra's concession stands, which is how this blog got its name.

I write primarily about the University of Pennsylvania and the Ivy League, but I also cover the other basketball and football teams across the city from time to time. In the spring, you'll find coverage of the Penn Relays here.

In addition to all of that, I write Philly.com's soccer blog, The Goalkeeper.

You can contact me by email by clicking here.

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