Just missed: USF ranked No. 26 in both polls

We saw it coming -- USF barely missed returning to the top 25 in college football's two major polls, as the Bulls got enough votes to rank 26th in both the AP poll and the USA Today coaches poll.

The two Big East teams USF has lost to, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, are ranked 4th and 14th in the AP, with Miami, who comes to Tampa on Nov. 28, ranking 16th. With West Virginia and Rutgers "also receiving votes" like the Bulls, five of the eight Big East teams are ranked in the AP poll's unofficial top 31.

A blogger at Bleacherreport.com makes a case for why USF is more deserving of a national ranking than Notre Dame, which lacks a win against a ranked team this season.

USF is also No. 26 in this week's Harris Interactive Poll.

Comments

[Turd Ferguson]

Yes, sometimes Turd provokes. Steve, I agree that Turd's snipes would not go well in a bar...especially with some drinking & short fuses.

Posted by: Jupiter Bull | November 02, 2009 at 01:36 PM

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I don't go in bars. I have no desire to be around drunks like Steve O'Neal. All he ever does is talk about how I wouldn't survive in a bar. He must spend a lot of time there.

[Jupiter Bull]

First, I re-read my posts. The trouble with stopping & starting is I have odd typos. Thanks for all for not poking me on them!

Yes, sometimes Turd provokes. Steve, I agree that Turd's snipes would not go well in a bar...especially with some drinking & short fuses. I guess I tend to view this forum as more of Sports Club for Bulls fans, so Turd's like the guy that sometimes irritates the rest of us, but he's one of us, so we ut him slack.

But when another school's fan comes here, he's quick to swat them with ample venom. To me, he's part of the Bulls portfolio. I don't always agree with him, but he raised good points...although the message doesn't always have to be delivered on the end of a spear. Lots of Bulls fans don't like to hear a ton of negative stuff while suffering thru painful losses.

Now...what WILL we do for 10 days till we get to play again?? GO BULLS!

[Mr. Snrub]

No worries! Turd's keeping it "real"!

[Steve O'Neal]

Don't beat up on the Turd?? It's not his message, it's his sarcasm directed at others who have an opinion he doesn't agree with that gets him "beat up on". He has to copy every comment and then add his sarcastic remarks. The Turd recently admonished another poster telling him he couldn't handle internet talk. Let me ask you Jupiter, if you were at the local pub talking sports and one guy kept being a sarcastic jerk to anyone that didn't agree with him, how long do you think he would get away with that type of behavior? I talk on here just like I would to someone in person. I guess the Turd's lucky that there is an internet that he can talk that way behind a made up screen name. That way it's just an internet "beating".

[Turd Ferguson]

We played two Div I-AA schools, and one that crossed over just last year, and hasn't won yet. Add to that this nugget: Wofford & Charleston Southern aren't just Div I-AA...they have LOSING records, too. I defy anyone to find a BCS school is a crappier first 3 games.

Posted by: Jupiter Bull | November 02, 2009 at 11:58 AM

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You're not a real fan, Jupiter.

[Jupiter Bull]

Don't beat up Turd here. Every sportswriter in the country criticized our cream puff schedule after we beat FSU, and that is the main (if not sole) reason we weren't ranked at 4-0, and were barely ranked after going 5-0 (the Cuse win). It's also a main reason we're not in the AP poll, while two 3-loss team & 9 2-loss teams are. To deny that is fruitless.

We played two Div I-AA schools, and one that crossed over just last year, and hasn't won yet. Add to that this nugget: Wofford & Charleston Southern aren't just Div I-AA...they have LOSING records, too. I defy anyone to find a BCS school is a crappier first 3 games.

I'm a huge fan...love the Bulls. But you have to be real, and see that we really are a 3-2 team, looking to run the table. And yes, I realize other teams play cream puffs...not none this bad.

What matters is we WON those games easily (even if we didn't dominate), and have a real chance to win 9 to 10 games, and have our best year ever. THAT'S what I'm focused on. Run the table, and we'll make Top 15/

[Turd Ferguson]

I didn't know that a criteria for being "real" was looking up on where ESPN ranks you. Where do you look up fake teams?

Posted by: Mr. Snrub | November 02, 2009 at 09:22 AM

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Well ESPN's point of view certainly matters more than a bunch of USF homers' opinions. I've heard TV commentators doing our games say on more than one occasion that our first three games were the weakest in 1-A college football.

And Bulliever...I'm not concerned about Boise State nor any other team so much here. My point was that we are 3-2 against what I (and most others) consider "real" competition. If you have NO DOUBT that you're going to beat a team, even if you play poorly, that's not "real" competition, my friends.

[Bulliever]

I am with Mr. Snrub with this one...

No one seems to have any issue with Boise State playing tomato cans. They only played one BCS ranked team, and they are ranked #7. Back to the discussion that the rankings is nothing more than just a "popularity" contest.

It is obvious USF will travel to play any team...
So, it is time for the SEC to step up. We have several ACC and Big 10 teams on the future schedule, but no SEC teams... (except Florida)...

[Mr. Snrub]

I didn't know that a criteria for being "real" was looking up on where ESPN ranks you. Where do you look up fake teams?

[Turd Ferguson]

Why isn't Wstern Kentucky "real"? Their in the FBS.

Posted by: Mr. Snrub | November 01, 2009 at 06:57 PM

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Western Kentucky is still looking for its first win ... The good news for the Hilltoppers? They scored 49 on Saturday! The bad news? North Texas scored 68.

Posted by: G.A. | November 01, 2009 at 07:05 PM

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There you go, Mr. Snrub. I rest my case. And why don't you go take a look at ESPN's "Bottom Ten" while you're at it. Take notice of the #1 team on that list. And also take note that they just lost on Saturday to a fellow "Bottom Ten" team in North Texas.

Wofford is more of a "real" team than WKU.

So I reiterate...we are 3-2 against "real" teams.

[Ken]

Love that column about USF and ND. And I agree completely.

[David Weber]

The biggest thing to consider in ranking a non-BCS team is try and guess how they would fare in a BCS conference. Boise has had some close calls in a bad conference- I don't think they would win more than 4 games in the Big East or 5 in the ACC. Boise is probably pretty good, but can they consistently win on the road in a BCS conference? I haven't seen any evidence indicating that they could. TCU has a better argument- they have won on the road against a BCS team (Clemson).

It boils down to this: Cincy plays 9 teams from BCS conferences this year while Boise plays one. The second toughest opponent Boise plays is Fresno State. Cincy's 6th or 7th toughest opponent is Fresno State. Therefore, if both are unbeaten, Cincy must be ranked higher, if only because of their schedle.

[JT (Atlanta)]

Just a note about our Sagarin ranking. We're actually 18th in the formula used by the BCS (ELO Chess). 25th is our synthesized ranking combining ELO Chess (which does not take margins of victory/defeat into consideration) and his "pure points" formula.

Also, his "computers" aren't impressed with our schedule. Our SOS is ranked 99th by him, the lowest of any team in his top 40.

[G.A.]

Western Kentucky is still looking for its first win ... The good news for the Hilltoppers? They scored 49 on Saturday! The bad news? North Texas scored 68.

[Mr. Snrub]

Why isn't Wstern Kentucky "real"? Their in the FBS.

[Sandro]

Andy that Oregon team that played Boise on the first week is not the same team that played last night. Not even close. That Oregon team last night would beat Boise by at least two TD's now. I am not saying that Boise is a bad team but they don't have the depth or talent to compete in a BCS conference every week. Just like BYU is not better then Oklahoma.
The depth I think is our main reason why we always struggle in the second part of the season is because injuries start adding up and in the past we did not have that but hopefully with better recruiting that will change.

GO BULLS !!!

[Andy]

That BCS team Boise State beat was Oregon...if you saw them last night vs. USC, I'd say that's a pretty big accomplishment. (Even for a first game)

[John]

"Real" represents the teams that do not include Western Kentucky, Charleston Southern, and Wofford.

[Ken]

Looks like we're also 26th in Harris. We're 25 in Sagarin. We should be close in the BCS.

[Mr. Snrub]

What's the definition of "real" in that context?

[David Weber]

Turd, that's a heck of a lot better than a lot of the 6-2 teams ahead of us. Of those teams, we have the "best" losses, as in our losses were against two really good teams. And in looking at the other 6-2 teams, not many can match our three best wins (at ranked FSU, at a sold-out Syracuse, and at home against a ranked WVU). I looked at OK State earlier today, and on paper, I don't see how the gap in the voting is merited. We both lost our best player, both have losses to ranked teams, but OK State has one home win over ranked Georgia, which has fallen as far as FSU has, and no tough road win like our FSU win.

I'm pretty mad seeing Cincy at #7- that's absurd. Exactly what has Boise St. done this year? They've beaten one BCS conference team. I'm thinking that this will shake itself out at some point, but it's not looking good right now for a Big East BCS Championship game bid.

I'd like for USF to be ranked- in two weeks, Arizona and Cal play, which means that if we take care of Rutgers, there's an obvious spot for us. And since there are weekly upsets at the bottom of the poll, we could move in next week. But the focus needs to be solely on Rutgers- we can't afford another Thursday night loss.

[Turd Ferguson]

We're 3-2 against "real" teams.

26th is generous, but I'll take it.

Beat Rutgers, and we'll be 4-2 against "real" teams.

[Jerry]

I'd have to say this is fair, based on what we've seen out of USF so far. We must use this bye week to get ready and healthy for an improving Rutgers squad. They've had our number the past few years...and thoroghly dominated us at him last year (without Ray Rice). Teel is gone, as are those outstanding receivers...but they're still a team that worries me. Let's keep up the solid play, and we're back in the top 25...and hopefully we can run the table all the way to Miami...making tht one HECK of a showdown at Ray Jay!!!

[G.A.]

Seems like Bull Daly is calling for a new Conference Scorecard ...

[USFShep]

That's fair. Bulls keep up the performance they had against Wvu we will be back up the board in no time. Again, it's all about consistency.

[Bull Daly]

The BIG EAST is pretty strong this year. I will be happy if USF goes 4-3 in BIG EAST this year. With UL beating Ark St and Vandy losing to GT, the BIG EAST gets closer to the SEC out of conference record.

[Ken]

Pretty close. That's pretty good.

With us 26th in both of those and with us having had some votes in Harris last week, and with our Sagarin ranking up this week, I wonder whether we might slip into the top 25 in Harris and in the BCS?