Bye weeks and home games and seedings, oh my!

So how are we feeling with the updated ranking last night? Dawgs moved up after beating Tennessee, but looks like we will need help to earn either a first round home game, and certainly a trip to the SECCG and potential bye week.

To be honest, I was a little surprised our Dawgs didn't get more of a bump in the standings. Taking a broader view, it looks like the committee is trying to find value in things like strength of schedule, overall wins vs losses against ranked opponents.

But if that were truly the case, Georgia should be higher. Never mind what I type and what they think, what say you?

In the end, here on Nov. 20th, we still have more meaningful football to be played. We could say that in years before, but this year seems to be tenfold. I mean, would SMU @ Virginia be of much concern were it not for potential impact in the ACC Conference standings?

Regardless, make sure you are still participating in the Mumme Poll. The dear Senator is truly missed this season. It's the least we could do. Because God I miss his insight in times like this!

Mumme Poll, week 8

Some dramatic changes made this week's ballot feel almost like starting all over again.

• Alabama
• FSU
• Oregon
• Missouri
• Ohio State
• Stanford
• Baylor
• Miami
• Clemson
• Auburn

Just outside - LSU, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M.

Some other notes:

• It says something about this week's turnover when last week I had Missouri just outside the top ten slots and this week they were firmly within my top five.
• Feel pretty good about Bama, FSU, Oregon, Mizzou, and Ohio State. The last five presented a challenge though. Miami I believe is over ranked. Auburn may be as well. Clemson could've fallen out altogether.
• In the end I felt more comfortable with a one loss Auburn and one loss Clemson ahead of an undefeated Texas Tech based almost purely on the schedule each team has played. But the Red Raiders have Oklahoma and Oklahoma State next. So they could prove something real quick.

Mumme Poll - week 7

I forgot to submit my ballot on time last week, so I'm a little late in sharing this. But I'm glad to have the Mumme Poll back this season. So I'll be sharing my ballot week to week like before. For those of you unfamiliar, you pick your top team overall and then the next nine in. Here's who I have this week:

• Alabama
• Oregon
• Clemson 
• FSU
• LSU
• Ohio State
• Texas A&M
• South Carolina
• UCLA
• Baylor

Observations:

• Just outside - Miami, Missouri, Stanford.
• Bama and Oregon are heads and shoulders above the rest in my mind. At least for this point in the season. Still, I'd be surprised if both finished the season unscathed. 
• The winner of the FSU-Clemson game this weekend could vault into that small sample as well. 
• The Buckeyes are a square peg that I;m just not sure where to fit them in. What's more is that I'm not sure we'll know how good they are until after their bowl game. 
• As for South Carolina, perhaps I'm putting too much weight on that Arkansas game, but the score really surprised me.
• At the bottom I had Stanford in there. They were tough to leave out after a close loss on the road. But if they beat UCLA they'll be right back in.

Mumme Poll - week twelve

• Heavy SEC, sure. Why not?
• Just outside, VA Tech, USC and I guess Houston. Why not?
• On Friday night I thought this would finally be the week I got to leave Okie State where they should be, cold on the outside. But by ballot time I just wasn't able to.
• Like I tweeted last Saturday night, college football is a glorious train wreck that I just can't turn away from. Can't wait to see next week's ballot and poll.

Mumme Poll - week eleven

 LSU and Bama stay the same. Everyone else moves up a spot or two. I struggled some with the last two spots. In the end I think Boise State and Georgia are better than South Carolina, Stanford, KSU and Houston.

Mumme Poll - week ten

You can't convince me after Saturday night that Boise State or any of the other teams are better than Alabama. All along I felt LSU would win that game. I've had them #1 the whole time. But Bama could've easily won and so I didn't have much trouble keeping them #2.


Does that mean I want to see a rematch? No.


My poll is essentially the same as week nine, but Nebraska moves out and VA Tech moves in.

Mumme Poll - week nine

No time spent at all on slots one and two, for at least another week. But that being said, I will probably struggle some next week over how far to drop the loser of Saturday night's game of the century if the game is as close as expected. Is a one loss Bama or LSU on November 6th better than Boise? I'll probably think so.

It took a good amount of time to figure out where the other 8 teams factored in for me though. And this is the first week that I probably spent over 20 minutes deliberating. Not sure completely on the order of 3-10. But after I take stock of the teams I have just outside looking in - South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Houston, Kansas State and Michigan - I do feel comfortable with the ones I have in there.

Mumme Poll - week eight

LSU

Alabama

Boise State

Clemson

Oregon

Arkansas

Stanford

Michigan State

Oklahoma State

Wisconsin

Some turnover from last week's ballot. I dropped Oklahoma out, kept Wisconsin in. Everyone else moved up two spots except Oklahoma State who only moved up one. Still not sold on the Cowboys being an elite team, but we'll find out for sure soon enough I guess.

Michigan State has impressed me. I certainly haven't seen every game they've played, but they play good defense and you have to admire their grit in standing up to Wisconsin and then stealing the game away at the end.

What I'm looking for next is Clemson's late season drama. They escaped Maryland and seemed to toy some with a mediocre UNC team. Should they beat GA Tech in Atlanta this weekend they should cruise into their annual showdown with South Carolina. If they can finish as strong as they started, then I think that becomes a compelling argument for number 2 after either Bama or LSU lose November 5th.

Dawgs begin season at #22

The preseason USA Today Coaches Poll is out and Georgia has its lowest August ranking since 2001 at #22. I thought we'd be a little higher based on some of the optimism we've read about. But this seems about right as far as blind shots in the dark go. 


I was a little more surprised to see Boise at #7. Really thought they'd be higher than that. But playing a top 10 team to start the season should put some extra pep in this afternoon's first practice for the Dawgs. Not to mention following that up with an SEC opener against #12 USCe. The only other item of consequence, Muschomp's FU Fightin' Gators are #23.


Yeh personally, I can't stand preseason polls. They're like throwing darts at a dart board after you're 5 beers into happy hour and someone has spun you around in a circle 20 times. Well, maybe not quite so clumsy but you get my point. If you share that cynicism you should ready yourself to participate in the Mumme Poll, a poll shared by the Senator and 3rd Saturday in Blogtober. Free to join for any committed college football fan. It starts a month into the season, you know...when you can actually determine where teams should be.

Mumme Poll - final 2010 ballot

The party's over..plop plop fizz fizz...

Auburn

Oregon

TCU

Stanford

Alabama

Oklahoma

Ohio State

LSU

Arkansas

Wisconsin

Final Thoughts:

• First and foremost, thank God it's over.
• I had figured Auburn would win Monday night, and I really thought I would be able to move TCU ahead of Oregon. But alas I did not. Oregon really showed me a lot against the nation's best team. So I kept them just ahead of TCU.
• That being said, would love to see an Auburn/TCU matchup...
• Just outside the bracket: Boise State. They're the only other team I really considered keeping in. But they weren't in my last poll. And I'm just not sure they could beat any of those inside. In other words, Utah...meh.

The only other things I would add are: many thanks to the Senator and the guys at 3rd Saturday for putting this together another season. And why?...Why dear Reader aren't you also voting? Make sure you sign up next season if we're so lucky to have them do it again.

Mumme Poll - final ballot

Oregon

Auburn

TCU

Stanford

Wisconsin

Arkansas

Ohio State

Michigan State

LSU

Missouri

Final thoughts:

• no changes this week. I guess the gap I have in my brain between Oregon and Auburn closed some.
• Good season I think for the Mumme Poll. It may not have been as dramatic as others in terms of various teams having arguments/claims to #1. But the process of voting and providing accountability is even better. So if next season returns to the pool of chaos that only the BCS can provide, I think the Mumme Poll voters will be ready.
• If you weren't a voter this season, I really hope you'll join us should those guys continue to do the awesome job that they are doing there.
• as Porky Pig said....That's all folks!

Mumme Poll - week thirteen

Just one shopping week left:

Oregon

Auburn

TCU

Stanford

Wisconsin

Arkansas

Ohio State

Michigan State

LSU

Missouri

Some conference championship week questions/thoughts:

• teams that almost made the cut: Nevada, Boise State, Oklahoma and Alabama
• Oregon won't lose to Oregon State, but it's conceivable that Auburn could lose. If that happens I don't see anyone jumping TCU for me. Most everyone is idle anyway. 
• And all that being said, Auburn will cruise in the GA Dome.
• Have the Ducks and the Tigers separated themselves enough from everyone else to quash any deliberating should they both win Saturday? I think so.
• The Big Ten may be a mess, but at least they're not the Big East.

Mumme Poll- week eleven

My week eleven ballot:

Oregon

Auburn

TCU

Boise State

Nebraska

Stanford

LSU

Wisconsin

Alabama

Ohio State

• no changes from last week, since everyone won. However, the top four cinched together a little closer. I still think Oregon runs over anyone in the nation, but they had a very close game against Cal and TCU had to hold on against SDSU. Meanwhile Boise State easily dispatched Idaho in a basketball gymnasium.
• Some questions entering the home stretch:

1. Can Arkansas beat LSU? I'm sold on LSU in my top ten based mostly on the Bama win. But the annual clash between the Tigers and Hogs pits the SECs most complete offense and the league's best defense.
2. With games remaining against Fresno St, #15 Nevada and Utah State, can Boise make up any ground on TCU who only has one game left (11/27 against New Mexico)?
3. Can Arizona rebound after a two game slide to take down the Ducks on 11/26?

• Teams just off the porch: Michigan State and Oklahoma State......and Arkansas.

Mumme Poll - week ten

Shake it up! Woo hoo! Shake it up!

1. Oregon
2. Auburn
3. TCU
4. Boise State
5. Nebraska
6. Stanford
7. LSU
8. Wisconsin
9. Alabama
10. Ohio State

• Top three is the same. But I do think the gap was narrowed by TCU this week. These three have clearly separated themselves if you ask me.
• But then things get rather jumbled. Boise moves up on the heels of the Bama tumble. I still like Nebraska despite the fact that their loss to Texas becomes more and more perplexing.
• As usual the bottom five was a struggle, mostly in terms of where to put LSU after an impressive win over the defending champ. I ended up putting them after Stanford, who moves up based on their complete thrashing of Arizona.
• I somewhat reluctantly put OSU back in and didn't feel it was necessary to drop Bama completely out...yet
• Just off the porch - Michigan State and Utah

Mumme Poll - week nine

This week's ballot:

1. Oregon
2. Auburn
3. TCU
4. Alabama
5. Nebraska
6. Boise State
7. Mizzouri
8. Wisconsin
9. Oklahoma
10. Stanford

• Top three are the same as last week.
• After moving them up a spot last week, I moved Boise down two this week. I tuned in for some of their game against La Tech last Tuesday. Color me unimpressed.
• However, I am impressed with Nebraska. The freshman Martinez practically took the week off stats-wise and they beat a very good Mizzou. If the Huskers had done their job against a very pedestrian Texas team, they'd be threatening  TCU, Auburn and Oregon for the top spots. 
• I'm not solid on Wisconsin, Oklahoma or Stanford. But have them above some others that stand just outside the top ten: LSU, Arizona, Utah and Michigan State.
• Big games this week: Bama at LSU, Utah at TCU and Stanford at 'Zona.

Mumme Poll - week eight

My ballot for this week:

1. Oregon
2. Auburn
3. TCU
4. Boise State
5. Alabama
6. Missouri
7. Wisconsin
8. Oklahoma
9. Michigan State
10. Stanford

• Shuffling the top teams after the Oklahoma loss wasn't too hard, but deciding who was in what position 6-10 took a little brain stretching.
• As promised, I brought Wisconsin in this week after they held on against Iowa on the road. In short, Bielema had me at fake punt.
• I actually got to watch some of the Michigan State game. They didn't look like a top team for most of the way, but rallied and held on by a thread to my ballot. 
• Stanford is another team I'm not sold on as yet. Wash St scored 28 on them, but 21 of those were in garbage time. I don't see another hurdle on the Cardinal's schedule other than 'Zona. Maybe another team will step and prove themselves more worthy. A team like say..... 
• ...LSU. They were beaten by a sexy and awesome Auburn team, so maybe they have an argument to stay in. But that is just one awful offense. I know they say defense wins championships, but you gotta score at some point, right?
• I moved Boise up. I hate doing that, even though it was just one spot. Deep down I don't think I actually believe that they are better than Alabama. And if Saban's minions go to the bayou and put up a big number on the Hat...the Tide will jump at least one undefeated team.

Mumme Poll Ballot - week seven

Like last year (and many others in the blogosphere and on Twitter), I plan to make my Mumme Poll balloting transparent. So here's my ballot for this week:

1. Oregon
2. TCU
3. Oklahoma
4. Auburn
5. Boise State
6. Alabama
7. Michigan State
8. LSU
9. Missouri
10. Stanford

• Oregon was easy at the top. But I had some difficulty with the order after that. When faced with pesky pecking order decisions, I try to balance strength of schedule to date and quality wins. Therefore Boise is barely in my top five.
• One of the more interesting sub-plots to the SEC season I think will be how well Auburn handles their rise to stardom. It's one thing to use TP for Toomer's Corner, it's quite another to use it to clean yourself.
• Towards the bottom half, I have Alabama ahead of a couple undefeated teams (four actually if you include the two that didn't make it: Okie State and Utah). This decision will either be affirmed or die in flames in the coming weeks.
• I struggled some keeping Wisconsin out. That was a big win Saturday night. But I'm not one who was too high on Ohio State to begin with. I'm actually hoping the Badgers prove me wrong. If they beat #15 Iowa on the road Saturday there's a couple teams they should hurdle.

Mumme Poll - The Final Stand

Click HERE to get this week's Mumme Poll. Just remember that the results may not be released as of the time of this post.

It's been an exciting season voting in this poll. I strongly encourage you to do so next year if you did not this year. I'm big on Bowls and tradition. I've just always enjoyed Bowl Season and always enter a few pools to increase my intrigue to a fever pitch. That being said, just look at the travesty that the BCS has heaped upon us. Alabama vs. Texas...really? TCU doesn't even get a chance to play Florida or another big boy?

I may not be convinced that a playoff system is what's best for College Football. But I am convinced that the BCS is not either. And that in itself has made my ballot an enjoyable, thought provoking experience each week.

Top Five

Alabama

TCU

Cincinnati

Texas

Florida

The Next Seven

Oregon

Boise State

Virginia Tech

LSU

Ohio State

Georgia Tech

Iowa

I'll admit the temptation was high after watching Florida get their ass handed to them to move them down further. But the reality is they are still among the best of the best this season. As for the second best team, the only thing I'm absolutely sure of is that Texas is not it. Nebraska's D is very good. But when your QB is a senior who has proven to be Heisman worthy and you still need a personal foul horse collar in the final minute to get into FG range to win...

Well, I would give TCU the nod over Cincinnati based on their entire season. They demolished the opponents they should have and have an unblemished record against a challenging non-conference schedule. In short, I see them as a more complete team compared to Cincy.

I'm a little torn about having Ohio State in the Next Seven, but they are the conference champion...who will suffer the consequences in the Rose Bowl of being a weak conference's representative. VA Tech and LSU both have three losses, but if I put so much emphasis on defense with TCU as the #2, then it should fall in line that these two teams can compete with anyone. And VA Tech has proven that with a difficult OOC schedule and very close losses to top teams. LSUs OOC schedule may not be as impressive, but they competed with both Florida and Bama, bitterly.

Call it transitive property...SEC or lunchpail homerism...whatever. That's just how I see it.

Now....bring on the bowls!

Mumme Poll - Setting the Turkey Table

Click HERE to get this week's Mumme Poll. Just remember that the results may not be released as of the time of this post.

This was the first week that I looked for an admin asst. to hand this over to. What a luxury to be able to do after a weekend that only left you in the doldrums. I didn't want to, but I balloted thru and here's what I came up with:

Top Five

Florida

Texas

Alabama

TCU

Cincinnati

The Next Seven

Georgia Tech

Boise State

Pittsburgh

Oregon

Ohio State

Oregon State

Iowa

The Top Five is unchanged after four of those teams took an active bye week. And there weren't many changes in the Next Seven either. I was no longer compelled to argue the case for Okie State after a lackluster performance against Colorado, at home. So they fell. And LSU is too busy learning the hard way that thine clock is thine enemy to really notice that they no longer grace my ballot.

As for this week's newbies, the Beavers may be the biggest surprise. However, they arguably play in this season's toughest conference and their losses are as respectable as they can be. So the second best team in the Pac-10 is worthy.

Then there's Iowa. The Big 11 is a terrible conference this year. It consists of a couple welterweights that have feasted on several powder puffs (which is a step above cream puff). It's the Monday before Thanksgiving and you know what that means...this conference is done playing football for a month and a half.

I don't like moving a team down during an off week, but if a Clempson, VA Tech or LSU makes a statement...so be it.

Mumme Poll - shaking out the wannabes

Click HERE to get this week's Mumme Poll. Just remember that the results may not be released as of the time of this post.

Didn't watch too much football this weekend due to the long tailgate. But spent Sunday catching up on scores, highlights and analysis. Here's my ballot for this week:

Top Five

Florida

Texas

Alabama

TCU

Cincinnati

The Next Seven

Georgia Tech

Boise State

Pittsburgh

LSU

Oregon

Ohio State

Oklahoma State

Cincinnati-West VA was a game I was looking forward to, partly because I'm amazed at how Brian Kelly handles his team's depth. But also because I expected it to justify my placement of a Big East team in the Top Five these last couple weeks.

It was a good game. On a side note, last season I did not feel the hype surrounding Kelly to School X was justified. I do now. And I expect Tennessee et al. to one day be sorry they passed. On another side note, if Cincinnati ever were to meet TCU this season I'm convinced the Horned Frogs would wipe the turf with them.

Houston and Miami played their way out after losses. Houston's loss subsequently damages Okie State. But I was just at a complete loss of who to put there in the last spot. While tradition says another Big 11 team should be in the next seven, the truth is that Penn State is not good enough and Iowa is a toss up for me. So I stuck with Oklahoma State in the last spot. Lesser of two evils I guess.

Over them jumped Ohio State and Oregon. The Buckeyes deserve an ounce of credit for winning their conference...right? The Ducks are waddling with a swagger in what has been a competitive Pac-10 this season.

Upcoming games with implications - really only one this weekend, LSU in Oxford. Ole Missy put a whoopin' on Tennessee while the Tigers struggled against an inspired La Tech team. Other than that...phmmph!