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Grading The Experts - AP Poll
December 4, 2006 | By Benjamin Miraski
From the Editor: With sports guru and FanIQ blog editor, Critical Fanatic on vacation in Paris, I was called in to assist. That might be why it has been a little light around here lately. This article originally appeared on the FanIQ blog. This article is part of a recurring series on the 'Q'.
It's that time again... Time to grade your favorite experts and their votes in the numerous polls. Even better? This week, we should be getting all the votes released in the AP, Coaches, and Harris Polls. (Editor's Note: Here is a fun little deal. We are going to label the voters with (F) or (M) based on the higher team in their poll.)
Coaches Poll: Jim Tressel (I)
First, I want to say that I think what Jim Tressel did - not casting his vote in the Coaches Poll - was a good move. With the actual votes being released in the final tally, you don't want to look biased one way or another, especially when the drama around #2 is so large. I think he might still have cast his vote had USC won. There was little doubt that USC was going to be #2 if they had beaten the Bruins. But that didn't happen and Tressel showed class in not directly involving himself in the controversy. It is a shame that this might cost him his vote in the poll.
Grade: A+
AP: Susan Miller Degnan (F) - Miami Herald
You can't fault her for voting Florida #2. She has to go to work everyday and sell papers, and it doesn't pay to upset your readers. But...
7. Auburn
8. USC
9. Notre Dame
10. Boise State
11. Oklahoma
Did I miss something? Didn't Oklahoma just win the Big XII? 21-7? I know they have two losses, but ranking them below Auburn, ND, and Boise State is a little out of whack, especially when the Sooners finished 7th when all the votes were counted.
Grade: D
AP: David Jones (F) - Florida Today
Something in the water in Florida.
6. USC
7. Louisville
8. West Virginia
9. Boise State
10. Auburn
11. Oklahoma
At least he realized that the Sooners were better than Notre Dame.
Grade: C-
AP: Mark Tupper (M) - Decatur Herald
#11 Wisconsin
That's it. His poll otherwise doesn't look too bad, but 11? And below SC, Arkansas, Auburn, and Boise State.
Grade: B-
AP: Jason Whitlock (F)
Oh, Jason, still up to your old tricks...
#4 Oklahoma
#14 Wisconsin
#17 Boise State
#18 Nebraska
#19 Texas
Wackiness. And how do you rank Nebraska above Texas when the Longhorns beat them, beat Oklahoma who beat them, and have the better record?
Grade: D
AP: Kirk Herbstreit (M)
So this week, Herbie got a little criticism from the Ombudsman for ESPN that he should rethink his vote in the AP. I don't know if that is right or not, since he probably watches more ball than the other voters, and there are other ESPN/ABC voters on the panel too. However this is too good.
#2 Michigan - Didn't I see Herbie on ESPN saying that he thought the BCS got it right with Florida in the title game? Then how does he vote Michigan #2 in his own vote?
#5 USC - They lost, but apparently the cheerleaders still looked nice on television.
Grade: See Me
Ben Miraski writes for MRISports.com and is a featured blogger on FanIQ. Readers can contact Ben at bmiraski@mrisports.com
Posted December 4, 2006 6:15 PM
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