Strength-of-schedule #9

[KnuckleStang]

Don't know if this has been mentioned already, but has anybody noticed Sagarin has our strength-of-schedule so far ranked #9?

1. Oregon St.
2. BYU
3. Marshall
4. Washington
5. Clemson
6. UNC
7. Northwestern
8. USC
9. SMU
10. Colorado St.

Knew it was tough, but I didn't know it was THAT tough. Yeah yeah, I know sagarins don't mean as much now as they do in, say Nov. But it does increase my hopes that we might see the sun shine a little more as we start playing some weaker teams. Guess we'll know a little more this weekend.

[Horseshoe]

I'm with you - didn't realize it was THAT tough. Kind of surprised, too, considering the relative lack of respect afforded to the WAC.
Interesting stuff, Knuckler.

[Johnny Rock]

Thanks Copeland!!!!

[The PonyGrad]

Also, as I mentioned in another thread, the average ranking of our opposing teams offense is #29, with only one team below a #38 ranking. That has to put us pretty high in that category as well.

[ponyte]

I am a little surprised that Arkansas doesn't have a high ranking. They play Texas (yes, I know the Horns are predictably over rated, but...), Auburn, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and LSU. One may have to call BS on the Sagarin's strength of schedule rankings.

[mrydel]

I think this is referring to strength of schedule "so far". Ours will drop with the WAC competition and Arkansas will jump up after the big boys get averaged in with the LA Monroes and New Mex States.

[KnuckleStang]

I am a little surprised that Arkansas doesn't have a high ranking. They play Texas (yes, I know the Horns are predictably over rated, but...), Auburn, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and LSU. One may have to call BS on the Sagarin's strength of schedule rankings.

Personally, I find UNC questionable.

As far as the Hogs schedule, I could be wrong, but I think Sagarin only takes into account who you've played THUS FAR in the year, not the whole year. That's why Arkansas' SOS is hurt by NM St. and La Monroe. So we can expect Arkansas' SOS to rise and SMU's to drop like a stone as the year progresses.

Edit: Um, yeah, what mrydel said.

[EastStang]

UNC already had Florida State and Virginia on their schedule (two top ten teams), plus Georgia Tech and William and Mary (who nearly beat them). William and Mary is ranked 80 by Sagarin (which is higher than SMU at 109). TCU is 67.

[KnuckleStang]

Good point about W&M. Now that I really look at it, I see they played Louisville (#16) too. I had no idea Louisville was that high.

[KnuckleStang]

Well, our SOS is still #9, after playing Rice Institute, if you can believe that. Dominating perfs by TT and OSU this weekend helped, they shot up to #21 and #4, respectively, with Boise hanging tough at #16. Incidentally, our sagarin is now 119.

SOS (thru 10/9):

1. Oregon State
2. Clemson
3. Cal
4. UNC
5. BYU
6. Houston
7. USC
8. FSU
9. SMU
10. New Mexico

[PonySnob]

Bottom line - we still have one of the worst programs in Div 1 football.

[KnuckleStang]

Sagarins thru 10/9:

4 Oklahoma State
16 Boise State
21 Texas Tech
55 Fresno St.
67 TCU
71 UTEP
73 La. Tech
74 Rice
105 Tulsa
119 SMU
121 SJSU
125 Nevada