Many times all of us argue or have intense discussions about the effects of having different assumptions or premises without realizing it. I think there are several examples of that in what we’ve seen so far with the CFB committee.
Best team or best season: Even though these two assessments are closely related, they are different. Unless I’ve missed it I haven’t heard the committee express their selection criteria but their actions say it is heavily in the direction of the best team right now. And further their actions say they are using a lot of subjective criteria that among other things discounts the efforts required to get ready for, both strategically and mentally, every game and win every game.
“Look of the champion”: Chairman long for the second week used the word balance when discussing the committee’s work. This week it was used when discussing their assessment of Iowa. After the first week it was used in a more general way. I’m sorry but that way of thinking should be totally rejected. Last time I checked we look at the scoreboard at the end of a game and see who won. The only thing that matters is: does your combination of offense and defense WIN games. Period.
Wins against teams with .500 or better records: The other side of the coin of the Big 12 schedule being back-loaded is the teams at the bottom of the conference have played mostly teams at the top and thus have poor records. West Virginia and KSU have played and lost to all of the top four teams, Kansas and Texas have each played three of the top four with a combined 1-5 record and Texas Tech has played and lost to two of the top four.
Above average offensive performance due to superior offenses or playing against bad defenses: Even though offensive performance is a result of some combination of both, the stats from the TCU/Minnesota, TT/Ark and OU/Tennessee games indicate it is more good offenses than playing against bad defenses. In the TCU/Minnesota game, TCU averaged 6.41 yards per play. Against all opponents Minnesota has allowed only 4.7 yards per play. In the Texas Tech/ Arkansas game , TT averaged 8.4 yards per play. Against all opponents, Arkansas has allowed 6.0 yards per play. And on the bad defenses side of things, in the OU/Tennessee game OU held Tennessee to 3.34 yards per play and Tennessee has averaged 5.5 yards per play against all opponents. Even though not as many data points as we all would like, these games do indicate that the Big 12 results are significantly more due to superior offenses.
It appears to me the committee is very quickly losing credibility and the appearance of neutrality because of over reliance on subjective factors such as balance and Ohio State will be better once their quarterback returns. After the first two weeks of results, put me down as one who would prefer a totally computer based ranking system that is fully and openly vetted during the offseason and finalized in August.
Best team or best season: Even though these two assessments are closely related, they are different. Unless I’ve missed it I haven’t heard the committee express their selection criteria but their actions say it is heavily in the direction of the best team right now. And further their actions say they are using a lot of subjective criteria that among other things discounts the efforts required to get ready for, both strategically and mentally, every game and win every game.
“Look of the champion”: Chairman long for the second week used the word balance when discussing the committee’s work. This week it was used when discussing their assessment of Iowa. After the first week it was used in a more general way. I’m sorry but that way of thinking should be totally rejected. Last time I checked we look at the scoreboard at the end of a game and see who won. The only thing that matters is: does your combination of offense and defense WIN games. Period.
Wins against teams with .500 or better records: The other side of the coin of the Big 12 schedule being back-loaded is the teams at the bottom of the conference have played mostly teams at the top and thus have poor records. West Virginia and KSU have played and lost to all of the top four teams, Kansas and Texas have each played three of the top four with a combined 1-5 record and Texas Tech has played and lost to two of the top four.
Above average offensive performance due to superior offenses or playing against bad defenses: Even though offensive performance is a result of some combination of both, the stats from the TCU/Minnesota, TT/Ark and OU/Tennessee games indicate it is more good offenses than playing against bad defenses. In the TCU/Minnesota game, TCU averaged 6.41 yards per play. Against all opponents Minnesota has allowed only 4.7 yards per play. In the Texas Tech/ Arkansas game , TT averaged 8.4 yards per play. Against all opponents, Arkansas has allowed 6.0 yards per play. And on the bad defenses side of things, in the OU/Tennessee game OU held Tennessee to 3.34 yards per play and Tennessee has averaged 5.5 yards per play against all opponents. Even though not as many data points as we all would like, these games do indicate that the Big 12 results are significantly more due to superior offenses.
It appears to me the committee is very quickly losing credibility and the appearance of neutrality because of over reliance on subjective factors such as balance and Ohio State will be better once their quarterback returns. After the first two weeks of results, put me down as one who would prefer a totally computer based ranking system that is fully and openly vetted during the offseason and finalized in August.
