Mumme Poll Ballot : Week 14

It's the final Mumme Poll before the bowl games...let LOHD know how yours stacks up against our picks...


The Top Five
 
1. Alabama

Undefeated SEC Champions. Is there more that needs to be said?

2. Texas

Wow, that was close.

3. TCU

Really disappointed they are going to play Boise. I still don’t think we will get a chance to see if they really are the number 3 team in the country.

4. Oregon

Won the civil war. Get to play Ohio State in SoCal.

5. Florida

Still one of the best teams in the nation.

The Next Seven

-Boise State

See TCU above.

-Cincinnati

Thank the Pitt holder. Enjoy preparing for Tebow and the Florida defense.

-Georgia Tech

Didn’t punt all day against Clemson. That’s solid offense. Clemson didn’t punt either; bad defense.

-Iowa

Despite late season losses still gets to go to the Orange Bowl.

-Ohio State

Now it’s time for the worst part of being a Buckeye – losing the bowl game.

-LSU

No game played. No change.

-Nebraska

Donkey Kong Suh is really good. Just a hair away from upsetting Texas.

Mumme Poll Ballot

1. Florida

Beat FSU in part of the SEC’s “Beat the crap out of your ACC rival” week.

2. Alabama

Survived scare against Auburn. Onto the National Semifinal against Florida.

3. Texas

Defense didn’t look so hot against Texas A&M. Offense and Colt McCoy did, though.

4. TCU

Speaking of offensive outputs. Perhaps we’ll get to see how good they are against one of the big boys in the BCS.

5. Oregon

One more game on the way to the Rose Bowl.

Cincinnati

Close game against bad Illinois team. A win this week against Pitt and Cincy might be Top 5 material.

Ohio State

No game. No change.

Boise State

Still undefeated. I still have my doubts about how good this team actually is. Hopefully they will play someone other than TCU in their bowl game.

Oregon State

One game away from the Rose Bowl … and a rivalry game at that. Should be interesting.

Georgia Tech

Victim of the SEC’s “Beat the crap out of your ACC rival” week.

Iowa, LSU

Deserving? Maybe. More likely the beneficiaries of the losses in last week’s Top 12.

Comments, arguments?

Mumme Poll Ballot

1. Florida
Demolished an inferior opponent at home. Why was this game even played?

2. Alabama
See above.

3. Texas
Beat weak Kansas team. No real games left on schedule until bowl.

4. Georgia Tech
Hammered a tougher than usual (though still not tough) Duke team.

5. TCU
Avoid upset at Wyoming. Won't lose to New Mexico; who will they play in the Fiesta Bowl?

Ohio State
Dominance over Michigan continues. Next up: Rose Bowl disappointment.

Cincinnati
Off week. Nothing to see here.

Pittsburgh
Off week. West Virginia coming up next. Can the Mountaineers ruin Pitt's BCS
chances like Pitt did to them a few years ago?

Oregon
Does anyone have a good handle on this team?

Boise State
Blew out an inferior opponent, like they should have, but still seem to be missing something; I'm not sure what.

Oklahoma State
Really not missing Dez Bryant that much, are they? Could win their 10th game and make Oklahoma 6-6.

LSU
Not sure they belong, but who else do you put here?

Mumme Poll Ballot - Week 10

Mumme Poll here. Again, the Mummepoll requires you to rank the top five teams and then just select, in any order, the next seven. This intent is for a more original polling format.

1. Florida

--Beat Vanderbilt. Meh.

2. Alabama

--Beat LSU. Nice.

3. Texas

--Beat Central Florida, but why didn’t they pull away earlier?

4. Georgia Tech

--Beating Wake in overtime isn’t impressive, but Yellow Jackets are the beneficiaries of this week’s Top 12 carnage.

5. LSU

--Two losses: to Florida and LSU. Both close. That’s about what the number 5 team should look like.
------
Cincinnati
--It’s wins like this week’s squeaker over UConn that make me doubt how high this team deserves to be ranked.

TCU
--Boise, pay attention. If you don’t have the best schedule in the country, the least you can do is blow out the teams you do play.

Boise State
--Teams that beat Louisiana Tech worse than they did: Auburn, Navy and Nevada. This is perhaps the most undeserving undefeated team in the poll.

Iowa
--Most of us assumed this loss (or one like it) was coming. The question now is, how many more will there be?

Arizona
--Quietly putting together a nice season. With Oregon and Southern Cal left on schedule, Wildcats have plenty of opportunities to impress.

Pittsburgh
--Like their fellow Big East brethren, not sure how impressive their body of work has been, but they have continued winning.

Ohio State
--Welcome back. Don’t pull another Purdue and embarrass us.

Mumme Poll Ballot - Week 9

Mumme Poll here.  Again, the Mummepoll requires you to rank the top five teams and then just select, in any order, the next seven. This intent is for a more original polling format.

1. Florida

Solid destruction of Georgia locks up SEC East and spot in SEC Championship BCS Play-in Game.

2. Alabama

Off week to prepare for game with LSU, their last real obstacle to a Championship match-up with Florida.

3. Texas

Finally starting to look like the Top 5 team we thought they could be.

4. LSU

Dismantled Tulane. Meh.

5. Oregon

Dismantled Southern Cal. Impressive.
____________
Georgia Tech

Game against Vanderbilt stayed close longer than it should have.

Iowa

Game against Indiana stayed close longer than it should have.

TCU

Blew out UNLV. This is what should be done to inferior opponents.

Cincinnati

No compelling reason to put them in the Top 5, but no rational argument to keep them out of the Top 12.

Boise State

Oregon win looks better again this week.

Penn State and Ohio State

Not so sure they belong here, but they are because no one else really has the resume to be here either.

Mumme Poll Ballot - Week 8

The ballot is below. Again, the Mummepoll requires you to rank the top five teams and then just select, in any order, the next seven. This intent is for a more original polling format.

1. Florida

Rolling along.

2. Alabama

Barely survived a surprisingly close rivalry game, but did survive.

3. Texas

Nice win on the road against a middling Missouri team.

4. Georgia Tech

First win in Charlottesville since 1990. Should cruise unimpeded to the ACC Championship game.

5. LSU

Sound defeat of solid Auburn team.

___

Southern Cal

Continues to play close games against inferior talent.

Iowa

Can they beat anybody impressively? On the other hand, can anyone beat them?

Virginia Tech

Off week, nothing to see here.

Oregon

Did to Washington what Southern Cal should have.

Cincinnati, TCU, Boise State

Still undefeated, weak schedules keeping them out of the Top 5.

Mumme Poll Ballot - Week 7

The ballot is below. Again, the Mummepoll requires you to rank the top five teams and then just select, in any order, the next seven. This intent is for a more original polling format.

1. Florida

Survive and advance. Not all that pretty but still undefeated.

2. Alabama

See above.

3. Texas

Best win is over a .500 team, but that team was Oklahoma.

4. Georgia Tech

Beat Virginia Tech, take their place.

5. Southern Cal

Couldn’t put Notre Dame away when they were up 20, but repeatedly held off the Irish in the face of questionable officiating.

LSU

No reason to drop them for an idle week.

Oregon

See above

Cincinnati

Not the best strength of schedule, but they keep winning.

Iowa

See above.

Boise State

See Cincinnati

Miami

Another second tier Florida team, another easy win.

Virginia Tech

Losses to Georgia Tech and Alabama. How many teams could beat either of those two?


Arguments, Comments, Quibbles?

Mumme Poll Ballot

For explanation of the Mumme Poll see last week's write-up here.

1. Florida

Undefeated reigning BCS champion who just handed LSU their first loss of the season and their first loss at home at night in atleast 21 games.

2. Alabama

Another week, another solid, convinving victory.

3. Virginia Tech

Appear to be putting it all together, this week’s game against Georgia Tech is the last major hurdle to the ACC Championship game.

4. Southern Cal

Bye week is no reason to drop from the Top 5.

5. Texas

No real strong win to point to, but who else are you going to put here?

Nebraska

Comeback win against Missouri vaunts them into the top 12.

LSU

At this point how many teams could stay within 10 points of Florida, 3? 5?

Iowa

Still undefeated but how long can they continue to escape with close wins against inferior teams?

Miami

We didn’t learn anything new, but they didn’t do anything to fall either.

Georgia Tech

There’s a reason the triple option was once the dominant offensive scheme in college football. Paul Johnson wants to remind you why.

Oregon

If they’re that good and Boise beat them, what do we say about Boise State?

Boise State

Dependent on their Oregon win for their credibility, but that’s looking pretty good.

Also considered

Cincinnati
Ohio State
Penn State
TCU
Oklahoma State
South Florida

Mumme Poll Ballot

I will be voting in the Mummme Poll this year, which is a poll run by The 3rd Saturday in Blogtober and Get the Picture. The poll ranks the Top 12 teams but only the top 5 are specified in any one ballot. Unlike the traditional polls, there is no preseason or even early season voting. This ballot is the first of the year. Also, unlike traditional polls, you can vote in it if you want.

Senator Blutarsky explains:

The inspiration for the Mumme Poll came from the final 2007 regular season Coaches Poll and Tony Barnhart’s post breaking down some of the more questionable ballots. (You can read that post here.) The poll is in fact named in honor of the most questionable vote of that Coaches Poll – Hal Mumme’s ballot listing Hawaii as the number one team in the country.

In response, the initial Mumme Poll ran at Get The Picture for the 2008 season. Florida finished first at season’s end.

As far as your possible participation, the Senator continues:

We’re (small “d”) democrats here. Mumme Poll voting is open to any knowledgeable, enthusiastic college football fan. That’s part of the fun of it.

Follow the links for more information and explanation. If you want to vote, you need to hurry; I think they are going to close out registration at 9pm on Monday.

link, link, link

The ballot

1. Florida

Still undefeated after last year's national championship. Until proven otherwise, they are the number one team.

2. Alabama

Despite yesterday's meh-inducing win over Kentucky, they are playing like the most complete team in the country. Their wins over Arkansas and Virginia Tech continue to look impressive.

3. Virginia Tech

The Miami win and an understandable loss to Alabama put the Hokies in the Top 5.

4. Southern Cal

Road wins over Cal and Ohio State outweigh a head scratching loss to Washington.

5. LSU

Quality win at Georgia anchors an otherwise mediocre resume.



The rest, in no particular order

Texas

They look like a Top 5 team, but without a signature win, I don't think they deserve to be there yet. They will have plenty of opportunities to earn their way there.

Auburn

Undefeated and looking impressive while doing it, but no real signature win to propel them into the top 5.

Iowa

Clearly deserving because of their win at Penn State, but way-too-close wins over Northern Iowa and Arkansas State may indicate some chinks in the Hawkeye armor.

Cincinnati

Looking good against weak competition. How good are they? Will anyone on their schedule be good enough for us to judge?

Boise State

Relying on the Oregon win more than blind man relies on his seeing eye dog. Their putrid schedule will probably keep them out of the top 5, but they appear to be one of Top 12 teams in the country.

Miami

3-1 after playing the hardest opening schedule in the country.

Oregon

After an early loss to Boise State, the Ducks have rebounded nicely with wins over Utah and Cal.

Comments, arguments, irrational rants?