SB Nation Blogpoll Ballot Draft: Week Four

by Gamecock Man on Sep 25, 2011 2:14 PM EDT in General NCAA Athletics

Here's the draft of my blogpoll ballot. Tell me what you think.

After very impressive weekends for LSU and Alabama, I think you have to place them above Oklahoma, which struggled against Missouri. Oklahoma St. notched an impressive win against TAMU and deserves to jump up a few spots. Wisconsin is holding steady in the Big 10. I think they're going to steamroll their conference rivals and have a very real chance to go undefeated.

6. Boise St. Broncos

7. Stanford Cardinal

8. Nebraska Cornhuskers

9. Oregon Ducks

10. Florida Gators

Boise remains steady, but they're not going to get an opportunity to rise much in the polls unless all the teams ahead of them falter. Simply not enough meat on their schedule. Stanford had a bye. Nebraska feasted on a cupcake. Not sure if they should really be this high--need to see them play against some better competition. Oregon dominated and looks ready to make another run at the Pac-12, but the defense doesn't look good enough to compete for a national title. Florida is looking pretty solid and gets a chance to move up next week when it plays Alabama.

11. Clemson Tigers

12. Texas A&M Aggies

13. South Carolina Gamecocks

14. Baylor Bears

15. Virginia Tech Hokies

I know you guys are probably going to hate me for putting them this high, but I'm pretty impressed by Clemson right now. Their game against FSU wasn't as close as the score suggests; they're playing very well, particularly on offense. TAMU lost a tough one to Oklahoma St. but should be competitive at a high level this year. USC, as we all know, is a big question mark. Baylor has a great offense that should give them a chance in any game, although their defense will make them upset prone. Based on what I've seen so far, I don't think VA Tech is very good, but you have to put them somewhere.

16. South Florida Bulls

17. Michigan Wolverines

18. Georgia Tech Yellowjackets

19. West Virginia Mountaineers

20. Arizona St. Sun Devils

USF looks like the best pick in the Big East. Michigan--I'm probably going to hate myself later in the year for saying this--looks like they might be for real this year. GA Tech's offense appears to be back in gear. WVU didn't play as badly against LSU as the score indicates; I think they'll hold up well over the course of the year. ASU looks like the best pick for a mid-pack Pac-12 team.

21. Illinois Fighting Illini

22. Houston Cougars

23. TCU Horned Frogs

24. Kansas St. Wildcats

25. Florida St. Seminoles

Illinois--solid mid-tier Big 10 team. Houston looks to be the best bet for a non-Boise BCS buster now that FIU has lost. TCU should have a chance to start rising in the rankings now. KSU picked up a nice road win against a perplexing Miami team. FSU gave it it's best shot against Clemson in Death Valley, but this doesn't appear to be the national-title contender we thought it was.

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Comments

I'm a pretty unbiased Gamecock fan, but Clemson is too high.

Beating a young Auburn team with a poor D (110 in the country) and squeaking by an FSU team with its starting QB on the bench doesn’t warrant a #11 ranking. Remember, this team struggled to beat Wofford. They have a potent offense that has star athletes, but I’m not sold on them being a really strong contender. If they get by VT this week, though, they’re going to be talking undefeated regular season in Clemson and we’ll be the only ranked team in their way.

by Skulls and Spurs on Sep 25, 2011 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

The Tigers have the 90th rated D in the country and struggle to get to the QB and make plays behind the LOS.

They’ve played Troy, Wofford, a now unranked Auburn team, and FSU without Manuel. If they had a better D, I’d agree that they should be close to a top ten team right now. Without that, I think the pollsters are about right at #13 and #15.

by Skulls and Spurs on Sep 25, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

They have flaws, for sure, but which of the teams that I have below them do you think are better? TAMU, maybe, but who else?

Do you think we’re playing better than they are? What about VA Tech, which has struggled against mediocre competition? I’ll admit that Clemson may be a paper tiger, but they’ve made about as good a case as anybody.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Sep 25, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Based on last week's polls and what happened this week . . .

I’d have Clemson rated below us, A&M, and Va Tech. If polls went week to week then there’d be too much fluctuation, because we have prior polls to base the current one on, I don’t think Clemson is deserving of jumping any of the above mentioned teams. Carolina and VT are undefeated and A&M, at #8, lost to #7 Ok St by one point and shouldn’t drop much at all (sounds like the polls nailed that 7 and 8 ranking, actually). Just my thoughts.

by Skulls and Spurs on Sep 25, 2011 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I think it's crazy to have Clemson that high. Sexy choice right now, but no way.

Like SAS said, they survived a shootout with the FSU B-team*, took out an Auburn team that almost lost to Utah State, struggled with Wofford and Troy. That said, the road ahead looks alright for them, doesn’t it? Yeesh. Anyway, no way I rank them higher than us, even if they look better superficially.

*Yes, that’s hyperbole.

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by Gamecock'n'Balls on Sep 25, 2011 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions