[gatortalk] Re: Who To Root For? And Against?

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:31:27 -0800

I have not run the math or anything ...
 
but I think it is safe to say that we need to root for anyone on our schedule (past and future) - except for our current opponent.  For example we need to pull for Hawaii, Georgia, South Carolina, FSU, etc. 
 
Since we have played LSU and expect to play Alabama - I will pull for LSU.  LSU is currently #16 in the BCS rankings and has two loses.  There are no teams in the AP top 25 with 3 losses.  If LSU loses then they probably fall out of the AP poll and the BCS ranking - so our strength of schedule goes down.  If LSU wins - then it appears that the SEC is a much tougher conference than the other conferences. 
 
BTW - check out the Sagarin rankings.  Although Sagarin usually greatly favors the Big Ten and Pac 10 at the start - later in the season - he usually has it worked out. 
 
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt08.htm
 
Sagarin has Florida 3, Alabama 4, Georgia 10, LSU 17, Miami 19, FSU 24, South Carolina 27, Mississippi 30, and Vanderbilt 39
 
Sagarin has us with the #10th toughest schedule.  I think that this will go up. 
 
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [gatortalk] Who To Root For? And Against?
From: "Kenneth Beitler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sat, November 08, 2008 11:09 am
To: <[email protected]>

Gators:
 
Maybe I am not paying as much attention as I should be (it’s been a busy week), but I have to admit that I have been somewhat confused as to who to root for today, and in the upcoming weeks.  Of course, I want the scenario that helps the Gators most.
 
Now, I understand that if we don’t win the rest of our games, including the SECCG (should we win the East – let’s take nothing for granted), none of this matters.  And I also understand that who I root for doesn’t have any effect on the outcome in these games.  But I just want to know what best serves the Gators, so I can root, and celebrate (or suffer) accordingly.
 
Take the Texas Tech –- Oklahoma State game tonight.  Normally, I’d root for Oklahoma State, since Texas Tech is ranked ahead of us.  But would Oklahoma State jump us if they beat Texas Tech?  I tend to think they would not, but who knows?  And does the upcoming schedule for either make it better for us if one wins over the other?  Oklahoma still must play Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, so, should Oklahoma win out, it would be better for us if the teams they beat are ranked below us, reducing the likelihood that Oklahoma could jump us.  So I am thinking that tonight I need to root for Oklahoma State to beat Texas Tech, to take Texas Tech down a few pegs.  Am I wrong about that?
 
Keep in mind that Texas is still ahead of us in the BCS; if Texas Tech loses at some point, it might hurt Texas’ SOS rating, which could only help us.
 
Now, Alabama – LSU.  Everyone is saying that it would help us to play an undefeated Alabama in the SECCG, and I suppose that’s right.  It’s just hard for me to root for Nick Saban.  Also, if Alabama were to lose, it would clear out another spot ahead of us, so we would move up.  However, I think if Alabama loses, we lose control of our own destiny.  We would need to depend on a loss by two of the other three teams that are ranked ahead of us: Texas Tech or Penn State, or Texas.  We would also have to hope that we don’t get jumped by either Oklahoma or USC.  So I think that no matter how badly we dislike Nick Saban, we have to hope for his team to batter LSU this afternoon.
 
So, is this already obvious to everyone else, and I am late to the game in thinking about it?  Am I wrong about any of it?
 
Any feedback would be welcome.
 
 
Go Gators!!!!
 
Ken B. (NYC Gator)
 


--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions   |   2006 National Basketball Champions
2006 National Football Champions   |   2007 National Basketball Champions
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996),
Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Reply via email to