How Texas got to No. 2 in BCS and may face MU in Big 12
The computer rankings played a key part in Texas’ beating out OU for No. 2 in the BCS standings, and the current lead in the role of opponent for Missouri in the Big 12 title game.
How it worked:
In the six computer rankings used, the Longhorns were first in two, second in two and third in two. The formula throws out the high and the low so that’s a first, two seconds and a third.
Alabama had three firsts, a second, a third and a fourth. That leaves two first, a second and a third.
So although Alabama was first overall, it was by a close margin.
OU, which was third in the computer averages, was farther back. The Sooners had a first, a second, three fourths and a fifth. That left a second and three fourths.
That created a wider margin between Texas and Oklahoma in that component of the BCS.
In the Harris Poll, Oklahoma was third and Texas fourth but the margin was closer than the computer margin.
OU had a two-place edge over Texas in the coaches’ poll but that margin wasn’t enough.
Why does margin matter and not go with just the positions, it’s the way the BCS does it to try to be fair.
The rules:
Team percentages are derived by dividing a team’s actual voting points by a maximum 2850 possible points in the Harris Interactive Poll and 1525 possible points in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Six computer rankings calculated in inverse points order (25 for No. 1, 24 for No. 2, etc.) are used to determine the overall computer component. The highest and lowest ranking for each team is dropped, and the remaining four are added and divided by 100 (the maximum possible points) to produce a Computer Rankings Percentage. The six computer ranking providers are Anderson & Hester, Richard Billingsley, Colley Matrix, Kenneth Massey, Jeff Sagarin, and Peter Wolfe. Each computer ranking accounts for schedule strength in its formula.
The BCS Average is calculated by averaging the percent totals of the Harris Interactive, USA Today Coaches and Computer polls.
Anyway, what it all adds up to is Texas is in the lead for now with another week to go.
(Missouri stayed at 13th by the way.)
While it’s worth noting that Texas is in the lead now, it’s incredibly unlikely that they keep that lead if both teams win next week. Texas will be playing A&M and OU will be playing #12 Oklahoma State. While wins won’t effect the human polls very much, they should be reflected in the computer polls. The margin is so close right now that a win over a tougher (road) opponent will almost certainly put OU ahead.
But, first, they have to win in Stillwater against a solid Cowboy team.
it don’t matter if it,s longporns,hooners or red waitors the tigers will defeat them all.