1 Alabama
2 Ohio State
3 Iowa
4 Florida
5 Wisconsin
6 Clemson
7 Georgia
8 Northwestern
9 Indiana
10 Texas A&M
Iowa #3 in the Sagarin rankings
- Thread starter icantfindausernamethatisntused
- Start date
1 Alabama
2 Ohio State
3 Iowa
4 Florida
5 Wisconsin
6 Clemson
7 Georgia
8 Northwestern
9 Indiana
10 Texas A&M
Lol!! Now that’s some funny shit.
Pretty cool to see that, but computer rankings are especially useless this season in my opinion. With so many conferences playing only amongst themselves there's no way of connecting the dots statistically between the conferences. I bet there are going to be a lot of teams that are nowhere near where they are at in the voter polls at the end of the year.
I have no idea what Sagarin is using for his baseline data as to what constitutes standing but putting Iowa top anything is ludicrous. Hawks lost to a seemingly-good team (NW), a suspect team (Purdue), and have beaten three consecutive stinkers. The combined record of the teams they have beaten is 3-8. Purdue got jobbed or that would be 2-9.
In no world is Iowa the third-best team in the country.
In no world is Iowa the third-best team in the country.
Nor is Wisconsin #5
Good point. No way in hell Wisconsin should be ahead of NW or Indiana. Iowa shouldn't be ahead of any of the three. What data point is his program seeing to put Iowa at 3?
Sagarin ranks Iowa #3 because his approach focuses on the scores of games, not just W-L. The Hawks have been winning big while the losses have been close. The one-point loss to a top 10 opponent doesn't hurt nearly as much as the margins of victory help. Strength of schedule is 11, which helps, too.
Was just about to post that (even though Penn State isn't 0-6.... Yet.. ). AND Nebraska has the #1 schedule. LOL. Really a buzzsaw lately of winless Penn State and perpetually bad Illinois. They did manage to win one of those though. (Barely)
Back in '02, going into the Orange Bowl, when,Iowa played USC, I believe Sagarin had USC at #2, despite them having having lost two games earlier that season - and I think they actually finished #1 in Sagarin.
Point is, I believe Sagarin rating have always given less weight to early season losses (and wins), and more weight to later season wins (and losses). Very likely that the shortened season is creating some especially weird anomalies.
Point is, I believe Sagarin rating have always given less weight to early season losses (and wins), and more weight to later season wins (and losses). Very likely that the shortened season is creating some especially weird anomalies.
He's got Nebraska at #33. If we use his model, Iowa should win by 18 points. I'll believe it when I see it.
I don't k now anything about their rankings as I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. However, I have trouble putting that many BiG teams in the top ten. Of course, i totally agree with Iowa being there. 
Stop with this nonsense.
Sagarin ranks is third because we’re clearly the third best team. 😉
Yeah, but it's a computer model so it must be right. What are you guys... deniers?!
Last year we blew USC out, won 10 games, and finished ranked in the top 15 and needed a last second field goal to beat a bad Nebraska team. The year before that we finished ranked and beat the best defense in the country in the Outback Bowl and needed a last second fieldgoal at home to beat a Nebraska team that won 4 games.
I want a blowout more than anything, but I’ll believe an 18 point win over Nebraska when I see it.
Some of you forget that Sagarin is more of a power poll. He even gives a recency rating. His system allows for less reactive human voting. Another lesser viewed segment of the sagarin rating systen is the division rankings. Right now, Sagarin has the B1G W as the toughest conference in the country. FWIW:
https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/2020/conference/
https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/2020/conference/
- B1G West
- SEC West
- B1G East
- SEC East
- Pac12 North
- B1G 12
- ACC Coastal
- Pac12 South
- ACC Atlantic
- AAC
And the two years before that Iowa won by 30 and 42 points. Moreover, even though 2018 and 2019 were close, both games looked like Iowa may blow Nebraska out before unforced mistakes (e.g., up 28-13 in 2018 when we faked a FG at Nebraska's 3 yard line, up 17-3 in 2019 when Stanley threw a terrible pick-6) gave Nebraska life, and Nebraska had to mount 14+ point comebacks to tie the game in the 2nd half.
I'm not saying Iowa blowing out Nebraska is a sure thing, but it sure wouldn't surprise me.
Agreed, the past two years Iowa controlled the 1st halfs but couldn't do anything offensively in the 2nd. In 2018, Martinez was incredible making plays all over the field on 3rd downs in the 2nd half. Seems likely he will start again on Friday but he seems like a different and lesser version of his 2018 true frosh year. And I think Iowa should be able to have more productive 2nd half drives unlike the past couple years with the way the line is getting push. I was hesitant that they'd have trouble with PSU but they held their own and Nebraska's front 7 is a less formidable bunch.
Also, these Sagarin rankings are probably wildly inconsistent due to the lack of out of conference matchups and uneven games played, but Iowa is as high as it is due to its incredible defensive numbers.
