honey (01/05/83)
The following is reprinted without permission.
The New York Times
Final College Top 20
Computer ranking based on games through Jan. 1
OPPONENTS'
PERFORMANCES
Last Average Average
Rank Team Week Record Margin Rating Record* Margin
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Penn State 1 11-1-0 16.6 1.000 87-39-2 9.1
2 Nebraska 3 12-1-0 26.7 .903 75-51-10 4.1
3 Georgia 2 11-1-0 14.8 .900 72-51-2 3.2
4 SMU 5 11-0-1 16.2 .872 56-66-2 -1.4
5 UCLA 9 10-1-1 14.0 .871 63-46-3 3.4
6 Arizona State 14 10-2-0 12.4 .833 63-56-5 1.8
7 USC 6 8-3-0 14.5 .824 65-44-5 4.0
8 Florida State 18 9-3-0 13.8 .819 82-42-1 7.8
9 Clemson 8 9-1-1 12.9 .805 61-52-1 2.8
10 Arkansas 16 9-2-1 13.7 .804 67-54-2 2.1
11 Texas 4 9-3-0 15.6 .800 64-54-6 3.7
12 Auburn 17 9-3-0 6.4 .799 76-48-3 4.6
13 Pitt 6 9-3-0 13.4 .798 78-46-2 6.1
14 Ohio State 20 9-3-0 11.7 .785 61-63-1 2.7
15 Washington - 10-2-0 13.4 .779 63-57-5 0.3
16 North Carolina - 8-4-0 16.6 .769 73-51-1 4.3
17 Alabama - 8-4-0 10.2 .751 78-46-2 6.6
18 Maryland 14 8-4-0 12.8 .750 74-49-1 5.0
19 Florida 10 8-4-0 5.7 .740 77-46-3 6.0
20 LSU 19 8-3-1 16.2 .733 58-66-2 1.6
The New York Times's computer football ranking is based on an analysis of each
team's scores with emphasis on three factors: who won a game, by what margin
and against what quality of opposition. Distinctions are also made as to the
success of the offensive and defensive units. The quality of a team is
determined by examining its performance against each opponent, and by then
examining these opponents' other foes. The Times's computer model collapses
runaway scores to reduce the effect of any one game on the total ranking.
Each week performance in all games played by all teams are re-evaluated to take
into consideration the most recent week's results, which count more than
earlier games.
The top-ranked team is assigned a rating of 1.000; the ratings of all other
teams are percentages reflecting their strength relative to the top team. Thus
the ratings indicate how close a team is to those ranked above it or below it.
* The cumulative records and margin of victory of a ranked team's opponents do
not include games against the ranked team.
Editorial aside:
If you're feeling robbed by SMU's low ranking, consider the quality of their
opponents. Even Michigan (my alma mater) can beat losers!