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!