AP Poll

The first AP college football poll of the 2008 season was released today. Georgia is tops in both the initial coach's and AP Poll now.

Before I go any further, it should be noted that the AP Poll has almost ZERO relevance in the grand scheme of college football. They famously "took their poll and went home" a few years ago, removing themselves from the BCS equation.

I'm sure Southern Cal fans will tell you that the AP Poll is as legitimate as the BCS standings. To say otherwise would devalue the "national title" they were awarded by the AP a few years ago. The truth is LSU won the national title that year, not USC.

By the way, if you ever want to determine definitively whether or not an "AP national title" is legit, just ask anyone (especially a USC fan) if they'd rather play in the BCS title game or be awarded an AP national title. Case closed.

So essentially, the AP Poll is just a barometer of national opinion in the media and nothing more. It's certainly worth taking a look at however.

Back to the rankings.

Unlike the coach's poll, the Buckeyes check in at #2, not #3 in the AP. Southern Cal and Ohio State have swapped slots in the latest assessment.

I'm wondering if the rash of bad news coming out of USC training camp recently (Sanchez, McKnight, jock itch) had something to do with the difference of opinion? Just a theory.

What I find most interesting about the AP Poll is just how close Ohio State and Georgia are.

Here's the top five (Rank, Team, (1st place votes), Pts)

1. Georgia (22), 1,528
2. Ohio St. (21), 1,506
3. Southern Cal (12), 1,490
4. Oklahoma (4), 1,444
5. Florida (6), 1,415

Georgia isn't exactly a consensus choice at this point. Interesting that Ohio State had almost as many first place votes as UGA.

Based on the numerous castigations of the Big Ten/Buckeyes I have read over the last nine months it seems it would be easy to find a group of college football "experts" that think UGA is 20 points better then Ohio State on a neutral field. Or even in The 'Shoe.

It doesn't seem to be playing out that way in the polls though. Although these polls are far less significant then the ones released after Thanksgiving.

I am starting to wonder if the "great fear" is actually warranted. I am referring of course to the notion that Ohio State would be "punished" following back-to-back lopsided losses in the title game by the media and voters.

My feeling was that this would manifest itself more clearly in the AP Poll as opposed to the coach's. Ohio State is actually showing STRONGER in the media poll though.

There is still the matter of the Harris Poll. The potential bias to which I have just referred would probably show up most clearly in the Harris Poll in my opinion. Many of those voters have strong allegiances to specific schools and conferences and might be more apt to make statements with their votes about Ohio State and the Big Ten.

I'm not doubting the legitimacy of the Harris Poll mind you. Media members generally have regional bias that doesn't pertain to one school or conference. They naturally overvalue the teams that they see most often. All human beings will do that given the opportunity.

Harris Poll votes on the other hand are in some instances simply former players, coaches or athletic directors. It's less likely that their rooting interests have been worn down by covering the sport for a living. Again, just a theory.

One last comment on the AP Poll. Interesting that LSU is being held in such high esteem. I think they could become a juggernaut personally. They are already on the cusp and if LSU was in a different conference they might own it the same way OSU owns the Big Ten right now.

However, the fact that LSU doesn't have a single QB with any experience whatsoever would seem to be a major red flag in my book. Then again, Matt Flynn was nothing special I don't think. I by "not special" I mean, easily good enough to paste OSU in the title game.

Here's the rest of the AP Poll for those that are interested. And by "those" I mean no one.

6. Missouri 12-2 1,266
7. LSU 12-2 1,135
8. West Virginia 11-2 1,116
9. Clemson 9-4 1,105
10. Auburn 9-4 968
11. Texas 10-3 966
12. Texas Tech 9-4 786
13. Wisconsin 9-4 771
14. Kansas 12-1 707
15. Arizona St. 10-3 631
16. BYU 11-2 590
17. Virginia Tech 11-3 578
18. Tennessee 10-4 509
19. South Florida 9-4 496
20. Illinois 9-4 483
21. Oregon 9-4 366
22. Penn St. 9-4 293
23. Wake Forest 9-4 227
24. Alabama 7-6 89
25. Pittsburgh 5-7 85