IdaGriz01
Well-known member
You wouldn’t normally expect much in the way of “fireworks” with five ranked teams being Idle. But that was more than balanced out by having five ranked-vs-ranked matchups. And, in three of those cases the higher-ranked team lost. All told, nine ranked teams lost and, except for Sac State, eight of those were in the 10-21 range. That’s bound to lead to some major stirring in that middle.
Poll Guess, Team (Record), [Current Rank]
#1 South Dakota State (3-0) [1]
#2 North Dakota State (3-0) [2]
#3 Montana State (3-1) [3]
#4 William & Mary (4-0) [5]
#5 Holy Cross (3-1) [6]
#6 Idaho (3-1) [7]
#7 Sacramento State (3-1) [4]
#8 Furman (3-1) [8]
#9 Incarnate Word (3-1) [9]
#10 Southern Illinois (3-0) [12]
#11 North Dakota (2-1) [14]
#12 NC Central (3-1) [18]
#13 Delaware (3-1) [19]
#14 Weber State (2-2) [10]
#15 New Hampshire (2-2) [11]
#16 Florida A&M (3-1) [22]
#17 Villanova (3-1) [25]
#18 UT Martin (3-1) NR
#19 UC Davis (2-2) [15]
#20 Western Carolina (3-1) [23]
#21 Montana (3-1) [13]
#22 Rhode Island (2-2) [17]
#23 Eastern Washington (2-2) NR
#24 Youngstown State (2-1) [24]
#25 Mercer (2-2) [21]
NR SE Missouri State (1-3) [16]
NR Samford (1-3) [20]
I took the easy way out for Sac State, dropping them to just below Idaho. That makes three spots, which is fairly typical when a ranked team loses to another highly ranked opponent. I considered bumping Weber down another notch because they got thumped at home. But that would have put them below New Hampshire, which lost to a lower ranked team. Still, I can easily see the pollsters nudging the Weebs down one more.
That, of course, brings us to the Griz. I realize some disappointed fans think UM shouldn’t be ranked all. But that’s not how it works. The pollsters will surely punish the Griz for losing to an unranked team … and I’m guessing about eight spots. It could be more, but that (3-1) record fits in pretty well right below a block of other teams with that record.
Of course, UC Davis also lost to an unranked team. Two reasons to not drop them further: First, the game was very close. Also, I think the pollster will see EWU as coming on strong now … which is why I jumped them into the top-25.
The next loser was SE Missouri state, which also lost to an unranked opponent. That would not necessarily knock them all the way from #16 to out of the top-25 … but that (1-3) record sticks out like a sore thumb. (Their only win was over unknown Lindenwood.) That left a spot for UT Martin, which was the top “Others Receiving Votes” in the last poll. I bounced them fairly high because of that nice (3-1) record (their only loss was to FBS #1 Georgia).
The drop for Rhode Island was fairly “standard” … losing badly to a lower ranked team.
I’m pretty sure the pollsters will blow Samford out of the top-25. They have now lost three in a row and got pummeled by an unranked opponent. That, of course, opened a spot to insert EWU into the top-25.
Finally, I’m thinking the pollsters will cut Mercer some slack, after their loss to #8 Furman. Of course, I could be wrong; they might drop them to make room for Northern Iowa (just kidding … I hope).
Poll Guess, Team (Record), [Current Rank]
#1 South Dakota State (3-0) [1]
#2 North Dakota State (3-0) [2]
#3 Montana State (3-1) [3]
#4 William & Mary (4-0) [5]
#5 Holy Cross (3-1) [6]
#6 Idaho (3-1) [7]
#7 Sacramento State (3-1) [4]
#8 Furman (3-1) [8]
#9 Incarnate Word (3-1) [9]
#10 Southern Illinois (3-0) [12]
#11 North Dakota (2-1) [14]
#12 NC Central (3-1) [18]
#13 Delaware (3-1) [19]
#14 Weber State (2-2) [10]
#15 New Hampshire (2-2) [11]
#16 Florida A&M (3-1) [22]
#17 Villanova (3-1) [25]
#18 UT Martin (3-1) NR
#19 UC Davis (2-2) [15]
#20 Western Carolina (3-1) [23]
#21 Montana (3-1) [13]
#22 Rhode Island (2-2) [17]
#23 Eastern Washington (2-2) NR
#24 Youngstown State (2-1) [24]
#25 Mercer (2-2) [21]
NR SE Missouri State (1-3) [16]
NR Samford (1-3) [20]
I took the easy way out for Sac State, dropping them to just below Idaho. That makes three spots, which is fairly typical when a ranked team loses to another highly ranked opponent. I considered bumping Weber down another notch because they got thumped at home. But that would have put them below New Hampshire, which lost to a lower ranked team. Still, I can easily see the pollsters nudging the Weebs down one more.
That, of course, brings us to the Griz. I realize some disappointed fans think UM shouldn’t be ranked all. But that’s not how it works. The pollsters will surely punish the Griz for losing to an unranked team … and I’m guessing about eight spots. It could be more, but that (3-1) record fits in pretty well right below a block of other teams with that record.
Of course, UC Davis also lost to an unranked team. Two reasons to not drop them further: First, the game was very close. Also, I think the pollster will see EWU as coming on strong now … which is why I jumped them into the top-25.
The next loser was SE Missouri state, which also lost to an unranked opponent. That would not necessarily knock them all the way from #16 to out of the top-25 … but that (1-3) record sticks out like a sore thumb. (Their only win was over unknown Lindenwood.) That left a spot for UT Martin, which was the top “Others Receiving Votes” in the last poll. I bounced them fairly high because of that nice (3-1) record (their only loss was to FBS #1 Georgia).
The drop for Rhode Island was fairly “standard” … losing badly to a lower ranked team.
I’m pretty sure the pollsters will blow Samford out of the top-25. They have now lost three in a row and got pummeled by an unranked opponent. That, of course, opened a spot to insert EWU into the top-25.
Finally, I’m thinking the pollsters will cut Mercer some slack, after their loss to #8 Furman. Of course, I could be wrong; they might drop them to make room for Northern Iowa (just kidding … I hope).
