NCAA Football Week 11 Power Rankings

Massey ratings (http://www.mratings.com/rate/cf-m.htm)

1. Southern California (9-0)
2. Oklahoma (9-0) [+1]
3. California (7-1) [-1]
4. Utah (9-0) [+1]
5. Auburn (9-0) [-1]
6. Texas (8-1) [+2]
7. Arizona State (7-2) [+2]
8. Wisconsin (9-0) [+4]
9. Louisville (6-1) [-3]
10. Georgia (8-1)
11. Boise State (8-0) [+2]
12. Virginia (7-1) [+3]
13. Florida State (7-2) [+1]
14. Miami FL (6-2) [-7]
15. Texas A&M (6-3) [+2]
16. Tennessee (7-2) [-5]
Others: Michigan, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Louisiana State

 

Personal Pooratings

1. Southern California (9-0)
2. Oklahoma (9-0)
3. Auburn (9-0)
4. Utah (9-0)
5. Boise State (8-0)
6. California (7-1)
7. Wisconsin (9-0)
8. Texas (8-1) [+2]
9. Georgia (8-1) [+2]
10. Virginia (7-1) [+5]
11. Arizona State (7-2) [+3]
12. Louisville (6-1)
13. Michigan (8-1)
14. Tennessee (7-2) [-6]
15. West Virginia (8-1) [+1]
16. Florida State (7-2) [+1]
Others: Virginia Tech, Miami FL, Louisiana State, Iowa

 

1. USC
2. Auburn
3. Wisconsin
4. Oklahoma
5. Utah
6. California
7. Michigan
8. Texas
9. Georgia
10. Boise State
11. Virginia
12. West Virginia
13. Louisville
14. Miami
15. Iowa
16. Florida State

 

The only thing I can think of is that perhaps as half-champs last year, USC is receiving more of the benefit of the doubt and no one wants to move them down until they lose.

I just don't think they're comfortable moving Auburn all the way to 1, but that could change if they thrash Georgia. It plays in to that theory about how important the ranking you start with is compared to how you actually play. Auburn may in fact have been better than Southern Cal all along, but given where each started in the rankings, the Tigers have not been able to move farther up.

 

When you have a problem with how teams are ranked, look at an objective system. The Wilson computer rankings take in account only games for the present year and start each Div IA team with the same ranking, so everybody is treated the same.

1. Southern California
2. Oklahoma
3. California
4. Utah
5. Auburn
6. Boise State
7. Arizona State
8. Texas
9. Wisconsin
10. Virginia
11. Virginia Tech
12. Miami
13. Florida State
14. Texas A&M
15. Georgia
16. Michigan

Point here is USC is #1 because their best win is against #3 California. Oklahoma is #2 because their best win is against #8 Texas. California is #3 because their best win is #7 Arizona State. Utah is #4 because their best win is #14 Texas A&M. Auburn is #5 because their best win is #17 Tennessee. Boise State is #6 because their best win is #26 UTEP. Wisconsin is #9 because their best win is #30 Ohio State.

Without changes in rankings of other teams, Auburn can't really improve much by beating #15 Georgia. The SEC is a bit weaker than the Big 12 this year. That has helped Utah maintain their position. Because of this relative weakness of these conferences, Auburn can't advance much.

I think the human polls have stumbled on a ranking that is more or less confirmed with an objective ranking system. Auburn's climb in the SEC is come in a weak year for the traditionally stronger teams. Somehow I think the initial human rankings pick up on this. Start LSU and Florida with high starting rankings; if they falter the whole conference will probably be a bit weak. Thus the emergent SEC team, Auburn, comes out as one of the weaker undefeateds.

 

What in the world is the USC power ranking?