Weird Science

Another crazy week in college football means we're one step closer to the first BCS rankings. Last week I touched on the strangeness of having teams like Northwestern and Vanderbilt appear near the top of the rankings for a couple of the computer models that comprise the BCS. Well, thanks to Tony Franklin (and a bye week for Northwestern) we can continue the insanity. For example, Wes Colley and Kenneth Massey are giving us a preview for who they think will be participating in this year's SEC Championship game. We can also add a new crazy team to the list: Ball State. The Cardinals are 6-0, but have no standout wins. They did, however, beat Navy and Indiana. Their toughest remaining games are Western Michigan (5-1) and Central Michigan (3-2). Ball State could be 13-0 after the MAC Championship game . . . and still end up in the Motor City Bowl. Here are the computer rankings through the Oct. 4 games for four of the six computer rankings that comprise a portion of the BCS rankings.

Colley Matrix

1. Alabama

2. Vanderbilt

3. Missouri

4. Texas

5. Utah

6. Oklahoma

7. Penn State

8. Northwestern

9. Ball State

10. Virginia Tech

Surprises: Well, Vandy, Northwestern, and Ball State, for starters.

No respect: BYU is 25th.

Richard Billingsley

1. Alabama

2. Oklahoma

3. LSU

4. USC

5. Texas

6. Missouri

7. Ohio State

8. Georgia

9. Utah

10. BYU

Surprises: How about USC at #4, despite its loss to Oregon State?

No respect: Vanderbilt at #23, Texas Tech at #28, Ball State at #41, and Northwestern at #52.

Massey Ratings

1. Vanderbilt

2. Alabama

3. Missouri

4. Utah

5. Oklahoma

6. Northwestern

7. Penn State

8. Texas

9. Virginia Tech

10. Georgia Tech

Surprises: Uh, Vandy in the top spot. Massey apparently likes their win over Auburn more than Bama's win at Georgia. Imagine where Ga. Tech would be had they held on at Va. Tech.

No respect: LSU at #22 (hey, they beat Auburn, too).

Jeff Sagarin Ratings

1. USC

2. Oklahoma

3. Alabama

4. Penn State

5. Texas

6. Missouri

7. Florida

8. Georgia

9. Boise State

10. Texas Tech

Surprises: Where do we begin? How about at the top, where USC is still #1.

No respect: 5-1 Michigan State at #26, one spot BEHIND 2-3 Oregon State.