Daily Blog •August 10, 2012 |
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This is my second update on how the conference poll voting is shaping up. The last couple of years, I have I put up a poll for everyone to pick who would win each conference game during the year. I found these results fascinating prior to the year. When you vote in the poll, it tabulates the current % of votes for each team in each individual game. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the year for the people who predicted the conference's most accurately. However, you need to vote on every single game to qualify. You cannot just vote on the six BCS conferences and skip the others. You have only a couple weeks left to get your votes in!
Here are the current conference standings for all the conferences with the percentages of each game factored in according to your votes.
According to your votes LSU is predicted to go undefeated in the regular season for a 2nd year in a row. The Tiger's closest game is expected to come against Alabama as they received 75% of the vote. In the East, South Carolina is expected to win all of their games except their road trip to LSU as the Gamecocks will look to make it back to an SEC Champ game after missing out last year. Georgia also is expected to go 7-1 but only 37% of you so far expect them to beat South Carolina on the road.
Wisconsin is expected to get to the Big Ten title game again with their only loss coming at Nebraska (41%). Ohio St gets the nod for 2nd place in the Leaders division in Urban Meyer's 1st season though the Buckeyes are ineligible to play in the Big Ten championship game. The Legends division appears to be a toss-up right now as Nebraska, Michigan and Michigan St are all tied at the top.
Like my magazine you are predicting the Sooners to run the table in the regular season. Texas looks to have their best conference finish in three years according to you with their loss coming only to conference heavyweight Oklahoma. Oklahoma St according to you is expected to have a "sub-par" season for them as you have projected 3 conference losses for the Pokes while newcomer West Virginia is also picked 3rd.
According to you, Florida St will win the ACC Atlantic. So far the Seminoles look like clear winners in all the games (60% or more). Just like my Magazine you project North Carolina to finish at the top of the standing but Virginia Tech will get the nod in the Coastal as the Tar Heels are ineligible to play in the ACC Championship game.
No surprise here as USC and Oregon are the favorites to meet up in the Pac-12 championship game which would be a rematch from earlier in the season. Utah and Washington are projected to have very nice conference finishes at 7-2 each as the Huskies are picked much higher than what I had them in the magazine.
The Big East also figures to be very competitive this year and so far your votes reflect that. Right now you favor Louisvillle and USF to both finish at 6-1 in conference but Louisville would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker since 61% of you project them to beat the Bulls at home.
The MW loses 3x defending champ TCU to the Big 12 but welcomes in former WAC members Nevada, Fresno St and Hawaii. Boise St despite being one of the most inexperienced teams in the country is your pick to win the MW (mine as well) with only the Nevada road trip in the season finale being under 80%.
UCF which is my #1 most improved team and also my top non-AQ team this year is also your favorite to win CUSA East with defending CUSA Champ Southern Miss coming in 2nd. As of now though, the Knights are ineligible to play for the CUSA Title Game. On the west side, Houston is your pick to head to the CUSA championship game for a 2nd year in a row.
So far your pick to represent the MAC West in the MAC title game is Western Michigan (my pick as well) with defending MAC Champ Northern Illinois coming in 2nd. On the East side, Ohio is a heavy favorite to make it back to the MAC Champ gm as all of their games are greater than 75%.
The WAC clearly now is the weakest conference in the country losing Nevada, Hawaii and Fresno St to the MW but they do add in two FBS newcomers in Texas St and UTSA. Your conference favorite is La Tech to easily go through the schedule and you guys have the exact same order that I picked in my magazine.
Last year the Sun Belt may have been the hardest conference to project and this year I was surprised at these early percentages. Troy, according to you is your pick to go thru the SBC schedule unscathed while Louisiana is projected to go 7-1. FIU which is my pick to win the SBC is picked 3rd.
If you have not voted already, on the PhilSteele.com homepage below the Daily Blog click on the conference poll. After clicking on the conference you get the complete conference schedule for each team with the home team capitalized. All you have to do is vote on who you will think the winner will be in each game and the current voting tally appears. Remember you can only vote once and take your time by maybe doing one conference at a time. To vote you do have to register your e-mail address and then login but this is just to make sure there is no stuffing of the ballot box. Have a great time voting and thanks in advance!
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