|
NationalChamps.net
is proud to announce that ESPN.com
has chosen to utilize the NationalChamps.net
2003 Preseason Strength of Schedule as part of an unofficial
version of their Preseason BCS Rankings. In an article written
by Brad Edwards, the sports site compiled an early look
at what the BCS ratings might look like before this season gets
under way. Brad's Road to the BCS will appear weekly
during the season.
Using the "average team rankings" between the Preseason
Coaches Poll and the major preview magazines - along with
the 2003 schedule strength ratings from NationalChamps.net
- here is a link to the article and rankings...
NationalChamps.net: EARLY
BCS CALCULATIONS BY ESPN.COM
The NationalChamps.net 2003 Preseason
Strength of Schedule was compiled while utilizing guidance
provided by Richard Billingsley, Home Of The Billingsley
Report On Major College Football and a proud member of
The Bowl Championship Series. His insight helped NationalChamps.net
derive its own formula based on Mr. Billingsley's past
experiences.
The formula
used to obtain these results is based on a simple sliding-scale
that translates into a ranking point system. Bonus points for
playing games at home, as well as on the road, are also utilized
based on stadium winning percentages. After months of tinkering
with the formula, one of the philosophies being emphasized in
the system includes higher rewards for playing a Top 5 team as
opposed to playing two teams ranked 25th in consecutive weeks.
Accordingly, a sliding scale is implemented.
At the same time, differentiating between many of the lower ranked
teams is like splitting hairs, with way too much inaccuracy. There
is no way to predict such scenarios, so the margin(s) between
each of those schools is minimum. Rankings here become categorized
as a group, instead of incrementally breaking each down as an
exact science.
Teams are
penalized heavily for playing I-AA competition. However, the ground
can be made up with more consistency from remaining opponents
on the list. In other words, playing a single I-AA opponent should
not destroy the entire ranking when other competition exists on
the list, such is the case for the Gators vs. Florida A&M.
The simplest test rests in the human eye itself - as we went over
our sequential calculations, many of the first SOS results just
did not add up, so adjustments were made to the formula. Yes,
opinions matter. But the numbers are still based on an equation.
|
