Ray's Rankings 2020 - Week 7

 Alrighty folks, we're getting deep enough into the season to be able to see how teams are looking for real, yes?

BTW, if you check out the Latest Rankings page you'll see some changes in how scores are calculated. I basically added a loss component. It's not finalized yet, but I had some inspiration on how to add it to the spreadsheet. This will also become the basis for a win modification component for beating a higher ranked team. That's not in place yet, but I'm working on it.

So, I watched a reasonable amount of football this weekend, and I have a few observations to make. Let's do that as we run down Ray's Rankings Top 25:

I watched most of the Memphis-UCF game. That was a lot of fun in the second half. 1522 total yards, nearly 100 points scored, and it came down to a last minute field goal to decide the game. This is why we love CFB!

Gotta say that I haven't seen Mizzou much this season, but I did catch some of the LSU game. We'll see if they can maintain.

The ramblin wreck. Couple of good wins over FSU and UL.

Memphis! Give up a 93 yard WR screen TD to go down 2 scores and still pull it out (with some help from Lady Luck). Fun to watch these guys, and more reasons for expanding the playoffs.

Baylor is benefitting here from the screwed up schedules. Haven't seen much except highlights. 

Ol' Kiffin is riding that one win. I kind of expected more against Arkansas.

BYU 5-0 and at #19. Seems odd until you see that all of those wins are against Group of 5 schools.

AF is throwing me off a bit. Yeah, they beat Navy so I like them for that (Go Army!), but that's the only game they've played so far. It's the 2nd level points. The better Navy does, the batter it looks that AF beat them.

I have no idea if the Razorbacks are for real. I know that the SEC owes them a win after that debacle vs Auburn. I won't say that the SEC was protecting a marquee name there, but...anyway, they followed up with a win over Ole Miss.

The Canes are not in trouble yet, but they were ranked far too high before the Clemson game. Just another example of voters wanting Clemson to matter more (not that they wouldn't, but the resume looks so much better when you beat #7 than when you beat #16).

Iowa State has looked pretty good so far. I like them for the Big 12 champs.

KState I have not seen at all. Lose to Arkansas State then beat Oklahoma? I'm confused.

South Carolina played well against a poorly playing Bo Nix and Auburn. Bo is in his "sophomore slump" I guess.

Tennessee disappointed this weekend. They have recruited well lately, but I think they need to step up at QB. Maybe go out and find a transfer because that's how the game works now, right? Maybe they can get Stetston Bennett after that 3 pick performance vs Bama...

ND. They are beating teams that suck, and they barely survived a not great UL.

OK, UK with 2 wins at #10 is strange. Keep in mind that #9 to #22 are covered by 0.4655 points. 2nd and 3rd level points help here.

NC State has shown to be the better NC team so far. Not sure why everyone was in love with the Tar Heels.

Auburn seems to be unpredictable? Gus and Bo will get it sorted. For now their 2 wins over schools that are doing alright right now carry them.

Gators might be a top 5 team, but they're one game behind right now, and that hurts 1st level points.

OkSt benefits from 2nd level points here. None of the teams they've played have negative points.

TAMU with the UF and Miss wins gets lots of 2nd level points, and that vaults them up the list pretty good. This season smells like opportunity for Jimbo.

VaTech. Haven't seen them play. Their 1st and 3rd level points are really good, though.

Clemson is hurt by playing The Citadel. Look, playing an FCS school is essentially a bye week that you're trying to count as a win. That's cheap.

UGA looked great for a half on Saturday. But I don't think ol' Stetson is their guy. 3 picks and sub 50% completion percentage is not good against a defense that got 600+ hung on it by Lane Kiffin and a 4 star out of LB Poly.

Saban is at it again. The formula is: beat the teams you're supposed to beat. And this season he doesn't get to play The Citadel or Eastern Carolina.

So there you go - week 7 top 25. Hope you like it!