EE had an idea for some of the contributors here to explain their rationale in the Preseason Mumme Poll, including how and why we voted. Fun fact – we have no clear formula or consistent rationale. You know, we could likely find ourselves on the CFP Committee for that fact alone. So, without further ado, here’s an explanation from your GTPR “experts”.
JP:
#1 Notre Dame, the rest in negotiable – In the modern era, I have to look at who has the easiest pathway coupled with the most NIL money. Notre Dame is a money machine. Freeman, as much as I hate to admit it, is a good coach. If Notre Dame doesn’t make it out of their schedule undefeated, he should be fired. But honestly, he can use each game as a live scrimmage that counts towards the CFP. I’d run the same base plays all season, use each week to study the defensive reaction, run them against different defensive looks, and save the “wrinkles” until the CFP. That’s dangerous territory – win out, and they all expect you to hoist the trophy. Lose, and WTF are you doing?
#2/3 – Indiana, for the same reasons as above, or you could say Ohio State has the same.
#4 – Georgia – This is Kirby’s high water mark. If you invest your NIL dollars in seniors and defense, it needs to show, in a very dominating way. They need to be the Junkyard Dawgs on steroids. If there’s not a series of scoreless games, Kirby might bust a gasket. We have the defensive returners to do this, but this will also be a testament to Mike Bobo, who has an embarrassment of riches on offense with tight ends, a great offensive line, and a solid backfield of rubbing backs and quarterbacks to get it done on the backs of a great defense. Fall short, and people start questioning Smart’s strategy. Kirby seems oddly calm this year, and that should scare the hell out of everyone else. But the SEC is the SEC. I still stand by the idea that it’s the toughest interconference competition and anything goes.
#5-#10 – One other B1G team (probably Oregon), Three SEC teams (likely Ole Miss, Texas and TAMU), and an ACC team (Miami). Take your pick.
EE:
My approach:
For the preseason poll, I focused my ballot on the teams I believe have the roster, schedule or coaching to be the last team standing in January.
My ballot (not a ranking):
Miami – excellent roster with a QB who could push the Hurricanes over the top. Issue … Mario Cristobal.
Indiana – until someone (anyone) shows they can beat them, Cignetti has found a formula that works. Issue … the Covid seniors are gone now.
Ohio State – one of the 3-5 best rosters in the sport and a coach who seems to have found something. Issue … can Julian Sayin find another gear?
Oregon – some say Dante Moore is likely to be 1, 1 in this April’s draft and the talent around him is excellent. Issue … can Dan Lanning get out of his own way consistently?
Notre Dame – the schedule is very kind to the Irish with a great roster to go along with it. Issue … the schedule especially if Miami beats them soundly in South Bend.
Georgia – the talent along the lines of scrimmage may make the Dawgs the most physical team in the sport. Issue … can the offense find the explosiveness that will be needed to win it all?
Texas – the best roster money can buy with a head coach who is feeling the heat to do something with it (sound familiar, OSU 2024). Issue … is there the culture to withstand the SEC wars?
Dawglicious:
In the spirit of the relative worthlessness of preseason polls, I filled mine out with a touch of “let’s give a shout out to some schools, my personal feelings on who should even be included, and dadgummit, downright pettiness on my part. To wit: I voted for all three service academies, voted for zero Group of 6 programs, and left Indiana off entirely out of spite. I promise this will not be my modus operandi the rest of the season (and has not been in the past).
Otis Day:
I don’t have a clue who has what. With all the transfers nowadays, I can’t keep up with who is where and I don’t give a damn about anybody but UGA so, the only news I follow is about the Dawgs. That said, I just went with who I feel would be in a 4 team playoff (as it still should be). In no particular order: UGA, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon.
Simple formula from a simple man. Who has the easiest schedule combined with the most money along with key returning players.
Notre Dame go ahead if their not in start the gambling investigation.
The next Indiana, Oregon and tOSU are a pick’em based on the above. The SEC shot itself higher up than their feet with a nine game schedule.
The SEC has way better average teams they’re just going to eliminate themselves. The committee only cares about your WL record until that hurts the b10 it won’t change.
As for Georgia I expect the defense to be really good when the starters are on the field. I expect Kirby to rest his key defenders every chance he gets while playing the backups. This will hurt the defenses stats. Expect more garbage time points against then usual.
As for the offense it will take the field. Yep that sums up what I’m sure about.
Otis, you da man.
Prognostication has never been my strength. I go with my heart. Which is why I do have enough sense not to gamble.