Week 2: Why Computer Rankings Are Fun to Look at Before They’re Ready

What we’ve learned from Week 2 of the AMSTS Computer Rankings:

To see the rankings, click here.

Well, it’s college football season once again and there’s no better feeling than cranking out the old computer rankings for the first time this season. As always, the first few weeks are incredibly wonky, as both the “wins” model and the “points” model try to get enough data for all the teams to be adequately interconnected. Week 2 is not that time.

That being said, it’s always interesting to see the computer’s take on the beginning of the FBS season. Here are some of the main takeaways, in my opinion:

1) Bowling Green is really impressive. Okay, it’s not at all. They beat a Tulsa team that beat a terrible Colorado State team, and a Kent State team with a win over FCS’ Liberty. Yet somehow, the wins model, which factors in strength of schedule a lot more than the points model, thinks they’re the third best team in the nation! The likely cause of this is that Bowling Green (and fellow surprising-top-ten-ranked-team UCF) is undefeated and has not played an FCS school thus far. Most of the other 2-0 teams have played one. Michigan, Oklahoma State, and LSU are the exceptions and explain their high rankings.

2) Georgia State is bad. Okay, this isn’t earth shattering, they lost to FCS Samford and got demolished by FCS Chattanooga at home. This is their first full year of FBS and it clearly shows. For those of you who like large point spreads, circle Week 6 on the calendar as the Panthers head to Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide.

3) Baylor at Oklahoma State in Week 13 might break the NCAA record for most points scored in a game if these offenses hold up.

4) The top of the Big XII looks strong, but the SEC doesn’t seem to be running fast out of the gate. Sure, that may be because Alabama played a real team, or that Georgia and South Carolina started cancelling each other out while the Big XII only played what could be described by any stretch of the imagination as “cupcakes”. Of course, the SEC will get their chance, as both Alabama and LSU play FCS teams much later in the season.

5) Wisconsin’s schedule is incredibly weak. We know, the Big Ten is a tough conference week to week. Sure, it’s no SEC but there are plenty of challenging opponents within the conference. That being said, are UMass and Tennessee Tech really the best two options for out of conference matchups? Their first real test comes this week as they head out to Tempe to face the Arizona State Sun Devils.

That’s really it after Week 2. The computers surely did some funny things, disrespecting the Alabamas and Wisconsins of the world while appreciating the efforts of some Mid-Majors. But hey, if you’re Bowling Green, I’d be taking what I can get. When they start printing off the “AMSTS #3 Ranked Bowling Green Falcons,” you’ll know why.