AGS Pre-Season Poll Comparison

[CharlestonAppFan]

So, here's how we did collectively as a whole:

5/21/08

2008 Any Given Saturday Poll Preseason Top 25
(First place votes in parenthesis)

1. Appalachian State (76)
2. James Madison (2)
3. Richmond (1)
4. North Dakota State (2)
5. Northern Iowa
6. Massachusetts
7. Montana
8. McNeese State
9. Eastern Washington
10. Wofford
11. Delaware
12. Southern Illinois
13. Cal Poly (1)
14. Youngstown State
15. Elon
16. Georgia Southern
17. Villanova
18. South Dakota State
19. Eastern Illinois
20. New Hampshire
21. The Citadel
22. Eastern Kentucky
23. Fordham
24. Yale
25. Furman

Others receiving votes (minimum of 5 votes): Harvard (33), Sam Houston State (31), Delaware State (29), Northern Arizona (27), Central Arkansas (24), Montana State (24), Jackson State (23), South Carolina State (22), Jacksonville State (18), Grambling State (16), Liberty (16), Holy Cross (14), Western Illinois (13), Albany (12), Hofstra (12), Dayton (10), Hampton (10), Nicholls State (7), Coastal Carolina (5), Colgate (5), Norfolk State (5).

BIGGEST RISING TEAM FROM 2007: Cal Poly - Correct! xthumbsupx
BIGGEST FALLING TEAM FROM 2007: Delaware - Right on target xnodx


11 teams out of the 16 ranked in top 25, 2 teams in the "Others" category. I wonder how this ranks in comparison to previous years since this is what we hang our hat on. xrulesx

So who did we miss?
1) Texas State
2) Weber State
3) Maine

What do you guys think?

[Skjellyfetti]

NDSU at number 4 with first place votes is probably the biggest error.

[mcveyrl]

NDSU at number 4 with first place votes is probably the biggest error.

Yep. Other obvious erors:

EWU, YSU, The Citadel, UMass so high, Delaware

[BeauFoster]

1. Appalachian State (76)
2. James Madison (2)
3. Richmond (1)
4. North Dakota State (2)
5. Northern Iowa
6. Massachusetts
7. Montana
8. McNeese State
9. Eastern Washington
10. Wofford
11. Delaware
12. Southern Illinois
13. Cal Poly (1)
14. Youngstown State
15. Elon
16. Georgia Southern
17. Villanova
18. South Dakota State
19. Eastern Illinois
20. New Hampshire
21. The Citadel
22. Eastern Kentucky
23. Fordham
24. Yale
25. Furman


I think that these were some pretty serious misses...

All in all, not bad, considering most of the preseason voting done for the AGS poll is based on last season's accomplishments coupled with who's returning and the homer-ish rantings of fans.

[slycat]

This is why preseason polls are pointless. Polls should start after the third week. They would be much more accurate.

[89Hen]

Preseason
Approved
1. Appalachian St.
2. James Madison
3. North Dakota St.
4. Southern Illinois
5. Richmond
6. Montana
7. McNeese St.
8. Wofford
9. Cal Poly
10. Delaware
11. Northern Iowa
12. Massachusetts
13. Eastern Washington
14. Youngstown St.
15. The Citadel
16. Sam Houston St.
17. Eastern Kentucky
18. Holy Cross
19. Eastern Illinois
20. Hofstra
21. South Carolina St.
22. Jackson St.
23. Yale
24. Portland St.
25. Liberty

8 of my Top 11 made the playoffs and how about EKU and SCState? xsmiley_wix xthumbsupx

And Liberty in there for good measure. :)

[nutterlyattled]

Preseason
Approved
1. Appalachian St.
2. James Madison
3. North Dakota St.
4. Southern Illinois
5. Richmond
6. Montana
7. McNeese St.
8. Wofford
9. Cal Poly
10. Delaware
11. Northern Iowa
12. Massachusetts
13. Eastern Washington
14. Youngstown St.
15. The Citadel
16. Sam Houston St.
17. Eastern Kentucky
18. Holy Cross
19. Eastern Illinois
20. Hofstra
21. South Carolina St.
22. Jackson St.
23. Yale
24. Portland St.
25. Liberty

8 of my Top 11 made the playoffs and how about EKU and SCState? xsmiley_wix xthumbsupx

And Liberty in there for good measure. :)

where the love for good ole NH?

[WrenFGun]

Preseason
Approved
1. Appalachian St.
2. James Madison
3. North Dakota St.
4. Southern Illinois
5. Richmond
6. Montana
7. McNeese St.
8. Wofford
9. Cal Poly
10. Delaware
11. Northern Iowa
12. Massachusetts
13. Eastern Washington
14. Youngstown St.
15. The Citadel
16. Sam Houston St.
17. Eastern Kentucky
18. Holy Cross
19. Eastern Illinois
20. Hofstra
21. South Carolina St.
22. Jackson St.
23. Yale
24. Portland St.
25. Liberty

8 of my Top 11 made the playoffs and how about EKU and SCState? xsmiley_wix xthumbsupx

And Liberty in there for good measure. :)

Has UNH moved up in your Poll YET? Heh. Nice work Hen. xrotatehx

[nutterlyattled]

haha look at us, great minds look at the same thread at the same time

[nmatsen]

What cracks me up is the fact that Cal Poly was ranked pre-season outside of SIU, both lost on the road to a middle of the pack Big Eleven team, Cal Poly lost at home to a non-conference team, SIU lost on the road to an in-conference team, SIU has one more win that Cal Poly, yet Cal Poly sits at 3 and SIU sits at 9. Thats a head scratcher to me.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

This is why preseason polls are pointless. Polls should start after the third week. They would be much more accurate.

Having the extra info. doesn't hurt anything though sly, if you want you can always just go use the week 3 poll and starting it earlier just gives people a little extra time to be more informed and more discussion for a few weeks to make the better judgment in the 3rd or 4th week.

[slycat]

Having the extra info. doesn't hurt anything though sly, if you want you can always just go use the week 3 poll and starting it earlier just gives people a little extra time to be more informed and more discussion for a few weeks to make the better judgment in the 3rd or 4th week.

Never said I didn't like them. Its always fun to have something to discuss in the off season. I just think it would be more accurate after week 3 because it gets the D2 and FBS games out of the way and shows which teams made the correct adjustments.

[89Hen]

where the love for good ole NH?

Has UNH moved up in your Poll YET? Heh. Nice work Hen. xrotatehx
My love went with Santos. They squeaked into #24 this week. xsmiley_wix :p

[89Hen]

This is why preseason polls are pointless. Polls should start after the third week. They would be much more accurate.
Week 3
Approved
1. Appalachian St.
2. Richmond
3. North Dakota St.
4. Southern Illinois
5. Montana
6. McNeese St.
7. James Madison
8. Wofford
9. Cal Poly
10. Delaware
11. Northern Iowa
12. Eastern Washington
13. South Dakota St.
14. Massachusetts
15. The Citadel
16. Sam Houston St.
17. New Hampshire
18. Holy Cross
19. Eastern Kentucky
20. Hampton
21. Central Arkansas
22. Western Illinois
23. Elon
24. Yale
25. Dayton

Well... I still had 8 of top 11 and only 10 total. Not really more accurate. xpeacex

[Peems]

What cracks me up is the fact that Cal Poly was ranked pre-season outside of SIU, both lost on the road to a middle of the pack Big Eleven team, Cal Poly lost at home to a non-conference team, SIU lost on the road to an in-conference team, SIU has one more win that Cal Poly, yet Cal Poly sits at 3 and SIU sits at 9. Thats a head scratcher to me.

Cal Poly should have won both their games they lost, and who they lost to are both big. SIU wasn't exactly as competitive as Cal Poly against their Big 10 opponent. SIU lost to NDSU who isn't a playoff team, while Cal Poly lost a heartbreaker to the #4 seed Griz. Also you have to figure in that after Cal Poly's first win they moved up considerably, considering they beat San Diego St.

[813Jag]

Here's mine:

1. Appalachian St.
2. Northern Iowa
3. North Dakota St.
4. Richmond
5. Massachusetts
6. Cal Poly
7. Montana
8. James Madison
9. Wofford
10. McNeese St.
11. Eastern Washington
12. Youngstown St.
13. Eastern Illinois
14. Villanova
15. Delaware
16. Southern Illinois
17. Georgia Southern
18. Fordham
19. Central Arkansas
20. The Citadel
21. Sam Houston St.
22. Delaware St.
23. Montana St.
24. South Dakota St.
25. Jackson St.
W. Richmond
L. Delaware

Struck out on a few. Eastern Washington? Youngstown State?

[WrenFGun]

Preseason
Approved
1. Appalachian St.
2. Richmond
3. James Madison
4. Eastern Washington
5. McNeese St.
6. Cal Poly
7. Youngstown St.
8. Villanova
9. North Dakota St.
10. Elon
11. Northern Iowa
12. Massachusetts
13. South Carolina St.
14. South Dakota St.
15. Montana
16. Southern Illinois
17. Wofford
18. Northern Arizona
19. Eastern Illinois
20. Fordham
21. Nicholls St.
22. New Hampshire
23. Delaware
24. The Citadel
25. Western Illinois
W. Cal Poly
L. Delaware

11 Out of 16 for me. Look at that SC State placement. That is beautiful.

[Syntax Error]

The AGS Poll is known for claiming (now five years):
"In comparison to other polls, the AGS Poll had as many or more of it’s preseason top 25 on it’s final regular season poll than either of the other two polls (coaches and media) had on their’s since their inception five years ago. The AGS Poll also had as many or more of it’s preseason top 25 on it’s final regular season poll make the playoffs than either of the other two polls the past five years."

2008 COMPARISON

Preseason top 25 on it’s final regular season poll
AGS 15 5/21
TSN 15 8/19
FCP 15 8/19
(GPI 18 10/7)

Preseason top 25 on it’s final regular season poll make the playoffs
AGS 11
TSN 11
FCP 11
(GPI 11)

Looks like it still stands! While others call the AGS Poll a homer fan vote, we do just as good as them and our preseason poll comes out first, THREE MONTHS BEFORE THEIR'S! xthumbsupx

(I tossed the GPI in there for fun though it started near mid-season)

[appfan2008]

overall very impressive IMO...

I got married on Saturday May 17 and that was the weekend that the preseason poll had to be submitted... as one could imagine i had no time to fill out a top 25 and it was the only poll i missed...

[nmatsen]

Cal Poly should have won both their games they lost, and who they lost to are both big. SIU wasn't exactly as competitive as Cal Poly against their Big 10 opponent. SIU lost to NDSU who isn't a playoff team, while Cal Poly lost a heartbreaker to the #4 seed Griz. Also you have to figure in that after Cal Poly's first win they moved up considerably, considering they beat San Diego St.


The big difference is that SIU's big ten team finished 5-3 in the big eleven and Cal Poly's finished 3-5. Thats a 4 game swing in a BCS conference. A loss is a loss. Cal Poly's was at home to a non-conference team and SIU's was on the road to a top five attendence, hostile environment team. I am not here trying to claim that SIU would beat Poly, I don't know the answer to that. I just don't like how all of the "coulda, woulda, shoulda's, influence the polls.

[ThreadStopper]

The big difference is that SIU's big ten team finished 5-3 in the big eleven and Cal Poly's finished 3-5. Thats a 4 game swing in a BCS conference. A loss is a loss. Cal Poly's was at home to a non-conference team and SIU's was on the road to a top five attendence, hostile environment team. I am not here trying to claim that SIU would beat Poly, I don't know the answer to that. I just don't like how all of the "coulda, woulda, shoulda's, influence the polls.

Sure would be nice to settle this in Cahttanooga don't you think there nmatsen?

[Maroons]

This is why preseason polls are pointless. Polls should start after the third week. They would be much more accurate.

I agree on some level... but in the FCS, where so many games in the first three weeks are I-A money games, will it be accurate even then?

[ValleyChamp]

overall very impressive IMO...

I got married on Saturday May 17 and that was the weekend that the preseason poll had to be submitted... as one could imagine i had no time to fill out a top 25 and it was the only poll i missed...

Jesus H...Couldn't you have scheduled your wedding around the preseason poll voting? Where are your priorities?xcoffeex

[Gil Dobie]

Preseason
Approved
1. Appalachian St.
2. James Madison
4. Wofford
5. Montana
9. Southern Illinois
10. Richmond
12. Cal Poly
17. Villanova
21. New Hampshire
22. Northern Iowa

Well I had 10 of the 16 playoff teams.

[Saint3333]

Preseason
Approved
1. Appalachian St.
2. Richmond
3. James Madison
4. Northern Iowa
5. Eastern Washington - based upon their trip to Boone in 2007
6. McNeese St. - I've learned my lesson with the Southland
7. North Dakota St. - what happened
8. Villanova - not bad placement for a SoCon guy
9. Southern Illinois
10. Massachusetts
11. Georgia Southern - one year too early?
12. Jacksonville St. - no defense
13. Cal Poly
14. Montana - I thought they lost a lot, guess I was wrong
15. Delaware - dropped them and still too high
16. Youngstown St.
17. Eastern Illinois
18. Sam Houston St. - another FBS QB transfer I ranked too high
19. South Dakota St.
20. Furman
21. Elon
22. Liberty
23. Yale
24. Hampton
25. Lafayette

My preseason poll pretty much sucked, sorry Wofford I thought you lost too muchxoopsx

[401ks]

Preseason
Approved
1. Appalachian St.
2. Eastern Washington xeekx
3. Richmond
4. Cal Poly
5. Northern Iowa
6. James Madison
7. North Dakota St.
8. McNeese St.
9. Massachusetts
10. Wofford
11. Youngstown St.
12. Montana
13. Villanova
14. Southern Illinois
15. Georgia Southern
16. Elon
17. Eastern Illinois
18. South Dakota St.
19. Delaware
20. New Hampshire
21. San Diego
22. Western Illinois
23. Fordham
24. Albany
25. South Carolina St.
W. Cal Poly
L. Delaware

Looks like I had the typical 11 out of 16.

[JALMOND]

I did not submit a preseason poll. I waited until mid-August and compiled one then. I believed I was more knowledgable about the FCS than in May. The only one all year that was not approved by AGS, yet I believe I had 12.

Preseason (not approved by AGS due to being submitted late)

1. Appalachian State---PLAYOFFS
2. Massachusettes
3. North Dakota State
4. James Madison---PLAYOFFS
5. Wofford---PLAYOFFS
6. McNeese State
7. Youngstown State
8. Eastern Washington
9. Montana---PLAYOFFS
10. Delaware
11. Northern Iowa---PLAYOFFS
12. New Hampshire---PLAYOFFS
13. Southern Illinois---PLAYOFFS
14. Richmond---PLAYOFFS
15. Georgia Southern
16. Hampton
17. Hofstra
18. Alabama A&M
19. Jacksonville State
20. Cal Poly---PLAYOFFS
21. Eastern Kentucky---PLAYOFFS
22. Villanova---PLAYOFFS
23. Weber State---PLAYOFFS
24. UC-Davis
25. Delaware State

Missed on SC State, Colgate, Maine and Texas State.

[skinny_uncle]

The big difference is that SIU's big ten team finished 5-3 in the big eleven and Cal Poly's finished 3-5. Thats a 4 game swing in a BCS conference. A loss is a loss. Cal Poly's was at home to a non-conference team and SIU's was on the road to a top five attendence, hostile environment team. I am not here trying to claim that SIU would beat Poly, I don't know the answer to that. I just don't like how all of the "coulda, woulda, shoulda's, influence the polls.
I'm still trying to figure out why UNI is ranked ahead of an SIU team that beat them.

[Chi Panther]

I'm still trying to figure out why UNI is ranked ahead of an SIU team that beat them.

Easy. Where did the 2 teams start the year, and SIU lost to NDSU a week later than UNI lost to SIU.

Stated another way, we started the year with higher expectations and are currently on a longer win streak.

[Cat79]

Everybody had missed on Texas State. Everyone thought McNeese, UCA or Sam Houston would be top teams in the SLC.

UCA at 10-2 had the best team in the SLC but did not qualify due to the transition rule :D

[gbhmt]

Preseason
Approved
1. Appalachian St.
2. Richmond
3. James Madison
4. Northern Iowa
5. Eastern Washington - based upon their trip to Boone in 2007
6. McNeese St. - I've learned my lesson with the Southland
7. North Dakota St. - what happened
8. Villanova - not bad placement for a SoCon guy
9. Southern Illinois
10. Massachusetts
11. Georgia Southern - one year too early?
12. Jacksonville St. - no defense
13. Cal Poly
14. Montana - I thought they lost a lot, guess I was wrong
15. Delaware - dropped them and still too high
16. Youngstown St.
17. Eastern Illinois
18. Sam Houston St. - another FBS QB transfer I ranked too high
19. South Dakota St.
20. Furman
21. Elon
22. Liberty
23. Yale
24. Hampton
25. Lafayette

My preseason poll pretty much sucked, sorry Wofford I thought you lost too muchxoopsx

Oh we did. We just managed pretty well.