Half of the BlogPoll Ballot

This is the time of year when putting together a ballot is tough. If the outcomes of certain games were reversed (VT-JMU, Nebraska-Texas, Arizona-Iowa, etc.), this process would be a lot easier. As it is, it's a bit of a puzzle as always.

The biggest question I have right now is: how much intrinsic value does being undefeated have?

Take LSU for example. The Tigers have only one loss, and it's to a consensus top-two team in Auburn. Auburn is far better than anyone Boise State or TCU has played and is probably better than Stanford, Oregon's best opponent. LSU has three wins over ranked teams, plus wins over .500+ teams UNC and West Virginia. TCU and Boise State have only played one ranked team each. Their third best wins are probably Air Force and Toledo, respectively. Oregon's third best win is over... um... Arizona State? UCLA?

You could easily make the case for putting LSU above all three of them if not for the Tigers' should've-been-a-loss win over Tennessee. And why does Oregon necessarily have to be above the non-AQs? The Ducks don't have more blowouts than TCU and Boise have, and the latter two have much better defenses.

1. Auburn

2. Oregon

3. TCU

4. Boise State

5. LSU

6. Wisconsin

7. Stanford

8. Michigan State

9. Nebraska

10. Oklahoma State

11. Alabama

12. Ohio State

13. Iowa

14. Arkansas

15. Mississippi State

Note that Mississippi State has only two losses, and both are to top five teams. Arkansas has a slight edge because of Texas A&M's resurgence.

16. Utah

17. Arizona

18. Oklahoma

19. Missouri

20. Virginia Tech

21. South Carolina

22. Texas A&M

23. Florida

24. Nevada

25. Kansas State

I wanted to rank UCF, but I can't put the Knights over the K-State team that beat them and who have three losses better than any UCF has.