Understanding the BCS

Discussion in 'The Tiger's Den' started by Purple Reign, Oct 14, 2007.

  1. Purple Reign

    Purple Reign Founding Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2007
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    10
    Maybe this will help clear it up.

    from BCS Releases with editorial contributions from our staff
    [SIZE=-2]Updated 5/18/07 2:53 pm edt

    [/SIZE]
    [SIZE=-1]
    Compilation of Standings
    The BCS Standings are compiled by the National
    Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

    This year, the BCS Standings will once again include three components: USA Today Coaches Poll, Harris Interactive College Football Poll and an average of six computer rankings. Each component will count one-third of a team's overall BCS score in the BCS Standings.

    The statistical rating system used to determine the teams that will participate in the championship game of the Bowl Championship Series consists of three components and each will count as 1/3rd of the final BCS formula - subjective polls of Harris Interactive (replaces AP) and coaches (USA Today) and six computer rankings.

    The first BCS Rankings for 2007 will be released October 15, then weekly through December 3.

    A breakdown of the components:

    I. Harris Interactive Poll (1/3rd)
    Replaces the AP Poll. The first poll will be released September 24, then weekly through December 4. A team's score in the Harris poll will be divided by 2,825, which is the maximum number of points any team can receive if all 113 voting members rank the same team as Number 1. (Example: 2,825 / 2,825 = 1.0. If a team receives a total of 113 voting points, an average of 25th place, their BCS quotient of this component would be .04. (1.0 / 25 = 0.04).

    II. Coaches Poll (1/3rd)
    A team's score in the USA Today poll will be divided by 1,575, which is the maximum number of points any team can receive if all 63 voting members rank the same team as Number 1. (Example: 1,575 / 1,575 = 1.0. If a team receives a total of 63 voting points, an average of 25th place, their BCS quotient of this component would be .04. (1.0 / 25 = 0.04.)

    (Better understanding the polls: In both human polls, voting members fill out their own top 25 rankings ballot. Each team receives 1-25 points in reverse order of the way they are ranked. The 25th place team on each ballot receives 1 point, 24th place gets 2 points, 23rd receives 3 points... first place receives 25 points.

    In the Harris Interactive College Football Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll, a team will be evaluated on the number of voting points it receives in each poll. The number of actual voters, which can vary and has varied in the past, is figured into the computation on a weekly basis in stating each team's percentage of a possible perfect score.

    III. Computer rankings (1/3rd)
    Six computer ranking systems will participate. The highest and lowest rating of each team will be thrown out and the remaining four will be averaged. The current participating computer rankings are:

    Peter Wolfe
    Wes Colley
    Sagarin
    Seattle Times
    Richard Billingsley
    Kenneth Massey

    Simplifying the formula
    A
    = Harris Poll
    B = Coaches Poll
    C = Throw out the high and low of the six computer rankings for each team. Add the remaining four. Divide that total by four.
    Result: A+B+C = Total Score
    [/SIZE]
     

Share This Page