USNews versus BCS - People versus "data"

College Search & Selection
1

<p>USNews' Best College relies on numbers that are supposed to be official data. It then a twist of subjectivity to by polling so-called experts and a pinch of secrecy in transforming all of that into a ranked order. </p>

<p>BCS relies for 2/3 on the educated opinion (subject to debate) and a system that is called "the computers." Of course, we all know that computers only process human orders and are not able to do anything but follow the human input. </p>

<p>Considering the latest results of both polls and surveys, are we movng closer to the conclusion that the humans are closer to the "truth" than what comes out of the "computers." The BCS surely looks like it, and some of most vocal CC friends have been swearing that all that matters is the Peer Assessment. </p>

<p>My take is that the more you look at both, it is hard to see them as nothing else but ... BCS without that middle C. ;)</p>

2

<p>Human polls are supposed to take into account the “intangibles”, like talent. ;)</p>

<p>Human and computer poll discrepancies will diminish as the season goes on.</p>

3

<p>Rumor has it that the originators of the BCS all attened elite private schools. :-)</p>

4

<p>^^</p>

<p>Could be, but how many of the voters did attend a private schools might be more important. /smile</p>

5

<p>So Stanford, ND, USC is always overrated by BCS? Could be.</p>

6

<p>Indeed, PAC-12 really, really seems overrated this year. They truly shine in the computer rankings. Thank God, we do have no East Coast and SEC favoritism to deal with this year and overly generous pre-season rankings of mediocre teams to ensure “quality” wins. </p>

<p>/sarcasm</p>

7

<p>By the end of the season it will be very clear which are the top 2-6 teams and which are not. Plenty of more important football to be played. So far we have just heard from New Hampshire and Iowa. By season’s end the rankings will all line-up just fine. Most early season games are crap anyway–too many mismatches. Just getting into real games that matter.</p>