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We are trying something new this season: attempting to put a weight on records by measuring in certain factors. It is the first attempt (plus I barely made Cs in Statistics 101 & 102 when I was at the Capstone), so it may need some tweaking in the future.
Some of you had queries about it and I have some clarifications.
- Week 1, Mississippi State played at Southern Miss. Should they get 0.5 point for winning on the road? No. No credit is awarded for winning at a cupcake's stadium.
- Also Week 1, Texas A&M played in Houston but only received 0.125 point for neutral location. College Station to Houston is just under 100 miles. Phoenix to Houston is about 1,100 miles. More fans, more familiarity, easier commute.
- So, why should they get any points at all? Even with all the advantages listed above, there is nothing like playing in your home stadium on your field with your locker room in front of your fans/students, etc. etc. etc.
A new tweak added is holding off on "Win over a ranked opponent = additional 0.5" until the end of the regular season. The logic (if there is any) is that a team ranked in September, may not be in December. [Hi Auburn!] By that time, perhaps I can come up with a good bonus equation.
Below is the key.
Win-Loss Record key:
- SEC - conference record
- P5 - non-SEC record against Power 5
- MM - record against Mid Majors/Non-Power 5 but projected bowl participant
- CC - record against cupcakes
Trying something new this season, we will attempt to put a weight on records.
- Win over P5 = 1 point
Win over a ranked opponent = additional 0.5(See above)- Road win = 0.5
- Neutral site win = 0.25
- Win over a MM = 0.5
- Win over a CC = 0
- Loss to CC = -1
- Loss to MM = -0.5
- Home loss = -0.5
Florida Gators (9-1, SEC 7-1, P5 0-0, MM 1-0, CC 1-0) 9.25 Points
Points this week: 1.5 road win at SC.
FAU! at Florida 11am/12pm, SECN 
The Gators win over South Carolina was the 700th all-time win in program history. They now stand at 700-401-40.
Tennessee Volunteers (6-4, SEC 3-3, P5 0-1, MM 1-0, CC 2-0) 3.0 Points
Points this week: 0 home win over CC.
Tennessee at Missouri 6:15pm/7:15pm, ESPN2 
Vols fans finally got a look at freshman quarterback Quinten Dormady and he was... okay. Against North Texas he was 3 for 5 for 36 yards though one pass was dropped. He was sacked once.
Auburn Tigers (5-5, SEC 2-5, P5 1-0, MM 1-0, CC 1-0) 3.25 Points
Points this week: -0.5 home loss to UGA.
Idaho at Auburn 3pm/4pm, SECN Alt
Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said Tuesday that quarterback Sean White is still nursing a left knee injury, leaving the starting duties up to Jeremy Johnson. Auburn should coast to an easy win. It will be interesting to see if Johnson goes the distance or if a scout team quarterback gets some playing time. The other two signal callers on the roster are senior Tucker Tuberville, son of you-know-who, and true freshman Tyler Queen, who they are redshirting.
Georgia Bulldogs (7-3, SEC 5-3, P5 0-0, MM 0-0, CC 2-0) 5.5 Points
Points this week: 1.5 road win at Aub.
Georgia Southern at Georgia 6pm/7pm, ESPNU 
With Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech left on the schedule plus a bowl game, the Bulldogs actually have a shot at a 10-win season. The Dawgs fan base has been clamoring for a change at the top but it is hard to deny a Mark Richt's record. First, however, they have to get past back-to-back teams who run the triple option. Last season, UGA fell to the Yellow Jackets.
Texas A&M Aggies (7-3, SEC 3-3, P5 1-0, MM 2-0, CC 1-0) 4.25 Points
Points this week: 0 home win over CC.
Texas A&M at Vanderbilt 6:30pm/7:30pm, SECN
Whatever happened to Myles Garrett? A few weeks ago, he was a media darling for his 3.5 sacks against big bad Nevada. In each of his last two games against Auburn and Western Carolina, he notched only one solo tackle and two assists with no sacks.
Kentucky Wildcats (4-6, SEC 2-6, P5 0-0, MM 1-0, CC 1-0) 1.5 Points
Points this week: 0 road loss at Vandy.
Charlotte at Kentucky 3pm/4pm, SECN
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has named redshirt freshman Drew Barker the starting quarterback for Saturday's home non-conference game against Charlotte. Incumbent starter Patrick Towles has been erratic at best. During UK's current five-game losing streak, the junior has one TD pass to 7 interceptions.
Ole Miss Rebels (7-3, SEC 4-2, P5 0-0, MM 1-1, CC 2-0) 4.5 Points
Points this week: 0 did not play.
LSU at Ole Miss 2:30pm/3:30pm, CBS
Ole Miss alumnus Gerald "Doc" Hollingsworth has given the equivalent of $25 million to the school’s athletic department, the largest donation it’s ever received. The contribution will be split with $10 million going to the Forward Together campaign, which will be used to support the north end zone expansion at the football stadium. The remainder will go into a trust that will establish an athletic scholarship fund named after Hollingsworth. Apparently, he made his money being one of the first to sell Toyotas in the U.S. He also went on to sell Mercedes, BMWs, and Mazdas.
Missouri Tigers (5-5, SEC 1-5, P5 1-0, MM 1-0, CC 2-0) 2.0 Points
Points this week: 1 home win over BYU.
Tennessee at Missouri 6:15pm/7:15pm, ESPN2
It was all the smiles, sunshine, puppy dogs, and celebrations after the Tigers upset BYU (yep, they were a 4.5 point underdog). But that just masks the deep rooted troubles in Columbia. It should not be too much of a surprise that Gary Pinkel, the winningest coach of all-time at Missouri, announced his retirement. There is some real unrest on campus and in the locker room. On the surface this may look like an ol' coach hanging them up (he's only 63). Pinkel has done some amazing things with the Mizzou program but dark times are coming to this program. Unless they make a home run hire, expect the Tigers to be a perennial cellar dweller for the next several seasons.
South Carolina Gamecocks (3-7, SEC 1-7, P5 1-0, MM 1-0, CC 0-0) 1.75 Points
Points this week: -0.5 home loss to UF.
The Citadel at South Carolina 11am/12pm, SECN Alt
Hmm, so this is why Stevie Ball Coach took a powder. He took a look a the Gamecocks' schedule and saw nothing but Ls. SC is the first SEC team to 7 losses, meaning no chance of a bowl game.
Arkansas Razorbacks (6-4, SEC 4-2, P5 0-1, MM 0-1, CC 2-0) 4.0 Point
Points this week: 1.5 road win at LSU.
Mississippi State at Arkansas 6pm/7pm, ESPN 
The Arkansas-LSU football rivalry has become known as the Battle For The Golden Boot named after a trophy that is in the shape of their two states which happens to look like a boot. The Hogs have now won two in a row.
Vanderbilt Commodores (4-6, SEC 2-4, P5 0-0, MM 1-2, CC 1-0) 1.5 Point
Points this week: 1 home win over UK.
Texas A&M at Vanderbilt 6:30pm/7:30pm, SECN
The 'Dores are tenth in the nation is scoring defense giving up only 17.4 points per game. Too bad they are 126th out of 128 teams in scoring offense at 15.4 ppg.
LSU Tigers (7-2, SEC 4-2, P5 1-0, MM 1-0, CC 1-0) 6.0 Points
Points this week: -0.5 home loss to Arky.
LSU at Ole Miss 2:30pm/3:30pm, CBS
Todd Gurley is my new hero. The former Georgia Bulldog and current Rookie of the Year candidate with the St. Louis Rams said in a radio interview that he thinks Leonard Fournette should come back to play for the Tigers in 2016 rather than sit out next season in order to ensure his health for the 2017 NFL draft. "We don't care about all that, just waiting to go play for the NFL. We're football players. We've been playing this game for our whole life for free or with money. We don't care about that. We play for the love of the game."
College football fans should be pleased to hear this kind of advice. The fact that it came from a guy who folks thought would sit out after being suspended over impermissible benefits and then tore an ACL in his first game back makes it all that stronger of a statement. There is a great fear that one of these days, a high-profile player will sit out and it becomes the new trend. That would be bad for college football.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-3, SEC 3-3, P5 0-0, MM 1-0, CC 3-0) 3.5 Points
Points this week: -0.5 home loss to Bama.
Mississippi State at Arkansas 6pm/7pm, ESPN
Before the Alabama game, Dak Prescott had produced a touchdown on the ground or through the air in 23 consecutive games. The smothering Crimson Tide ended that streak on Saturday. His last failure to score was August 31, 2013 at Oklahoma State in a game in which Tyler Russell started.
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Alabama Crimson Tide (9-1, SEC 6-1, P5 1-0, MM 2-0, CC 0-0) 9.25 Points
Points this week: 1.5 road win at MSU.
Charleston Southern at ALABAMA 3pm/4pm, SECN
The Tide is second to only Boston College in rushing yards allowed per game yielding 77.1 ypg. They are fifth in overall defense (278.1 ypg), 40th against the pass (201.0 ypg), and seventh in points against at 15.3.
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TOTALS:
| Team | Week 2 Points | Week 3 Points | Week 4 Points | Week 5 Points | Week 6 Points | Week 7 Points | Week 8 Points | Week 9 Points | Week 10 Points | Week 11 Points |
| Alabama | 1.75 | 1.25 | 1.75 | 3.25 | 4.25 | 5.75 | 6.75 | 6.75 | 7.75 | 9.25 |
| Florida | 0.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6.75 | 7.75 | 9.25 |
| LSU | 1.5 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Georgia | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.5 |
| Ole Miss | 0.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Texas A&M | 1.625 | 2.125 | 3.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 4.75 | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Arkansas | -1.0 | -1.5 | -1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Mississippi St | -0.5 | -0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Auburn | 1.25 | 1.25 | 0.75 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.25 | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Tennessee | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Missouri | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| South Carolina | 0.75 | 0.75 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 2.25 | 2.25 | 2.25 | 2.25 | 1.75 |
| Kentucky | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Vanderbilt | -1.0 | -1.0 | -1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
HELP!
Thanks to all of you who have been indulging my mad experiment this fall. We are getting down to the end of the regular season and it is about time to come up with a formula for calculating wins over ranked opponents. My first thought is to give each team who has a win over a ranked team a coinciding point in fraction form. In the shortest terms, a win over the 20th ranked team would garner 1/20th of a point. The rankings will be based on the CFP rankings after the SEC Championship game.
LMKWYT!