# Predict the AP Top Ten (post-bowl 2011-2012) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 5, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517 "2012-01-05T15:50:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/1 "2012-01-05T15:50:08Z")
Since we have a break in the bowl action today, I’m working up a list of potential teams for AP’s post-bowl rankings. I’ll post it when I get it done. Meanwhile, using whatever scheme you choose, give us your pick for the Top Ten teams. Just remember that these teams have yet to finish their seasons: ================================ Jan. 6 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic Cowboys Stadium Arlington, TX 8:00 pm FOX #8 Kansas State Wildcats (10–2) #6 Arkansas Razorbacks (10–2) Big 12 SEC Jan. 7 BBVA Compass Bowl Legion Field Birmingham, AL 1:00 pm ESPN SMU Mustangs (7–5) Pittsburgh Panthers (6–6) C-USA Big East Jan. 8 [GoDaddy.com](http://GoDaddy.com) Bowl Ladd Peebles Stadium Mobile, AL 9:00 pm Northern Illinois Huskies (10–3) Arkansas State Red Wolves (10–2) MAC Sun Belt Jan. 9 Allstate BCS National Championship Game Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans, LA 8:30 pm #1 LSU Tigers (13–0) #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (11–1) SEC SEC ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/2 "2012-01-05T16:26:28Z")
Can you post the current top 20? Most sites are blocked for me at work. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/3 "2012-01-05T16:37:08Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > Can you post the current top 20? Most sites are blocked for me at work. I’m still getting things together for a list of the teams that had an over-.500 record. Hopefully within the hour. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/4 "2012-01-05T16:49:51Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > Can you post the current top 20? Most sites are blocked for me at work. Here’s an unsorted list of all that had at least a 6-6 record: # = unfinished season > **[Rivals: The Best of Recruiting and High School Sports](https://www.on3.com/rivals/)** > > Rivals is the best resource for recruiting and high school sports. Find all of your favorite team's information or browse our advanced player database. > **[2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_season)** > > The 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). > The regular season began on September 1, 2011, and ended on December 10, 2011. The postseason concluded on January 9, 2012, with the BCS National Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the No. 1 LSU Tigers 21–0. For the first time since 2007, an... ```auto Standings Clemson (14) 6-2 10-4 Atlantic Coast Atlantic Florida State (25) 5-3 9-4 Atlantic Coast Atlantic North Carolina State 4-4 8-5 Atlantic Coast Atlantic Virginia Tech (17) 7-1 11-3 Atlantic Coast Coastal Virginia 5-3 8-5 Atlantic Coast Coastal Georgia Tech 5-3 8-5 Atlantic Coast Coastal Miami (FL) 3-5 6-6 Atlantic Coast Coastal North Carolina 3-5 7-6 Atlantic Coast Coastal West Virginia (23) 5-2 10-3 Big East Cincinnati 5-2 10-3 Big East Louisville 5-2 7-6 Big East Rutgers 4-3 9-4 Big East Pittsburgh 4-3 6-6 # Big East Wisconsin (9) 6-2 11-3 Big Ten Leaders Penn State (24) 6-2 9-4 Big Ten Leaders Purdue 4-4 7-6 Big Ten Leaders Illinois 2-6 7-6 Big Ten Leaders Michigan State (12) 7-1 11-3 Big Ten Legends Michigan (13) 6-2 11-2 Big Ten Legends Nebraska (21) 5-3 9-4 Big Ten Legends Iowa 4-4 7-6 Big Ten Legends Oklahoma State (3) 8-1 12-1 Big 12 Kansas State (11) 7-2 10-2 # Big 12 Baylor (15) 6-3 10-3 Big 12 Oklahoma (19) 6-3 10-3 Big 12 Missouri 5-4 8-5 Big 12 Texas 4-5 8-5 Big 12 Texas A&M 4-5 7-6 Big 12 Southern Miss (22) 6-2 12-2 Conference USA East Marshall 5-3 7-6 Conference USA East Houston (20) 8-0 13-1 Conference USA West Tulsa 7-1 8-5 Conference USA West Southern Methodist 5-3 7-5 # Conference USA West Ohio 6-2 10-4 Mid-American East Temple 5-3 9-4 Mid-American East Northern Illinois 7-1 10-3 # Mid-American West Toledo 7-1 9-4 Mid-American West Western Michigan 5-3 7-6 Mid-American West Ball State 4-4 6-6 Mid-American West Eastern Michigan 4-4 6-6 Mid-American West TCU (16) 7-0 11-2 Mountain West Boise State (8) 6-1 12-1 Mountain West Wyoming 5-2 8-5 Mountain West San Diego State 4-3 8-5 Mountain West Air Force 3-4 7-6 Mountain West Oregon (6) 8-1 12-2 Pac-12 North Stanford (4) 8-1 11-2 Pac-12 North Washington 5-4 7-6 Pac-12 North California 4-5 7-6 Pac-12 North USC (5) 7-2 10-2 Pac-12 South Utah 4-5 8-5 Pac-12 South Georgia (18) 7-1 10-4 Southeastern East South Carolina (10) 6-2 11-2 Southeastern East Florida 3-5 7-6 Southeastern East LSU (1) 8-0 13-0 # Southeastern West Alabama (2) 7-1 11-1 # Southeastern West Arkansas (7) 6-2 10-2 # Southeastern West Auburn 4-4 8-5 Southeastern West Mississippi State 2-6 7-6 Southeastern West Arkansas State 8-0 10-2 # Sun Belt Western Kentucky 7-1 7-5 Sun Belt Louisiana-Lafayette 6-2 9-4 Sun Belt FIU 5-3 8-5 Sun Belt Louisiana Tech 6-1 8-5 Western Athletic Utah State 5-2 7-6 Western Athletic Nevada 5-2 7-6 Western Athletic Notre Dame 1-0 8-5 Independents (FBS) Brigham Young 0-0 10-3 Independents (FBS) Last updated Thursday, Jan 5, 2012 2:29 am EST ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/5 "2012-01-05T20:29:46Z")
Here’s the sorted list: Sources: > **[Rivals: The Best of Recruiting and High School Sports](https://www.on3.com/rivals/)** > > Rivals is the best resource for recruiting and high school sports. Find all of your favorite team's information or browse our advanced player database. > **[2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_season)** > > The 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). > The regular season began on September 1, 2011, and ended on December 10, 2011. The postseason concluded on January 9, 2012, with the BCS National Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the No. 1 LSU Tigers 21–0. For the first time since 2007, an... # = incomplete season ====================================== ```auto Standings LSU (1) 8-0 13-0 # Southeastern West Houston (20) 8-0 13-1 Conference USA West Oklahoma State (3) 8-1 12-1 Big 12 Boise State (8) 6-1 12-1 Mountain West Oregon (6) 8-1 12-2 Pac-12 North Southern Miss (22) 6-2 12-2 Conference USA East Alabama (2) 7-1 11-1 # Southeastern West Stanford (4) 8-1 11-2 Pac-12 North TCU (16) 7-0 11-2 Mountain West Michigan (13) 6-2 11-2 Big Ten Legends South Carolina (10) 6-2 11-2 Southeastern East Virginia Tech (17) 7-1 11-3 Atlantic Coast Coastal Michigan State (12) 7-1 11-3 Big Ten Legends Wisconsin (9) 6-2 11-3 Big Ten Leaders Arkansas State 8-0 10-2 # Sun Belt Kansas State (11) 7-2 10-2 # Big 12 USC (5) 7-2 10-2 Pac-12 South Arkansas (7) 6-2 10-2 # Southeastern West Northern Illinois 7-1 10-3 # Mid-American West Baylor (15) 6-3 10-3 Big 12 Oklahoma (19) 6-3 10-3 Big 12 West Virginia (23) 5-2 10-3 Big East Cincinnati 5-2 10-3 Big East Brigham Young 0-0 10-3 Independents (FBS) Georgia (18) 7-1 10-4 Southeastern East Clemson (14) 6-2 10-4 Atlantic Coast Atlantic Ohio 6-2 10-4 Mid-American East Toledo 7-1 9-4 Mid-American West Penn State (24) 6-2 9-4 Big Ten Leaders Louisiana-Lafayette 6-2 9-4 Sun Belt Florida State (25) 5-3 9-4 Atlantic Coast Atlantic Nebraska (21) 5-3 9-4 Big Ten Legends Temple 5-3 9-4 Mid-American East Rutgers 4-3 9-4 Big East Tulsa 7-1 8-5 Conference USA West Louisiana Tech 6-1 8-5 Western Athletic Wyoming 5-2 8-5 Mountain West Virginia 5-3 8-5 Atlantic Coast Coastal Georgia Tech 5-3 8-5 Atlantic Coast Coastal FIU 5-3 8-5 Sun Belt Missouri 5-4 8-5 Big 12 San Diego State 4-3 8-5 Mountain West North Carolina State 4-4 8-5 Atlantic Coast Atlantic Auburn 4-4 8-5 Southeastern West Texas 4-5 8-5 Big 12 Utah 4-5 8-5 Pac-12 South Notre Dame 1-0 8-5 Independents (FBS) Western Kentucky 7-1 7-5 Sun Belt Southern Methodist 5-3 7-5 # Conference USA West Louisville 5-2 7-6 Big East Utah State 5-2 7-6 Western Athletic Nevada 5-2 7-6 Western Athletic Marshall 5-3 7-6 Conference USA East Western Michigan 5-3 7-6 Mid-American West Washington 5-4 7-6 Pac-12 North Purdue 4-4 7-6 Big Ten Leaders Iowa 4-4 7-6 Big Ten Legends Texas A&M 4-5 7-6 Big 12 California 4-5 7-6 Pac-12 North Air Force 3-4 7-6 Mountain West North Carolina 3-5 7-6 Atlantic Coast Coastal Florida 3-5 7-6 Southeastern East Illinois 2-6 7-6 Big Ten Leaders Mississippi State 2-6 7-6 Southeastern West Miami (FL) 3-5 6-6 Atlantic Coast Coastal Pittsburgh 4-3 6-6 # Big East Ball State 4-4 6-6 Mid-American West Eastern Michigan 4-4 6-6 Mid-American West Last updated Thursday, Jan 5, 2012 2:29 am EST ``` If you had an AP vote which teams would make your Top Ten? ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/6 "2012-01-05T21:06:10Z")
My predictions are Arkansas and LSU to win their bowls. 1. LSU 2. Oklahoma State 3. Alabama 4. Oregon 5. USC 6. Arkansas 7. Stanford 8. South Carolina 9. Boise State 10. Michigan State I have Alabama ranked 3 here, but I would drop them to 4 depending on the game with LSU. If Alabama is still in it (lead or within 10 points) in the 4th quarter, I’d keep them up. If the 4th quarter is just nothing and LSU wins by something like 20-3, then I’d drop Bama to 4th. ---
**Author:** ![basset\_hound](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/basset_hound/32/1432_2.png) [@basset\_hound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/basset_hound)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/7 "2012-01-07T02:41:14Z")
1. Alabama 2. LSU 3. Oklahoma State 4. Oregon 5. Arkansas 6. South Carolina 7. Boise State 8. Michigan 9. Stanford 10. Houston Roll Tide!😉 ---
**Author:** ![basset\_hound](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/basset_hound/32/1432_2.png) [@basset\_hound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/basset_hound)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/8 "2012-01-07T02:51:32Z")
Missed the edit window, so put USC between Arkansas and South Carolina. Drop Houston to #11. I think Alabama will win by a TD or more. Both coaches recognize that the BCSCG will determine the nation champion. Even a one-point Crimson Tide victory would give them my #1 vote. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/9 "2012-01-08T13:32:31Z")
Here’s an update of the current batch with at least 10 wins. The “#” set will be different by Tuesday Jan/10. Then it will all be up to taste and magic: ```auto Standings LSU (1) 8-0 13-0 # Southeastern West Houston (20) 8-0 13-1 Conference USA West Oklahoma State (3) 8-1 12-1 Big 12 Boise State (8) 6-1 12-1 Mountain West Oregon (6) 8-1 12-2 Pac-12 North Southern Miss (22) 6-2 12-2 Conference USA East Alabama (2) 7-1 11-1 # Southeastern West Stanford (4) 8-1 11-2 Pac-12 North TCU (16) 7-0 11-2 Mountain West Michigan (13) 6-2 11-2 Big Ten Legends South Carolina (10) 6-2 11-2 Southeastern East Arkansas (7) 6-2 11-2 Southeastern West Virginia Tech (17) 7-1 11-3 Atlantic Coast Coastal Michigan State (12) 7-1 11-3 Big Ten Legends Wisconsin (9) 6-2 11-3 Big Ten Leaders Arkansas State 8-0 10-2 # Sun Belt USC (5) 7-2 10-2 Pac-12 South Northern Illinois 7-1 10-3 # Mid-American West Kansas State (11) 7-2 10-3 Big 12 Baylor (15) 6-3 10-3 Big 12 Oklahoma (19) 6-3 10-3 Big 12 West Virginia (23) 5-2 10-3 Big East Cincinnati 5-2 10-3 Big East Brigham Young 0-0 10-3 Independents (FBS) Georgia (18) 7-1 10-4 Southeastern East Clemson (14) 6-2 10-4 Atlantic Coast Atlantic Ohio 6-2 10-4 Mid-American East ``` After you’ve picked your Top Ten, which team(s) do you predict the AP will jump over your group or remove from your group? Better yet, how many of the AP’s Top Ten won’t have won at least 10 games? By the way, for those of you who have already posted, I have no problem with an update from you if your opinion has changed or if one or more of your picks is less likely to make the Top Ten. Has anybody seen a date for AP to post their list? I suspect Tuesday, but it might be later. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/10 "2012-01-10T12:52:42Z")
Not that it makes any difference, but when it comes to the Big Ten in the final polls, the [AP got the right order](http://cfn.scout.com/2/557954.html) (Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan) while the [coaches](http://cfn.scout.com/2/557950.html) got silly rankings (Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin). Yes, Michigan had fewer losses and a BCS bowl win, but they were not the best of the Big Ten. And I say this as a Michigan fan. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-ap-top-ten-post-bowl-2011-2012/608517/11 "2012-01-10T14:06:09Z")
I’ll leave it to those who participated in this thread to compare their own opinions with the final results of the AP, but here’s how that looks: Sources: > **[Rivals.com](https://n.rivals.com/)** > > The definitive source for all Rivals news. > **[2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_season)** > > The 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). > The regular season began on September 1, 2011 and ended on December 10, 2011. The postseason concluded on January 9, 2012 with the BCS National Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the No. 1 LSU Tigers 21–0. For the first time since 2007, and fo... [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/ap/](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/ap/) ```auto The Associated Press Top 25 Poll Updated: Tuesday January 10, 2012 02:15 AM Rank Team Record Votes Previous 1 Alabama (55) 12-1 1,495 2 2 LSU (1) 13-1 1,425 1 3 Oklahoma State (4) 12-1 1,399 3 4 Oregon 12-2 1,250 6 5 Arkansas 11-2 1,198 7 6 USC 10-2 1,181 5 7 Stanford 11-2 1,167 4 8 Boise State 12-1 1,127 8 9 South Carolina 11-2 1,013 10 10 Wisconsin 11-3 905 9 11 Michigan State 11-3 873 12 12 Michigan 11-2 839 13 13 Baylor 10-3 780 15 14 TCU 11-2 653 16 15 Kansas State 10-3 621 11 16 Oklahoma 10-3 572 19 17 West Virginia 10-3 547 23 18 Houston 13-1 518 20 19 Georgia 10-4 439 18 20 Southern Miss 12-2 411 22 21 Virginia Tech 11-3 329 17 22 Clemson 10-4 188 14 23 Florida State 9-4 154 25 24 Nebraska 9-4 143 21 25 Cincinnati 10-3 103 NR Standings The Associated Press Top 25 Poll Houston (20) 8-0 13-1 Conference USA West 18 LSU (1) 8-0 13-1 Southeastern West 2 Oklahoma State (3) 8-1 12-1 Big 12 3 Alabama (2) 7-1 12-1 Southeastern West 1 Boise State (8) 6-1 12-1 Mountain West 8 Oregon (6) 8-1 12-2 Pac-12 North 4 Southern Miss (22) 6-2 12-2 Conference USA East 20 Stanford (4) 8-1 11-2 Pac-12 North 7 TCU (16) 7-0 11-2 Mountain West 14 Michigan (13) 6-2 11-2 Big Ten Legends 12 South Carolina (10) 6-2 11-2 Southeastern East 9 Arkansas (7) 6-2 11-2 Southeastern West 5 Virginia Tech (17) 7-1 11-3 Atlantic Coast Coastal 21 Michigan State (12) 7-1 11-3 Big Ten Legends 11 Northern Illinois 7-1 11-3 Mid-American West Wisconsin (9) 6-2 11-3 Big Ten Leaders 10 USC (5) 7-2 10-2 Pac-12 South 6 Arkansas State 8-0 10-3 Sun Belt Kansas State (11) 7-2 10-3 Big 12 15 Baylor (15) 6-3 10-3 Big 12 13 Oklahoma (19) 6-3 10-3 Big 12 16 West Virginia (23) 5-2 10-3 Big East 17 Cincinnati 5-2 10-3 Big East 25 Brigham Young 0-0 10-3 Independents (FBS) Georgia (18) 7-1 10-4 Southeastern East 19 Clemson (14) 6-2 10-4 Atlantic Coast Atlantic 22 Ohio 6-2 10-4 Mid-American East Toledo 7-1 9-4 Mid-American West Penn State (24) 6-2 9-4 Big Ten Leaders Louisiana-Lafayette 6-2 9-4 Sun Belt Florida State (25) 5-3 9-4 Atlantic Coast Atlantic 23 Nebraska (21) 5-3 9-4 Big Ten Legends 24 Temple 5-3 9-4 Mid-American East Rutgers 4-3 9-4 Big East ```