Meaningless AP Poll Delivers Kiss of Death
Penn State football is alive and well, and, as usual, the pre-season pollsters think the program is in great shape. AP ranked the Nittany Lions #8 overall, and third in the Big Ten behind #2 Ohio State and #3 Oregon. Incidentally, they ranked Harbaughless-Michigan (still profiting from JimBoy’s recruiting violations) right behind Penn State at #9. Can the Nittany Lions live up to the ranking?
Hard to imagine how the AP Top 25 omitted Washington, last year’s runner up. In the pre-season poll, they are an also-ran, with 23 votes. The AP puts Georgia in the top slot (what else is new?), followed by tOSU, Oregon, Texas, and Alabama.
Well, although the Sanguinarians might be upset that PSU was not ranked #3 or #2, they might well be overrated at #8. However, the relative ease of their schedule no doubt impelled pollsters to ass-ume that the Lions would breeze through it with one or two losses. After all, Oregon, Michigan, Iowa, aren’t on it this year, and the only Top 25 opponent on it other than #2 tOSU is #23 USC. Naturally, the Sanguinarians are looking forward to November 2 in Beaver Stadium, when the 7-0 #3-ranked Nittany Lions will mop up the field with the hapless Buckeyes to claim their share of the #1 spot. And yes, I own shares in the cannabis boutiques they frequent.
Overranked at #8?
It is too early for me or the pollsters to have any idea what direction Franklin’s Boys will take once they hit the field in Morgantown on August 31, which will provide some clues to the season beyond. After taking on the Mountaineers, who do not suck, the Lions will enjoy a three-week pussy prowl, including a bye week between Bowling Green (7-6 in 2023) and Kent (1-11 in 2023) of the MAC, before beginning the Big Ten schedule against the Illinois Fighting Bulemias. If they’re lucky against WVU and they win as expected against the MAC tune-up squads, the Nittany Lions will be 4-0 going into the Big Ten schedule.
Subsequent weeks bring the UCLA Bruins to Beaver Stadium for a “Stripe-Out” game, followed by a trip to LA to roll on the Trojans. After a bye week, it doesn’t get easier. A trip to Camp Randall followed by home games against the Buckeyes and the Huskies, the “Helmet Stripe” and “White Out” games, respectively, the Lions close out the season with visits to Purdue and Minnesota, and the home finale on November 30 with Maryland. I don’t know about you, but I can see a few potential losses in the Big Ten schedule, especially if Penn State hasn’t gotten its act together by the Illinois game.
Well, I’ve said nothing, but I do believe that the only thing supporting a #8 ranking other than a lot of hot air is the softness of the schedule. What do you think?
I’ll be back with more nebulous pearls of wisdom as the WVU game approaches, but I’ll be missing in action for the first couple of games this year due to travel plans and anticipated MAC pussification.
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psudrozz says
Just feels like the vultures are circling Franklin.
K. John says
I think we are over-rated. The more that comes out of camp, the worse it looks. The opening game will say a lot. I think it will be a somewhat comfortable WVU win. Reports out of camp this week suggest the offense isn’t fully installed and the defense is having trouble playing the more controlled approach preferred by Allen.
Right now, I would be loath to put us in the top twenty given my 8-4 prediction. At 8-4, 9-3 in the Big Ten, that would put us 8th in the Big Ten by my estimation. I think the Big Ten will have five 10 win teams and we won’t be one of them. Oregon, Ohio State, Iowa, Southern Cal and Michigan, in that order.
Big Al says
Welcome back, Turkey. The ranking is primarily based on State’s relatively weak schedule. Of the B1G title contenders, only Iowa has an easier schedule. Although WVU: and USC will be better than most Sanguinarians expect.
Washington isn’t ranked because they have one of the most difficult schedules in the B1G and only have 6 players with any FBS starting experience and only two of them started for Washington last year. That doesn’t mean they won’t present a challenge when Penn State plays them in November after losing to Ohio State the previous week.
The Kitties chance of making the playoffs depend upon how well they play in three road games – WVU, USC, and Bucky. They’re going to lose to O$U and they have enough returning talent to win all the other games. I think the Vegas line for regular season wins (9.5) is pretty accurate but I would take the under. IMO they’re going to lose at least 2 of the 3 road games mentioned previously
The Nittany Turkey says
So, yeah, Washington is a crap shoot this year given the Huskies’ new coach, new QB, and few returning players from their near championship year. But I bet they’re still going to outplay and outcoach the Nittany Lions in the Caucasian-Out.
Good to see both of you and drozz back here. I think I’m down to four readers from my original six, but we’ll see if that improves when I post my TikTok video of me twerking.
I’ll be watching the WVU game in PA with ancient PSU friend ToeJam. Then I’ll be in New England for a week for an event with a full schedule on the following Saturday, so I’ll miss the crucial Bowling Green game. Barring any calamities on the road, I should be back and well rested to offer observations before and after the Golden Showers.
—TNT