LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – The Sagarin computer ratings are
always the first of the six computer-formula numbers used in the BCS rankings
to post every Sunday.
That makes a layover in Charlotte on my trip home from
Gainesville the perfect time to share what the Sagarin numbers are saying about
the local teams – and what Louisville, Western Kentucky, Kentucky and Indiana
are expected to do next weekend.
I'll take them in order of how they're ranked:
LOUISVILLE: The Cards sit 33rd in Sagarin's
Elo-Chess numbers, the ones used in the BCS formula and do not include margin
of victory. They slip to 49th in his predictor numbers, which do
include margin of victory.
Next Saturday Louisville travels to Hattiesburg to play the
Southern Miss team that Western Kentucky pounded.
According to Sagarin, U of L will be favored by about 10
points.
In Sagarin's preferred predictor rankings, Louisville is
ranked the second best team in the Big East, behind Cincinnati, but ahead of
Rutgers.
WESTERN KENTUCKY: The Hilltoppers sit at Number 62 in
Sagarin's BCS numbers, but only 92 in the predictor rankings.
According to Sagarin, WKU projects as about a 3-to-3 ½ point
underdog at Arkansas State next Saturday.
The Hilltoppers are ranked the fourth best team in the Sun
Belt Conference, behind Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas
State.
KENTUCKY: The Wildcats come home to play South Carolina.
Sagarin's numbers project Kentucky as a 21 1/2-point underdog.
UK sits 79 in Sagarin's BCS formula and 81 when margin of
victory is included.
The Wildcats are ranked the worst team in the SEC, eight
spots behind Arkansas.
INDIANA: The Hoosiers burned their off weekend on Saturday
and head to Evanston to play Northwestern, one of 16 unbeaten FBS teams.
Indiana projects as a 15-point underdog. The Hoosiers sit at
106 in Sagarin's BCS numbers, 97th when point spreads are included.
The Hoosiers are ranked the worst team in the Big Ten, 29
spots behind Illinois.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
Jeff Sagarin's college football computer rankings have been updated from weekend play.
