Inconsistency in the Polls

This weekend something popped to my attention that I really hadn't considered before.  Before I write this it must be prefaced by saying this most likely would not have come to my attention if I were not a Clemson fan, but I will do my best to stay objective.

Last week Clemson suffered a 49-37 loss in which Florida State proved they were the better football team.  Coming into last weeks game Florida State was 14.5 point favorites against the Tigers.  ESPN analysts on College Gameday predicted the Seminoles to roll the Tigers at home, because of their powerful defense and unstoppable offensive attack.  Nobody gave Clemson a chance.  I picked the Seminoles to win by 10 points and wasn't far off with my pick.

What is really irritating skin is how the media praises Florida State as National Championship contenders and talks of E.J. Manuel as a possible Heisman finalist, but drops Clemson 7 spots in the rankings.  It is and was extremely harsh to drop the Tigers from 10 to 17.  Anyone who watched that game knows it was a very well played games by both teams.  Even the analysts will admit that Clemson played their heart out and had control of that game until late in the third.  But 7 spots?  Seems a but much.

What the media is portraying by dropping Clemson 7 spots is Florida, Texas, Southern Cal, Ohio State, TCU and Oklahoma are better than Clemson.  And for the first 3 teams, I would agree.  However, based on schedules up until that point, there is no reason the Tigers should have fallen behind Oklahoma, TCU or Ohio State.  If the SEC is all it is chalked out to be, than Clemson has a pretty nice out of conference win against the Auburn Tigers.  Not to mention, TCU and Oklahoma had not played anyone up to that point.

The media cannot continue to praise Florida State for their poise and talent in that game and drop the Tigers 7 spots in the polls.  It is unjustifiable and inconsistent.  If so, Florida State's loss means less now, because Clemson is a middle of the pack top 25 team.

Florida State is around the 6th or 7th best team in the country (In my opinion)  and is better than Clemson this year.  But if Florida State is going to receive praise for beating Clemson, then it is not valid to slam Clemson for competing with and coming close to beating the Seminoles.