The Mathematical breakdown of likelihood of Bama/OSU in title game
Background:
The coaches poll, Harris poll and Computers each count for 1/3 of a team's BCS ranking.
Coaches poll:
Bama: .9485
OSU: .9268
The coaches poll was released earlier today was not kind to the Cowboys. With 59 total voters, Bama totaled a 32 point edge. While we don't know for certain how this broke down, this result is equivalent to 14 coaches voting the Cowboys 2nd and Bama 3rd (23.7%), 44 voting for Bama 2nd and (nt)OSU 3rd (74.6%) and one voting for Bama 2nd and OSU 4th (1.7%).
This was a significantly worse result for the Cowboys than what they got in the AP where Alabama garnered a 16 point edge with a total of 60 voters.
Computers:
Given that both the Coaches and AP polls broke for Alabama, the Cowboys' hopes seem to hinge on getting help from the computers. There are 6 computer rankings. The highest and lowest result for each team gets dropped. Last week 4 of the 6 computers put Alabama at 2nd and OSU 3rd and the remaining 2 put Oklahoma State 2nd and Alabama 3rd.
If these results hold or the Cowboys are only able to flip one computer, their chance at a title game is functionally zero.
If they flip two computers this will be the computer score
OSU: .95
Bama: .93
This would nearly wipe out Bama's edge gained from the Coaches poll, but OSU would still need to top Bama by a slim margin in the Harris poll to get a title shot. Given the results from the Coaches and AP polls, this seems unlikely, though not impossible.
If they flip 3 or 4 computers this will be the computer score:
OSU: .96
Bama: .92
The remainder of this analysis will deal with this possibility.
UPDATE: 2 computer rankings (Sagarin and Wolfe) have been released they both have Bama 2nd. This means OSU flipping 3 or 4 computers is no longer a possibility. OSU will have to at minimum gain 5 points on Alabama in the Harris poll to go to the BCS. This means they will need to top Bama on 52.18% of Harris poll ballots assuming neither team is ranked beneath 3rd.
Harris Poll
Assuming OSU flips 3 or all 4 computers, Bama would have to make up a .0183 edge in the Harris poll. (The difference in computer score and coaches score)
The Harris Poll has 115 voters. For Bama to overtake OSU they would need to be placed 53 spots above the Cowboys in the aggregate. Assuming all voters put Bama and OSU in some comination of 2nd and 3rd Bama would need 84 of the 115 voters (73%) to rank them 2nd.
For perspective, if the Harris poll comes out with similar results to the coaches poll Bama will top OSU by ,0034 points. If it comes out with similar results the AP the Cowboys will overtake Bama by .0063.
Conclusions
- If the Cowboys can't flip a computer, or only flip one they are doomed.
- If they flip 2 it is still highly unlikely they get to the National Championship
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If the Cowboys flip 3 or 4, Bama will need at least 73% of Harris poll voters to rank them 2nd, assuming all voters rank Bama and OSU at least 3rd. -
For the non mathematically inclined: If the Cowboys flip 3 or 4 computers and the Harris voters rank the teams as the coaches did it's rematch time. If the Harris voters rank the teams like the AP did T Boone will be very happy.
Updated Conclusions
- If Richard Billingsly (computer) keeps Bama at 2 they are definitely in.
- If Billingsly switches OSU and Bama OSU must gain 5 points on Bama in the Harris poll. This means they would need 52.18% of Harris voters to put them above Bama assuming neither team gets ranked below 3rd. Given the results of the coaches and AP poll this seems unlikely.
- The Tide will likely roll to a rematch.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:12 PM ^
so you're saying there's a chance!
December 4th, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^
The fix appears to be in for Alabama, and ESPN's $2-billion-plus TV contract was going to help ensure that.
I guess that this year's "Game of the Century" was meaningless, then.
It's a sad day for college football.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^
From BCSGuru:
December 4th, 2011 at 5:20 PM ^
Update: Wolfe has Bama at 2.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^
I thought two of the computer polls are already out, and that in both Alabama is 2nd (Sagarin and Wolfe, I think). The consensus seems to be that the rest will have Oklahoma State in 2nd.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:18 PM ^
You are right I will update to reflect this.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^
I don't understand why the Coaches favored Alabama so much, a lot more than I thought they would. I would think a lot of them would be upset with the way that Saban oversigns and knock them down a peg.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:34 PM ^
Coaches, players, and all of civilization have been told for weeks -repeatedly - that Alabama is the best thing since sliced bread. If they get in I'm not watching it. I'm not supporting that bs. Not to mention, I'd rather play dominoes w my grandmother than watch a field goal fest.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:20 PM ^
Just wait three hours and there will be no speculation. In the meantime, just do something non-football related like putting up Christmas lights.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:23 PM ^
Do one for Michigan too.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:35 PM ^
My understanding is that Michigan has a very high probability of being in the top 14 (I'd like to see a math breakdown of this also). If we are in, if Bama makes the final we'll go to the Fiesta, if OSU makes it we'll go to the Sugar. That is what I've seen posted on the board so far at least.
Anyone with more insights?
December 4th, 2011 at 5:40 PM ^
If Bama makes the title game we likely go Sugar (against unexciting opponent). If Ok. State makes it we likely go Fiesta (to play Stanford).
December 4th, 2011 at 5:53 PM ^
There are two ways Michigan doesn't go.
- The Harris poll voters do something unprecedented.
- Sugar Bowl/Fiesta Bowl officials decide they don't like making money.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:24 PM ^
My head hurts just trying to figure out how all of these polls are going to work out. I'm sure what will happen is that Alabama will scrape by and play the rematch, slug out a win against LSU by 3 points, and then we can all complain about the stupidity of crowning a MNC for a team that split its season series with the #2 and lost its matchup at home.
December 4th, 2011 at 5:38 PM ^
If bama can lose to lsu, and play in the NCG, but we lose to OSU and Florida goes than how is that fair?
December 4th, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^
Haven't you been taught that yet?
December 4th, 2011 at 5:56 PM ^
Truth be told, neither of you should have been in that game.
December 4th, 2011 at 6:09 PM ^
When the SEC does it, it's "fair."
December 4th, 2011 at 5:51 PM ^
Always was a joke, always will be. Everyone knows the whole thing is about money. I can't wait for 4 mega conferences for the sole reason of getting rid of the BCS. You can't tell me that Alabama should be #2 just because some people think so. Sorry, they already had their chance and lost to LSU. Give someone else a chance. Fucking bullshit system.
December 4th, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
Bama would smash OSU. I want to see the best game and that's LSU vs. Bama. I don't feel like seeing another 35 point blow out national title game.
December 4th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
They could be guessing for all it matters now, but apparently claim a source tipped them off a full hours ahead of the broadcast...
http://rpibcsguy.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26191645/33687155