One potential factor that could skew this comparison is that you are taking mid-year rankings for 2012 vs. year-end rankings for past years.
As you pointed out, recruits can move both up and down as the season progresses. But is there a tendency for Rivals to add more 5 and 4 star players later in the year?
As another reader pointed out, only 17 players currently are rated 5 stars. But the lowest number of 5 stars per final rankings from 2007-2011 was 26 (in both 2009 and 2010).
So either this year has a relatively low number of 5 star recruits, or that number will increase by February. If the former, Michigan's class will be stronger relative to the talent available. And if the latter, at least one of our current class of recruits (Kalis) is likely to get that 5th star.
Do you have a source for that? I've heard it before, but I don't think it makes sense. It would mean that tsio's record against us would not be the inverse of our record against them. In other words, it makes us 57-44-6 against them, and it makes them 43-57-6 against us. I don't buy it.
At 9:30 this morning, there were 91,348 votes and FSU led with 52%.
At 10:00, FSU has 59% of 109,483 votes.
Considering our margin of victory over Nebraska comprised more than the entire vote total in the FSU-ND matchup, I'm surprised any of the FSU slappies are dumb enough to take us on electronically.
Nebraska has made a small dent into our lead as far as absolute votes as well. It's down to about 2.7M. But there is no way they close the rest of the gap in less than a hour.
But our cheaters are proving better than their cheaters. And with FSU apparently doing the same thing against ND, it makes it less likely that ESPN disqualifies anyone.
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Thanks as always for the great work Tom.
One potential factor that could skew this comparison is that you are taking mid-year rankings for 2012 vs. year-end rankings for past years.
As you pointed out, recruits can move both up and down as the season progresses. But is there a tendency for Rivals to add more 5 and 4 star players later in the year?
As another reader pointed out, only 17 players currently are rated 5 stars. But the lowest number of 5 stars per final rankings from 2007-2011 was 26 (in both 2009 and 2010).
So either this year has a relatively low number of 5 star recruits, or that number will increase by February. If the former, Michigan's class will be stronger relative to the talent available. And if the latter, at least one of our current class of recruits (Kalis) is likely to get that 5th star.
Do you have a source for that? I've heard it before, but I don't think it makes sense. It would mean that tsio's record against us would not be the inverse of our record against them. In other words, it makes us 57-44-6 against them, and it makes them 43-57-6 against us. I don't buy it.
I know a few badgers that agree with you!
I was wondering about that myself.
At 9:30 this morning, there were 91,348 votes and FSU led with 52%.
At 10:00, FSU has 59% of 109,483 votes.
Considering our margin of victory over Nebraska comprised more than the entire vote total in the FSU-ND matchup, I'm surprised any of the FSU slappies are dumb enough to take us on electronically.
Nebraska has made a small dent into our lead as far as absolute votes as well. It's down to about 2.7M. But there is no way they close the rest of the gap in less than a hour.
But our cheaters are proving better than their cheaters. And with FSU apparently doing the same thing against ND, it makes it less likely that ESPN disqualifies anyone.
Long time reader, first time poster.
Nebraska isn't actually gaining on us, not in absolute terms. Our lead has been approx. 3M votes for at least the last 2 hours.
As the bots continue to rapidly increase the total vote count, our lead is shrinking on a percentage basis only.