Monday, January 21, 2013

College Basketball Rankings - 21 Jan

The top two teams in the AP rankings each lost this week, leaving a big void at the top, which was filled once again by Duke. My formula, however, kicked out a different top team, and that team is farther ahead of everyone else than any other team has been this season. Here are my current rankings, with teams grouped by similar level of performance and AP rankings in parentheses.

TW. (LW) Team (Week) Overall (AP)
1. (2) Florida (2-0) 14-2 (8)

2. (1) Indiana (1-1) 16-2 (7)

3. (6) Louisville (1-1) 16-2 (5)
4. (4) Michigan (1-0) 17-1 (2)

5. (5) Syracuse (1-0) 17-1 (3)
6. (3) Duke (1-0) 16-1 (1)

7. (9) Creighton (1-1) 17-2 (17)
8. (7) Minnesota (0-1) 15-3 (12)
9. (8) VCU (2-0) 16-3 (19)
10. (11) Gonzaga (1-1) 17-2 (10)
11. (10) Kansas (2-0) 16-1 (3)
12. (16) Arizona (1-0) 16-1 (6)
13. (15) Pittsburgh (2-0) 15-4 (38)

14. (17) Wisconsin (1-1) 13-5 (27)
15. (12) Ohio State (0-1) 13-4 (14)
16. (13) Ole Miss (2-0) 15-2 (23)

17. (NR) Colorado State (2-0) 15-3 (32)

18. (19) Cincinnati (2-0) 16-3 (21)
19. (20) Kentucky (2-0) 12-5 (NR)
20. (14) Belmont (2-0) 15-4 (NR)
21. (18) Miami (1-0) 13-3 (25)
22. (NR) Oklahoma State (1-0) 12-4 (NR)
23. (21) Iowa State (2-0) 13-4 (35)
24. (NR) UNLV (1-1) 15-4 (29)
25. (22) Michigan State (2-0) 16-3 (13)

Dropped Out

(23) BYU (1-1) 15-5 (NR)
(25) Bucknell (2-0) 16-3 (38)
(24) Notre Dame (1-1) 15-3 (24)

Ranked Teams by Conference

Big 10 - 6
Big East - 4
SEC - 3
Big 12 - 3
ACC - 2
MWC - 2
WCC - 1
MVC - 1
Atl 10 - 1
Pac 12 - 1
OVC - 1

The biggest mover of the week was Colorado State, who returned to the top 25 after dropping out last week due to a loss against San Diego State. They atoned for that loss by embarrassing Air Force 79-40, then they upset the UNLV Rebels, who were fresh off an upset of the same Aztecs that just beat the Rams last week. This week a fourth contender in the Mountain West joins the fray, as Colorado State visits New Mexico on Wednesday in what should be a very competitive game.

UNLV also entered the top 25 this week even after losing that game, and it was due to the upset over San Diego State that I mentioned above. Thus far, the Rebels' worst loss of the season came at North Carolina, and any team that can say that is worth paying attention to. The Mountain West is very tough this year, with 5 or 6 teams that are good enough to be playing games that matter in March.

Arizona rebounded from their first loss of the season with two big victories on the road, first against Oregon State and then at rival Arizona State. They were also helped by the fact that Oregon continued to roll this week, proving that their win over the Wildcats was not a fluke and that Arizona should not be punished too harshly in the rankings for that loss.

A team that Arizona beat earlier in the season jumped to the top spot this week, riding the strength of a 31-point blowout of the #17 Missouri Tigers. Florida, who was among my hottest teams last week as well, kept things rolling this week, extending their streak of 20-plus-point wins to 5 against Texas A&M and Missouri, and increasing their huge win total to 10. The SEC is not as strong as usual this season, but Florida is the type of team that could still give them a representative in the Final Four.

Predictions

Upset picks are in italics.

(21) Cincinnati at (3) Syracuse - Orange by 12
Georgetown at (24) Notre Dame - Fighting Irish by 10
Oklahoma State at Baylor - Bears by 4

NBA

Indiana at Memphis - Grizzlies by 5
Sacramento at New Orleans - Hornets by 8
Houston at Charlotte - Rockets by 6
Minnesota at Atlanta - Hawks by 3
Brooklyn at New York - Knicks by 5
LA Clippers at Golden State - Clippers by 4
San Antonio at Philadelphia - Spurs by 10
LA Lakers at Chicago - Bulls by 4
Washington at Portland - Trail Blazers by 5

Prediction Results

NBA: 3-1 (.750) 404-199 overall (.670)
Upsets: 2-0 (1.000) 76-54 overall (.585)
College Basketball: 2-0 (1.000) 484-102 overall (.826)

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