A Sea Of Red

10/19/2009 Gridiron Power Index (GPI)

Liberty moves up 8 spots

10/19/2009 GPI Top 25
1. Richmond (1.00)
2. Montana (2.25)
3. Villanova (3.25)
4. S Illinois (4.50)
5. William & Mary (4.63)
6. Northern Iowa (5.75)
7. Jacksonville St (9.25)
8. New Hampshire (10.00)
9. Elon (10.50)
10. S Dakota St (11.25)
11. Massachusetts (12.50)
12. Delaware (12.75)
13T. SF Austin (13.50)
13T. S Carolina St (13.50)
15. N Arizona (15.88)
16. Weber St (16.25)
17. Cal Poly SLO (18.75)
18. Appalachian St (20.50)
19. McNeese St (21.25)
20. Cent Arkansas (21.88)
21. Montana St (22.00)
22. E Washington (22.38)
23. UC Davis (22.75)
24. Liberty (22.88)
25. Lafayette (25.00)


Conference Ranking:
Rank, League, Total Average
1. Colonial Athletic Association (25.41)
2. Great West Conference (27.25)
3. Missouri Valley Football Conference (32.65)
4. Big Sky Conference (33.00)
5. Southern Conference (38.00)
6. Southland Conference (38.97)
7. Ohio Valley Conference (48.10)
8. Big South Conference (53.36)
9. Patriot League (53.84)
10. Ivy League (54.27)
11. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (55.27)
12. Southwestern Athletic Conference (59.38)
13. Northeast Conference (66.11)
14. Independents (79.38)
15. Pioneer Football League (82.79)

I know there are several criteria for the playoffs, but if we have any chance we need to continue to climb in the GPI, ultimately landing in the 10-15 ranking at the end. Not trying to talk playoffs yet because I realize we have along season in front of us, but I disagree with those who say that we have no chance this year. IF we win out, I could see us ending the season ranked higher than last years team.

Case in point. Last year's team was more highly touted, and certainly a playoff caliber team. Take a look at the 2008 Flames GPI Score on 10/21/2008:

Rank Team Conf Record Total
30 Liberty BSO 6-1 29.63


We are ranked higher this year with a much stronger total. The win at Laffy, if they can knock off either Colgate or HC or both, will continue to give us an additional boost in the polls.

dp24 wrote:I know there are several criteria for the playoffs, but if we have any chance we need to continue to climb in the GPI, ultimately landing in the 10-15 ranking at the end. Not trying to talk playoffs yet because I realize we have along season in front of us, but I disagree with those who say that we have no chance this year. IF we win out, I could see us ending the season ranked higher than last years team.

Case in point. Last year's team was more highly touted, and certainly a playoff caliber team. Take a look at the 2008 Flames GPI Score on 10/21/2008:

Rank Team Conf Record Total
30 Liberty BSO 6-1 29.63


We are ranked higher this year with a much stronger total. The win at Laffy, if they can knock off either Colgate or HC or both, will continue to give us an additional boost in the polls.

Nice points, and glad to have another on Lefty and myself's side.

We are Laffy's biggest fans this year, and hope JMU finishes 5-6 or 6-5 opposed to 3-8

Yeah, the big jump this week is a good bit of evidence to support our case.

I just hope we take care of our own business, since a loss this year will put us out of the discussion and keep us out. Also, keep winning Lafayette! A road win at the Patriot League champ would be a HUGE boost!

Just for giggles... this is what the playoffs would look like based on this poll...

1. Richmond (1.00) (CAA Champ)
2. Montana (2.25) (BSC Champ)
3. Villanova (3.25) (At-Large #1)
4. S Illinois (4.50) (MVFC Champ)
5. William & Mary (4.63) (At-Large #2)
6. Northern Iowa (5.75) (At-Large #3)
7. Jacksonville St (9.25) (Ineligible, which is sad.)
8. New Hampshire (10.00) (At-Large #4)
9. Elon (10.50) (SoCon Champ)
10. S Dakota St (11.25) (At-Large #5)
11. Massachusetts (12.50) (At-Large #6)
12. Delaware (12.75) (At-Large #7)
13T. SF Austin (13.50) (Southland Champ)
13T. S Carolina St (13.50) (MEAC Champ)
15. N Arizona (15.88) (At-Large #8)
16. Weber St (16.25) (Bubble #1)
17. Cal Poly SLO (18.75) (Bubble #2)
18. Appalachian St (20.50) (Bubble #3)
19. McNeese St (21.25) (Bubble #4)
20. Cent Arkansas (21.88) (Ineligible)
21. Montana St (22.00) (Bubble #5)
22. E Washington (22.38) (Ineligible/Bubble #6)
23. UC Davis (22.75) (Bubble #7)
24. Liberty (22.88) (Bubble #8)
25. Lafayette (25.00) (Patriot Champs)
34. E Illinois (30.63) (OVC Champs)

E. Ill at #1 Richmond
UMass at Elon

SCSU at #4 So. Ill.
SF Austin at William and Mary

NAU at #3 Villanova
Delaware at UNI

Lafayette at #2 Montana
SDSU at UNH

Adding to this thought...The CAA will not get 6 teams into the tourney. The committee took alot of heat last year by putting 5 in. To help us out, we need one of the CAA teams to slip, maybe UD or Umass. (Delaware still has hofstra and Navy left on their schedule, good teams but it puts pressure on the other games since they played a D2 team early this year and won by just a few touchdowns versus the juggernaut DelSt). If the CAA only has 5 teams in front of us, I believe we have a shot at beating out the 5th team IF IF IF we can continue to win.

I agree with the comment that if we lose, we have no chance.

Last year's team had a big opponent late in the season, offering a significant boost.

No Elon on the late schedule this season. And, a whole lot of potential Presby's. Sorry, boys!

(And, usually, I'm the optimist!)

I agree, but only to a point. Last year we lost to Laffy, not a really respected team that tanked at the end of the season and to Presby, which nothing needs to be said. IF IF IF, because I know we have alot of football in front of us, we win out our two losses would be to a good WVU team and a respected, all-be-it average, JMU team. The Elon game, while a big win for us, didn't really do a whole lot for us because of the two losses we had. Namely, Presby...

I actually think that we have a better chance of going to the playoffs this year if we win out than last year....

Thats true... even though JMU bombed since leaving Lynchburg, JMU>Presby...