Based on the Sagarin preseason college football ratings published today in USA Today, one of the nation’s most underrated teams in the inaugural coaches poll is TCU. And one of the most overrated is Texas A&M.
The Horned Frogs, who opened at No. 15 in the coaches poll, are No. 4 in the preseason Sagarin ratings based on a computer-generated ratings formula devised by mathematician Jeff Sagarin. A&M, the No. 9 team in the coaches poll, opened at No. 37 in the Sagarin ratings _ one of the largest disparities among teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll.
According to the Sagarin ratings, which assigns each team a power rating, the nation’s top team is Alabama (92.53 rating). The Crimson Tide opened at No. 2 in the coaches poll. The rest of the Sagarin top five includes Oregon (90.78), Ohio State (90.55), TCU (89.84) and Oklahoma (89.52). The Sooners claimed the top spot in the initial coaches poll, earning 42 of 59 available first-place votes.
The Sagarin ratings also like Texas, a 5-7 team last season, and Texas Tech. The Longhorns earned the No. 24 spot in the coaches poll but placed 14th in the Sagaring ratings (83.38). Tech, an 8-5 team last season, receive no votes from coaches but landed at No. 29 in the Sagarin ratings (79.55), eight spots ahead of A&M, a 9-4 team last season.
Below is a look at the difference between area/Big 12 college football teams in the two ranking systems:
TCU _ 15th in coaches poll, 4th in Sagarin.
Texas A&M _ 9th in coaches poll, 37th in Sagarin.
Texas _ 24th in coaches poll, 14th in Sagarin.
Texas Tech _ unranked in coaches poll, 29th in Sagarin.
Baylor _ unranked in coaches poll, 69th in Sagarin.
Oklahoma _ 1st in coaches poll, 5th in Sagarin.
Oklahoma State _ 8th in coaches poll, 16th in Sagarin.
Missouri _ 21st in coaches poll, 21st in Sagarin.
SMU _ unranked in coaches poll, 95th in Sagarin.
North Texas _ unranked in coaches poll, 154th in Sagarin (behind several FCS schools).
Follow Jimmy Burch on Twitter @Jimmy_Burch.
_ Jimmy Burch
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