A few interesting ESPN polls on BYU

I find this fascinating. Show's how the Nation views BYU. I'm intrigued!



http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/polls?pCat=46&sCat=1459

You guys need to jump on this one and vote, however-



http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=95808" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I voted. Really interesting polls. Pretty darn good.

Don't forget the Notre Dame poll too. Poll numbers are looking good.

Very interesting that over 80% of the country believes that the MWC should receive the automatic BCS bid if BYU stays (19% believe so regardless of whether BYU stays or not)....



That causes me to rethink independence....at first, I look at the addition of Nevada and Fresno State and think that they will not add much to the MWC's BCS chances.



However, Fresno State and Nevada should finish 2nd and 3rd in the WAC this year. That will help their computer rankings. FSU hosts Cincinnati the first game of the season and finishes with Illinois at home the last game of the season. Those are VERY winnable games against BCS opponents. They also have a road game at Mississippi worked in there (not so easy). Nevada gets California at home (and E. Washington). Their other two OOC games are against MWC teams. So, both schools are coming off 8-win seasons and both Fresno State and Nevada have a chance to put up 8 or 9 win seasons in 2010 and really make a push towards the top 40, which would definitely help the MWC in the elusive "average ranking" criteria for the BCS auto-bid. Here's what they add to the conference:



Tier 1: BYU, TCU, Boise State

Tier 2: Air Force, Fresno State, Nevada, Wyoming

Tier 3: San Diego State, Colorado State, UNLV, New Mexico



(Note: It's questionable whether Wyoming is "Tier 2", but they did win a bowl game last year).



You throw a "Houston" into the MWC mix (who finished 2009 with 10 wins and #27 and #30 in pre-season Coaches and AP Polls, respectively) and you have a legitimate 2nd tier of the conference that definitely helps to lift up some of the UNLV and New Mexico baggage.



Conclusion: If BYU can negotiate preferential treatment for controlling its Home game TV rights, the MWC may be a pretty decent conference to be in. (I also like the addition of Nevada and Houston to MWC basketball, which is already doing quite well...but that's for the Basketball board....)

FSU and N won't be joining until 2012 so they will not be included in the numbers but could be part of the argument for inclusion.

scott715 wrote:
FSU and N won't be joining until 2012 so they will not be included in the numbers but could be part of the argument for inclusion.

Yeah... the argument for why the MWC should NOT be included.



Have you seen Nevada's record vs. BCS competition over the past 2 decades?

BYU poll is gone now they have BSU.