Why Human Polls Suck - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Surfah · 10-13-2008, 03:47 PM

http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pol...=&v=35&w=8&r=V

This guy is all over the place. 8 of the teams in his polls he has placed at the extreme end in comparison to his fellow voters.

MikeWaters · 10-13-2008, 03:50 PM

which team, among those ranked by every AP voter, has the highest variance in ranking?

(I don't know the answer, I'm hoping someone will answer for me).

Surfah · 10-13-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

which team, among those ranked by every AP voter, has the highest variance in ranking?

(I don't know the answer, I'm hoping someone will answer for me).

I don't know but at that site I am sure you can figure it out because they show the variance.

ERCougar · 10-13-2008, 03:54 PM

Computer ratings are better:
http://d1afootball.com/d1apoll.htm

The problem with humans is they can't possibly watch every game and they have short memories, so they're left with highlights, reputations, personal bias, etc. Computers get rid of these problems but are left without the human variable of actually seeing a team play. I actually think an average of the two, something akin to the BCS formula, is pretty ideal for ranking teams (for seeding purposes in a playoff...).

10-13-2008, 03:47 PM	#1
Surfah Master Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: F'burg, VA Posts: 3,211	Why Human Polls Suck http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pol...=&v=35&w=8&r=V This guy is all over the place. 8 of the teams in his polls he has placed at the extreme end in comparison to his fellow voters. __________________ Ernie Johnson: "Auburn is a pretty good school. To graduate from there I suppose you really need to work hard and put forth maximum effort." Charles Barkley: "20 pts and 10 rebounds will get you through also!"

10-13-2008, 03:50 PM	#2
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	which team, among those ranked by every AP voter, has the highest variance in ranking? (I don't know the answer, I'm hoping someone will answer for me).

10-13-2008, 03:54 PM	#4
ERCougar Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,589	Computer ratings are better: http://d1afootball.com/d1apoll.htm The problem with humans is they can't possibly watch every game and they have short memories, so they're left with highlights, reputations, personal bias, etc. Computers get rid of these problems but are left without the human variable of actually seeing a team play. I actually think an average of the two, something akin to the BCS formula, is pretty ideal for ranking teams (for seeding purposes in a playoff...).