by Vegas Writer
Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023Fresh off their road win in Las Vegas, the San Jose State Spartans were left out of the title game despite tying the UNLV Rebels and Boise State Broncos atop the standings.
Instead, after losing on its home field, UNLV will play host to Boise State this Saturday to determine the league champion.
League officials used the average of four rankings - Anderson & Hester, Colley Matrix, Massey, and Wolfe - to break the tie, and UNLV had a 44.50 computer average to secure one spot while Boise State checked in at 55.75 and San Jose State finished with a 58.50.
Only the Wolfe ranking system had SJSU ranked higher than Boise State.
San Jose State is still going to a bowl game, but some believe it should be in this weekend's championship.
The Mountain West, which abandoned divisions this season, couldn’t use the College Football Playoff rankings because none of the three teams are ranked. Head-to-head results became irrelevant because Boise State and UNLV did not meet this season.
But here are some other factors to consider: Both SJSU and Boise State had significantly stronger strength of schedules.
An analytical website, Team Rankings, ranked Boise State 70th and San Jose State 72nd in terms of strength of schedule.
Also on Team Rankings, its Luck Rating scale has UNLV ranked the 36th luckiest team in the nation, in terms of wins above expected, San Jose State 82nd, and Boise State 106th.
San Jose State hasn’t lost since Oct. 7, a 35-27 loss at Boise State, and the Spartans blew a 27-7 halftime lead. But they did beat UNLV on its own field.
And what would have happened if the Mountain West used the same tiebreaking system as other leagues?
Check it:
Instead, after losing on its home field, UNLV will play host to Boise State this Saturday to determine the league champion.
League officials used the average of four rankings - Anderson & Hester, Colley Matrix, Massey, and Wolfe - to break the tie, and UNLV had a 44.50 computer average to secure one spot while Boise State checked in at 55.75 and San Jose State finished with a 58.50.
Only the Wolfe ranking system had SJSU ranked higher than Boise State.
San Jose State is still going to a bowl game, but some believe it should be in this weekend's championship.
The Mountain West, which abandoned divisions this season, couldn’t use the College Football Playoff rankings because none of the three teams are ranked. Head-to-head results became irrelevant because Boise State and UNLV did not meet this season.
But here are some other factors to consider: Both SJSU and Boise State had significantly stronger strength of schedules.
An analytical website, Team Rankings, ranked Boise State 70th and San Jose State 72nd in terms of strength of schedule.
Also on Team Rankings, its Luck Rating scale has UNLV ranked the 36th luckiest team in the nation, in terms of wins above expected, San Jose State 82nd, and Boise State 106th.
San Jose State hasn’t lost since Oct. 7, a 35-27 loss at Boise State, and the Spartans blew a 27-7 halftime lead. But they did beat UNLV on its own field.
And what would have happened if the Mountain West used the same tiebreaking system as other leagues?
Check it:
- AAC: Boise State at UNLV
- ACC: UNLV at Boise State
- Pac 12: UNLV at Boise State
- Big 12: UNLV at Boise State
So, yes, in every other FBS conference similar to the MWC, San Jose State would've been eliminated, but 75% of them would have Boise State hosting the championship.
I won't have a play on the game, but it is interesting the Broncos opened a road favorite in Las Vegas.
Are the oddsmakers - along with the other conference tiebreakers and Team Rankings - telling us something?
I won't have a play on the game, but it is interesting the Broncos opened a road favorite in Las Vegas.
Are the oddsmakers - along with the other conference tiebreakers and Team Rankings - telling us something?
