Some college football fans consider any rankings not provided by the AP and USA Today Coaches as 'other' polls. The ones I suggest Alabama fans consider are not just 'other' rankings. They are computer algorithms provided by Bill Connelly, Kenneth Massey, Jeff Sagarin, and Brian Fremeau. All four provide weekly rankings and predictions.
As a starting point, Alabama moved up one spot in the AP Poll to No. 12 and dropped one spot in the Coaches Poll to No. 12.
Alabama Computer Rankings and Predictions
- Bill Connelly's SP+ - Connelly's algorithm ranks Alabama No. 11, his sixth-highest-ranked SEC team. The model's probability of the Crimson Tide beating Kentucky is 71%, with a projected score of Alabama 28 - Kentucky 19. SEC teams ranked above Alabama are: No.2 Georgia; No. 4 Texas; No. 8 Texas A&M; No. 9 LSU; and No.10 Oklahoma. Mississippi State moved up 13 spots in the SP+ to No. 35; Kentucky moved up nine spots to No. 39; South Carolina moved up six spots to No. 19. Auburn dropped 16 spots to No. 43. ESPN's other analytics source, the FPI, gives Alabama an 84.6% probability of beating the Wildcats.
- Kenneth Massey and Jeff Sagarin have Alabama winning in Lexington. Sagarin gives the Tide a 62% probability of winning and projects a score of Alabama 31 - Kentucky 27. Massey's model has been consistently bullish on Alabama for months. Massey gives Alabama an 80 % probability of winning, with a projected score of Alabama 31 - Kentucky 27.
- Sagarin's ranking also rates Alabama as the SEC's sixth-best team, ranked No. 11. Above the Crimson Tide are No. 2 Texas, No. 4 LSU, No. 7 Georgia, No. 9 Texas A&M, and No. 10 Oklahoma. Massey has Alabama as the SEC's third-best team at No. 7; Ole Miss at No. 5, Georgia at No. 6, and Texas at No. 7. Texas A&M, LSU, and Oklahoma are ranked No. 12, No. 13, and No. 14, respectively.
Don't like or strongly disagree with the computers? Be patient; they will frequently change and become more accurate in October.
Note: This post will be updated after Brian Fremeau's FEI rankings and game predictions are published.
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