Rpi

[Da Coach]

Yes, I know it's early.
Only a few games have been played, many more scheduled tonight.

Here is the first RPI ranking.--

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html

A couple quirks of the RPI formula- SIU is 2-0, but one of their wins, over California of Pennsylvania (DII) doesn't count. So for RPI purposes, they are 1-0. But they still are ranked 11th in RPI, behind apparently every other team that has played any games. Even behind Prairie View A&M and Presbyterian, who are both 0-2! It has to be because of their 203 Strength of Schedule, but I don't know how they determined that.

One other quirk- note that UMass is ranked #48, behind 36 teams that haven't played any games yet. Strange.
Bradley is #215, the MVC is 11th among conferences.

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_conf_Men.html

[Disturbed]

WIU at 143. Mo already has this thing turned around.

[MacabreMob]

Quirky. And early.

But you need to rely on the best source for the rpi and that is Jerry Palm and his site:

www.collegerpi.com

SIU's RPI and SOS are 11th.
UMass is 12th along with everyone else who hasn't played a game (which includes Bradley and WIU).

Conference ranks aren't up yet as well as SOS - I suspect it will all get going after this weekend.

Here is Palm's definition for SOS:
"It's 2/3 opponents' winning percentage and 1/3 opponents' opponents' winning percentage, the same ratio as in the RPI formula."

[tornado]

The Valley is already at the #5 spot in RPI rank.

[Da Coach]

Not according to RealTimeRPI.com--
The MVC is 11th

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_conf_Men.html

[tornado]

baloney-- the Valley is undefeated

[mike radigan]

But you need to rely on the best source for the rpi and that is Jerry Palm...

Based on what? I disagree completely. We have this argument every season. My choice is Sagarin, especially early in the season.

Click here for conference ranking. MVC is 7th.

Click here for team ranking. Bradley is 69th.

[amckillip]

I have found that RealTime is statistically the most accurate, Palm I believe curves his in the early season, which is not correct. The problem with RPI early is that the sample size is too small to make an effective predicition. Never-the-less RealTime is the way to go for actual RPI.

[mike radigan]

One could argue all day on which is more statistically correct. Sagarin does base his early season rankings partially on last season. Cut and paste from his site:

For the first few weeks of the season, the starting ratings have weight
in the process(BAYESIAN), but once the teams are all WELL CONNECTED, then
the starting ratings are no longer used and all teams are started equal
and the ratings are then done in an UNBIASED manner from that point on.
The teams are now UN-CONNECTED and so the ratings are BAYESIAN.

Also, I know the selection committee asks for his input. I cannot say the same for the other two. I'm not saying they aren't asked, just that I don't know.

Also, I know that Sagarin is part of the official BCS selection process in football and the other two are not. I'm not really sure they even do football though.

From the BCS site: Click here.

Six computer rankings will be used: Jeff Sagarin, Anderson & Hester, Richard Billingsley, Colley Matrix, Kenneth Massey and Dr. Peter Wolfe. Points will be assigned in inverse order of ranking from 1-25. A team's highest and lowest computer ranking will be discarded in calculating its computer rankings average. The four remaining computer scores will be averaged and the total will be calculated as a percentage of 100.

[MacabreMob]

But you need to rely on the best source for the rpi and that is Jerry Palm

Based on what? I disagree completely. We have this argument every season. My choice is Sagarin, especially early in the season.

Click here for conference ranking. MVC is 7th.

Click here for team ranking. Bradley is 69th.

Mike - I like Sagarin's Rating as well. I am saying for the RPI, Palm is the best. Clearly, Sagarin is best for the Sagarin Rating.

[MacabreMob]

I have found that RealTime is statistically the most accurate, Palm I believe curves his in the early season, which is not correct. The problem with RPI early is that the sample size is too small to make an effective predicition. Never-the-less RealTime is the way to go for actual RPI.

I am not sure what you mean by Palm curving his.

He plainly states he has the formula from the NCAA and computes the formula.

Inconsistencies arise between sites showing RPI's because they aren't calculating the formula correctly. This occurs when a Neutral floor game gets counted differently by different sites. Palm double checks with the NCAA in determining whether a game is a Home or Neutral or Road game. Realtime doesn't always get them right.