RELATED: ESPN picks against Clemson for 2016 ACC title
Oh Football Power Index... how we lament you.
ESPN released win-loss projections on Thursday for the upcoming 2016 season, with the projections being based off of the Football Power Index (FPI) algorithm. As we at FanBuzz have made note of before, the FPI can cause some wacky projections, as this time is no different, as ESPN has Alabama with the 17th best win-loss record in 2016.
Yes, 17th. You read that right. Take a look.
While Alabama ranks sixth in actual FPI, the statistic likes LSU and Tennessee so much that they have the Crimson Tide averaging under nine wins for the season. Less than nine! Obviously bowl games, which aren't projected here, make a difference, but consider this: Alabama hasn't won less than 10 games since the 2007 season. Projecting them under nine — human or computer — is definitely bold and head-scratching.
Potentially as big of a surprise here is that Ohio State joins the Crimson Tide around the same spot on the list. As we have seen from the Vegas odds, most people have Alabama and Ohio State at the top of their odds to win the national title in 2016. FPI grading them out to such low levels — by the standards are these two schools, at least — is pretty shocking.
Among other surprises, ESPN is giving Michigan the best odds to win the Big Ten. We are sure that Buckeye fans will absolutely LOVE that one.
[h/t College Spun]
