We'd never look to Sports Illustrated to illuminate us on handicapping and sports betting. With their featured articles less relevant than ever in a world with Fox Sports, ESPN and even thier own CNN/SI this one stuck as insightful albeit not for the reason they intended.

What does public perception play on the betting line in ealry season football? How do all the expert polls and media rankings make it possible for you to get andvantage? Well, below maybe the kernel of the wagering illumination or as they say - the games on played on the field not on paper.

So what's the point? If polls are the criteria for which the general public weighs the talent of a team and form part of the evaluation the linemaker uses as he sets the odds, then we have an opportunity to identiify the underrated and overrated teams and make some money.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Who's getting too much of it? Too little of it?
Sunday May 27, 2001 6:12 PM


Most Overrated
Team                '00  '99  '98  '97  '96    TOTAL
 1. USC             -11   -7   --   -4  -19    -41
 2. Colorado         -2  -11   --  -18   -3    -34
 3. Penn State       -4   -8   -4  -15   +4    -27
 3. Texas            -5   -4  +11  -14  -15    -27
 5. Notre Dame      +11   -8    0  -15  -13    -25
 6. Ohio State      -10  -17   -1   -3   +7    -24
 7. Tennessee       -14   -7   +9   -2   -7    -21
 8. Nebraska         -7   +3  -15   +4   -5    -20
 8. Texas A&M        --  -16   +3   +6  -13    -20
10. Alabama         -23  +12   --  -11   +4    -18
11. Florida          -1   -7   -2   -2   +3     -9
11. LSU              +4   --  -17   -3   +7     -9
11. Miami            +3   -3   +6  -13   -2     -9
14. Virginia         --   -2   -2   --   -3     -7




Most Underrated
Team                '00  '99  '98  '97  '96    TOTAL
 1. Kansas State     -1  +14   -4  +15   +4    +28
 2. Oregon          +19   +7   --   --   --    +26
 3. Virginia Tech    +5  +11   +3   --   +3    +22
 4. Georgia Tech     +9   -9  +17   +1   --    +18
 5. Arkansas         --   +5  +10   --   --    +15
 5. Mississippi St.  +2  +13   --   --   --    +15
 7. Michigan State   -1  +19   -3   -1   --    +14
 8. Purdue           +1   -2   +2  +11   --    +12
 9. Southern Miss    -3  +12   -5   +7   --    +11
10. Colorado State  +12   --  -11   +9   --    +10
10. UCLA             --  -10   -1  +21   --    +10
12. Arizona State    --   -1  -18  +12  +16     +9
12. Georgia         -10   -2   +5  +16   --     +9



In Between
Team              '00  '99  '98  '97  '96       TOTAL
Auburn             +8   --   -1   +5   -7       +5
Mississippi        -8   +4   --   +4   --        0
Wisconsin         -19   +6  +14   -2   --       -1
Arizona            --  -22  +20   --   --       -2
Michigan           -5   +3   -7  +13   -6       -2
Washington        +10   --   -8  -14  +10       -2
Illinois           -5   +2   --   --   --       -3
Florida State      -3    0   -1    0    0       -4
Clemson            +1   --   --   -6   -1       -6