2017 NCAA NCSS Rankings: Week 9

We only have a few short weeks left before we get to Championship Weekend, but there are still plenty of non-conference games left to be played. As such, it's time to take a look at the schedule again.

Last week saw us settle into what the pecking order basically is in terms of this metric: the Group of Five conference at the top, then the Power Five below them. Of course, some things can change, and they will.

If you need a refresher on how this metric works, you can read that in my season introductory post. Let's look at the schedule!

1. MAC (0.00, 6.17; LW: 1). No change.
2. Sun Belt (0.17, 5.42; LW: 2). Appalachian State visits Massachusetts.
3. Mountain West (0.17, 5.25; LW: 4). San Jose State visits BYU.
4. Conference USA (0.00, 5.14; LW: 3). No change.
5. American Athletic (0.08, 4.25; LW: 5). UCF hosts FCS Austin Peay, Connecticut hosts Missouri.
6. Big Ten (0.00, 4.07; LW: 6). No change.
7. Big 12 (0.00, 3.60; LW: 7). No change.
8. Pac 12 (0.00, 3.08; LW: 8). No change.
9. ACC (0.14, 3.07; LW: 9). NC State visits Notre Dame.
10. SEC (0.14, 2.71; LW: 10). Missouri visits Connecticut.

To see the updated spreadsheet, click here.

Photo by Andrew Mascharka

Other than two conferences switching places, not much happens this week in terms of non-conference rankings. We did have our first FCS game in a couple weeks with Central Florida, but it's their first, so their place in the Death to the BCS Playoffs is secure, at least on that front. The exciting thing this week, at least from my perspective, is the return of MACtion with a pair of games on Thursday night.

The big matchup between non conference teams though is between a pair of squads in the latest mock Death to the BCS Playoffs bracket between Notre Dame and NC State. It's a boost to the Wolfpack's NCSS, but the independents raise their average NCSS to 13.25 with this and two other games. This is why I don't count independents in the NCSS rankings, but I at least try to make a mention of it.

The stage is now set. I'll be back on Monday with a look at the results, and then a fourth mock bracket will come later in the day.