Information in Gupta Power Ratings listings

The primary purpose for the Gupta Power Ratings is to produce an ordered list of teams based on a derived number of rating points. Each listing contains a ranking, team name, team's rating points, records and winning rate followed by opponent's combined rating points, records and winning rates. A recent sample follows:
 Gupta Power Ratings for college football                     November 13, 1995

     Team Name              Points   Team     W-L-T   Points   Opponents  W-L-T

  1. Nebraska               354.14  10  0  0  1.000   220.57  51  38   1  0.572
  2. Florida                327.21   9  0  0  1.000   217.92  42  35   2  0.544
  3. Ohio State             303.07  10  0  0  1.000   224.13  44  37   3  0.542
  4. Tennessee              295.05   8  1  0  0.889   225.75  51  28   1  0.644
  5. Florida State          287.54   8  1  0  0.889   207.30  36  36   0  0.500
Teams included:
All Division I-A teams and all their games are included in these ratings. Games against opponents outside of division I-A are also included and these teams are considered based only on their I-A records (usually only a game or two) and not included in the ratings.
Team Points and W-L-T fields:
The W-L-T fields are simply the team's record this season to date and its winning rate (ties count .5 win, .5 lost). Points are determined by the Gupta Power Ratings algorithm are dependent upon team and opponent's winning rates, game scores and sites. For more information check: Basic algorithmic information.
Opponents Points and W-L-T fields:
The W-L-T fields are the sum of the opponents individual records minus the games played against that team . This adjustment to the opponent's record prevents a team's good record against their opponents from counting against them (or vice versa). The Points column is roughly an average of the ratings points of all opponents played by a team, though some weighting modification is done so that it is not simply a sum divided by games played. Once again, for more information check: Basic algorithmic information.
What do the ratings points mean?:
The ratings points are an arbitrary number generated by the algorithm with no inherent meaning. Roughly speaking, a rating of over 330 indicates a team that has overpowered all its opponents in a given season. A team with a 300 ratings most likely has beaten all but the best team, probably only losing on the road, possibly undefeated. Bowl teams are generally rated over 200, with average teams ranging from 160 to 200. Only the real dogs in a given season will drop below 100.
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