if the recruit rankings are the reasons some teams get the benefit of a doubt and others do not, don't you think it may be something to look into? Just accepting the status quo without testing it doesn't seem smart or helpful. If the ranking systems show their process, then this may be nothing.

Note: Being a contrarian doesn't make you right, just as going with the CB flow doesn't. I think you do it because it makes you feel 'smarter' than the rest of the crowd.