Why do people play online ranked games versus random people?

Please enlighten me. Not being sarcastic at all I just can't see why people do it. Maybe somebody will pop in here and give me a reason I understand.

[houstonsouth]

To play different styles.

When I play my friends I sort of know what to expect. When I play somebody I never met before I have to be on my toes. Takes me about a half to figure them out....then it's on.

[secballers]

I want to see how quickly I can adjust my game plan on the fly without knowing the opponents tendencies. I'd say half of the time I get cheesed and if I get a lead I am afraid the other person will disconnect glitch so I let up a bit. I have more fun against human intelligence rather than AI.

[CcAaRrSsOoNn3]

To see how I match up against the best out there.

I am better then all of my friends at any football game on the 360. It gets old winning big to the point they wont play.

It's actually nice to lose a few games and keep myself honest.

When you don't play a cheeser and lose, makes you want to play harder

[boston85]

It's fun until you run into a cheeser. Then its just BS.

So the bottom line is: I want to be the best NCAA player?

[Lerxt]

I do it because I am 36, have a wife and kid (another on the way...), and don't have a lot of time to set up games with people I know. Plus, not many of my friends still play video games (losers...).

[Solidice]

my first and last online ranked games on NCAA was with NCAA '05 on xbox. played 3 games and it wasn't fun. 1 game was straight up, the other 2 featured what most people would call "cheese". whether it was "cheese" or not wasn't the problem, it just wasn't fun football. I didn't feel like I accomplished anything if i won or lost anything if i lost. (FWIW i went 2-1 in those 3 games)

thankfully '09 brought Online Dynasty so now winning and losing means something if i play a human opponent as it impacts your season.