What the heck, I'll join the masses and issue a preseason top 25. USA Today/Coaches issued their preseason top 25 today with the usual suspects in the top 10. Florida's #1 with Texas, Oklahoma, USC and Bama in the Top 5.
Here is my top 25 with some color to go along with my picks:
1. Texas. Non-conference slate is a joke. The game is Oklahoma. I think they win. I think they play for the BCS Championship.
2. Penn State. Ditto Texas. Beat OSU in Happy Valley on Nov 7th, they'll play Texas for the title.
Not the two best teams in my opinion, just the two teams I think will end up playing for the title.
3. Florida. 18 returning starters for the defending champions. Nothing suggests a loss, especially with a soft non-conference slate, but a loss is in the schedule somewhere. Likely at LSU.
4. USC. I could care less who the QB will be, but the losses on D and the loss of both coordinators will cost them a game this year.
5. Oklahoma. Bradford and Co return for another year of offensive fireworks, but the D should be even better.
6. Virginia Tech. The defending ACC champs return a ton of talent. Get by Bama in the opener and Va Tech is a darkhorse team to play for the championship. Beamer and Foster are that good.
7. Ohio State. The D will be fine despite some of the losses. If the Oline improves, the young Buckeyes might climb the chart.
8. Ol Miss. Similar to Pa St, I think the Rebels are a good team. I have them ranked this high based on the schedule - very manageable.
9. Rutgers. Lots of talent return for Coach Schiano and they're schedule is also manageable. If they beat UC in week one, they might not lose a game.
10. Georgia. This may be too high for a team with a new QB and RB, but the D is loaded with talent. I think they get past Ok St in week one and cruise to a 2nd Pl SEC East finish.
11. Nebraska. Good nucleus returns for Coach Pelini's second year. Schedule is difficult, but they should be ok.
12. LSU. Perhaps I should pick LSU higher - the talent is there to be a Top 5 team. The schedule prevents me from picking them higher. At Ga, Bama and Ol Miss. That's tough.
13. TCU. Lost by 3 at Utah last year. I say the return the favor this year in Provo.
14. Michigan State. No Ohio State. Iowa and Pa St at home. Split these games and a third place Big Ten finish is likely.
15. Alabama. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm not sold on this team yet. They had a few close games last year that could have gone either way. I see two losses in their schedule.
16. Florida State. I'm basing this pick on Ponder alone. If he progresses the way most 2nd year starting QB's progress, the Seminoles have a legitimate shot at winning the ACC.
17. Cal. Coach Tedford returns a productive QB and a great RB and 8 on D. Enough said.
18. Boise State. Besides Oregon, I don't think there's a team on the schedule that can hang with the Broncos.
19. Georgia Tech. Paul Johnson's teams are always difficult to handle. With 18 returning starters, year two in system should equal success.
20. Iowa. This is a high pick. The Hawkeyes road schedule is tough. At PA St, OSU and Mich St and Wisky. 2-2 would be a miracle.
21. Oklahoma St. If thye play better D, this team could move up the ladder. Otherwise, there's at least three losses in this schedule.
22. UCLA. Year 2 under Neuheisel will go much better than year 1.
23. NC State. Tom O'Brien is a great coach and his team will build on last season's end of the year run.
24. Auburn. AU's D was pretty solid last year considering the O was pretty much non-existent. I think OC Malzahn gets the O headed in the right direction. The Tigers are a sleeper team. Schedule is tough though so 9 wins would be a success.
25. USF. Manageable schedule leads to a better season under Coach Leavitt.
That's the list.
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