Coaches Preseason Poll Surprises

The USA Today Coaches Top 25 preseason poll was released on August 6^th, and as expected, defending champion Alabama sits at number one receiving 55 first place votes.  Rounding out the top five are Ohio State, Florida, Texas and Boise State.

Top Five Surprises

Alabama at number one is probably by default since no other team is a clear favorite.  If the Crimson Tide repeats, it would be nothing short of a miracle considering they return just two starters on defense.  Helping the cause is the return of Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and quarterback Greg McElroy, but no team wins the SEC without a top ranked defense.  The Tide will lose a game or two as Saban reloads his defense this season.

Florida at 3rd.  The Gators certainly have the talent on the roster to be great, but even HC Urban Meyer might say it is a stretch to place Florida this high after losing Tim Tebow, Joe Hayden, Riley Cooper, Aaron Hernandez, Maurkice Pouncey, Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap and Major Wright.  They also lost DC Charlie Strong.  If Florida wins ten games, Meyer should be considered Coach of the Year.

Miami, Fl at 13^th.  With 13 returning starters, including QB Jacory Harris, the Hurricanes will likely be better this year.  Their record may not reflect it though.  Miami’s early schedule is brutal playing at #2 Ohio State, #15 Pittsburgh and Clemson and then returning home to play in-state rival #20 Florida State.  The Hurricanes do not get a break considering they also play #6 Va Tech, #17 Ga Tech and #18 North Carolina and finish the regular season against South Florida.

Iowa at 10th.  The Hawkeyes finished #7 last year after going 11-2 and winning the Orange Bowl.  They return all of their key players including Ricky Stanzi, Adam Robinson, Adrian Clayborn and Brett Greenwood.  Iowa also plays Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State at home.  It is possible that the coaches remember the Hawkeyes playing better on the road last year than at home.  Regardless, HC Ferentz has a championship caliber team that will likely be undefeated when the Buckeyes roll into Kinnick on November 20^th.

West Virginia at 24^th.  The Mountaineers are loaded returning 16 starters from a squad that finished 9-4 last season.  They are breaking in a new quarterback, but the offense will be productive with the return of Noel Divine who rushed for almost 1600 yards in 2009.  The defense should be the best in the Big East.  If WVU can sneak out a win at LSU on September 25^th, they could be a darkhorse for the BCS title game.