My Top 25 Pre-Preseason rankings

[armchairqb]

1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. LSU
4. Michigan
5. Virginia Tech
6. Georgia
7. Clemson
8. Wisconsin
9. Arkansas
10. Kansas State
11. Oregon
12. West Virginia
13. Oklahoma State
14. Florida State
15. Missouri
16. Utah
17. Nebraska
18. Boise State
19. Ohio State
20. Michigan State
21. Stanford
22. Central Florida
23. North Carolina
24. SMU
25. Northern Illinois



I believe Arkansas could still have a monster season since they still have winnable matchups at home against Alabama and LSU. The talent is definitely there; let's see how things go in the John L. Smith regime.

Michigan State's D could be quite good, but much is to be clarified with the offense.

I believe Mizzou is well prepared to handle the SEC East after facing a Big 12 buzzsaw last season.

Kansas State hasn't lost much talent from last year and the old coach still has it.

[billybud]

I'll have to think on my 25...

...I believe that Texas will be back. The Longhorn defense will be the best in the Big12 and Ash and McCoy will give Texas better QB play this year.
...FSU will have maybe the best defense in the country this year...and a winnable schedule.
...OK State lost some big guns..will they reload?
...UCF will win a bunch of games on their schedule

[donovan]

My prediction is that with this conference shuffling, win loss records will become less and less important and the arbitrary SOS will be given disproportionate weighting by the computer polls and the voters polls. This will make the BCS askew so in the end, we will ;have the same top ten schools with more losses than normal, some undefeated schools in the lower top 25. Too early to be cynical...nope...when so much money is involved the results must be controlled and as PT Barnum said, Never bet against the gullibility of mankind....no, I am not sure he said that, but if he didn't, he should have.

As for the West Coast; USC will be in the news until they get beat twice, fairly early on. Oregon will falter early. Washington may be a sneaker in. Utah will wished they had stayed with their own kind. California will be all right. The winner of the PAC 47 will have two losses, and token representation in the Bowl Cartel Series.

As for a substantive report....I gave up on that long ago. Oh, Boise has sold their soul, they are spending money like a hooker paid for by a drunken sailor. Latest, a million dollar grant for a Lounge for recruits.......As for their football record....will have one loss from some unknown team. Southwick, the apparent QB, has a good arm. Freshman Patti has a great arm. Hedrick is field savy, but did not look so good in the Spring......They have reloaded well, just think their are out of their league...or are they even in a league?

[Spence]

Ohio State will finish 120th.

[billybud]

Probably HL Mencken that you are thinking of Donovan...

No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.

[donovan]

Probably HL Mencken that you are thinking of Donovan...

No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.

That is why I am part of the masses of which he speaks...

[Vileborg]

I wouldn't count out either USC. I'd expect we'll see more out of the west coast version but still wouldn't count out either.

[Dossenator]

I wouldn't count out either USC. I'd expect we'll see more out of the west coast version but still wouldn't count out either.

That is said about South Carolina every year. Never understand the love they get every year. It must be because Spurrier is their coach. I guess if we say it enough that one of these days it will come true. I say Arkansas beats them for a 6th straight time this year. However, SC will again start the season ranked well above Arkansas...like they do every year...and sometimes even after Arkansas beats them. Just crazy!

[Swamp Daddy]

After a decade of under performing, will Notre Dame actually do something this year to regain past lustre?

Swamp Daddy,

[armchairqb]

It should be a very interesting Big 12 this year...except for Baylor.

I didn't get to watch Zach Mettenberger at QB in the minimal playing time he had at LSU last season, so I don't know what to make of him aside from the hype. Their defense should be a monster this year and if Mettenberger is their modern day Matt Mauck or Matt Flynn, then it's a really good year for the Tigers.

[billybud]

Kansas? They sucked mightily last year in their 2-10 quest for medioctity.

In four years, Kansas went from a 12 win team to a 2 win team...will they hit .500?

[Eric]

Kansas? They sucked mightily last year in their 2-10 quest for medioctity.

In four years, Kansas went from a 12 win team to a 2 win team...will they hit .500?

I think Charlie Weis may be one of the more interesting coaching turnovers. I don't know if I like them to go bowling, but they play South Dakota State, Rice, and Northern Illinois (who is rebuilding this year). Those are most likely three wins there.

[armchairqb]

I'm certainly am reconsidering ND and USC. I could see both teams being 9-3, I just don't see them living up to BCS bowl hype.

[Eric]

USC should be in the top 5 at least though. Matt Barkley is back with those weapons on offense. I think, as much of a stooge as Lane Kiffin might be, they could find themselves in the national title game (probably 12-1 would be good enough to get in). Here's what I'm leaning towards for the record:

1. USC
2. Oklahoma
3. LSU
4. Alabama
5. Oregon
6. Arkansas
7. Georgia
8. Oklahoma State
9. Florida State
10. Stanford
11. West Virginia
12. Wisconsin
13. Virginia Tech
14. Texas
15. Michigan
16. Clemson
17. South Carolina
18. Florida
19. Michigan State
20. Auburn
21. Ohio State
22. Notre Dame
23. TCU
24. Tennessee
25. Iowa

As for end of season, I think Iowa will wind up higher since I have them winning the division in the Big 10. I think Tennessee will wrap up the season with a strong 8-4, so they could be a top 15 team by the end of the year. South Carolina is ranked higher in most polls relative to where I have them, but I'm not buying it this year. I think they'll be 7-5 or something. I had Boise State on the fringe, but they should be ranked by the end of the season. For other non-BCS teams that could crack it, I think Toledo might end the season near the back of the top 25 if they finish with two losses or fewer and I think if SMU can upset Baylor, Texas A&M, or TCU in addition to rolling through the C-USA schedule, they should also break into the top 25.

[Dossenator]

Eric...I love seeing Arkansas #6 on your poll and ranked high in the polls of other people. But then I see Bama and LSU and remember how ridiculously hard the SEC West is.