Who doesn't do a Top 25 these days? Well, I have been getting an itch for a football fix lately, so I broke down and made a Top 25 like everyone and their dog does, but why not?
It's always fun to speculate and make lists. Here's my Top 25 for Spring Football...
1. Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs absolutely dominated Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl and are now getting hype as the best team in America by many writers and I'm jumping on that bandwagon. The Bulldogs are loaded with QB Matt Stafford, RB Knowshon Moreno, who are both Heisman contenders. On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs are young but very quick and athletic with no seniors on the projected starting lineup going into the spring.
2. USC Trojans
Last year was a let down for the Trojans as they were predicted to be one of the best teams in the history of college football, but they failed to live up to the hype, as their play was lethargic in the first half of the season, resulting in losses to Stanford and Oregon.
The Trojans still won the Pac-10 outright and won the Rose Bowl in dominant fashion against Illinois. Just another ho-hum year in the land of Troy. Expect sophomore RB Joe McKnight with a full year of training with the program to establish himself as one of the best players in college football in 2008.
3. Oklahoma Sooners
WR Malcolm Kelly left for the NFL, but seniors Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson remain on an offense led by sophomore Sam Bradford. Bradford had one of the best seasons statistically as a freshman last year, so expect great production again with Bradford's entire offensive line returning, all of whom are seniors, most notably guard Duke Robinson.
4. Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns have a total of 12 starters returning from a team that won 10 games for their seventh straight season. The offense still looks loaded even with the losses of WR Limas Sweed and RB Jamaal Charles to the NFL. The Horns are ready to make a run in the difficult Big 12 South division and regain the top spot yet again.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
18 starters return on a team that lost in the National Championship game, but don't expect that to put the Buckeyes in a downward spiral. They will be even better and are the favorites in the Big Ten. Senior Todd Boeckman has a year as starter under his belt and the confidence is there. Chris "Beanie" Wells at tailback and LB James Laurinaitis anchoring the defense. Ohio State will yet again be around the top of the polls next season. And hey, they have Michigan in Columbus.
6. Arizona State Sun Devils
Last spring, I had ASU as one of the surprise teams in college football, and I even said they had a chance of starting 7-0 in their first seven games. That prediction came to fruition in Dennis Erickson's first year and the Sleeping Giant in the desert looks to use that national momentum they gained last season into a Pac-10 title, something that has eluded them since the Jake "The Snake" Plummer days back in 1996.
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