(Photo by Jeff Golden/Getty Images)
Special thanks goes to Ryan Faller, whose top 25 of a similar nature inspired me to post mine written a few weeks ago on a personal blog site.
The students are back on campus, bars are full once again, and soon stadiums across the country, whether they hold 10,000 or 100,000, will be inundated with tailgaters on the outside, and screaming ticket holders on the inside. Streets will be closed, car flags will fly on the windows, and the sweet combination of the smell of all manner of tailgating fare and alcohol will grace the air. What an atmosphere!
At this time of year, every college town has promise. Every team starts undefeated. Every fan teems with optimism.
But whose optimism is unfounded? Is ESPN hyping up the wrong teams? Join me as I dive through ESPN's Preseason Top 25 teams, highlighting whether I think they are placed correctly (should be higher/lower), some upcoming big games for each, and their regular season record. Remember it's just my opinion. It's what makes college football so much fun to follow, right?
1. Florida
Right where they belong
The Gators are circling the calendars for: Tennessee (because of Lane Kiffin), @LSU, Georgia (@ Jacksonville), Florida State
Don't overlook: Troy (you laugh now...), @Kentucky, Arkansas
Prediction: 11-1 (@ LSU)
2. Texas
A couple of spots too high, but definitely top 5.
The Horns are circling the calendars for: Texas Tech (the one game that stopped them from reaching the conference championship), OU (obviously), @ Oklahoma State (twice the Pokes have led Texas at half only to have Texas come back. Will it happen again?)
Don't overlook: @ Wyoming (maybe the altitude gets to them), @Missouri (I have a hunch Missouri isn't as bad off as people think), Kansas (One thing about winning the Orange Bowl: it brings recruits for the next couple years)
Prediction: 10-2 (OU (yeah, I'm a homer with this one), @ Oklahoma State)
3. Oklahoma
A few spots too high, but definitely top 10.
The Sooners are circling the calendars for: BYU (in Arlington), @Miami, Texas (obviously), @Nebraska, Oklahoma State (Bedlam)
Don't overlook: @Kansas, @Texas Tech
Prediction: 9-3 (@Miami, @Nebraska, @Texas Tech)
4. Southern California
A few spots too high, but definitely top 10.
The Trojans are circling the calendars for: @Ohio State (and as a football fan, pray it's a better game than last year's blowout in L.A.), @California, @Oregon, and sure, @Notre Dame
Don't overlook: @Washington (you laugh, but Sarkasian coached for the Trojans last year), Stanford, Arizona
Prediction: 10-2 (@Ohio State, @Oregon (USC finally loses to a high-caliber conference foe))
5. Alabama
A few spots too high, but definitely top 10.
The Tide are circling their calendars for: Virginia Tech (@ Atlanta), @Ole Miss, LSU
Don't overlook: Arkansas, @Kentucky (they played the Tide tough in Tuscaloosa last year), @Auburn (no doubt Bama will be ready for the Iron Bowl, but Auburn will play their best against their hated rival)
Prediction: 9-3 (Virginia Tech, @Ole Miss, LSU)
(Again, the Tide's record was predicted before that Darrell Evans' injury.)
6. Ohio State
Based on predicted record, maybe a little low. Think this is a fair ranking for the Buckeyes as if they prove they are back to prominence they can move up, but they aren't too high in the rankings to start with.
The Buckeyes are circling their calendars for: USC, @Penn State, Iowa, @Michigan
Don't overlook: Illinois, Minnesota
Prediction: 11-1 (@Penn State)
7. Virginia Tech
About right, maybe a little low.
Update: They lost their starting RB for the season, but since injuries happen and I predicted their record before that, I'll stick to it. Don't be surprised if they lose more than two games now, particularly their matchup with Alabama.
The Hokies are circling their calendars for: Alabama (@ Atlanta), Nebraska, Miami, @Georgia Tech
Don't overlook: Marshall, Boston College, North Carolina, @East Carolina, @Maryland, NC State, @Virginia (that's the balanced ACC for ya)
Prediction: 10-2 (@Georgia Tech, @Maryland)
8. Penn State
A few spots too low.
The Nittany Lions are circling their calendars for: Iowa (trendy breakout pick for the Big Ten), Ohio State, @Michigan
Don't overlook: @Illinois, @Northwestern, @Michigan State
Prediction: 11-1 (@Illinois)
9. LSU
A few spots too low.
The Tigers are circling their calendars for: @Georgia, Florida, @Alabama, @Ole Miss
Don't overlook: Vanderbilt, Auburn, Arkansas
Prediction: 11-1 (@Ole Miss)
10. Ole Miss (Mississippi)
A few spots too low. Yep, I'm drinking the Rebel Kool-Aid.
The Rebels are circling their calendars for: Alabama, LSU
Don't overlook: @South Carolina, @Vanderbilt, Arkansas (The Nutt Bowl), @Mississippi State (The Egg Bowl)
Prediction: 11-1 (Arkansas)
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