College Football: My Preseason Top 25, Part 1

The Big 12 is easily the second-best conference this year. What may keep the Sooners from another BCS berth is a hiccup against Kansas, Texas Tech, or Texas.

While the schedule favors the Sooners (the aforementioned teams play them in Norman) my hunch says that the Red Raiders will stun the Sooners.

The conference strength of the SEC will probably keep a Big 12 team out of the championship game if an SEC team is No. 2 and a Big 12 team is No. 3 and they have the same record. Sorry, Big 12.

(Prediction: 12-1, Big Twelve Champ, Fiesta Bowl Berth)

 

4. USC (Athlon No. 4, Phil Steele No. 4, SI No. 3, ESPN No. 4)

Overview: Pete Carroll has a recruiting stranglehold in California. Not only has he already got the best QB for next year, Matt Barkley of Mater Dei in Santa Anna, California, that player may well be crowned the top recruit of the 2009 class.

However, herein lies the problem with USC. They are three-deep at every position of kids who would start anywhere else. What kind of team does that create?

Think of our past Dream Teams at the Olympics (Basketball, yes I know, just follow along for a minute). They always seem to be the most talented squad on the floor, but they either win the gold or go home based on how well they play as a team.

The first two Dream teams played well together, the second two… not so much. I feel like this team will not play well enough together to win it all. Will I be surprised if they do? Not in the least.

There is no reason to go through their lineup. They are deep. Trust me.

Opponents: More like opponent. Ohio State. September 13. The media says that the winner of this game is going to be in the National Championship game. And I think they are right.

Besides this gargantuan game, if they hold together, I think they could run the table. Visits to Virgina and UCLA and hosting Oregon, Cal and Arizona State could provide upset potential.

In my heart of hearts (I will be rooting for them over Ohio State) I think Ohio State will win, even though they are playing at the Coliseum.

Both teams have fantastic talent, but I think Ohio State is a more cohesive team and wants the win more. They have more to prove.

(Prediction: 11-1, Pac-10 Champ, Rose Parade Berth)

 

5. Texas Tech (Athlon No. 18, Phil Steele No. 11, SI No. 8, ESPN No. 8)

Overview: If Texas Tech is ever going to go to a BCS Bowl, this is their year and they know it. Graham Harrell is a legitimate contender for the Heisman and is the best pocket passer in the country, whether that is because the Texas Tech system makes it so irrelevant until NFL draft day or not.

Michael Crabtree, another (sophomore) Heisman candidate, will also lead the Red Raiders catching passes. They return ten starters on offense (ranked No. 2 overall in the country last year) and eight on defense.

Will their defense hold up? I think so. Texas Tech quietly led the Big 12 in defense over their last eight games last year after the debacle at Oklahoma State. They also showed poise in the Gator Bowl by coming back late and beating the best Virginia team of the last few years.

Opponents: This is where the Red Raiders have the opportunity to do very well. They have a cupcake September schedule—E. Washington, at Nevada, SMU and UMass—and they pull Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma State and Baylor at home.

I still think they will lose to Oklahoma. Their road visits include Kansas State, (a not very good) Texas A&M, and Kansas. I think they will beat Kansas, mostly because I believe that Kansas will not score enough points to win.

Look for Texas Tech to attack Kansas corner Kendrick Harper and free safety Justin Thornton, who will probably not live up to their predecessors. Could this game go the other way? Sure. But the smart money is on Texas Tech.

(Prediction: 11-1, BCS at large berth)

 

Next: My picks No. 6 through No. 10

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