College Football 2008: Top Five Disappointments

Every season teams start with high hopes, only to get their bubbles burst, falling short of expectations or dealing with heartbreaking losses.

Well, I'm here to burst a few bubbles early.

Based on some of the polls I've read (ESPN, Rivals, Lindy's, Sporting News), I'll give my pick for the top five most disappointing college football teams of 2008.

Take notice that some of these teams will have decent years, but compared to their expectations right now, their seasons will fall very short.

For a perennial title contender, 7 to 8 wins is absolutely disappointing.

#5. Florida State Seminoles-

I've read some publications that have this team in the top 25.

Um, what?

What would give anybody any indication that this squad will be one of the best 25 this season?

Is it the phenomenal play of Drew Weatherford, who has never been the player people hoped for? Is it the numerous suspensions that the team has handed out as a result of the academic scandal from last winter? How about the lack of star power?

I understand that this is a down year in the ACC, but I see no reason to believe that Bobby Bowden can improve on last year's 7-6 mark. For a school that is a shadow of its former self, this season will be embarassing for a once proud program.

If 'Noles fans really think their team will qualify for a decent bowl, they are sadly mistaken.

#4. Arizona State Sun Devils-

Dennis Erickson helped this team to be one of the best stories of 2007, but the run stops here. For a team that is projected around the top ten in many lists I've read, I'm surprised that nobody is predicting a sophomore slump in Erickson's campaign at ASU.

Rudy Carpenter, who is already notorious for holding on to the ball too long, will have even more problems behind a line that returns only two starters.  And  staying healthy behind said line could be an issue as well.

Plus, this team will have a much harder schedule. As opposed to a relatively light load in '07, this year's version plays home games against Georgia, Oregon, and UCLA; with road games against Cal, USC, and rival Arizona. That's six potential tough matchups right there.

No doubt this team will be a respectable Pac-10 squad, to the tune of seven or eight wins and a decent bowl, but second in the Pac-10 and a top 15 finish is definitely not in my crystal ball.

#3. Michigan Wolverines-

This is a team that is used to contending for a Big 10 title and national championship, so this transition year into the Rich Rodriguez reign will definitely fall short of what "Big Blue" fans are used to.

They have almost no carryover from the Lloyd Carr era. Only three starters on offense return, and with a new, complicated system to learn, the spread offense might take years to get running.

Nine starters on D are coming back to Ann Arbor, but the D was the main problem last season in the games they lost. They might improve, but probably won't be able to carry the load for an offense that won't put up consistent numbers.

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