USC Trojans Have Easiest Path to 12-0

Don’t overlook the Sooners’ Sep. 6 home date against Cincinnati, which has an All-American defensive back and a fast, aggressive defense.  (And perhaps even 18th-year post-doctorate quarterback Ben Mauk, who will qualify for AARP after this game.)

Games against Top 25 teams: 3.

5. Florida

The Gators start with Heisman winner Tim Tebow and really quick wideout Percy Harvin.  The defense is a question.  Schedule-wise, they get LSU at home and travel to Georgia (actually to Jacksonville).  They must also travel to No. 18 Tennessee.  I don’t expect Miami to come back this year, nor do I expect Kentucky to stick around after the exit of their star quarterback. 

Games agaisnt Top 25 teams: 3.

6. LSU

Lost your starting quarterback to graduation?  Lost your intended starter to knuckleheadedness?  No problem!  Crazy ol’ Les Miles might have his fifth-string, 17-year-old freshman quarterback chucking it long on fourth down in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.

To me, here’s the most fascinating game of the year: LSU hosts Appalachian State on Aug. 30.  Last year’s national champion versus last year’s national champion.  Intriguing!  After that, the Bayou Bengals must travel to Auburn and Florida before getting Georgia at home.  My guess is that LSU is out of the Top 10 by midseason.

Games against Top 25 teams: 3 (plus one against defending national champion Appalachian State.)

7. Mizzou

I don’t know why, but if you were to ask me which surprise team from last year—Kansas or Mizzou—is more real, I’d have to pick Mizzou.  Quarterback Chase Daniel and all-purpose man Jeremy Maclin, timed at 3.4 in the 40-yard-dash in street shoes, are a nice start.

On the schedule, the Tigers open at home versus a suddenly tough Illinois, which may end up being the hardest game on the schedule until the Big 12 title game, probably against Oklahoma.  Otherwise, the Tigers must get past Kansas at home and Texas on the road.

Games against Top 25 teams: 3.

8. WVU

The Mountaineers have a tougher-than-usual schedule this year, including home against Auburn (the coaches' No. 11) and on the road and at altitude against Colorado.  In conference, the Mountaineers have their two most important games at the end of the season, on the road against Pitt and at home (in December) against South Florida, which has beaten WVU the past two years (quarterback Pat White has only four losses on his college resume—two are from South Florida).  The Mountaineers should be favored in each game. West Virginia has the third-easiest path to an undefeated regular season.

Games against Top 25 teams: 2.

9. Clemson

The Tigers sit atop what looks like a weakish ACC, with only Virginia Tech likely to provide any competition—and that won’t be until the ACC title game.  It’s hard to imagine FSU making a program recovery until Jimbo Fisher takes over for the petrified and pickled Bobby Bowden, though Clemson must travel to Tallahassee to play the Seminoles.

Otherwise, it looks like only Virginia (shudder) and Georgia Tech (assuming they buy into Paul Johnson’s triple option wishbone, we broke our quarterback’s throwing arm just to make sure, run-based offense) have the best chance to serve up an upset dish of Tiger l’orange.

On the other hand, every year I expect Clemson to start 7-0, look unbeatable in one big TV game, then finish 8-4.  So why should this season be different?  Still, the Tigers have the second-easiest path to an undefeated regular season.

Games against Top 25 teams: zero.

10. Texas

Colt McCoy: I don’t trust him.  Mack Brown: I like him.  But I don’t think this is one of his best teams.  Combined with the schedule—at Oklahoma, home against Mizzou, at Texas Tech, and at Kansas—I think the Longhorns will be the first Top 10 team to exit the poll’s stratosphere.

Games against Top 25 teams: 4.

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