Preseason College Football Rankings 2011: Buy or Sell on All 25 Teams

Can you feel it?

Like a wide receiver feels the presence of the opposing safety, about to deliver a bone-crushing hit, we can almost feel the college football season upon us.

That being said, who do you feel is for real?

Will Ohio State rebound?

Will Boise State reach the title game?

Is Notre Dame really that good?

Is Lou Holtz done spitting yet?

OK, not the last one, but the rest of these questions are answered here, along with many more.

Which teams are solid choices to make some noise, and which ones are just hype?

You will find it all sorted out here...

25. Penn State Nittany Lions

Sell

While the Nittany Lions gain another year of experience, that does not automatically translate into success.

Hence, a secondary that was atrocious at times last season may end up being mediocre this season.

Silas Redd will be a force running the ball, but the turmoil surrounding the quarterback position is really scary.

Also, keep in mind the Lions end the season at Ohio State and Wisconsin in back-to-back weeks.

24. Missouri Tigers

Buy

Buy their stock and buy all you can get your grubby little fingers on.

The Tigers are going to make a run at a BCS game.

The Big 12 is going to be remarkably competitive this season, but the Tigers have experienced guys who produce returning all over the field.

Asking them to beat Oklahoma again may be too much, but a one-loss season is not out of the question with a few breaks going their way.

23. Miami Hurricanes

Sell

The time has come to make a final decision regarding the 'Canes' quarterback position.

This one could really go either way, so to be safe, sell.

Jacory Harris, as one reader put it, "throws more pickles than Vlasic."

Now if you believe Harris has solved his accuracy issues, the Hurricanes might be a Top 10 team.

However, even surrounded by all that talent, if he plays like he has historically, he will single-handedly lose at least two games for Miami.

22. Michigan State Spartans

Sell

Sell the Spartans, and sell them hard.

They have a ton of talent on offense, and one of the most dangerous return men in the game.

The problem lies on the defensive side of the ball, and with the schedule.

The secondary is going to be the weakest it has been in a while, and even with the talent of Jerel Worthy up front, the front seven still has some questions.

The Spartans have yet to earn that one signature road win during Mark Dantonio's tenure, and we all remember what happened last season in Iowa City, right?

Road trips to Notre Dame, Nebraska, Ohio State, Iowa and Northwestern are just too much for the Spartans.

21. USC Trojans

Sell

Kinda obvious, isn't it?

While Matt Barkley and the Trojan offense will be explosive, they are extremely young at many positions, especially defensively.

Of course, they can't play in the postseason, so who wants to buy anyway...

20. Ohio State Buckeyes

Sell

Really?

Do we even need an explanation here?

All that bologna about the talent remaining at OSU being enough to take the Big Ten again is crap.

Sure they have plenty of talent, but Pryor and Tressel are not just two guys who can be replaced by interchangeable pieces.

And then there is that whole suspension thing.

Five games is a long time...

15. Arizona State Sun Devils

Buy

As anonymous as the Devils have been over the last few years, it's about time they finally make some noise in the Pac-12.

Quarterback Brock Osweiler is the key to their success within the conference.

The defense is speedy, and has enough playmakers to cause trouble for even Oregon's sophisticated offense.

Experienced running backs join Osweiler in the backfield, and his height should allow for a more wide open offense than we have seen recently from the Devils.

19. Georgia Bulldogs

Sell

Give me one solid reason to buy the Dawgs...

I don't want to hear Mark Richt or running back potential, as neither of those things have panned out in recent seasons.

Aaron Murray should be the one bright spot in the otherwise gloomy world of Georgia football, but without Kris Durham and A.J. Green, will he be as effective?

Questions along the O-line, a shaky defense...Richt's job is in trouble.

18. West Virginia Mountaineers

Sell

Simply because they are in the Big East.

LSU will mop the floor with them.

The Mountaineers have a versatile signal-caller in Geno Smith, and an offensive wizard in new coach Dana Holgorsen, but not enough talent to win a BCS game.

So, if you are buying based on the regular season, take them; they will win the Big East going away.

If you are hoping for postseason success, just don't do it.

17. TCU Horned Frogs

Sell

The Horned Frogs are going to suffer at least two losses this season.

You don't lose a star quarterback and two offensive linemen of that caliber, and just expect production to be what it was.

Baylor will present an interesting challenge in the opener, the Frogs always lose at Boise State and the emergence of Air Force and San Diego State as legitimate contenders in the conference is going to make for a long season.

16. South Carolina Gamecocks

Buy

In spite of the turmoil surrounding the original USC, the Gamecocks are just fine.

Alshon Jeffery, Stephen Garcia and Marcus Lattimore are going to get some points on the board, and they have one of the deepest defensive lines in the country.

A favorable schedule and an experienced coach will carry them far, and the Gamecocks should be in the SEC title game for the second consecutive season.

14. Arkansas Razorbacks

Buy

This is a tough call.

The Razorbacks are going to be even better than last season.

The SEC is just ridiculously tough, however, and the Hogs play Texas A&M on top of their conference schedule.

Road trips to LSU and Alabama will be difficult, but if they can earn a split, Arkansas has a shot at the conference title game.

Albeit a slim shot.

13. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Sell

Much has been made about the prolific offenses scattered across the college football landscape.

Last season, you had Oregon and Auburn for instance, teams who we heard about all season for their offensive prowess.

And what was the final score of the NCG?

22-19.

Not exactly a scorefest.

This is where we get to the Cowboys.

Sure, they will hang the occasional 70 on somebody and average a ridiculous amount of points, but without a solid defense, it will get them exactly nowhere.

12. Virginia Tech Hokies

Sell

We are going for all or nothing here, and it's hard to choose a team that loses so much talent.

While they are consistent, it's difficult to see Frank Beamer's squad making the BCS this season.

The road through the ACC is just too tough this season, and Logan Thomas may take some time to adjust to his new starting QB position.

The defense will be solid, if not stingy, but the questions on offense are just too much...

11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Buy

This is one instance where the majority just may actually have it right.

The Irish have a somewhat difficult schedule, but nothing that isn't manageable.

Manti Te'o leads a defense that has the potential for some big plays, and if Brian Kelly figures out an effective use of his quarterbacks, the Irish will be BCS-bound.

It seems like we hear this every season, so you may want to wait on this one for a few weeks before you jump the bandwagon, but in the end, the Irish will post at least 10 wins.

10. Texas A&M Aggies

Buy

The Aggies have not one, but two of the top running backs in the conference.

Ryan Tannehill showed flashes of brilliance at times last season, and has a talented group of receivers to throw too.

Mike Sherman has recruited a solid defense, and even without Von Miller, they will be scary up front.

An early season tangle with Arkansas should tell us all we need to know about A&M, but for now, they look legit.

9. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Sell

Let me explain.

The Huskers are very talented, with possibly the best defense in the country, and a solid one-two punch in the backfield with Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead.

But it's not enough.

There is no team in the country that will be affected by their schedule as much the Huskers.

If the Huskers can survive visits from Iowa, Ohio State, Northwestern and Michigan State, they must still travel to Wisconsin, Michigan and Penn State.

Talk about a rough schedule.

To top that off, if Martinez goes down, the depth is not that great behind him, and dual-threat quarterbacks did not have the best luck health-wise in the conference last season.

Just ask Denard Robinson and Dan Persa.

8. Wisconsin Badgers

Buy

Russell Wilson is in a nice spot.

He has a monster offensive line to operate behind, two of the best backs in the country to run the ball, an experienced No. 1 receiver and a genius for an offensive coordinator.

Chris Borland is back at linebacker after missing most of the 2010 season due to injury, and the Badgers defense is solid across the board.

An undefeated season might be a little much for this team, especially with road trips to Michigan State and Ohio State, but a second consecutive Rose Bowl appearance is a very real possibility.

7. Stanford Cardinal

Buy

The Cardinal will flip the script on Oregon in the Pac-12 in '11.

David Shaw has a plethora of talent to throw on the field, from quarterback Andrew Luck to recently healthy wide receiver Chris Owusu.

The offensive line will be good, but not quite up to last season's excellent squad, while Shayne Skov will wreak havoc from his linebacker position.

The Cardinal will probably slip up once, but could make a run for the roses...

6. Boise State Broncos

Sell

The Mountain West will present too many challenges for the Broncos.

Air Force has a scary good offense, and San Diego State is no slouch.

It won't be like playing La. Tech, Idaho and Utah State.

While the Broncos should finish with no more than two losses, an undefeated season is a pipe dream.

5. Oregon Ducks

Sell

The Ducks are not returning to the NCG.

The losses on the offensive line and at receiver leave holes that will be difficult to fill.

While having two guys who are legit Heisman candidates in your backfield is a significant boost, it will become apparent in the Ducks' first game against LSU how much their losses hurt them on both sides of the ball.

It should be an interesting season in the new Pac-12.

4. LSU Tigers

Buy

Jordan Jefferson may not be the most consistent guy in the world, but remember the Tigers once went to a title game led by Matt Mauck.

This defense is scary good, with speed all over the field.

If Jefferson can improve, even a little bit, over last season's sometimes head-scratching performances, the Tigers are legitimate BCS championship material.

Even if he doesn't, they still have talent to make a run at the conference title.

3. Florida State Seminoles

Buy

There's not anybody in the country with as much returning depth on offense as the Seminoles, except maybe Missouri.

E.J. Manuel has the least experience, but has proved himself capable, and should put up big numbers at quarterback.

Defensively, FSU has a plethora of talent to throw at opposing offenses, mixed with just the right amount of experience.

The 'Noles secondary will be second to none, especially with support from linebacker Nigel Bradham and the rest off the front seven.

A trip to the NCG is very much within the realm of possibility this season.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Sell

Come on, let's all be completely reasonable.

In 2010, the Tide was the preseason No. 1, and finished with three losses.

This season, they have a ton of talent, but lost their national championship-winning quarterback, Heisman-winning running back and one of the top receivers in the country.

Not buyin' it...

1. Oklahoma Sooners

Buy

The Sooners are the preseason favorites for a reason.

The offense is going to be scary good, while defensively they have the talent to shut down any squad in the country.

Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles are both legitimate Heisman candidates, and should put up video-game-like numbers against Big 12 defenses.

A trip to Tallahassee in the early going poses a significant challenge, and the conference is tough this season, but the Sooners should have the talent, with a little luck, to make a run at the title.