2009 College Football Top 25: Ranking Teams 11-15

My Top 25 for 2009 rolls on with teams Nos. 11-15:

15. Georgia Bulldogs

2008 record: 10-3 (ranked No. 10)

Projected 2009 regular season record: 7-5 (losses at Oklahoma St. (Sept. 5); at Arkansas (Sept. 19); at Tennessee (Oct. 10); vs Florida (Oct. 31); at Georgia Tech (Nov. 28))

The 411: Harsh prediction, I know. But I had no choice.

The offense returns all but three starters, but have we really seen enough out of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno's understudies—senior Joe Cox and sophomore Caleb King, respectively—to do anything but err on the side of caution? No.

Plus, the Bulldogs step off the practice field and right into Opening Day hell with a matchup in Stillwater against Oklahoma State. From there, the conference schedule includes games against an improved South Carolina squad, LSU, Tennessee, and Florida—all of which take place away from Athens.

14. TCU Horned Frogs

2008 record: 11-2 (ranked No. 7)

Projected 2009 regular season record: 9-3 (losses at Clemson (Sept. 26); at BYU (Oct. 24); vs Utah (Nov. 14))

The 411: Though only four starters return from a unit that led the nation in yards per game (217.8) and finished second in points allowed per game (11.3) in '08, you know TCU will bring the wood on defense again this season, especially with sack machine Jerry Hughes back for his senior season.

Furthermore, an offense that averaged nearly as many yards through the air (201.1) as it did on the ground (220.2) gets six starters back, including junior quarterback Andy Dalton (2,242 yards, 11 TDs).

So, what's the problem? If the Horned Frogs want the snobby, brandy-swilling members of the BCS to take them seriously, they'll have to beat Virginia, Clemson, and BYU...on the road...and handily.

Can the Bears ride RB Jahvid Best to a Pac-10 title? (US Presswire)

13.California Bears

2008 record: 9-4 (ranked No. 25)

Projected 2009 regular season record: 8-4 (losses at Minnesota (Sept. 19); at Oregon (Sept. 26); vs USC (Oct. 3); at UCLA (Oct. 10))

The 411: Jeff Tedford has had his fair share of noteworthy teams, only to have an early accumulation of wins overshadowed by unnerving free-falls to end the season.

In 2007, the Bears ascended to No. 2 in the national polls, but a loss to Oregon State triggered a streak of six losses in eight games, leading to a frustrating 7-6 mark instead of a possible No. 1 ranking.

There was no such nosedive last season, but the inability to string together quality wins, coupled with lackluster losses to Maryland and Arizona, cost Tedford and Co. a legitimate chance at a conference title.

Cal has the core on offense, with quarterback Kevin Riley and running back Jahvid Best, and enough defense to avert any roadblocks in 2009, but the combination of a tricky non-conference schedule and a number of tough road games within the Pac-10 means Tedford will once again have to navigate his team along a fine line.

12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2008 record: 9-4 (ranked No. 22)

Projected 2009 regular season record: 10-2 (losses to Miami (Fl.) on Sept. 17; at Florida State on Oct. 10)

The 411: At least nowadays, any conversation involving Georgia Tech football begins and ends with the running game. When head coach Paul Johnson arrived on campus in Atlanta prior to the 2008 season, he brought with him the historically successful triple option, a forgotten and antiquated offensive scheme that catapulted the Yellow Jackets among the nation's most prolific teams the good ol' fashioned way.

Georgia Tech finished last season ranked a modest 92nd nationally in passing yards (112) per game, but they checked in at no worst than 12th in every major rushing statistical category, including fifth in yards (3,552) and sixth in yards per carry (5.6).

And Johnson has the pieces in place for a repeat performance in 2009, including speedy quarterback Josh Nesbitt (693 yards, 7 TDs rushing in '08) and last season's ACC Player of the Year, punishing running back Jonathan Dwyer (1,395 yards, 12 TDs).

Bud Foster is the fiery architect of the Virginia Tech defense (Icon SMI)

11. Virginia Tech Hokies

2008 record: 10-4 (ranked No. 14)

Projected 2009 regular season record: 9-3 (losses vs Alabama on Sept. 5; at Georgia Tech on Oct. 17; vs North Carolina on Oct. 24)

The 411: However unwarranted, much preseason noise has surrounded the Hokies, including a top-10 ranking in many polls.

But that's what happens when you contend for an ACC title on a consistent basis.

As long as coordinator Bud Foster makes his home in Blacksburg, the Hokies will be salty on defense. The other side of the ball, on the other hand, isn't exactly a high-wire act.

The offense scored 22 points per game in 2008, which was only the eighth-best total in the ACC, but it gave the team enough breathing room to crank out double-digits wins for the fifth straight season.

Per Virginia Tech's style of play, which puts a heavy emphasis on solid defense and spectacular special teams, the offense won't need to be perfect in 2009. And that means quarterback Tyrod Taylor (1,036 yds passing, 738 yds rushing in '08) won't need to be Superman in his first season as the main guy behind center. 

All in all, considering that the ACC is headed toward a season in which no clear front-runner has been declared, Virginia Tech has as good a chance as any team to earn the crown and accept a BCS berth in January.

But, if you're Frank Beamer, you can't help but wonder whether a little foreshadowing took place on Aug. 11, when star tailback Darren Evans was lost for the season to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Here's a scheduled breakdown of my Top 25:

Aug. 25: Nos. 21-25

Aug. 26: Nos. 16-20

Aug. 27: Nos. 11-15

Aug. 28: Top 10