2010 College Football Predictionsl: A Quick 10 Reactions

Right, we've seen the USA Today Top 25 Coaches' Poll, and here are our very brief thoughts, as it's another kind of "Football Eve" in the UK tonight and we have to be on our best (drinking) behaviour tomorrow for the QPR vs Barnsley game.

1) Penn State at 14th. One can only presume that the coaches—having seen PSU's offensive performance at the Blue/White game—think that PSU'll lose at Alabama, Ohio State and Iowa. But if Ohio State—as predicted—go to the National Title game to face Alabama, it'll mean that Iowa's in the Rose Bowl, and Penn State get a January 1st Bowl against an SEC team (please God, let it be Georgia!!). Personally, we think the Big Ten/Eleven/Soon-To-Be Twelve(ish) is going to be closer than people think, and we fancy that the Nittany Lions may surprise some people. If the offensive line improves, we will be one of them...

2) Alabama vs Ohio State for the National Title game. Although we'd LIKE to go with that one, can we point out that 'Bama have got to play Florida at home and go to LSU, Tennessee, and South Carolina—which isn't the world's most easy schedule? And Ohio State's visits to Wisconsin and Iowa won't be cakewalks either—although we expect them to handily beat Miami in the second game of the year (face it, the ACC's a tough intra-division, but it ain't that good out-of-conference, people). If both can ride their schedules, then all power to them.

3) Florida at 3? Florida's coach went haywire over the off-season (is Urban Meyer staying or going, people?), and remember, QB John Brantley hasn't played a competitive quarter in football yet (we don't count Tebow-on-the-sideline-end-of-game-laughers-or-the-preseason-scrimmage as competitive—sorry Chompers). There's no Brandon Spikes or FIVE other starters. Florida? Still strong? M'eh. Look, Florida's going to be NASTY in 2011, but this team has road game to Neyland and Alabama, plus the battle against Georgia—which we think could see the Gators go 1-2 during that period.

4) Texas (4) and Oklahoma (8): Wrong way round. People will scoff at us, saying that OU's missing Jermaine Gresham and Sam Bradford. A word to the wise: they missed Bradford and Gresham for 99% of the 2009 season and didn't do so badly. OU is still strong at QB (Landry Jones), RB (Ryan Broyles) and at WR, while Texas has lost ALMOST EVERYBODY that made that team so damned good in 2010. Sorry Texas, OU's going to be a better team that you this year.


5) Georgia—too low at 21st. Sure, they have a new QB in Aaron Murray, who's GOT to be better than Joe Cox was, and they've got a new defensive coordinator who's going to be 101 times better than Mr. Martinez, who was quite rightly fired after last season's debacle. But get this—they've also got the best wide receiver in college football in AJ Green, and cracking running backs in Caleb King and Washaun Ealey. They also return 10 offensive starters. That's pretty good, people. Don't be surprised if they take the SEC East—particularly if Florida's teeth are chomped early.

6) Nebraska—No.9: Really? Nebraska lost Ndamukong Suh, quite possibly the best defensive tackle college football's seen for a while, and their offense was bloody awful last year. Their defense has 17-18 returning starters. But we'll see how good this team is when Texas come to town. Sure, they are a lock to win the unimpressive Big XII North this year, but ninth in the nation? REALLY? If they beat Texas, then good luck to 'em. By the way, we love Bo Pellini—he's a fantastic defensive coach.

7) Despite the troubles...Oregon (11) to win the Pac-10. Despite the booting of Jeremiah Masoli and suspension of LaMichael James for a game, the Ducks are still the pick to win the Pac-10. But Oregon still has to go on the road to Tennessee, USC, Oregon State, and Cal. This Pac-10 is going to wide open, people, and don't be surprised if the Trojans or Beavers lift the title ahead of the Ducks.

8) TCU/Boise State - Both worth Top 10? If No.7 TCU beats No.22 Oregon State and fifth ranked Boise State beats No.6 Virginia Tech, then yes. If not, no. Both teams' schedules thereafter are pretty awful, if we're honest. Will we watch the games if they're on? Sure!

9) Can Miami be swaggerin' again? According to the coaches' poll, "The U" is the 13th best team in the nation. Early trips to Ohio State and Clemson will show us what QB Mr. Harris and the rest of the team are really like, while the home rematch with Virginia Tech at the end of the season will show if the 'Canes have staying power. This is the ACC, my friends—it's a crapshoot. If we're going to be honest, we expect North Carolina to be the best team in the ACC—THAT defense is like a 1990s Miami team it's so good (on paper).

10) USC NOT ranked? Look, we know they won't be allowed to hit up a bowl game for the next three years, but give these guys a ranking, people...First of all, Matt Barkley's a good QB, Allen Bradford's a solid running back, and they have a young and talented defense. And there is of course, the Satan factor: the power of Kiffin. Lane Kiffin has still got a great recruiting class, and not only that, but he can coach, too—as evidenced by the turnaround in Tennessee's fortunes this year. 

Anyway, here's to September.