AP College Football Poll: The Top 10 Overrated Teams in Media's Top 25
The AP College Football Poll came out a few days ago, to moderate debates.
We all knew that Alabama would be No. 1, and there is no argument there. But there are a few teams that seem to be misplaced (in both major polls, actually.)
Some teams are just mildly overrated, while some are in way over their heads.
Let's take a look and do what college football fans do better than anyone else—argue for their teams.
I always hear that no one is more passionate about sports than European soccer fans.
Well, I'll put an SEC fan up against a "Man U" fan any day.
Let's get to the numbers...
10. West Virginia Mountaineers
1 of 10
You might think this is piling on, since they barely made the top 25, but this is less about them and more about having a poll in the preseason anyway.
All doubts start with quarterback Geno Smith.
He needed snaps, but because of injury, he didn't get many during spring ball.
Combine that with lack of experience at wide receiver, and they might be the fourth best team in the Big East.
9. Oregon State Beavers
2 of 10
One thing that you can easily predict with the Beavers is that if Jacquizz Rodgers stays healthy, he is going to have another explosive year.
But as far as them being ranked in the preseason, with their out of conference schedule and a brand spanking new QB? No way.
The NCAA denied Lyle Moevao another year of eligibility, which means Ryan Katz, who has 27 pass attempts in his career, gets to drive this packed offense.
An offense that has to outscore TCU and Boise State as part of their out of conference schedule.
8. Georgia Bulldogs
3 of 10
You can probably see a trend in my analysis: I am skeptical of any team that has to start a newcomer under center.
Particularly if it is a freshman (redshirt or not)—and that is exactly what the Bulldogs will be doing.
Aaron Murray has more than a little pressure on his shoulders, because his backup, Logan Gray, is actually playing wide receiver. So they are going to have to stay with Murray through his growing pains.
Having their second game at South Carolina doesn't help their chances of staying ranked, either.
Also, their defensive line took a major hit with three departures.
On the bright side, they still have A.J. Green. He might make Murray look like a vet pretty quickly.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Florida State Seminoles
4 of 10
I am taking another tack in talking about the Seminoles.
This time the question isn't at QB, where Christian Ponder is an asset; it's about the defense.
The unit was ranked awfully low last year (108th overall) and had no pass rush. They have a new defensive coordinator in Mark Stoops, but he has a lot of work to do.
There won't be a certain Mr. Bowden to blame things on anymore, either.
New head coach Jimbo Fisher gets to take his team on the road to Oklahoma in only the second game of the year. A week later BYU comes to town.
6. Penn State Nittany Lions
5 of 10
We can talk about how sophomore Kevin Newsome, the backup quarterback from last season and projected heir to Daryll Clark's throne, had such a mediocre spring that he is still battling with a fellow sophomore and former walk-on for the starting spot.
But instead, let's just talk about the schedule: games at Alabama (yes, the champs), at Iowa, and at Ohio State.
No way they navigate that, even with Evan Royster.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers
6 of 10
First the good news: Dion Lewis will end up in New York at the Heisman ceremony sooner rather than later if he keeps putting up seasons like he had in his freshman campaign.
Also, sophomore quarterback and projected starter Tino Sunseri has a really cool-sounding name. He also has wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin to throw to, and at 6'5," 225 lbs., Baldwin is hard to miss.
Now the not so good news: They play the Utes and the Hurricanes in the first three weeks of the season with their new starting quarterback.
By the way, Utah hasn't lost at home in three years.
4. USC Trojans
7 of 10
The NCAA sanctions will be the dark cloud over the team psychologically, but they also have some worries on the field.
Two of the top running backs (Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight) left early for the pros. So did the best receiver on the team, Damian Williams.
Pete Carroll is gone, and just hearing new head coach Lane Kiffin's name makes most people's eyes' twitch (especially if you live in Tennessee). Talk about having a bull's-eye on you.
As far as the schedule goes, at Oregon State usually means a loss lately, and Notre Dame has to win one of these years, right?
3. Oregon Ducks
8 of 10
This all comes down to one question: How much did Jeremiah Masoli mean to Oregon's prolific offense last year?
The polls seem to say not that much. I watched them quite a bit last season, and I will argue that he meant as much to them as Tim Tebow did to Florida.
LaMichael James will be back after serving his one-game suspension, but he can only do so much if there is no threat of a passing game.
Yes, fifth-year senior Nate Costa is a decent passer, but he tends to get injured, and his backup, Darron Thomas, has very little experience.
How big will Costa play when they visit Tennessee in the second game of the season?
I can see at least three games coming down to the wire, where thoughts of Masoli will come up. But he won't be able to do anything for them all the way down at Ole Miss.
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers
9 of 10
The Cornhuskers' offensive ranking last year barely cracked the top 100. Sure they will improve, but Ndamukong Suh isn't on defense to hold the fort down anymore in tight games.
The jury is still out on who will even be leading the offense this year. Will it be incumbent Zac Lee, or will he lose his spot to Cody Green or Taylor Martinez?
Lee threw for fewer than 200 yards in a majority of games last season.
The schedule isn't a crushing one, but with this many questions on offense, how can they be ranked in the top 10?
1. Florida Gators
10 of 10
No, it's not just about that quarterback, who is now in Denver.
John Brantley will probably do just fine.
The question on the high ranking comes from the other guys who are left:
Wide receiver Riley Cooper, return specialist Brandon James, tight end Aaron Hernandez, center Maurkice Pouncey, linebacker Brandon Spikes, defensive ends Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham, and big-time cornerback Joe Haden, just to name a few.
You can't lose this many high draft picks and still be ranked fourth in the country.
Plus, that Tebow guy. He was pretty good, too.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
