College Football Predictions: Most Overrated Teams Going into Spring Practice
Yes, it is way to early to rank college football's best teams for the 2011 season.
But it's not too early to begin picking apart those same rankings, which can be found here, here, here, here, here, and yes, here.
We all remember last season's preseason rankings, right?
But with the epic NFC Championship Game between Chicago and Green Bay over, and no college football for a long, long time, one can only ponder what will happen in next season's tilts, while passing the time with college basketball and the Australian Open.
That being said, let's take a few minutes and dissect the rankings we do have going into next season.
Which teams are overrated?
Who will fall out of the Top 25?
Which teams are ready to fall back into relative obscurity, after shining in the football limelight?
Stay tuned to the rest of this slideshow for a complete list of the top 10 most overrated teams in preseason rankings...or switch back over to ESPN 2 for the PBA tournament.
10. Auburn Tigers
1 of 10
As Coach Chizik stares into his crystal ball, he sees a train wreck next season for his Auburn Tigers.
Yes, Auburn played remarkable "team" football at times during their remarkable run to the championship, but the loss of the inestimable Cam Newton and defensive terror Nick Fairley severely damages the Tigers' hopes of hanging with LSU next season.
And besides those departures, Auburn has to replace four starters along the offensive line.
Expect the Tigers to drop out of the Top 25 completely before the end of next season.
9. Florida Gators
2 of 10
Yeah, yeah, no SEC team is overrated...got it.
However, Florida is another one from the "Chosen Conference" that we can expect to underachieve yet again.
Even with Will Muschamp at the helm and Charlie Weiss to bring new life to the offense, the Gators will have at least five losses next season, as their level of competition is just a step above where the Gators can hope to be next season.
8. TCU Horned Frogs
3 of 10
TCU completed an incredible 13-0 season with a win over the Wisconsin Badgers.
The key to that game was balance on the offensive side of the ball, coupled with defensive dominance.
With the departure of four starters along the offensive line and star quarterback Andy Dalton, the Frogs' offense will take a step back.
The offensive slide will lead to at least four losses this season.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Michigan State Spartans
4 of 10
Yes, that look on Coach Dantonio's face is indicative of the way the Spartans' season will go next season.
With the loss of linebackers Eric Gordon and Greg Jones and cornerback Chris L. Rucker, the defense will descend into the dark ages.
The offense should be able to hang around with some teams this year, but the Spartans have never posted back-to-back double-digit-win seasons, and in a defense-dominated Big Ten Conference, the Spartans will struggle.
Trips to Ohio State, Notre Dame, Northwestern and Iowa present some serious roadblocks for the Spartans this season.
6. Wisconsin Badgers
5 of 10
After their disappointing loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl, many have projected the Badgers as a Top 15 team heading into next season.
Don't buy into the hype.
While the Badgers will return a solid offense, the loss of quarterback Scott Tolzien, running back John Clay and tight end Lance Kendricks along with Gabe Carimi and John Moffit from the O-line, leave the Badgers with huge gaps on the offense.
And with the departure of end J.J. Watt to the NFL, the Badgers face a tough task building a solid defensive line.
A visit from Nebraska and back-to-back trips to Michigan State and Ohio State will leave the Badgers reeling.
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
6 of 10
After a promising start to the 2010 campaign, the Cornhuskers finished in disappointing fashion, losing to the Washington Huskies in the Holiday Bowl.
A first-year member of the Big Ten, the Huskers face a tough test this year, having to make trips to Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan and battling with Iowa, Ohio State and Washington at home.
4. Texas A&M Aggies
7 of 10
The Aggies found their starting quarterback in Ryan Tannehill last season and have their best running back returning from injury.
That being said, take a look at their schedule, and then, try to explain to me how they will win more than 7-8 games next season.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
8 of 10
While Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, center Mike Adams and wide receiver Devier Posey serve their five-game suspensions to begin the next season, the Buckeyes will struggle.
Even though the only dangerous-looking game on the schedule is against Michigan State, Pryor and Co. don't get a ton of time to adjust with back-to-back trips to Nebraska and Illinois immediately after those ridiculous suspensions.
But that's a story for another day...
2. LSU Tigers
9 of 10
Yes, the Mad Hatter and Co. are coming off a great bowl victory, but consider this:
One cannot just replace talent such as cornerback Patrick Peterson, linebacker Kelvin Sheppard or tackle Drake Nevis.
That being said, an early-season tilt with Oregon will leave the Tigers feeling blue, and they will finish the season outside of the Top 10.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
10 of 10
Mark Ingram, Julio Jones and Greg McElroy are all huge losses on the offensive side of the ball, but the loss of Marcell Dareus on the defensive side of the ball is even more detrimental to the Tide's hopes of a BCS game.
Nick Saban has been fantastic recruiting and preparing his team, so they are prepared, but how he prepares this team after such huge losses is going to be the key to Alabama's success...or failure.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
