Preseason Blogpoll Ballot - Who gets my vote?
I hadn’t gotten a chance to mention it before now since I’ve been tied up with trying to churn out the rest of the college football previews before next week, but this season, I’ll be voting in the prestigious college football Blogpoll run by Brian of long-running Michigan blog mgoblog.
I’ve already submitted my first ballot, but I still have time to make some revisions, so if you have any comments/thoughts on who you think should be where, or who should be in or out, feel free to give them. Or, if you just want to rail on my selections, you can do that too.
As sensible college football fans, we know not to take too much stock into preseason polls, but we have to start somewhere, right? Frankly, if I could’ve stretched it to a top 30, since there were some pretty worthy teams that I left out at the bottom.
1. Florida - The two major polls have Georgia at the top, but I have to tip my cap to another SEC East member. The Gators’ defense is a big question mark at this point, albeit a very, very talented one, but if that talent can produce and keep the offense from having to score 40 points per game, they’re the team to beat, in my opinion.
2. Ohio State - Ohio State’s defense is going to get a lot of attention, and rightfully so, but the offense deserves plenty of due, with Heisman candidates at quarterback and running back, and potential first-round picks at receiver and offensive line. As we’ve seen, getting to the title game isn’t so much the problem, whether they’re undefeated or not.
3. Georgia - The Bulldogs ended last season on fire, and a lot of people are anointing them as ‘the’ team in ‘08. This may well be their year, with an offense that has potential (the less interceptions Matthew Stafford throws, the better it is for Georgia’s chances) and a defense that many wouldn’t want to face even in their dreams. But, they have had a tendency to trip themselves up during Mark Richt’s tenure, so I will tread somewhat cautiously with them for now.
4. Oklahoma - If the defense that features one of the top defensive lines in the country can live up to its potential, another Big 12 title, and maybe a trip to the national title game, is in the cards. As is the case with Ohio State, getting to BCS games isn’t the issue with the Sooners, so you may as well get that double-digit million dollar check ready already.
5. USC - In the end, they’ll be good. That’s a formality. But, will they be good enough to get that national title that’s been eluding them since 2004? They’ve tripped up in games that they should’ve won in each of the last two seasons, and with a slate full of trap games and the hugely-hyped showdown with the Buckeyes, there can’t be any chicken counting in Troy just yet.
6. Missouri - Last year was not a fluke, but a lot of people may not become believers until/unless the Tigers go to Texas on October 18. Of course, their hopes of being a national title contender could be tripped up right out of the gate if they don’t beat Illinois, but after that one, the trip to Austin and their post-Thanksgiving rivalry showdown with Kansas in Kansas City, along with the Big 12 title game, are the only real tests standing in their way of potentially playing for a national championship.
7. West Virginia - Their schedule offers up several opportunities to slip up, so if they end up second-best in a deep Big East (who’d have said that a few years ago?), it wouldn’t be a surprise.
8. Clemson - The hopes of the ACC having a national title contender rest on the Tigers. If they come out and lay an egg against Alabama, it could make some very nervy fans.
9. LSU - If their new starting QB just plays efficiently, then they’re set. They’re a little behind Florida and Georgia in my book, due in large part to their QB situation, but if last year proved anything, two losses isn’t exactly a mortal blow for your national title hopes if everyone else wants to throw their chances away.
10. Texas - There are some holes to fill on both sides of the ball, and Colt McCoy needs to be less mistake-prone. Nothing wrong with San Diego in December, but I’m sure Mack Brown has his sights set higher.
11. Auburn - If there’s an Auburn fan that will miss Brandon Cox, I’d like to meet him. I’m a big believer in their defense, and with an offense that has a stable full of backs and the Tony Franklin touch, Auburn could emerge as a national title contender if they can navigate through a tough schedule. But, it all depends on the QB and if he takes them on the rollercoaster ride that Cox did a little too often.
12. Texas Tech - Defense, defense, defense. If the Red Raiders finally have one, then they’ll finally be a legit contender in the Big 12.
13. South Florida - The Bulls have knocked off West Virginia in each of the last two seasons, and are well-positioned to knock the Mountaineers off the top in the Big East. If Matt Grothe cuts down on the picks, he’ll be a Heisman candidate. How much longer can they hold on to Jim Leavitt before he gets that ‘can’t miss’ opportunity? If they take that extra step this season, they may erect a statue of him.
14. Wisconsin - If they can have consistent quarterback play and an injury-free defense, they’re the team best in position to challenge Ohio State for the Big Ten title.
15. Arizona State - It’s not often that your offensive line can give up 55 sacks and you win 10 games. If the line is better, then the Sun Devils stand a chance to upset Georgia and make a run at the Pac-10 title. Dennis Erickson’s second-year success is well-known, but the Sun Devils, while very talented in a lot of areas, are going to have to navigate through a tough schedule to match or better last year’s record.
16. Kansas - They lost some important pieces on both sides of the ball, including Aqib Talib. But with Todd Reesing back, the Jayhawks should push Missouri for the Big 12 North crown.
17. Virginia Tech - A giant question mark looms over the Hokies, as there are a lot of holes to fill and a quarterback issue that may not be an issue. But, they’re the best team in an ACC Coastal Division that’s wide open. That‘s not really saying much, but my expectations are that the defense should at least carry them to the division title.
18. BYU - If they past their non-conference games against Washington and UCLA, the only thing standing between them and a BCS berth is running the table in the Mountain West for the third straight season. Their offense will blow a lot of teams away, but completing that task won’t be easy, especially with Utah ready and able to bring them down.
19. Tennessee - Given the way Georgia finished, and the fact that Florida has the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, it’s easy to forget that Tennessee trumped both of them for the SEC East title last season. Doesn’t look likely to happen this season, but if they can upset Florida, then I’ll gladly eat those words.
20. Oregon - Coaches Hot Seat says that Oregon’s going to go 6-6 this season, which will spell the end of Mike Bellotti’s tenure in Eugene. The schedule is cruel enough for that 6-6 mark to not be out of the question, but even with a new quarterback, there’s more than enough talent on this team to at least nab second in the Pac-10. I think Jairus Byrd just picked off another pass. Speaking of passes, the more Jaison Williams catches, the better it is for the Ducks.
21. Wake Forest - Wake Forest will quietly win somewhere between eight and ten games, and Jim Grobe will have to dodge a few more athletic directors.
22. Penn State - Anthony Morelli’s gone, but that’s not a bad thing. Their defense is stacked, even without some key names, and provided the offense can back them up with half-decent production, maybe a title challenge can be mustered.
23. Connecticut - The Huskies won a share of the Big East title last season, and all but a few pieces from that team return. If there’s a team that could challenge West Virginia and South Florida for the conference title, they’re it. And if it happens, Randy Edsall will have more than his fair share of suitors.
24. Illinois - There are some holes to fill, but the talent is there to pick up from where they left off last year. But, the schedule is anything but friendly, as they have to go to Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin, along with the opener against Mizzou in St. Louis and the home game against Ohio State, who will be licking their chops when they go into Champaign. No sneaking up on anyone this time, that’s for sure.
25. Fresno State - It won’t take long to find out if this team is BCS buster material, with games at Rutgers and UCLA and at home against Wisconsin in September. Their offense is plenty good enough to win a lot of games, but their defense can’t afford to implode if they don’t want to play second-fiddle to anyone in the WAC again.
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