TAE Top 25
Posted: August 31st, 2007, 10:43 am
Ring the bells of freedom, I am here again to liberate your minds from the shackles of your own idiocy. You will be shocked and awed. Football time is here again, losers. You know what that means? Its time for the TAE Top 25.
PRESEASON: (AP Rank is in parenthesis)
=============
1.) Florida (6)
It is possible that Florida could be ranked 3rd and not get to defend their national title. They are the champs until they lose. They are inherently number 1, not USC or anyone else. Florida won the national championship, and regardless of who they lost in the offseason, it is their spot to lose. They return a ton of players on both sides, and are favorites in the SEC east. Look for Percy Harvin to have a huge year.
2.) USC (1)
Everyone's sexy pick for number 1 and for national champions. They return a ton of players on both sides, and have probably the best linebacking corps in football. WR and RB are big concerns for this team, however. Don't buy into the hype about how loaded this team is. Those WR's need to finally step up, and someone needs to emerge as a quality RB. What will help USC is the fact that the Pac-10 is a complete joke like it is every year. Look for USC to go undefeated and for people to hail Pete Carroll as Jesus again, just like they do with Bowden and Paterno, who built empires off of Duke and Temple for 25 years.
3.) LSU (2)
Don't believe the hype on this team either. Just because a team has strong recruiting doesn't mean those kids are going to perform. Dorsey is a machine and so is Early Doucet, but this team also has RB issues. 5th year senior Matt Flynn is at the helm, and that's all well and good, but the kid lost his job to an underclassmen for 2 years. Defensively, they will be strong like usual, but don't get caught up in this hype.
4.) Texas (4)
UT returns a solid QB and decent WR corps. I'm still not sold on their RB's. The Big 12 south is one of the most interesting areas of BCS football this season. Defensively, UT will be solid, but sooner or later losing D-Coordinators will catch up with you. This might be that year, given McGee's success at A&M and Texas Tech. The UT secondary will probably be the end-all for this team's national title chances.
5.) Michigan (5)
No AP preseason top 25 would be complete without the unsubstantiated lovefest for Michigan. The most overrated and underachieving program in the nation. They return a great WR in Manningham, a solid QB in Henne, and a solid RB in Hart. Defensively, this team has issues. You have to rank them reasonably high based on their talent alone, but this team is not winning any national titles until Carr leaves. They'll win the Big Ten, but that's where it stops in 2007.
6.) Oklahoma (8)
This team could be the darkhorse of the top 10 to win the national title. Don't be fooled by OU's lack of big-name players in 2007. This team is going to be very good on both sides of the ball, and they are 1 upset win (over UT) from winning the Big 12 this year. They are starting a 3-star freshman QB to run this team. Time will tell.
7.) Penn State (17)
No favoritism here. If Morelli plays like he did at the end of last season, this offense will be tough to stop for anyone. They have the best WR corps in the Big Ten, and probably the best RB tandem. Rodney Kinlaw has been overshadowed since the day he got up there. Don't be fooled by this kid's consistent spot at 2nd on the depth chart: he is very good. PSU also has the best TE in the Big Ten. Defensively, the secondary will be airtight and the LB's are the best corps east of USC. Only trouble spot is maybe on d-line, but Bradley has his teams prepared. Will Hall and Jay?
8.) Louisville (10)
This team could give anyone fits. Expect Kragthorpe to take Louisville higher than Petrino ever could have.
9.) Ohio State (11)
Everyone is sleeping on Ohio State. They're recruiting is still great, and they certainly have talent on both sides, but I think this is the year they lose 2-3 games in the conference.
10.) Florida State (19)
I hope you don't think FSU is never going to get back to the top. They brought in Jimbo Fisher to run that program when Bowden leaves, and now Chuck Amato is back coaching there. Their recruiting is always sky high. This team has real potential to go undefeated. What a game if UF and FSU are unbeaten going into that last week.
11.) Virginia Tech (9)
Defensively, I'm sold. Offensively, not so much. This program is pretty overrated but I think this year's defense can make them look better than they really are.
12.) Wisconsin (7)
People can talk about Wisconsin all they want, but the truth of the matter is that this team played 1 good team last year and they got killed by them.
13.) Auburn (18)
Brandon Cox is 37 years old. He was the starting QB when Bo Jackson was a freshman. They'll be good b/c they are always good.
14.) WVU (3)
It doesn't get much more overrated than this.
15.) Nebraska (20)
I'm very curious about this team. I'm expecting them to win the North, and make a nice bowl game. Nebraska is on their way back up.
16.) Tennessee (15)
Another average season by Knoxville standards.
17.) California (12)
Correction: it doesn't get much more overrated than THIS.
18.) TCU (22)
One of the best defenses in football.
19.) Missouri (unranked)
Unranked in the AP poll, this might be the best shot (and best team) Missouri has had in a very long time. The time is now in Columbia, but if history tells us anything, Gary Pinkell will find a way to screw it up.
20.) Texas A&M (25)
Like Pinkell in the north, so goes Dennis Francione in the south. This team is supposed to be "loaded", but I don't see it. McGee is good, RB's are adequate, but I'll believe this hype when I see it.
21.) Hawaii (23)
They can pretty much beat anybody.
22.) Arkansas (21)
This team is very, very overrated. You can talk all you want about how they rallied around the new O-Coordinator, but this team is in complete disarray behind the curtains. This will be a bad year, but spirits will go up when McFadden gets drafted #1 overall.
23.) Miami (unranked)
You can talk about young defenses all you want. This LB corps is very talented and SS Kenny Phillips is the best in the business. Randy Shannon is a defensive coach, folks. Don't buy into the "they're too young on defense" crap. The problem in Miami was never a lack of talent, it was a lack of motivation and leadership at the top. That's going to change now. Plus, the ACC sucks.
24.) Boise State (24)
They'll be decent, but don't expect a BCS spot.
25.) UCLA (14)
Only here because they are better than Georgia.
HONORABLE MENTION:
=========================
Georgia (13)
- They're a year away from SEC contention.
BYU
- Excellent uniforms.
Georgia Tech
- Worst coaching staff in the BCS.
Oklahoma State
- Strong on offense, D better step up quickly in the south.
Rutgers (16)
- Don't let the UB defense fool you, this is a 3 loss team.
Clemson
- Coaches are too inconsistent to ever get this team to the top.
PRESEASON: (AP Rank is in parenthesis)
=============
1.) Florida (6)
It is possible that Florida could be ranked 3rd and not get to defend their national title. They are the champs until they lose. They are inherently number 1, not USC or anyone else. Florida won the national championship, and regardless of who they lost in the offseason, it is their spot to lose. They return a ton of players on both sides, and are favorites in the SEC east. Look for Percy Harvin to have a huge year.
2.) USC (1)
Everyone's sexy pick for number 1 and for national champions. They return a ton of players on both sides, and have probably the best linebacking corps in football. WR and RB are big concerns for this team, however. Don't buy into the hype about how loaded this team is. Those WR's need to finally step up, and someone needs to emerge as a quality RB. What will help USC is the fact that the Pac-10 is a complete joke like it is every year. Look for USC to go undefeated and for people to hail Pete Carroll as Jesus again, just like they do with Bowden and Paterno, who built empires off of Duke and Temple for 25 years.
3.) LSU (2)
Don't believe the hype on this team either. Just because a team has strong recruiting doesn't mean those kids are going to perform. Dorsey is a machine and so is Early Doucet, but this team also has RB issues. 5th year senior Matt Flynn is at the helm, and that's all well and good, but the kid lost his job to an underclassmen for 2 years. Defensively, they will be strong like usual, but don't get caught up in this hype.
4.) Texas (4)
UT returns a solid QB and decent WR corps. I'm still not sold on their RB's. The Big 12 south is one of the most interesting areas of BCS football this season. Defensively, UT will be solid, but sooner or later losing D-Coordinators will catch up with you. This might be that year, given McGee's success at A&M and Texas Tech. The UT secondary will probably be the end-all for this team's national title chances.
5.) Michigan (5)
No AP preseason top 25 would be complete without the unsubstantiated lovefest for Michigan. The most overrated and underachieving program in the nation. They return a great WR in Manningham, a solid QB in Henne, and a solid RB in Hart. Defensively, this team has issues. You have to rank them reasonably high based on their talent alone, but this team is not winning any national titles until Carr leaves. They'll win the Big Ten, but that's where it stops in 2007.
6.) Oklahoma (8)
This team could be the darkhorse of the top 10 to win the national title. Don't be fooled by OU's lack of big-name players in 2007. This team is going to be very good on both sides of the ball, and they are 1 upset win (over UT) from winning the Big 12 this year. They are starting a 3-star freshman QB to run this team. Time will tell.
7.) Penn State (17)
No favoritism here. If Morelli plays like he did at the end of last season, this offense will be tough to stop for anyone. They have the best WR corps in the Big Ten, and probably the best RB tandem. Rodney Kinlaw has been overshadowed since the day he got up there. Don't be fooled by this kid's consistent spot at 2nd on the depth chart: he is very good. PSU also has the best TE in the Big Ten. Defensively, the secondary will be airtight and the LB's are the best corps east of USC. Only trouble spot is maybe on d-line, but Bradley has his teams prepared. Will Hall and Jay?
8.) Louisville (10)
This team could give anyone fits. Expect Kragthorpe to take Louisville higher than Petrino ever could have.
9.) Ohio State (11)
Everyone is sleeping on Ohio State. They're recruiting is still great, and they certainly have talent on both sides, but I think this is the year they lose 2-3 games in the conference.
10.) Florida State (19)
I hope you don't think FSU is never going to get back to the top. They brought in Jimbo Fisher to run that program when Bowden leaves, and now Chuck Amato is back coaching there. Their recruiting is always sky high. This team has real potential to go undefeated. What a game if UF and FSU are unbeaten going into that last week.
11.) Virginia Tech (9)
Defensively, I'm sold. Offensively, not so much. This program is pretty overrated but I think this year's defense can make them look better than they really are.
12.) Wisconsin (7)
People can talk about Wisconsin all they want, but the truth of the matter is that this team played 1 good team last year and they got killed by them.
13.) Auburn (18)
Brandon Cox is 37 years old. He was the starting QB when Bo Jackson was a freshman. They'll be good b/c they are always good.
14.) WVU (3)
It doesn't get much more overrated than this.
15.) Nebraska (20)
I'm very curious about this team. I'm expecting them to win the North, and make a nice bowl game. Nebraska is on their way back up.
16.) Tennessee (15)
Another average season by Knoxville standards.
17.) California (12)
Correction: it doesn't get much more overrated than THIS.
18.) TCU (22)
One of the best defenses in football.
19.) Missouri (unranked)
Unranked in the AP poll, this might be the best shot (and best team) Missouri has had in a very long time. The time is now in Columbia, but if history tells us anything, Gary Pinkell will find a way to screw it up.
20.) Texas A&M (25)
Like Pinkell in the north, so goes Dennis Francione in the south. This team is supposed to be "loaded", but I don't see it. McGee is good, RB's are adequate, but I'll believe this hype when I see it.
21.) Hawaii (23)
They can pretty much beat anybody.
22.) Arkansas (21)
This team is very, very overrated. You can talk all you want about how they rallied around the new O-Coordinator, but this team is in complete disarray behind the curtains. This will be a bad year, but spirits will go up when McFadden gets drafted #1 overall.
23.) Miami (unranked)
You can talk about young defenses all you want. This LB corps is very talented and SS Kenny Phillips is the best in the business. Randy Shannon is a defensive coach, folks. Don't buy into the "they're too young on defense" crap. The problem in Miami was never a lack of talent, it was a lack of motivation and leadership at the top. That's going to change now. Plus, the ACC sucks.
24.) Boise State (24)
They'll be decent, but don't expect a BCS spot.
25.) UCLA (14)
Only here because they are better than Georgia.
HONORABLE MENTION:
=========================
Georgia (13)
- They're a year away from SEC contention.
BYU
- Excellent uniforms.
Georgia Tech
- Worst coaching staff in the BCS.
Oklahoma State
- Strong on offense, D better step up quickly in the south.
Rutgers (16)
- Don't let the UB defense fool you, this is a 3 loss team.
Clemson
- Coaches are too inconsistent to ever get this team to the top.