|
# |
|
Team |
Total Points |
Next
Game |
| 1 |
 |
Ohio State Buckeyes |
96 |
Aug 30:
Youngstown State |
| For the
past two years, Ohio State has been one
of the top two teams in the country,
rank-wise. This year, they return 18
starters from a team that went to the
national title game. A lot of these
starters are candidates for preseason
awards. They are talented and
experienced, and that's why they're
number one. (BH) |
| 2 |
 |
Georgia Bulldogs |
95 |
Aug 30:
Georgia Southern |
| Stafford,
Moreno, and a great defense. Georgia has
all the talent in the world but games
against Florida, Arizona State,
and Auburn will make things interesting.
(DE) |
| 3 |
 |
USC Trojans |
93 |
Aug 30:
at Virginia |
| USC is a
perennial power in the world of college
football, and that doesn't change this
year. Despite all the Trojans that were
called on Draft Day, they have 4
defensive players with first round
potential. This strong unit will lead
the team to a great year. (BH) |
| 4 |
 |
Florida Gators |
92 |
Aug 30:
Hawaii |
| Tim Tebow
won't score 52 touchdowns again but
that's exactly what Florida wants. Percy
Harvin, Emanuel Moody, and Chris Rainey
are all going to be stars. (DE) |
| 5 |
 |
Oklahoma Sooners |
83 |
Aug 30:
Tennessee-Chattanooga |
| Sam
Bradford was amazing as a Freshman in
Norman and should put up big numbers
again. He better because the Big 12 is
loaded with talent. (DE) |
| 6 |
 |
Missouri Tigers |
79 |
Aug 30:
Illinois |
| We all
know about Missouri from their great
year last year. They return perhaps the
top quarterback in the Big 12 in Chase
Daniel. Jeremy Maclin is a great
all-around threat on offense, and Chase
Coffman ranks among the nation's best
tight ends. The offense is what makes
Missouri so good, and it's the reason
why they rank number 6. (BH) |
| 7 |
 |
West Virginia
Mountaineers |
78 |
Aug 30:
Villanova |
| If you
don't know who Noel Devine is yet then
you will very soon. The Sophomore might
be the fastest player in the country and
may even be an upgrade over Steve
Slaton. (DE) |
| 8 |
 |
Clemson Tigers |
70 |
Aug 30:
Alabama |
|
The rushing attack of the Clemson Tigers
is hard to stop. The backfield features
two lightning quick backs in CJ Spiller
and James Davis. Cullen Harper is an
unheralded quarterback. Many people
overlook Clemson, because they are in a
down ACC, but this is going to be a
dangerous team in whatever bowl they
make. (BH) |
| 9 |
 |
Wisconsin Badgers |
68 |
Aug 30:
Akron |
|
The Badgers running attack rivals that
of the aforementioned Clemson Tigers.
Four guys can get the job done. The crew
is led by PJ Hill, who is pretty quick
for his large frame. Travis Beckum is a
stellar tight end, perhaps the best in
the country. Beckum and Hill
withstanding, UW has no standouts, but
all their positions are filled with
solid players who get the job done. (BH) |
| 10 |
 |
Texas Longhorns |
66 |
Aug 30:
Florida Atlantic |
| Texas
lost a lot of playmakers (see Jamaal
Charles and Limas Sweed) but the
Longhorns usually reload very quickly.
They better with games against Oklahoma,
Kansas, Texas Tech, and Missouri. (DE) |
| 11 |
 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders |
56 |
Aug 30:
Eastern Washington |
|
For a team
that seems to always underachieve
perhaps the Red Raiders are ranked a
little too highly. We all seem to think
highly enough of WR Michael Crabtree
that we believe he can bring a spark to
their offense that their juggernaut
scoring power hasn't even seen in the
past. (DE) |
| 12 |
 |
LSU Tigers |
53 |
Aug 30:
Appalachian State |
|
No Ryan
Perrilloux...no problem right? Well that
isn't exactly the case in Baton Rouge
but their defense will shut down almost
every offense in the country. Their
front four might be just as good as last
years title team. (DE) |
| 13 |
 |
Kansas Jayhawks |
47 |
Aug 30:
Florida International |
|
Kansas made a stellar run to a BCS bowl
last year, and no one saw that coming.
This year, they try to repeat, although
losing Brandon McAnderson and Aqib Talib
will hurt. Todd Reesing had a
spectacular year, and he looks to lead
his team to yet another BCS bowl again
this year. (BH) |
| 14 |
 |
Virginia Tech Hokies |
45 |
Aug 30:
East Carolina |
|
Virginia Tech has been a team that has
stepped up since Florida State and Miami
dropped out of the national title
picture a few years ago in the ACC. One
thing that may keep them from winning
the ACC is the loss of star running back
Brandon Ore. But don't count this team
out. They are tough, and in a weak ACC,
they may just storm the BCS bowl party.
(BH) |
| 15 |
 |
Auburn Tigers |
44 |
Aug 30:
Louisiana-Monroe |
|
Kodi Burns
will have to grow up fast for the Tigers
but at least they play in the weaker
divsiion of the SEC. At first Auburn had
West Virginia scheduled as their opener
but with some (good) thought they
changed it...although Louisiana-Monroe
did beat in state rival Alabama last
year. (DE) |
| 16 |
 |
Tennessee Volunteers |
43 |
Sept 1:
at UCLA |
|
Tennessee is
the fifth SEC team in our top 16. The
Volunteers will be led by
Jonathan Crompton at quarterback but
still might be better than the 2008 team
that made the SEC Championship game and
were blown out by Florida and Alabama.
(DE) |
| 17 |
 |
Arizona State Sun Devils |
38 |
Aug 30:
Northern Arizona |
|
The Sun Devils put up points, and are no
slouches on defense either. Led by Rudy
Carpenter, this team will be the team
most likely to challenge USC for the
Pac-10 crown. They will be a tough out
for any team they face. (BH) |
| 18 |
 |
BYU Cougars |
31 |
Aug 30:
Northern Iowa |
|
The Cougars
own the nation's longest winning streak
Max Hall will lead an offense that will
have even more weapons than the 2008
version. This could be the sleeper BCS
team. (DE) |
| 19 |
 |
Penn State Nittany Lions |
28 |
Aug 30:
Coastal Carolina |
|
Penn State is a team with tons of
potential. Linebacker Maurice Evans
could be a top three pick in next year's
NFL Draft. After being in the shadow of
both Rodney Kinlaw and Austin Scott,
Evan Royster now gets his time to shine.
This team could be in the running for
the Big Ten Championship late in the
year. (BH) |
| 20 |
 |
Illinois Fighting Illini |
20 |
Aug 30:
Missouri |
|
Illinois could be anywhere from the top
of the Big Ten to the middle of the
pack. Sporadic quarterback Juice
Williams gives the state of Illinois
another inconsistent quarterback (see
Grossman, Rex). But he can do great
things with his feet, and it helps to
have Arrelious "Regis" Benn as a safety
outlet. Althought they lost leaders
Rashard Mendenhall and J Leman, I think
Williams is growing into a leadership
role, and will lead this team to a top
25 season. (BH) |
| 21 |
 |
Pittsburgh Panthers |
21 |
Aug 30:
Bowling Green |
|
Wow have
things changed since before that 13-9
win in the Backyard Brawl against rival
West Virginia. Now all of a sudden
Pittsburgh is the pick by a lot of
people to win the Big East. (DE) |
| 22 |
 |
Michigan State Spartans |
15 |
Aug
30:at California |
|
Javon Ringer may end up being the best
running back in the country this season.
Despite splitting carries with Jehuu
Caulcrick last year, Ringer ran for 1447
yards. And Caulcrick "stole" 21 goalline
touchdowns away from Ringer last year.
Brian Hoyer returns at quarterback, too.
Even with Devin Thomas going pro, this
Spartan team should be good. (BH)_ |
| 23 |
 |
South Florida Bulls |
13 |
Aug 30:
Tennessee-Martin |
|
Matt Grothe
and the Bulls were ranked No. 2 at one
point last year. We all know about their
quick slide down the rankings but with
George Selvie anchoring the defensive
line they could be back in the top 25
very quickly. (DE) |
| 24 |
 |
Fresno State Bulldogs |
12 |
Sept 1:
at Rutgers |
|
Fresno State
wants to play in a BCS Bowl. To do that
they will need wins over Rutgers, UCLA,
Wisconsin, and Boise State. That may not
happen but expect the Bulldogs to begin
the year in the top 25. (DE) |
| 25 |
 |
Oregon Ducks |
9 |
Aug 30:
Washington |
|
We all saw
what happened last year when Dennis
Dixon got hurt. Now they need to replace
both Dixon and Jonathon Stewart. Justin
Roper will lilely be the QB while
Jeremiah Johnson is expected to be a
star at running back. (DE) |
South Carolina 3,
Alabama 3