The value preseason college football polls is generally less than the paper they are printed on or the screen from which they emanate. It is similar to given Academy Awards to films not yet released or seen by the public – oh wait, they do that. At any rate, predicting college football can be problematic, but wildly popular as the start of the college football season looms in the distance. For this preseason poll, returning starters, schedule, conference strength, recent history, and a make shift dart board were used as criteria to rank the following teams for the BC Sports Preseason Top 25.
1. Florida
Let’s see. Defending National Champion. Heisman Trophy quarterback. The entire two-deep returning on defense. Outstanding head coach. All of the previous are check marks in the box for the Gators as they ready for 2009. The schedule toughest game is on the road at LSU in October. The biggest thing against the Gators is the grind that can be a SEC schedule where one slip can cost a team. However, until proven otherwise, pencil Florida in as numero uno.
2. Texas
The loss of Brian Orakpo on defense is great for the Longhorns, but in the Big 12, it’s all about offense and this team has got it where it counts at every position except running back where they hope to settle on a reliable rusher to compliment quarterback Colt McCoy. Texas’s toughest two games are in October and both on the road (technically Oklahoma is a neutral site) and two weeks apart. If the ‘Horns get through that stretch, they should be sitting pretty for a run at the BCS National Title game.
3. Ohio State
Jim Tressel’s move to play freshman Terrelle Pryor at quarterback already paid dividends as the Buckeyes were much more of a game to Texas in the Fiesta Bowl than most expected. Gone are the linebackers who carried a tough defense, but Ohio State has solid depth stepping into those roles. Combined with a schedule where the toughest game is and out-of-conference tilt with Southern Cal early in the season, the Buckeyes should run the Big 10 table without fail.
4. Oklahoma
The Sooners lost four starting offensive lineman, but the crew replacing them played a lot last year in the midst of many lopsided victories. That’s the only question mark on the offense as 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford returns to saddle up the Sooners for another run. The defense remains almost entirely intact and if the offense works like last year, they won’t be asked to do much. The schedule is favorable with the toughest game against Texas and will likely decide the representative in the Big 12 Championship Game – again. For all of their BCS woes (Oklahoma has lost three BCS Championship games and two other BCS bowls) few teams have won as consistently over the long haul as Oklahoma has under Bob Stoops.
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Article comments
1 - barga
this is what I have always wondered, do you pick based on who think is best now, or who you think will be in those spots at the end of the year?
2 - Jay Skipworth
I pick based on returning players, conference strength/weakness, schedule, and coaching acumen (which is really based on past performance). I think preseason polls are just for talking points, but this represents how I think each team should be ranked because it's how I think they will finish.
3 - barga
My problem is the coaches, which is part of the BCS, has no guidelines to how to vote specific spots
4 - Jay
The Coaches Poll is a huge joke and shouldn't be in the mix. Honestly, no poll should be released until October.
5 - AllenD
Notre Dame- #8, not so fast my friend.
That group of coaches has yet to demonstate they can successfully put together a football team and then coach it. Let's not be so quick to fall for the combination of recruiting rankings, media Irish lovefest and adoration of Weiss. I'm thinking they're top 20, but not much better...even with their schedule.
6 - Michael Yessis
Instead of participating in a guessing game it would be much more effective if player evaluation was done in regard to their playing skills. This means how effective is the technique and how effective are their physicals skills in relation to that technique. This tells the true story with little guessing and some valid predicting.
I don't know why Weiss is considered such a great coach. According to him all he needs is a great recruiting class. Who couldn't be a great coach if he had the best players?