Welcome to a new season of college football. Every year the coaches and the AP both release the pre-season top 25. Now you can view EZ's pre-season top 25 too. Let's get it started.
1. USC Trojans - The top ranked team should be the team expected to be winning the National Championship this year, and right now I expect that team to be the Trojans. They have lots of talent on both sides of the ball, and I expect this team to dominate the PAC 10, all season long.
2. Georgia Bulldogs - The AP's top team is still my selection for a National Title Game appearance. Unfortunately I think that Matt Stafford and Mr Heisman Candidate Moreno will come up short in January.
3. Ohio State - Participants in the last two National Title Games, the Bucs are going to be a very good squad. They will do as they did last year, and lay in wait for the teams above them to slip up, and if they do, OSU could head to their third straight. But can they finally win one?
4. Florida Gators - The Bulldogs may be the best in the SEC, but not by a big margin. The Gators return the Heisman Trophy with Timmy Tebow, and have the exciting Percy Harvin to help put points on the board. If this team beats the Dawgs in the Backyard BBQ in Jacksonville, they may run directly to the National Title Game.
5. LSU Tigers - Both polls have the Sooners as a top 5 program, but I dont see them beating this LSU team head-to-head. This means the Tigers get my call for the fifth spot. That's right, 3 teams from the SEC in the top 5. Kinda scary huh?
6. Oklahoma Sooners - How good the Sooners will be early on is not really debateable, but can they keep the pace all season long? They play a favorable schedule, but the Red river shootout is never an easy game. If they play to their talent they could make a run for the top spot.
7. Missouri Tigers - The Tigers came from relative anonymity to become a player on the national scene. With Chase back behind center, the Tiger will be a threat to win the Big 12.
8. Clemson Tigers - Ok. Seriously. How good could one confrence be? First Georgia, then Florida, then LSU, and now Clemson. And please don't think these Tigers are going to be an afterthought. This team can play with anyone and they will make their opponents fight all season long.
9. Auburn Tigers - As if it were planned, for the thrid spot in a row on my poll I have the Tigers. Only this time these Tigers are from Alabama. Auburn become the 5th SEC team in my top ten, and if that doesn't speak to the power of this confrence than nothing will. Auburn will be a force in the SEC and on the national scene.
10. Texas Longhorns - The Longhorns round out the top ten. This team always seems to be a player in the national picture. They will be good enough to give opponents in the Big 12 fits. Under the right circumstances, this team could make a run for the top.
11. West Virginia Mountaineers - Both of the national polls had the Mountaineers ranked higher than this, but I expect to see this team take a step backwards. Steve Slaton and Darius Reynaud are gone, and so is Rich Rodriguez. Can't see this team not stepping back a bit.
12. Texas Tech - If the SEC is the class of the Nation, the Big 12 is a close second. Texas Tech is a vastly improved team, and they are deserving of this number 12 ranking. They will be formidable on both sides of the ball and they will be one of the bright spots in this year's season.
13. Wisconsin Badgers - After OSU, the Badgers are the best team in the Big 10. They are steady performers each and every year. Unfortunately, again, they will lack the firepower needed to make a run for the title.
14. Virginia Tech Hokies - One of the bright spots last season, the Hokies made some serious noise when it came time to select the national title game participants. I don't quite expect for them to be as good this season though. Xavier Adibi, the team's heart and soul on defense is gone, as is top corner Brandon Flowers, and those two will be sorely missed.
15. Arizona State Sun Devils - How good is Dennis Erickson's squad. I think we will find them to be the only team in the PAC 10 that can challenge the Trojans. The Sun Devils will be improved over last year's upstart team. That could mean an even better finishing rank than this 15 spot.
16. BYU Cougars - The Cougars won 10 games last year, but the were not really challeneged too often. Still, they are a very good team. I expect for them to put up some offense and this will lead to more wins, as they still are the best in their confrence.
17. Tennessee Vols - I know, I know, another team from the overloaded SEC. You have to wonder how anyone could survive that confrence schedule. The Vols will be players again, and depending on how they deal with the Gators in their annual early season battle, the rest of their season could hang in the balance.
18. Kansas Jayhawks - This team feels a bit overrated to me. Despit their performance last year, I still have a hard time calling this team one of the best in the nation. In fact, both of the national polls have this team ranked even higher than I do, but I expect that this team will suffer their first lost early on when the visit Tampa.
19. South Florida Bulls - This is another team with a great story. They are a team on the rise, and they will be facing a tough Big East schedule but an early season tangle with the Jayhawks will show everyone what South Florida is really made of. Also, George Selvie is an early season favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.
20. Illinois Fighting Illini - The Illini are going to miss first round selection Rashard Mendenhall. He was such a large part of what Illinois did offensively. If they can replace some of his production, this team is still talented enough to make some Big 10 teams nervous.
21. Oregon Ducks - The Ducks lost a lot when Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart made the leap to the pros. Still it is my expectation that the Ducks will be a great team this year. I am not sure they will be as good as USC or ASU, but they are definately top 25 material.
22. Penn State - Losing Sean Lee will no doubt hurt Joe Pa's chances of returning his squad to the BCS, but this is still a talented team that could surprise some teams this year. In fact if OSU is not careful, they could be in for a surprise.
23. Michigan Wolverines - Michigan are another team who lost a lot last year. Tackle Jake Long, and QB Chad Henne are now teammates with the Dolphins, and Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington made the leap to the NFL too. Still with rich Rodriguez coming to Ann Arbor, I think this team will be on the mend.
24. Wake Forest - This was a ballclub that surprised a lot of people last year, and one season later, they are even better. This team will win some games, and will make life tough on ACC opponents all season long.
25. Pittsburgh - This final spot was a tough one to call. I feel like Alabama is equally deserving of this 25 spot but playing them head-to-head I think Pitt would win. They shocked West Virginia late last season, and I think this year this team will be a force. They are a reason the Big East is quickly becoming one of the best confrences in the nation.
1. USC Trojans - The top ranked team should be the team expected to be winning the National Championship this year, and right now I expect that team to be the Trojans. They have lots of talent on both sides of the ball, and I expect this team to dominate the PAC 10, all season long.
2. Georgia Bulldogs - The AP's top team is still my selection for a National Title Game appearance. Unfortunately I think that Matt Stafford and Mr Heisman Candidate Moreno will come up short in January.
3. Ohio State - Participants in the last two National Title Games, the Bucs are going to be a very good squad. They will do as they did last year, and lay in wait for the teams above them to slip up, and if they do, OSU could head to their third straight. But can they finally win one?
4. Florida Gators - The Bulldogs may be the best in the SEC, but not by a big margin. The Gators return the Heisman Trophy with Timmy Tebow, and have the exciting Percy Harvin to help put points on the board. If this team beats the Dawgs in the Backyard BBQ in Jacksonville, they may run directly to the National Title Game.
5. LSU Tigers - Both polls have the Sooners as a top 5 program, but I dont see them beating this LSU team head-to-head. This means the Tigers get my call for the fifth spot. That's right, 3 teams from the SEC in the top 5. Kinda scary huh?
6. Oklahoma Sooners - How good the Sooners will be early on is not really debateable, but can they keep the pace all season long? They play a favorable schedule, but the Red river shootout is never an easy game. If they play to their talent they could make a run for the top spot.
7. Missouri Tigers - The Tigers came from relative anonymity to become a player on the national scene. With Chase back behind center, the Tiger will be a threat to win the Big 12.
8. Clemson Tigers - Ok. Seriously. How good could one confrence be? First Georgia, then Florida, then LSU, and now Clemson. And please don't think these Tigers are going to be an afterthought. This team can play with anyone and they will make their opponents fight all season long.
9. Auburn Tigers - As if it were planned, for the thrid spot in a row on my poll I have the Tigers. Only this time these Tigers are from Alabama. Auburn become the 5th SEC team in my top ten, and if that doesn't speak to the power of this confrence than nothing will. Auburn will be a force in the SEC and on the national scene.
10. Texas Longhorns - The Longhorns round out the top ten. This team always seems to be a player in the national picture. They will be good enough to give opponents in the Big 12 fits. Under the right circumstances, this team could make a run for the top.
11. West Virginia Mountaineers - Both of the national polls had the Mountaineers ranked higher than this, but I expect to see this team take a step backwards. Steve Slaton and Darius Reynaud are gone, and so is Rich Rodriguez. Can't see this team not stepping back a bit.
12. Texas Tech - If the SEC is the class of the Nation, the Big 12 is a close second. Texas Tech is a vastly improved team, and they are deserving of this number 12 ranking. They will be formidable on both sides of the ball and they will be one of the bright spots in this year's season.
13. Wisconsin Badgers - After OSU, the Badgers are the best team in the Big 10. They are steady performers each and every year. Unfortunately, again, they will lack the firepower needed to make a run for the title.
14. Virginia Tech Hokies - One of the bright spots last season, the Hokies made some serious noise when it came time to select the national title game participants. I don't quite expect for them to be as good this season though. Xavier Adibi, the team's heart and soul on defense is gone, as is top corner Brandon Flowers, and those two will be sorely missed.
15. Arizona State Sun Devils - How good is Dennis Erickson's squad. I think we will find them to be the only team in the PAC 10 that can challenge the Trojans. The Sun Devils will be improved over last year's upstart team. That could mean an even better finishing rank than this 15 spot.
16. BYU Cougars - The Cougars won 10 games last year, but the were not really challeneged too often. Still, they are a very good team. I expect for them to put up some offense and this will lead to more wins, as they still are the best in their confrence.
17. Tennessee Vols - I know, I know, another team from the overloaded SEC. You have to wonder how anyone could survive that confrence schedule. The Vols will be players again, and depending on how they deal with the Gators in their annual early season battle, the rest of their season could hang in the balance.
18. Kansas Jayhawks - This team feels a bit overrated to me. Despit their performance last year, I still have a hard time calling this team one of the best in the nation. In fact, both of the national polls have this team ranked even higher than I do, but I expect that this team will suffer their first lost early on when the visit Tampa.
19. South Florida Bulls - This is another team with a great story. They are a team on the rise, and they will be facing a tough Big East schedule but an early season tangle with the Jayhawks will show everyone what South Florida is really made of. Also, George Selvie is an early season favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.
20. Illinois Fighting Illini - The Illini are going to miss first round selection Rashard Mendenhall. He was such a large part of what Illinois did offensively. If they can replace some of his production, this team is still talented enough to make some Big 10 teams nervous.
21. Oregon Ducks - The Ducks lost a lot when Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart made the leap to the pros. Still it is my expectation that the Ducks will be a great team this year. I am not sure they will be as good as USC or ASU, but they are definately top 25 material.
23. Michigan Wolverines - Michigan are another team who lost a lot last year. Tackle Jake Long, and QB Chad Henne are now teammates with the Dolphins, and Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington made the leap to the NFL too. Still with rich Rodriguez coming to Ann Arbor, I think this team will be on the mend.
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