Blogpoll Ballot – Preseason
10 comments so far
August 22, 2008 by
Here again we present the Big Red Network ballot for the college football top 25 poll at M Go Blog. No longer does Hawaii or any other non-BCS program get the benefit of the doubt as they did a year ago in the aftermath of Boise State’s upset of Oklahoma. We need to see another big upset by a non-BCS conference preferably over a team that fares a little better in bowl games than OU has recently.
I’d love to tell you this was painstakingly researched and each position scrutinized but it pretty closely resembles the consensus expectations. Preseason polls have little basis (unless you just start where you ended a year ago). Some Big 12 teams took a hit as I think Missouri isn’t a top five team and Kansas isn’t a top 25 team. I made a homer pick with Nebraska at #25, though I think they can get there by season’s end.
1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. USC
4. OU
5. Florida
6. West Virginia
7. Clemson
8. LSU
9. Texas
10. Mizzou
11. Auburn
12. Wisconsin
13. Texas Tech
14. BYU
15. Virginia Tech
16. ASU
17. Tennessee
18. Illinois
19. PSU
20. South Florida
21. Oregon
22. Wake Forest
23. Fresno State
24. Utah
25. Nebraska
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Mark Aug 22 08
Wow. No Kansas and Missouri all the way down at #10.
Kansas... a 12-1 team that is coming off a BCS win and returns most of its starters isn't in your top 25 and a team which had one of the worst defenses in college football (including a 76-point beatdown to Kansas) is at #25. That's isn't "homer" it is insane.
And Missouri at #10....they will probably run the table and play Oklahoma in the B12 championship for a spot in the national championship game. They should be in the top 5.
I guess it will take another year or two of beat downs before you realize that the order of the B12 North has changed.
Dwayne Aug 22 08
KU will have a minimum of 5 losses.
bnahusker Aug 22 08
There will be a very loud thud heard when Kansas falls back to earth. They had a great season in '07, and deserve all of the praise that they received. Look at the schedule closely and you'll see a tough road ahead.
As far as Missouri goes, pollsters will look for any reason to knock them down so the Big 11 and SEC can move up. I fear that one stumble will kill this team. Historically,the Columbia Kitties seem to find a way to grab mediocrity when greatness is at hand. Each time they reach #1, they lose the next game. They had chances in the 70's and 80's to make moves, and shot themselves in the foot every time.
As far as another year or two of beat downs? Mizzou has 4 losing seasons in the last 8 years. The Huskers have 2 losing seasons in the last 45. You don't really want to go down this road, do you?
Have a great weekend all!
GBR
Bob
Mark Aug 22 08
Eh...KU isn't going to so much fall to Earth an gently drift in the mid-teens of the poll. Their only for sure loss is Oklahoma - They get Texas and Tech at home, where they are very very good. I expect them to take one of those two. Then they have South Florida...could go either way. You're looking at a KU team that will go 8-4.
Missouri....if history is all that matters, then yeah, maybe they will blow it, but I don't think so...they are talented, and focused.
Nebraska will lose to both those teams (but I do think you'll beat V Tech, so party in Lincoln), and will probably end up 7-5 and go to a minor bowl.
Extrapoint Aug 22 08
Nebraska will win 9 games this year.
The biggest flop will be the pretenders from Boulder, Co. and that salesman coach of theirs.
Steve Aug 22 08
Hi Mark,
I'm happy to show my work here. Illinois is no gimme for Missouri, nor is Texas, OU, or their bowl game. A two-loss team could end up at #10 as could a three loss team (either of which Missouri could end up). With their new defensive coordinator, Texas in particular could reassert itself as a force in the conference and so it seemed right to put the Longhorns ahead of the Tigers. I also don't entirely rule out a Husker upset given the game is in Lincoln and Missouri hasn't won there in 30 years.
And I see KU losing to OU, Texas, Texas Tech, and Mizzou. I also think either South Florida or Nebraska or both will capsize the Jawhawks. The Huskers haven't lost to KU in Lincoln in 40 years. The bowl game draw could be harsh too. Aqib Talib is gone. Their All-American lineman is gone. And 5 or 6 loss teams don't tend to get ranked.
I don't expect a KU fan to agree. But the Vegas Insider had KU at 8 wins which means half the people would take the under. And if the team goes 7-5,7-6, 6-6, or 6-7 then they won't be ranked and half of the betting public will be right.
I'm definitely taking a risk by picking NU at #25, but Dave Curtis of the Sporting News (not a Husker fan) also thinks the Huskers will be "9-3 better" (a direct quote). So it's not just NU fans that think it's possible for the Huskers to return to relevance nationally. If we actually had some games to look at for the poll I might vote differently. For now, they're #25.
Mark Aug 22 08
Fair enough, Steve. I disagree with your reasoning (I don't see Tech or Texas winning in Lawrence, and as I said before, I don't see Mizzou losing at all til late November at the earliest)
But, that's why they play the games :-)
Austin Aug 22 08
Good list. I agree with most of it. Couple of things... I don't agree with Clemson being a top 10 team. Yeah, they got the talent and are in "weaker" conference, but they never seem to deliver on high preseason expectations.
Also, I think WVU will have some late season trouble with Rich Rod throwing out of the top 10.
I see Kansas dropping to around the 20's and Nebraska will crack the top 25 after the Va Tech game (which will be a win). Then NU will probably drop out for a bit, then return by season's end.
On a side note: foxsports.com has Marlon Lucky as one of the top 10 college football breakout candidates.
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/pgStory?contentId=8477432&photoId=8474628#sport=COLLEGE%20FOOTBALL&photo=8475648
Greg Morrow Aug 22 08
If Nebraska beats Virginia Tech, then goes 4-4 in conference, I don't think they'd deserve a Top 25 ranking. Losses, of course, being to T-Tech, Missouri, Kansas and Okie.
It would simply demonstrate that Nebraska can't beat a top 25 team this year, if this is how it plays out. I'll assume that these teams will span the breadth of the rankings, I don't think they'll hog the Top Ten, like last year.
Nebraska HAS to split with Kansas and Missouri, to demonstrate a jump in progress.
It's still funny to me that most people would say beating Missouri is unthinkable, or even Kansas. I think those home games should be a little more electric, with a little more wattage generating from the stands. Wild hunch, sure. The linebackers will have to be up to speed, though. If not...
At this last weekend before game preparation schedule, Nebraska fully deserves the (almost) consensus mid 40's ranking.
Gotta show it.
JBLING22 Aug 23 08
I agree 100 percent with Steve, Kansas will lose at least 3 times, Everyone is talking about how rough Georgia's schedule is, Kansas really dosn't have a cake walk either... I will say this for the jayhawks however, if for some reason they have a one loss or god forbid a no loss season they should be a lock for a national championship game.. I mean com'on they play the 3 best teams in Big Twelve South, T-Tech , Texas, Oklahoma, and then play in an improving north division all while playing south florida .......