Most Overrated Teams:
Cal ? Good QB in Aaron Rogers and a great receiver with Geoff McArthur but there isn?t much past that and I expect this team to lose at least two during the regular season even with a light Pac-10 schedule
Utah ? This team may be good for the Mountain West, but to rank them among the nation?s elite is a disgrace, as was TCU being there last year, I do not care about their record, make them play somebody good and then see what happens.
Clemson ? I just have a feeling this team is setting itself up for a let down with the way it finished 2003. A really good finish to one season usually means overly high expectations for the next season. Though Clemson is pretty good at the skill positions, they are weak in the trenches and that is where the games are won. Also, with the additions of Miami and VaTech to the ACC, Clemson?s schedule just got a whole lot tougher.
Most Underrated Teams:
NCState ? This team is still good even without Philip Rivers. T.A. McClendon is a great running back and the offensive line is 2nd best in the ACC to FSU and top 10 nationally. The best player on the team is safety Andre Maddox, and Mario Williams and Pat Thomas hold up the other levels of the defense very well.
Auburn ? There is something about the year after you are supposed to be good. Auburn made a big mistake with promoting O-Line coach Hugh Nall to OC last season and fixed that with West Coast guru Al Borges. The schedule gets a lot easier from last year having to play both National Champions and now gets both LSU and UGA at home while the only other team they play that is ranked in the preseason 25 is Tennesee. Look for Auburn to be a sleeper for the SEC Championship if they can pull an upset over LSU in week 3.
Wisconsin ? A great running back with Anthony Davis, one of the best O-Lines in the country and a solid defense should mean good things for Wisconsin. Not having to play Michigan this year is also a big plus. Jim Leonhard and Anttaj Hawthorne are the All-Stars on defense and Brandon Williams should provide a good target for Sophomore QB John Stocco.
Best QBs:
Matt Leinhart, USC
Brad Smith, Missouri
Jason White, Okahoma
David Greene, Georgia
Charlie Frye, Akron
Best Running Backs:
Darren Sproles, K State
Carnell Williams, Auburn
Cedric Benson, Texas
Anthony Davis, Wisconsin
Marion Barber III, Minnesota
Reggie Bush, USC
Best WRs:
Braylon Edwards, Michigan
Mark Clayton, Oklahoma
Craphonso Thorpe, FSU
Geoff McArthur, Cal
Fred Gibson, Georgia
Best DBs:
Corey Webster, LSU
Jammal Brimmer, UNLV
Antrel Rolle, Miami
Marlin Jackson, Michigan
Carlos Rogers, Auburn
Best LBs:
Derrick Johnson, Texas
Abdul Hodge, Iowa
Channing Crowder, Florida
Will Derting, Wash. St.
Kevin Simon, Tennesee
Best OL (unit):
Wisconsin
Oklahoma
Florida State
Michigan
Texas
Best DL (unit):
USC
Georgia
Oklahoma
Texas
Miami
Dissecting the AP Preseason Top 10:
1. USC ? They are a great team, with great coaching and an easy schedule? I do not see any reason why this team should not run the table. Matt Grootegoed, though a little undersized is a great linebacker and Reggie Bush is a future All-American in waiting. With the loss of Hershel Dennis and a lot of 1st time starters in at wide receiver, he may get his chance earlier than thought. Even with all the losses at wide receiver this team is loaded with talent and should reload just fine. If USC played an SEC schedule, durability may be a concern and the chance of going unblemished would be more likely but, as it is, they are in the Pac-10? you?ll see them in Miami.
2. Oklahoma ? Another loaded team but this team has a couple of question marks? Did the loss of Mike Stoops have more of an impact than most thought? Did K-State and LSU make obvious a major weakness to the OU offense that other teams will now see on film to be able to beat this superpower? Jason White may have won the Heisman but he may not even be the starter by the end of the year. The running game should get a boost from Adrian Peterson and Remi Ayodele should help replace All-American Tommy Harris.
3. LSU ? Lost a lot of talent to the NFL but reloaded with their great recruiting classes of the past few years and out of the JUCO ranks. The secondary should be the best in the nation and Justin Vincent should give Marcus Randall time to settle in at QB. Though there shouldn?t be much of a drop off in talent, will the schedule be too much to handle with road trips to Athens and Auburn?
4. Georgia ? Though this team is returning a lot of players from its SEC East Championship year, yet I still believe it is a step behind the three teams ahead of them talent wise. Though the O-Line returns the entire unit, it is also a unit that led the SEC in sacks aloud. The loss of Kregg Lumpkin hurt because they lost their number 1 rusher and had to take Michael Cooper off of WR back to RB to fill the void. Also, with a #1 cornerback being 5?6? and the #2 never having started before and with coverage concerns from the safeties, the secondary could be a concern.
5. Miami ? They are always good, right? This team has lost more 1st round talent in the past 3 years than most schools have in their entire history, yet they continue to reload. The ACC should bring a tougher schedule, and though there isn?t anyone more talented on their schedule the week to week grind will be much tougher than the Big East. Still a QB question also.
6. Florida State ? It is very possible that the winner of the Miami-FSU opener runs the table and the other ends up with just one loss, but with stints at Miami, at Maryland and at NC State, FSU?s road to an ACC Championship just got a heck of a lot harder this year. This could also be the year that Bobby Bowden?s boy Chris Rix comes through to his potential.
7. Michigan ? The Big Ten got a littler deeper this year with more talent coming from Minnesota and Wisconsin but the Big Ten Championship should still come down to the showdown with Ohio State at Michigan this year. QB Matt Gutierrez should pick up the offense fine and Braylon Edwards should be one of the best WR?s in the nation. Michigan will probably have running back by committee but that should work out fine with the offensive line they?ve got.
8. Texas - Once again they are one of the most talented teams in the country, but they are going to lose to Oklahoma again, and probably someone else? Vincent Young is a great young, athletic QB, and Cedric Benson is one of the best RB?s in the country. They have a solid defense led by Derrick Johnson, but if Mack Brown can?t put together at least a 10 win season and keep the game with Oklahoma respectable, there could be a new sheriff in town come next year, and I?ve got a hint, he likes to wear visors.
9. Ohio State ? This team has lost too much talent over the past two years to keep winning the nail-bitters that have gotten them the good seasons they have had. With the loss of a great leader and solid quarterback, Craig Krenzel, the Buckeyes will have a much harder time pulling out games like the NC State and SDSU wins from 2003.
10. Florida ? This team may still be a little too raw to be here. Channing Crowder is a great LB but is only a Sophomore, same with Chris Leak. It really seemed like Florida turned it around the second half of the season after losses to Miami, Tennesee and Ole Miss but then had a tough loss to FSU to close out the regular season and looked bad against Iowa in their bowl game.
Top 10 (pre-Bowl and Conference Championship games)
1. USC (11-0)
2. Michigan (11-0)
3. Oklahoma (10-1)
4. LSU (10-1)
5. Miami (10-1)
6. Texas (9-2)
7. Florida State (9-2)
8. Georgia (9-2)
9. Ohio State (9-2)
10. Auburn (9-2)
Michigan and USC reap the benefits of not playing a conference championship while UGA and Oklahoma both fall in theirs. LSU loses to UGA in Athens. Miami loses at NC State. Texas loses to Oklahoma and Missouri. Florida State loses their Opener to Miami and at Maryland. Georgia loses to Florida yet again and at Auburn. Ohio State loses at Michigan and at NC State. Auburn loses to LSU at home and at Tennessee.
Unfortunately it is a rematch with USC vs. Michigan (Orange) and LSU returns to New Orleans to play Missouri (Sugar) but it shakes up when Miami plays former conference foe West Virginia (Fiesta) and Ohio State plays Auburn (Rose).
Heisman Trophy goes to: Matt Leinart
Big East Champ: West Virginia
Pac 10 Champ: USC
Big Ten Champ: Michigan
Big XII Champ: Missouri
SEC Champ: LSU
Rose Bowl: Auburn
Fiesta Bowl: Miami
Sugar: LSU
Orange: USC
National Champion: USC
Final Top 10 Rankings:
1. USC (12-0) def. Michigan
2. Michigan (11-1) loss USC
3. LSU (12-1) def. Missouri
4. Miami (11-1) def. West Virginia
5. Auburn (10-2) def. Ohio State
6. Florida State (10-2) def. Texas
7. Oklahoma (10-2) def. Cal
8. Georgia (10-3) def. Wisconsin
9. Missouri (10-3) loss LSU
10. Ohio State (9-3) loss Auburn
Cal ? Good QB in Aaron Rogers and a great receiver with Geoff McArthur but there isn?t much past that and I expect this team to lose at least two during the regular season even with a light Pac-10 schedule
Utah ? This team may be good for the Mountain West, but to rank them among the nation?s elite is a disgrace, as was TCU being there last year, I do not care about their record, make them play somebody good and then see what happens.
Clemson ? I just have a feeling this team is setting itself up for a let down with the way it finished 2003. A really good finish to one season usually means overly high expectations for the next season. Though Clemson is pretty good at the skill positions, they are weak in the trenches and that is where the games are won. Also, with the additions of Miami and VaTech to the ACC, Clemson?s schedule just got a whole lot tougher.
Most Underrated Teams:
NCState ? This team is still good even without Philip Rivers. T.A. McClendon is a great running back and the offensive line is 2nd best in the ACC to FSU and top 10 nationally. The best player on the team is safety Andre Maddox, and Mario Williams and Pat Thomas hold up the other levels of the defense very well.
Auburn ? There is something about the year after you are supposed to be good. Auburn made a big mistake with promoting O-Line coach Hugh Nall to OC last season and fixed that with West Coast guru Al Borges. The schedule gets a lot easier from last year having to play both National Champions and now gets both LSU and UGA at home while the only other team they play that is ranked in the preseason 25 is Tennesee. Look for Auburn to be a sleeper for the SEC Championship if they can pull an upset over LSU in week 3.
Wisconsin ? A great running back with Anthony Davis, one of the best O-Lines in the country and a solid defense should mean good things for Wisconsin. Not having to play Michigan this year is also a big plus. Jim Leonhard and Anttaj Hawthorne are the All-Stars on defense and Brandon Williams should provide a good target for Sophomore QB John Stocco.
Best QBs:
Matt Leinhart, USC
Brad Smith, Missouri
Jason White, Okahoma
David Greene, Georgia
Charlie Frye, Akron
Best Running Backs:
Darren Sproles, K State
Carnell Williams, Auburn
Cedric Benson, Texas
Anthony Davis, Wisconsin
Marion Barber III, Minnesota
Reggie Bush, USC
Best WRs:
Braylon Edwards, Michigan
Mark Clayton, Oklahoma
Craphonso Thorpe, FSU
Geoff McArthur, Cal
Fred Gibson, Georgia
Best DBs:
Corey Webster, LSU
Jammal Brimmer, UNLV
Antrel Rolle, Miami
Marlin Jackson, Michigan
Carlos Rogers, Auburn
Best LBs:
Derrick Johnson, Texas
Abdul Hodge, Iowa
Channing Crowder, Florida
Will Derting, Wash. St.
Kevin Simon, Tennesee
Best OL (unit):
Wisconsin
Oklahoma
Florida State
Michigan
Texas
Best DL (unit):
USC
Georgia
Oklahoma
Texas
Miami
Dissecting the AP Preseason Top 10:
1. USC ? They are a great team, with great coaching and an easy schedule? I do not see any reason why this team should not run the table. Matt Grootegoed, though a little undersized is a great linebacker and Reggie Bush is a future All-American in waiting. With the loss of Hershel Dennis and a lot of 1st time starters in at wide receiver, he may get his chance earlier than thought. Even with all the losses at wide receiver this team is loaded with talent and should reload just fine. If USC played an SEC schedule, durability may be a concern and the chance of going unblemished would be more likely but, as it is, they are in the Pac-10? you?ll see them in Miami.
2. Oklahoma ? Another loaded team but this team has a couple of question marks? Did the loss of Mike Stoops have more of an impact than most thought? Did K-State and LSU make obvious a major weakness to the OU offense that other teams will now see on film to be able to beat this superpower? Jason White may have won the Heisman but he may not even be the starter by the end of the year. The running game should get a boost from Adrian Peterson and Remi Ayodele should help replace All-American Tommy Harris.
3. LSU ? Lost a lot of talent to the NFL but reloaded with their great recruiting classes of the past few years and out of the JUCO ranks. The secondary should be the best in the nation and Justin Vincent should give Marcus Randall time to settle in at QB. Though there shouldn?t be much of a drop off in talent, will the schedule be too much to handle with road trips to Athens and Auburn?
4. Georgia ? Though this team is returning a lot of players from its SEC East Championship year, yet I still believe it is a step behind the three teams ahead of them talent wise. Though the O-Line returns the entire unit, it is also a unit that led the SEC in sacks aloud. The loss of Kregg Lumpkin hurt because they lost their number 1 rusher and had to take Michael Cooper off of WR back to RB to fill the void. Also, with a #1 cornerback being 5?6? and the #2 never having started before and with coverage concerns from the safeties, the secondary could be a concern.
5. Miami ? They are always good, right? This team has lost more 1st round talent in the past 3 years than most schools have in their entire history, yet they continue to reload. The ACC should bring a tougher schedule, and though there isn?t anyone more talented on their schedule the week to week grind will be much tougher than the Big East. Still a QB question also.
6. Florida State ? It is very possible that the winner of the Miami-FSU opener runs the table and the other ends up with just one loss, but with stints at Miami, at Maryland and at NC State, FSU?s road to an ACC Championship just got a heck of a lot harder this year. This could also be the year that Bobby Bowden?s boy Chris Rix comes through to his potential.
7. Michigan ? The Big Ten got a littler deeper this year with more talent coming from Minnesota and Wisconsin but the Big Ten Championship should still come down to the showdown with Ohio State at Michigan this year. QB Matt Gutierrez should pick up the offense fine and Braylon Edwards should be one of the best WR?s in the nation. Michigan will probably have running back by committee but that should work out fine with the offensive line they?ve got.
8. Texas - Once again they are one of the most talented teams in the country, but they are going to lose to Oklahoma again, and probably someone else? Vincent Young is a great young, athletic QB, and Cedric Benson is one of the best RB?s in the country. They have a solid defense led by Derrick Johnson, but if Mack Brown can?t put together at least a 10 win season and keep the game with Oklahoma respectable, there could be a new sheriff in town come next year, and I?ve got a hint, he likes to wear visors.
9. Ohio State ? This team has lost too much talent over the past two years to keep winning the nail-bitters that have gotten them the good seasons they have had. With the loss of a great leader and solid quarterback, Craig Krenzel, the Buckeyes will have a much harder time pulling out games like the NC State and SDSU wins from 2003.
10. Florida ? This team may still be a little too raw to be here. Channing Crowder is a great LB but is only a Sophomore, same with Chris Leak. It really seemed like Florida turned it around the second half of the season after losses to Miami, Tennesee and Ole Miss but then had a tough loss to FSU to close out the regular season and looked bad against Iowa in their bowl game.
Top 10 (pre-Bowl and Conference Championship games)
1. USC (11-0)
2. Michigan (11-0)
3. Oklahoma (10-1)
4. LSU (10-1)
5. Miami (10-1)
6. Texas (9-2)
7. Florida State (9-2)
8. Georgia (9-2)
9. Ohio State (9-2)
10. Auburn (9-2)
Michigan and USC reap the benefits of not playing a conference championship while UGA and Oklahoma both fall in theirs. LSU loses to UGA in Athens. Miami loses at NC State. Texas loses to Oklahoma and Missouri. Florida State loses their Opener to Miami and at Maryland. Georgia loses to Florida yet again and at Auburn. Ohio State loses at Michigan and at NC State. Auburn loses to LSU at home and at Tennessee.
Unfortunately it is a rematch with USC vs. Michigan (Orange) and LSU returns to New Orleans to play Missouri (Sugar) but it shakes up when Miami plays former conference foe West Virginia (Fiesta) and Ohio State plays Auburn (Rose).
Heisman Trophy goes to: Matt Leinart
Big East Champ: West Virginia
Pac 10 Champ: USC
Big Ten Champ: Michigan
Big XII Champ: Missouri
SEC Champ: LSU
Rose Bowl: Auburn
Fiesta Bowl: Miami
Sugar: LSU
Orange: USC
National Champion: USC
Final Top 10 Rankings:
1. USC (12-0) def. Michigan
2. Michigan (11-1) loss USC
3. LSU (12-1) def. Missouri
4. Miami (11-1) def. West Virginia
5. Auburn (10-2) def. Ohio State
6. Florida State (10-2) def. Texas
7. Oklahoma (10-2) def. Cal
8. Georgia (10-3) def. Wisconsin
9. Missouri (10-3) loss LSU
10. Ohio State (9-3) loss Auburn
