Below you’ll find the ESPN experts early season top 25, and my explanation about why its all wrong. I can’t say I’ve done all my research yet, but its not too early to say that these guys are morons. Since I’m not exactly going out on a limb cutting these guys predictions down, I’ll give you a sample of my thoughts afterwards.
| Maisel | Ford | Average | |||||
| USC | 25 | 25 | 25 | Even I thought these guys would be ranked #1 in ’05. However, these guys are still overrated – especially on defense. Somehow CFN actually calls their creampuff schedule "brutal". What a joke! |
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| Michigan | 23 | 24 | 23.5 | So you lose the best player off an average Big 10 team and you move up to #2 |
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| Texas | 24 | 23 | 23.5 | Vince Young is the best athelete in college football but should be playing receiver. Brown is a good lobbyist but a bad coach |
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| Iowa | 22 | 21 | 21.5 | Had they not beaten LSU on a fluke play at the end of last year would they really be ranked this high. Does anyone really thing two Big 10 teams are top 5 material? |
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| Virginia Tech | 20 | 20 | 20 | Four year senior QB replaced by someone related to a good QB doesn’t make you a good team. ACC eats them alive. |
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| Florida | 21 | 18 | 19.5 | This rating’s a little high, but with a little luck, these guys could have been undefeated in the regular season last year losing 4 games by 7 or less to LSU, UGA, Tenn, & MSU |
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| Tennessee | 16 | 22 | 19 | This will be the best UT team since 1998. Early schedule is a nightmare at UF, at LSU, and UGA by 10/8. |
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| Miami | 18 | 17 | 17.5 | I hate them, but they are a top 5 team. Anything less than undefeated should be a disappointment |
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| Ohio State | 15 | 19 | 17 | This is the best team in the Big 10. If they beat Texas they should win them all. |
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| Louisville | 14 | 16 | 15 | Over-rated weak conference team. Pathetic schedule earns them Big East BCS bid. |
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| Auburn | 19 | 9 | 14 | Did anyone notice that they’re 3 best offensive and 2 best defensive players are in the NFL? 3 losses drops them out of top 20 |
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| Florida State | 12 | 14 | 13 | I know nothing about this team except they didn’t have anyone good enough to take Rix’s job last year. Expect a few losses. |
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| Georgia | 11 | 12 | 11.5 | David and David are gone. The leadership drain takes its toll. At least 3 losses – LSU, UF, Tenn, Auburn, USC, Ga Tech. |
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| LSU | 8 | 15 | 11.5 | Everyone’s back. If Miles is at least a decent coach, this is a top 5 team. Best RB’s, WR’s, and OL in the country. 7 Sr. starters on defense. |
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| Texas A&M | 13 | 8 | 10.5 | Did you see the Cotton bowl? These guys suck and are ranked because the media loves Fran |
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| Boise State | 7 | 11 | 9 | Blue Field + Cupcake schedule = top 25. Have fun in Athens:) |
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| Oklahoma | 17 | 0 | 8.5 | Adrian Peterson is great, but he may be the only player off the two deep returning on offense |
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| Arizona State | 9 | 6 | 7.5 | Not impressed last year and lost their QB |
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| Nebraska | 10 | 0 | 5 | A winning season would be a huge accomplishment |
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| Texas Tech | 0 | 10 | 5 | Should do well as the Big 12 stinks outside of Austin |
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| Cal | 5 | 4 | 4.5 | Let’s see, lost every decent player on the team. Cupcake conference helps, but their in for a big letdown |
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| Fresno State | 0 | 7 | 3.5 | I will not bother rating them |
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| Bowling Green | 1 | 5 | 3 | Or them | |||
| Wisconsin | 6 | 0 | 3 | Why do people like the Big 10 all of a sudden? |
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| Wyoming | 4 | 1 | 2.5 | These guys must be good they were able to go 3 – 4 in the Mountain West last year |
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| Alabama | 3 | 0 | 1.5 | This will be an excellent team (top 10) if Croyle stays healthy |
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| Pittsburgh | 0 | 3 | 1.5 | Weren’t good last year, won’t be good this year, even in the Big East |
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| Georgia Tech | 2 | 0 | 1 | If I’m only putting 4 ACC teams in the top 25, Ga Tech is not one of them. |
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| Iowa State | 0 | 2 | 1 | There could be 9 teams in the Big 12 better than them |
In the SEC, LSU, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida will be the four best teams not taking into account schedule. Auburn and Georgia will make up the next tier followed by Arkansas, South Carolina, Ole Miss, MSU, Kentucky, and Vandy in order.
Outside the SEC, USC, Miami, and the winner of the Ohio State/Texas game will be contenders. If Texas loses, the Big 12 has no good teams. Michigan will look like a contender until OSU beats them the last game of the year. The Pac 10 doesn’t have anything outside of USC though some may try to jump on the ASU bandwagon if they play well early. ACC drops pretty big after UM (sorry). No other conference is worth noting.
No SEC team will finish undefeated. Miami has a chance to – even with the championship game. Texas doesn’t. Ohio State could. USC is still overrated somewhat, but their conference and schedule remain a joke so they’ll be undefeated again and again only have to play one good game.
