| Pollsters: |
Richie Weldon |
Steen Lawson |
Rob Rochholz |
| 1. |
Oklahoma
Stacked at all ends and ready to bring
home another crystal football. My Las Vegas bookie says 4 - 1 on a
Fiesta Bowl win...I'm gonna have to agree! |
Oklahoma
A good offense
is all that is needed for a second National Championship in three
years. It looks like this year they will have what it takes to put
enough points on the board in case their opponents actually score
once or twice. See you in Tempe Sooners. |
Miami
Sure, the
Canes are losing eight starters on offense. But it won’t matter
much with senior QB Ken Dorsey at the helm. All Dorsey has done
is go 26-1 as a starter in his career. Defensively, Miami forced
a nation-best 45 turnovers last season and look for much of the
same as the Canes return perhaps the best defensive line in the
country. |
| 2. |
Florida State
NC State & UNC better get ready for
revenge; it's a dish best served cold. |
Miami
Miami looks to
do in this decade what FSU did in the last one, Dominate. In order
to do that all they have to do is get the first pick of the high
school players in their own back yard plus the nation's best QB
prospect and leave the leftovers to FSU and UF. So far it looks
like the plan is working. Look for the Hurricanes to extend their
winning streak right into a showdown with Oklahoma in Tempe for
the Fiesta Bowl. |
Oklahoma
Most Sooner
fans viewed last year as a disappointment, especially since it
ended with an embarrassing loss to rival Oklahoma State. This
time around, OU benefits from a schedule that fails to include
either Nebraska or Kansas State. Translation: this could be the
finest year in Norman since, well, 2000.
|
| 3. |
Tennessee
With Florida "down", Tennessee should
have a good year. |
Tennessee
Except for a
home game against Miami the Vols pull a typical SEC
schedule trick of easy games so the regular season seems more
important. The SEC East is killer this year so an undefeated SEC
run would put them in major contention. Have fun with the
Hurricanes boys. |
Florida State
Can they
rebound from a dismal 2001? Absolutely. Last year was an
aberration by Seminole standards, and a return to normalcy is
expected -- if not demanded -- by FSU fans. Chris Rix, after an
encouraging freshman season at QB, is back to lead Bobby’s boys,
who again have a make-or-break non-conference slate featuring
Miami, Notre Dame, Florida and Louisville.
|
| 4. |
Miami
First loss since playing at Washington
in 2000 is coming the 'Canes way...but to who? |
Washington St.
This is a hard
one to call. I think the Cougars will go undefeated in
the Pac-10. I also think they will loose to Ohio State in
Columbus. Sorry boys but playing at Husky Stadium or Autzen
Stadium may be loud but it is not nearly as intimidating as
playing a good Buckeye team at the Horseshoe. Roses still smell
pretty sweet to me. |
Tennessee
The Vols are
full of new faces, returning just a handful of starters from a
year ago. At least they’ll be able to ease into things facing
lightweights Wyoming, Rutgers and Middle Tennessee the first
month. In fact, the Vols have only a single road game -- at
Georgia -- prior to November. If Tennessee should win that one
over the Dawgs, the Vols will be sitting pretty with Miami riding
into Neyland on November 9.
|
| 5. |
Texas
Likely to move on down the stack if Simms still cannot win the big
game. |
Colorado
The Buffs have
all the makings of doing the same thing they did last
year and maybe more. A trip to Norman in early November will tell
the tale even though they could meet again in the Big 12
Championship. Let's also hope that Jeremy Bloom will get to be
part of the locker room celebrations. |
Colorado
After Colorado
lost at home to Fresno State last year, the Buffs practically fell
off the college football map. The Buffs bounced back to win the
Big 12 title and were within earshot of a national title at
season's end. With QB Craig Ochs at full strength this year, it
looks like road games against Nebraska and Oklahoma may be the
only barriers to an unbeaten season.
|
| 6. |
Nebraska
One day the Huskers will make it back
to 12-0 seasons. One day. |
Florida
Could there be
a worse job in America right now than being the
replacement for Steve Spurrier? The Gators have a whale of a
challenge ahead with three games against Top 10 teams and two are
on the road. Let the fight for the State Championship of Florida
begin! |
Washington
State
What?!
Washington State?! Yes, the Cougars are a Top 10 team this season
-- at least on paper. QB Jason Gesser topped Joey Harrington to
lead the Pac-10 in passing last season though few probably knew
it. With the Cougars hosting both Washington and Oregon in
Pullman, the Pac-10 title is theirs for the taking. But you still
have to wonder why Washington State recently cancelled its
scheduled Nov. 30 game at Hawaii. Did they learn from BYU's
experience?
|
| 7. |
Florida
New coach Ron Zook will make good
things happen; Steve Spurrier would have made them even better.
|
Texas
I am not
impressed with super blondie Chris Simms. Four easy non-conference
games might be setting the lad and Horns fans up for a big
disappointment when they meet the Sooners. |
Georgia
The Dawgs look
to be one of the more balanced teams in the country and don't have
many question marks on either side of the ball. David Greene was
the SEC freshman of the year at quarterback and he could put up
Rex Grossman-type numbers in the league this season. The
Tennessee-Georgia game in Athens Oct. 12 will likely be for a
berth in the SEC Championship game.
|
| 8. |
Michigan
Revenge on the Huskies? |
Ohio State
The Buckeyes
were inconsistent last year. Chalk that up to the new coach and
all that baggage. This year greatness will be demanded and they
should come
through. |
Texas
Will QB Chris
Simms ever live up to expectations? He really has no excuse this
year, especially since he's throwing to perhaps the best group of
wide receivers in the country. Something tells me this will be a
typical Texas team . . . lots of preseason hype that fails to
materialize.
|
| 9. |
Washington State
It's now or never...don't Coug It! My
bookie says 22:1; I say it's worth a $5 bet! |
Washington
The Huskies can
get a great start to the season by marching into the Big House at
Michigan and winning. After that I am not so sure they can keep
their record clean. |
Florida
Welcome to the
big time, Ron Zook! Few first-time head coaches have faced
loftier expectations or had to follow in bigger footsteps. At
least Steve Spurrier left the cupboard full, with all-everything
QB Rex Grossman in charge. Now if Zook could just find a wide
receiver or two to replace the departed Jabar Gaffney and Reche
Caldwell.
|
| 10. |
Washington
Coach Rick Neuheisel has two major
things going for him -- consistency and 4th quarter comes backs. |
Florida
State
I am not an FSU
fan and I depend on schools like Miami and Florida to validate
this opinion. I give Bobby Bowden three more years before three-
and four-loss seasons force retirement. |
Michigan State
Repeat these
words after me ... "favorable schedule." Try starting the year
with five straight home games, including matchups with Eastern
Michigan, Rice and Cal. The Spartans, in fact, play only one road
game -- at mediocre Iowa -- among their first eight contests. QB
Jeff Smoker and WR Charles Rogers are one of the Big 10's best
tandems. Look for Michigan State to be on the cusp of a BCS bowl.
|
| 11 |
Colorado
No comment. No, really... I have no
comments about Colorado. Let's just wait and see until the next
poll comes out. |
Oregon
The Ducks have
one of the best coaches in the sport and he will keep their
winning ways. |
Oregon
The Ducks are
another team with eight home games and they might need all of them
as Coach Mike Bellotti looks for a replacement for Joey
Harrington. The new quarterback should be junior Jason Fife, and
some say he's a star in the making. Playing at wild Autzen
Stadium is almost an unfair advantage that will produce a number
of wins, but the young Ducks may find life difficult on the road
(at Washington State, Oregon State and UCLA).
|
| 12. |
Oregon
Damn, Joey Harrington left. The
Ducks are probably overrated being up this high in the poll. |
Georgia
Potentially the
Dogs have a shot at the SEC Championship, I can't wait for the
game with Tennessee between the hedges. |
Ohio State
Coach Jim
Tressel did the only thing required of an Ohio State coach last
season -- he beat Michigan. The Buckeyes might do something even
more impressive this season and win the Big 10 title. The good
news is that OSU doesn't have to face Michigan State. In fact,
the schedule is so kind that the Buckeyes have a legitimate,
though outside, shot at the national title.
|
| 13. |
Georgia
Forget about beating Flordia just
because Spurrier left town. Dawg fans need a better bite before
their bark will be felt. |
Louisville
Dave Ragone has
the potential to lead his team to greatness and a win against FSU
could put them on track to a BCS game. |
Michigan
The
Wolverines feature one of the country's best defenses, which
virtually guarantees them a chance to win each time out. The
question marks are all on offense. QB John Navarre struggled at
times in 2001, and will be surrounded by a lot of new faces in the
backfield and at wide receiver. Michigan's games with rivals
Michigan State and Ohio State will decide the Big 10 title
|
| 14. |
Ohio State
Nicely complementing the Wolverines to
try and make the conference look good; too bad the rest of the
teams will stink up the place. |
LSU
The Tigers have
been building a great talent base and the payoff is
starting to show. |
Washington
Cody Pickett
is back at QB -- apparently fully recovered from shoulder surgery
-- and will work behind a veteran offensive line. But how will a
young defensive line hold up? The Huskies face a monster opener
at Michigan and will be sitting pretty if they come out with a
win. Their next four games are against a quartet of dismal teams
that combined to go 7-38 a year ago.
|
| 15. |
UCLA
One of the Southern Cal schools had to
get the nod for being the preseason overrated PAC 10 team. |
Virginia
Tech
Being number
two in the Big East might be getting to familiar again. |
Nebraska
A preseason
poll without the Cornhuskers in the Top 10? Sure. Eric Crouch
won't be an easy replacement. The defense needs an overhaul after
being manhandled last year, giving up 62 points against Colorado
in the regular-season finale. Nebraska may not beat many quality
opponents this season but they'll still be securely perched in the
Top 25 on reputation alone.
|
| 16. |
Wisconsin
What can I say? I like teams that can
run the ball. The Badgers will have another 1000+ yard rusher this
season. |
Nebraska
It will be a
down year for the Huskers, maybe this year they will earn their
bowl game. |
Louisville
The Cardinals
have the best shot of any non-BCS team to make the big boys of
college football sweat. Louisville and star QB Dave Ragone will
likely have to go unbeaten to reach a BCS bowl because the
strength of schedule won't be great, but the opportunity is
there. Louisville's season will be dictated by three games -- a
home matchup with Florida State, and road games at Colorado State
and Southern Mississippi.
|
| 17. |
Virginia Tech
Injuries are going to hurt the
Hokies throughout the season as in the off-season. A tough year
ahead. |
Marshall
This is an
explosive team. Too bad they have no one to play this year other
than Virginia Tech. |
LSU
Do Tiger fans
really get excited about home games against The Citadel,
Louisiana-Lafayette, and Miami of Ohio? Or are they merely
excited because three easy wins means LSU only has to go 3-5 in
the SEC to qualify for a bowl?
|
| 18. |
Marshall
Bringing some respect to the MAC
|
Maryland
No more
surprises here, these boys will make some waves again. Keep up the
good work Ralph. |
South Carolina
Lou Holtz took
a senior-laden team to a 9-3 season a year ago, including a win
over Ohio State in the Outback Bowl. If he can get to nine wins
again, he'll have done an amazing job after losing 13 starters.
My guess is that Lou will surprise a lot of people and the 'Cocks
will challenge for the SEC title, even though most predictions are
not so kind.
|
| 19. |
Maryland
Ralph is King! |
Michigan
Michigan should
be a contender for the Big 10, not much else. |
Maryland
The Terps came
from nowhere to reach the Orange Bowl a year ago in Coach Ralph
Friedgen's first season. Was Maryland's first winning season in a
decade a fluke? We'll soon find out because, unlike last year,
the bullseye will be on the Terps' back this time around. It
doesn't hurt that Maryland has 15 starters returning. |
| 20. |
LSU
The Tigers will be the SEC West
champs again, which is about as good as being the ACC or Big East
champ...but without a BCS bowl invitation. |
South
Carolina
It will be hard for the Cocks to climb out from under the massive
pile of talent on top of the SEC East. |
Marshall
Sure this is a
good team with a great quarterback, but how can it be judged
properly with such an awful schedule? Who wouldn't want to face
the "murderer's row" of Buffalo, Appalachian State, Troy State,
Akron, Ball State and Central Michigan? Virginia Tech is the only
formidable opponent on the entire slate, and if Marshall loses
that one, even a 10-1 season won't mean a thing.
|
| 21. |
South Carolina
How long before South Carolina is hit
with an NCAA violation? Lou Holtz has been there for a couple of
years so that infraction should be popping up sometime soon.
|
Michigan
State
Possibly the
easiest schedule ever devised. The Spartans better win a lot of
games or they will look like fools. |
Virginia Tech
The return of
running back Lee Suggs from a knee injury gives the Hokies a
chance to make some national noise. Still, it appears as though
the real glory days may be a thing of the past. Early games
against LSU, Marshall and Texas A&M will tell the tale of whether
the Hokies are going to be a national title threat or simply a
contender in the mediocre Big East.
|
| 22. |
Boston College
7-4 season will happen; 8-3 season is
possible; 9-2 season is improbable; 10-1 season is out of the
question... at least for this season. |
Texas A&M
The Aggies are
back on the rise behind a good defense. |
Oregon State
What happened
to the Beavers? A year ago, OSU was coming off an 11-1 season, a
Fiesta Bowl blowout win over Notre Dame, and was ranked #1 in the
country in some preseason polls. Then the Beavers got ripped in
last year's opener at Fresno State and never recovered. Dennis
Erickson's troops will look more like they did in 2000 than 2001
this season. The defense will be one of the country's best.
|
| 23. |
NC State
Can the Wolfpack do the impossible
and beat FSU in two straight years? The game is in Raleigh this
year where the Wolfpack has done it before. |
NC State
Another good
season is in the making and a win against FSU can help too. |
Wisconsin
Brooks
Bollinger returns for his senior season at quarterback and the
Badgers will be extremely dangerous on offense, especially when
star WR Lee Evans returns from injury in early October. Evans,
combined with running back Anthony Davis, gives the Badgers an
imposing pair of offensive weapons. The defense, however, will be
almost totally revamped -- which may not be such a bad thing.. |
| 24. |
Texas A&M
RC Slocum needs to find a way to beat
Texas and win the Big XII South before people start categorizing
him with the likes of "the new" Joe Pa. (i.e., "winless Joe Pa")
|
USC
A tough
non-conference schedule awaits Carson Palmer's last chance to
redeem himself. |
Southern
Mississippi
Are the Eagles
really the 24th best team in the country? Probably not. But
their schedule is constructed in such a way that the Eagles will
probably find their way into most Top 25 polls at some point this
season. There are 18 returning starters, an early home game
against rebuilding Illinois that should translate into a win, and
a late-season home game against Louisville that may derail the
Cardinals' unbeaten season.
|
| 25. |
Kansas State
Cream puff schedule, definitely. But
guess what, a win is a win and 7 of them brings you to a bowl game
this year. |
Illinois
Hey, SI has
them at #24. Cut me some slack. |
Boston College
Virtually the
entire team returns, except for one big loss -- tailback William
Green, who left early for the NFL. Brian St. Pierre is back at QB
after a solid 2001 and the Eagles should go to a bowl game for the
fourth straight year.
|
