http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/stor...&id=2725188

with WVU's problems on defense, I don't see us as a top five team

but I do like the fact that the Big East has three teams in the top 25

I don't see Maryland as being that much of a challenge at this point in time; I think USF will be a much tougher game

I can't believe that the columnist has the Hokie Pokies in the top 10

WVU will be good, but Top 5? I'm not convinced about that yet. They've already lost two top assistant coaches. The defense was awful this season, and though a year older, I'm not sure how much they'll improve. Plus, they've got three pretty tough games on the road. Still, things are still looking good for the BE. In addition to WVU, Rutgers and L'ville, watch out for South Florida.

Beano Cook has WVU as his #1 team next year. Also, many other AP voters have WVU #1 to #5. Like you guys, I am leary of placing these type of expections. Granted, WVU has probably the two most exciting players in college football in Steve Slaton and Pat White, but until our defense shows it can hold outstanding offesnes in check, I'll be very leary of all the hype.

CBS PreSeason Top 25

1) USC 2) Michigan 3) WVU

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9932300

I'm going to Wisconsin to watch Wazzu play in Madison. I hope its a close game lol

1. USC: How do you pick a team that lost twice down the stretch and its top two receivers and featured a spotty running game? Easy. Ten starters return on defense. If John David Booty can't get the job done at quarterback, Mark Sanchez will.

2. Michigan: The Triplets (Chad Henne, Michael Hart, Jake Long) will have to outscore opponents. The defense takes a big hit, but the Ohio State game is at home. Rumors are circulating that the Wolverines really want to win that one.

3. West Virginia: R-Rod is back. So are juniors Patrick White and Steve Slaton. The defense will have to learn to tackle better. Eight returning starters get their chance.

4. Florida: Can the Gators be better? Probably not. The defense took a tremendous hit, especially since there's no Ohio State to pick on in '07. The offense will be more conventional because there is no Tim Tebow to back up ... Tim Tebow.

5. Wisconsin: A national championship berth is not out of the question for Bret Bielema in his second season. Outland winner Joe Thomas is gone, but that doesn't seem to matter in Madison. Some other beefcake will slip into his place and carve out a way for tailback P.J. Hill.

6. Louisville: It's not the coach, it's the AD. Tom Jurich moved quickly to replace traitor Bobby Petrino with Kragthorpe. Brohm's return makes a defense of the Big East title more than possible.

7. Texas: The 'Horns are loaded. Where have you read that before? Colt McCoy tied the freshman passing touchdown record in Texas' "rebuilding" year. Once again, it's get past Oklahoma (Oct. 6) and an undefeated season is in sight.

8. TCU: This year's version of Boise State has the schedule and the coach to make a run. Assuming Gary Patterson returns, this will be the best defense he has had in Fort Worth. Expect another 10-win season.

9. Arkansas: Two 1,000-yard rushers. A rising superstar at quarterback. If Houston Nutt wins the SEC, would that satisfy the parents? They already ran off o-coordinator Gus Malzahn, who went to Tulsa this week.

10. LSU: Senior Matt Flynn isn't the dynamic presence that JaMarcus Russell was but still has a chance to win 10 as the new quarterback. Bo Pelini is still coaching the defense. The SEC road games are at Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi State.

11. Virginia Tech: Frank Beamer is known for winning 10 and playing great defense. There's more of the same as Beamer welcomes back perhaps the nation's best set of linebackers.

12. Auburn: Trips to Arkansas and Florida keep the Tigers from the top 10 and the SEC title. Have faith in the defense and in Carl Stewart to replace tailback David Irons.

13. Cal: No Marshawn Lynch? No problem. Jeff Tedford is the Bears' best coach since Pappy Waldorf. Defense is an issue, but excitement isn't. Watch PR/WR DeSean Jackson.

14. Oklahoma: This seems to be another rebuilding year, but if the Sooners find a quarterback, they are in contention. The loss of Peterson is eased by Allen Patrick (761 yards) and Chris Brown (4.9 yards per carry).

15. Rutgers: Ray Rice is a Heisman frontrunner. But the college football world has been alerted. No more sneaking up.

16. Georgia: The offensive line had better be rebuilt or Matthew Stafford will suffer in his first full season as the starter.

17. South Carolina: I expected the Gamecocks to contend for the SEC East by now. It won't happen just yet. The defense will have to carry Steve Spurrier.

18. Boise State: Overall, the Broncos will take some hits, but Ian Johnson will deliver some. It's the WAC; how far can the Broncos fall?

19. Nebraska: Steady progress by Bill Callahan's first three seasons. Expect another Big 12 North title in Year 4.

20. Ohio State: Smith, Ginn Jr., Gonzalez, Pittman: Gone. Get used to Todd Boeckman at quarterback. Also get used to three or four losses.

21. Texas A&M: Just when you wanted to buy in, the Aggies got punked by Cal in the Holiday Bowl. A lot coming back but I can't see better than third place in the Big 12 South.

22. Boston College: Matt Ryan might be the best quarterback in the ACC. BC gets an automatic spot with seven consecutive bowl wins.

23. Oklahoma State: Tremendous offensive talent. The defense can't stop air. The Pokes will upset someone but get embarrassed, too.

24. Notre Dame: No Brady. No Darius. No BCS bowl. A squeezably soft November schedule. The Irish will win at least seven. The real show is finding out how good a coach Charlie Weis really is in this transition year.

25. South Florida: You're wondering why Miami and Florida State aren't here? The Bulls return 16 starters from a team that won nine and beat West Virginia.

That's quite an ambitious ranking for TCU. Interesting that he says Oklahoma is Texas' biggest problem when he has Oklahoma ranked six spots behind TCU. TCU plays at Texas next season.

Excellent -- you'll have a great time. We're looking at going back to Wisconsin for a game next fall too -- and the Wazzou one, falling on Labor Day weekend, may work out the best.

[There's talk on the badger boards, btw, of an upcoming home-and-away hoops series between the programs -- given the strong coaching ties.]

Glad to see Wisconsin taking on a major conference opponent again -- last year it was a couple MAC and Mountain West teams (Oregon State had been on the sked but pulled out).


Nice to be ranked that high -- and an alright summary. The author omits that UW is also losing their starting QB -- Johnny Stocco -- whose shoes will be hard to fill.

Everything I'm reading has Va Tech anywhere from 8-12, so you might as well get used to it...

"Everything I'm reading has Va Tech anywhere from 8-12, so you might as well get used to it.."


That's more of a reflection of a obligatory need to place ONE ACC team into the top 10 than it is a reflection of the Hokie's as a legitimate top 10 team. The Hokies lose a lot some on Defense and their offense ( with qb Glennon) is among the worst in college football. VT= best in ACC. VT would be 6th-7th best in the SEC, 5th-6th in Big East, 5th-6th best in Big 10, and so forth. Huge difference in caliber of teams from the ACC in comparison to other BCS conferences.

Again, obligatory ranking .

I don't buy Va Wreck as a top ten team

people criticize the strength of the BE, which I think was blown out of the water this season, but the ACC is the weakest of the BCS conferences

Va Wreck may be the best team in the ACC next season (see Wake Forest) but can they compete against the other BCS conferences

Good Post T-Daddy.


Until the ACC's best teams can compete against the best teams from the other BCS conferences, then anytime you see an ACC team ranked in the top 10, its an obligatory ranking.

The ACC is now 1-8 in BCS Bowl Games. That's just dreadfull.

First, I agree our defense is losing a great number of players, but we have some great back-ups. Secondly, we have a commitment from an incoming freshmen quarterback that is supposed to give Tebow a run for the starting job, thus we might have a "Tebow" to back up Tebow.

Florida Gators

John Brantley is more a dropback passer like Chris Leak. Cam Newton is the option QB. May be we'll have the reverse of last season, with really funky and unpredictable stuff when Brantley subs Tebow. Imagine having Brantley, Harvin, Fayson and Caldwell in the field. Who'll get the ball? What trick plays are gonna come? Brantley, Fayson and Caldwell can all throw the ball. So instead of the mostly predictable (but effective) Tebow runs, we'll probably have more unpredictable (and hopefully exciting) passing/option situations I'd guess.

I only hope we find a running back soon (familiar story again, eh?). But yeah, defense is getting hurt pretty much across the board - 3 DBs, 3 LBs, 2 DEs - all starters - gone, I think. Ouch! We'll need to find reliable starters - 2 DBs, 2 LBs and 2 DEs. Thats a tall order. Well, baptism by fire, welcome to SEC freshmen!