1. Alabama- They have everything you could want on offense, including a SR. quarterback and the 2 best RB's in the country IMO. They lost a lot on D, but Saban defenses are always tough.
2. Ohio State- Talent and experience everywhere. Possibly the best O-line under Tressel. If Pryor plays near his enormous potential, we have a great shot to run the table. Tough road schedule though.
3. Florida- They lost a ton but Urban has been the best recruiter in the country since he arrived. They will just reload on D and Brantley will be good enough at QB. Favorable schedule as the SEC East is pretty down.
4. Oklahoma- Bradford going down last year was good for this year?s team. Jones will be a beast, Murray is a beast when healthy and Stoops always has top notch defenses. Texas should be relatively down and get FSU at home.
5. Iowa- Like them a lot, but they remind me of the 2003 Buckeyes. Great D-Line, won a lot of close games the year before but the bounces didn't quite go the same way the next year. Wisky and OSU at home is helpful.
6. Boise St.- Likely to go undefeated, but I think all of my top 10 could run their schedule. Super experienced and will be favored in every game. I'll put a 1 loss BCS conference team (possibly minus the BE) in over them at the end of the year though. Have to play the week in, week out tough schedules those conferences do to play for the crystal ball.
7. Miami (FL)- My semi-sleeper team, I don?t think they beat OSU in Cbus but they are really talented. O-Line and if Harris can cut down turnovers are the big questions. Tough schedule as well, but 10-2 very probable and would be really impressive.
8. TCU- Like Boise but they play a harder schedule in the MWC . Very well coached and won't lose more than 1 game.
9. Texas- This might be their worst team in awhile, but they always seem to win 10 games with their talent and the Big 12 is relatively thin. Will have to run the ball better this year.
10. Wisconsin- Well coached, best O-line in the country and a stud RB. Never lose games they shouldn't, but equally rarely win games they shouldn?t. OSU and @Iowa will be the losses.
11. Va Tech- Super running game, but Taylor is still questionable at Qb and their D wasn't up to par with Beamer D's last year. Tough schedule as well (ACC is tough).
12. Nebraska- Very good team and won't be challenged in the Big 12 North. Don't think they are quite up to Okla and Texas level yet but they just might be.
13. Oregon- Losing Masoli hurts them a lot, but the O will still be really good. Weren't great on D last year and won't be this year either, but the Pac-10 is a little down.
14. Pitt- Class of the Big East but Wanny will find a way to lose a couple games, possibly including their opener against Utah.
15. UNC- I?d have them around 10 if I knew who all was going to be eligible. Maybe the best D in the country. O just needs to score 20 and they?ll win every game.
16. USC- Down year last year and an off-season of turmoil and attrition. Still talented enough to challenge for the Pac-10 crown but I have a ton of questions about Kiffin's coaching ability. Depth will also be an issue.
17. Ga. Tech- Love the triple option and Allen will be a monster this year. Not quite as talented as Miami and UNC though.
18. LSU- Jordan Jefferson needs to make some strides or this team could struggle big time in the SEC West. I think he will make some but not enough.
19. Notre Dame- I think Kelly is a fantastic coach, and Charlie was a pretty good recruiter and definitely didn't leave the cupboard bare. Schedule isn?t that daunting either, especially with USC and Mich down.
20. Utah- Always well coached and tough. Schedule helps getting Pitt at home.
21. Arkansas- Mallet is the best pro QB prospect in the country IMO. Needs help all around though.
22. Penn State- Thought about leaving them out but my Big 10 bias got the best of me. Questions at QB and O-line and not quite the talent on D to completely cover for that.
23. Stanford- Harbaugh can coach and Luck is sweet. Next year they will take the Pac-10 over, not quite there yet.
24. Mich. State- Last game of the season will decide who ends up in my final poll between Sparty and PSU. Good D and more experienced O with a solid running game. OSU is off the schedule as well.
25. Houston- Keenum will lead them to a fantastic season against a weak schedule.
Other I considered: FSU (rough rough sched), UC (losing Kelly hurts), Georgia (QB play?), Auburn (SEC West=too much), WVU (Devine and what?), Oregon St. (Play TCU and Boise OOC, interesting)