Top 25

#1 Alabama: Hard to pick against this one. The talent is so deep and the confidence level is so high not picking the Tide to starting at #1 would be down right rude.

#2 Ohio State: A media favorite to be in the championship game gets the buckeyes near the top. With a tough schedule and a offense that still has to show they are worthy of a shot at the top. It will be an interesting season and with a good defense they will be a tough nut to crack.

#3 Boise State: Boise State is finally getting the respect their fans think they deserve so they are ranked here. For what they did to the WAC I have to hope that Virginia Tech. grad Gargamel runs off with Smurfette. I wont bet on it though.

#4 Oklahoma: Can Bob Stoops bring them back to the promised land. The talent is there but the schedule is going to require them to be on their toes with Florida St and Cincinnati on their non conference schedule Stoops could be on the hot seat early.

#5 Nebraska: – The “Black Shirt” mentality back in Nebraska football but is their a offense lurking in the shadows. Regardless of the offense expect the corn munchers to win the north and face Texas or Oklahoma in Dallas for the Big Whatever title.

#6 Florida: No Tebow means more exciting offense for Florida. Will Brantley be the quarterback they expect. Probable but they still have to beat Georgia, , SC, Kentucky, Alabama twice and yes Tennessee to go all the way. Thats a hefty weight to put on a quarterback even if he has been behind Tebow and knows where all the rocks under the water are.

#7 Texas: No more Colt McCoy puts Texas in the same position Florida is. Texas got a look at Garret Gilbert during the championship game. Is he Colt McCoy no, but he will suffice to get them wins against Wyoming, Rice, and Florida Atlantic. UCLA will give them a challenge but only Oklahoma and Nebraska stand much of a chance to beat them.

#8 Oregon: Are they really the best in the PAC 10? USC, Washington, Oregon St. and the rest of the PAC 10 don’t think so. Try hard not to pick them to win the title.

#9 Virginia Tech: Beat Boise St. to start the season and they will be 8-0 before they have to play another team of any worth. Sorry Duke but you don’t have it yet.

#10 Iowa: The Hawkeyes have Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State at home and their quarterback back. Unbeaten probably not but last year showed their rabbits foot works.

#11 TCU: Expect TCU to be better this year and with a little luck they will get to play someone besides Boise St. in a BCS bowl.

#12 Arkansas: Ranked to high probably but high octane offense is sold in Arkansas. If they can finally field a decent defense they could unseat Alabama. Considering that Bobby Petrino is their coach expect a melt down against a team they should beat.

#13 Miami: This could be the year The U turns the corner. I’m picking them to win the ACC.

#14 Florida State: How long has it been since the big 3 Florida schools have been ranked this high. Once upon a time the winner of the round robin between the 3 was going to be playing for the title. It could happen again if Florida ever grows a set of big ones.

#15 Wisconsin: They won’t win the Big 10 but expect them to be in every game they play.

#16 Georgia: The talent to win the SEC is there. The only thing lacking is a quarterback. Aaron Murray could be that quarterback but unless hes a stud there will be enough mistakes that someone will surprise them.

#17 North Carolina: All they are waiting on is to see how hard the NCAA comes down of them and who they might have to sit. We should know the sitters soon. Expect LSU to give them a tough game and with very many sitter win.

#18 Pittsburgh: Starting at Utah is a good way to kick off what many or expecting to be a banner year for the Panthers. Win at Utah and they still have Miami, UConn, Notre Dame and West Virginia. This could the year that Dave Dave Wandstedt finally breaks on thru to the other side.

#19 Auburn: A Top 25 team but still in rebuilding mode and not quite ready to challenge Alabama.

#20 Penn State: They have the talent but the Big 10 is hard to win out in. Expect a loss at Alabama and two losses in league play.

#21 Notre Dame: Its surprising what a coaching change can do for a teams ranking. They have been stock piling players and finally have a coach to use them. Unfortunately for them their schedule looks to give them 3 or 4 losses.

#22 LSU: Les had better get out the old walkin shoes because they could easily loose 4 games this year.

#23 Oregon State: This could be a breakout year for Mike Rileys team so I’m gonna hold my thoughts till after this weekends game against a TCU team that could win the PAC 10 outright much less the MWC.

#24 Missouri: A good schedule and a weak north gets them into the top 25. They should have the offense but their defense is suspect. They don’t hit the meat of their schedule till mid October so their defense will have some time.

#25 Utah: Utah has a fair chance to move up with a win over Pittsburgh.

Standing on the ledge with a chance to jump in are Houston and West Virginia.