USA Today releases its top 25 college fball poll

[head_strong]

Nebraska should get blown out by VT. I can't imagine Tech will be underdogs this year, but I'm interested in seeing how the ML for this game pans out. Because there is no reason for a VT loss in BBurg versus a Husker team with a weaker offense than last year.

If somehow VT starts out 0-2 and Nebraska starts out 2-0, VT will still be at least 1 TD favorites in Blacksburg. You can change that "Nebraska should get blown out, to will get blown out" especially after Bama embarrasses VT on national tv opening week they will be looking to take their frustrations out on the Huskers.

[Intuitive_Edge]

I fixed your typo with UNC at #20, I'd say this looks about right.....although VT is not a top 10 team.

. ECU reminds me of Wake Forest. Can show up and perform well, then lose to a stretch and struggle with HS like teams. Losing to a pathetic Houston team.. and barely beating UAB, UCF ? Inconsistent teams are not ranked in the top 25.

[head_strong]

. ECU reminds me of Wake Forest. Can show up and perform well, then lose to a stretch and struggle with HS like teams. Losing to a pathetic Houston team.. and barely beating UAB, UCF ? Inconsistent teams are not ranked in the top 25.

Thanks for showing how little you actually know.....Name a team that doesn't go through ups and downs during a season, every team has weeks where they perform well then a stretch where they may struggle.
Losing to a pathetic Houston team? 2008 Record 8-5, 2007 Record 8-5, 2006 Record 10-4, your right that is pretty pathetic. Good back and check who we had on the field for that game.
ECU started last season 3-0, beating #17 VT 27-22 Senior LB Quentin Cotton was all over the field not allowing VT's running backs to turn the corner and he also had a huge INT.
We were beating #8 WVU 24-3 so bad he saw limited action in the 2nd half and only ended up with 8 tackles and 7 assist.
Right before halftime of the Tulane game Quentin Cotton injured his leg and was done for the season. In the 1st half alone he had an INT, a 44 yard fumble recovery for a TD, a Sack, 2 broken up passes, and a hand full of tackles.
From there started the downward spiral, take the heart and sole, team leader, best defensive player, off anyone’s team and replace them with a freshman and see what happens.
Add losing TJ Lee to a broken foot, best special teams player, 3rd best WR, blocked the punt against VT that led to the game winning touchdown.
Lose your #1 running back senior Dominique Lindsay to a knee injury for the season.
Then lose your #2 running back Jonathan Williams to suspension half way through the season.
Lose your #1 wide receiver Jamar Bryant due to suspension half way through the season.
Lose your #2 wide receiver #1 kick returner Dwayne Harris to a broken foot half way through the season.
Lose another wide receiver T.J. Terrell to knee surgery for the season.
Lose your #2 line backer senior Jeremy Chambliss for half the season.
Lose your #3 line backer senior Pierre Bell for a handful of games.
Lose your #4 line backer junior Melvin Patterson for half the season with a leg injury.
Lose your 1st string senior defensive back J.J. Milbrook for a handful of games with an ankle injury.
Lose another 1st string senior defensive back Jerek Hewitt for the season.
Lose your best offensive lineman senior Stanley Bryant for half the season and he still got drafted and will be playing on Sunday's.
Lose your starting senior defensive tackle Brandon Setzer for the season with a knee injury.
Lose your #2 defensive lineman senior Marcus Hands for a handful of games with a back injury.
Lose another starting defensive lineman senior Khalif Mitchell with a back injury for a handful of games.
Lose a backup defensive lineman senior Scotty Robinson for a handful of games.
and on
and on
and on
What do you end up with.....a bunch of freshman and sophomores that have never played a down of college football in their life.
And still finish with 9 wins.....Skip knows what the fk he is doing, now we got all these players experience with 16 starters coming back (thanks to a few medical red-shirts) you don't want to see us.
To address your UAB comment.....Allow me to educate you, put a bunch of Freshman on the field and let them chase around the #15 nationally ranked offense on the road @ UAB. A QB in Joe Webb that was the 4th leading rusher in the nation among QB's. How many QB's last year passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000. Nevertheless a win is a win, we barely beat UCF, again a win is a win, how about going 6-20 on 3rd down, committing 2 costly turnovers, passing for less than 150 yards the entire game, not scoring a single point in the 1st half and still walk away with a W, all wins aren't going to be pretty.....if we would have beat them 70-0 or 7-0 o well I'll take it.
I'm not saying we are going undefeated, there is a possibility we could start 1-2 (win App St, lose @ WVU, lose @ UNC) but I wouldn't be surprised to see us finish the season 10-2. Including another win against overrated VT in Greenville, NC Thursday Night November 5th 7:30pm on ESPN.

[Fishhead]

The Illini will be ranked this season.

Illinois should be good this year.

Coming into the season they are very close to being on par with Iowa which is ranked 21st in this poll and could actually be better.

Iowa, Illinois, and MSU are all fairly equal to start the season.........and one can easily make a case for either being better than the other.

Illinois does not play Iowa this season.

[MartinBlank]

Illinois should be good this year.

Coming into the season they are very close to being on par with Iowa which is ranked 21st in this poll and could actually be better.

Iowa, Illinois, and MSU are all fairly equal to start the season.........and one can easily make a case for either being better than the other.

Illinois does not play Iowa this season.

How can you possibly make a case for Michigan State?

Michigan State is the perfect example of whisper down the lane.

Someone in the media whispers "Michigan State is going to be good....." and it takes on a life of its own.

Michigan State was 9-4 last year. They lost to Ohio State by 38 and Penn State by 31. The Ohio State game was at home.

The Big 10 is so bad that a team like MSU can muddle around and fool everyone into thinking they are good.

Michigan State loses their QB, and the #2 RB in the history of the program. They also have to replace 3/5 of the OL.

On defense they were ranked 7th in the Big 10 for points allowed, and they lost 2 of their best DL.

I just don't understand how a team who has to replace the QB, their best RB in a long time, and a majority of their OL can be viewed as being a program on the rise this season.

[james4512]

That was my line of thinking too Gremlin.

I can't see how Nebraska's first year starting QB, playing his first game on the road---with 4 starters back on offense, and just 6 on defense---can walk into Blacksburg and face a 17 starters back---including 9 on offense---and win this game.

Just using comparative power numbers, I put this line in the VT -12/-13 neighborhood.

VT rolls them.

There is nothing Z can point to that would give him reason to believe Nebraska will win. They lost in Lincoln last year to VT, they haven't won a road game since 2007, and they are breaking in a new QB.

Yet, Z thinks Nebraska has a shot. Just don't see it.

LOL nebraska will be a 7 point underdog at the MOST. The lines are never that sharp in the begining of the year. Florida will only be giving like 13 their first "real" game.

Anyways how is USF not in the top 25? Big East is going to be down this year and they have a lot of talent returning....and why is UTAH ranked at all they lost their qb there going to have 2+ losses this year id be shocked if their ranked at the end of the year

[Mac4Lyfe]

I speak from experience.

Don't bet on teams that you are attached to. It usually ends up burning you.

And while I do think Illinois will have a decent year, Ron Zook is a lot like Roy Munson. Sometimes you just get "Zook'd".

It depends on who your attached to. The Gators were 13-1 ATS last year. I made a killing betting on them.

I'm also a Cleveland Cavaliers fan and I made out betting on them last season. There was a guy here that faded the Cav's every game and we haven't seen him in these forums since last November
I'm also a Browns fan and I'm smart enough to fade them at every chance. Teams that your attached to should be teams that you watch and study. Hopefully if your not a homer you can find small leans either way.

During football season, I try and focus on 15 - 20 teams. I have a theatre room that could double as a sports bar. 4 plasmas and one huge screen, all of them can be split for a total of 10 games at once. I usually will record 4 or 5 early games and 4 or 5 later games and review them on Sunday (I'm mainly CFB guy).

USF should be in the top25 but I guess the coaches aren't too high on the Big East this year (0 on the list). I think Rutgers will end up in the top 25 because their schedule is easier than Mater Dei...

[brooks85]

I heard this on espn radio the other day and I could't agree more, even though it would never happen.

Vegas should make the preseason top 25 because it is clear coaches/media dont know shit about every team. They are only focused on who is on their schedule. Either way, no one could argue, that vegas knows more.

[brooks85]

Also I strongly believe Ohio State will finally get that out of conference victory against a major team this year against USC

second that

[ZBOIZ]

Last year, VT beat Nebraska 35-30.

Why do you think this year will be "low scoring"?

Alabama/VT I could see as being low scoring, but Nebraska's defense has a LOOOOOONG way to go before they are compared to their old blackshirt d.

Well it's reasons why Nebraska Defense was pretty bad last year. They was bringing in a whole new system under Bo Pelini. This man is just as good or better than Nick Saban when it comes to defensive philosophy. I really believe with a seasoin under there belt they will be a better defense this year. Looking at the previous year 80% of the time to see who will be better this year is the worng road to take . Teams do improve. And Nebraska is one I think that will vastly improve under Bo Pelini. Actually they already did last year by going bowling, after a bad year the year before.

[gremlin]

Looking at the previous year 80% of the time to see who will be better this year is the worng road to take . Teams do improve. And Nebraska is one I think that will vastly improve under Bo Pelini. Actually they already did last year by going bowling, after a bad year the year before.

You have to look at previous years early in the season, otherwise it's like starting every season with a blank slate, which is silly and would make betting impossible for a few weeks. If Nebraska was XX good last year, and lost X but gained Y, then they should start this season around XY talent level. Things might change by Week 3, but we won't know until closer to that date how good either team actually is or what the lines are.

[ZBOIZ]

You have to look at previous years early in the season, otherwise it's like starting every season with a blank slate, which is silly and would make betting impossible for a few weeks. If Nebraska was XX good last year, and lost X but gained Y, then they should start this season around XY talent level. Things might change by Week 3, but we won't know until closer to that date how good either team actually is or what the lines are.

True point but you cant look at last year and say they will be good this yeare because they was good last year. If that was the case every year would be the same. I do believe Virginia Tech will be good this year but I do think Nebraska will be better.

[MartinBlank]

True point but you cant look at last year and say they will be good this yeare because they was good last year. If that was the case every year would be the same. I do believe Virginia Tech will be good this year but I do think Nebraska will be better.

But here's the thing Z....you focused only on Nebraska's defense. They have to improve. They really did suck last year.

And here is what drives me crazy about Z.

You chided USC for the last month because they have an inexperienced QB.

Yet you completely overlook it with Nebraska and just ignore the fact that Nebraska's QB will be making his first road start in Blacksburg against VT.

How do you manage to argue/debate both sides like that? Do you forget what you wrote earlier?

How will Nebraska be improved with a new QB, but USC will be worse because they have a new QB?

I don't know how you manage that.

[ZBOIZ]

No Martin you is completly off bases from what I'm saying. Try understanding what I'm saying before you bash.

There is no comparison with USC and Nebraska. All I'm saying is USC will not live up to the hype that everyone is use to seeing. I dont think it will happen. I actually think they will loose two to three games this year. And I honestly think Nebraska will have a better year than last year.

I'M NOT SAYING NEBRASKA WILL DO BETTER OVERALL THAN USC, SO ATLEAST TRY TO GET WHAT I'M SAYING.

[IrishTim]

Go Notre Dame f*ck yeah!

Now we're talking, my man

[MartinBlank]

No Martin you is completly off bases from what I'm saying. Try understanding what I'm saying before you bash.

There is no comparison with USC and Nebraska. All I'm saying is USC will not live up to the hype that everyone is use to seeing. I dont think it will happen. I actually think they will loose two to three games this year. And I honestly think Nebraska will have a better year than last year.

I'M NOT SAYING NEBRASKA WILL DO BETTER OVERALL THAN USC, SO ATLEAST TRY TO GET WHAT I'M SAYING.

Z. First of all, I never bash. I debate.

Don't we all love a good sports debate over a beer?

In the future---if I challenge something you post---IT IS NOT PERSONAL---just a good ole fashioned sports debate.

None of this is aimed at your personally---if I come across as being a dhead, I am sorry. It is not meant that way. I just like to debate college football most of all.

Now onto your post.

Your prediction on USC is coming around some, earlier you created a thread saying USC will LOSE AT LEAST 3 games...I think you said Ohio State, Oregon, and Notre Dame. Now you are saying 2-3.....2 losses would be a great season and put them back into a BCS bowl for a record 7 straight years or something goofy like that.

As for Nebraska, well----they are sooo inexperienced on offense I don't see how they can be viewed as being improved. They may be, but it won't be seen in the win loss column.

[SBR_John]

Here is the top 25 from the coaches poll:

1. Florida (53) 13-1 1,466 1
2. Texas (4) 12-1 1,386 3
3. Oklahoma (1) 12-2 1,358 5
4. Southern California (1) 12-1 1,321 2
5. Alabama 12-2 1,134 6
6. Ohio State 10-3 1,126 11
7. Virginia Tech 10-4 1,020 14
8. Penn State 11-2 988 8
9. LSU 8-5 917 NR
10. Mississippi 9-4 889 15
11. Oklahoma State 9-4 861 18
12. California 9-4 711 25
13. Georgia 10-3 707 10
14. Oregon 10-3 694 9
15. Georgia Tech 9-4 559 22
16. Boise State 12-1 542 13
17. TCU 11-2 461 7
18. Utah 13-0 404 4
19. Florida State 9-4 371 23
20. North Carolina 8-5 293 NR
21. Iowa 9-4 257 20
22. Nebraska 9-4 236 NR
23. Notre Dame 7-6 194 NR
24. Brigham Young 10-3 178 21
25. Oregon State 9-4 165 19

My random thoughts...

Texas starts 4 brand new defensive linemen to go with all sophomores in the secondary. Does it sound like I just described the #2 team in the country?

Ohio St is over rated at #6, more like 14th ish.

Michigan is a top 25 team so is Texas Tech and South Florida. Just because some guys graduate does not mean you fall off the map. All 3 of those teams have some excellent talent.

Notre Dame is not a top anything program.

Arizona St is better than Utah, should be top 25.

Ole Miss at #10?? OK, maybe but I think North Carolina is better at 20.

[MartinBlank]

My random thoughts...

Texas starts 4 brand new defensive linemen to go with all sophomores in the secondary. Does it sound like I just described the #2 team in the country?

Ohio St is over rated at #6, more like 14th ish.

Michigan is a top 25 team so is Texas Tech and South Florida. Just because some guys graduate does not mean you fall off the map. All 3 of those teams have some excellent talent.

Notre Dame is not a top anything program.

Arizona St is better than Utah, should be top 25.

Ole Miss at #10?? OK, maybe but I think North Carolina is better at 20.

John, where are you getting your info?

Texas returns Lamarr Houston (20 career starts) and Sergio Kindle on the DL. Kindle has been playing on the edge for a year now. Also Eddie Jones is playing for them, Jones was the #1 DE recruit coming out of high school. This is only their weak link because they are so deep everywhere else.

As for Texas' secondary....all sophs? No. Deon Beasley is a senior. The TWO sophs in the secondary, Gideon and Earl Thomas are pre-season All-Big 12 2nd teamers. Not too shabby.

John, John, John....Michigan?

You mean Michigan with the true Freshman QB? Quick question...can you name the last BCS conference team that finished in the top 25 with a true freshman qb who started the year for them?

I will be impressed if you know the answer...and note---I said "started the year for them"?

Tebow and Pryor didn't start the season---besides that Forcier isn't Tebow or Pryor.

ND's schedule is weak, and like them or not--they should be pretty good this year. Those two receivers, Floyd and Tate are very good. The biggest change for ND is who is now calling the defense...Jon Tenuta. Tenuta did more at GT with a lot less talent.

Arizona State isn't that strong. They will be luck to finish in the top half of the Pac-10. Their new QB--Szakacsy hasn't taken a single snap since 2007. They have a favorable schedule but they still have to go on the road at Georgia (LOSS), and at Oregon and at UCLA.

[footballmoney]

My random thoughts...

Texas starts 4 brand new defensive linemen to go with all sophomores in the secondary. Does it sound like I just described the #2 team in the country?

Ohio St is over rated at #6, more like 14th ish.

Michigan is a top 25 team so is Texas Tech and South Florida. Just because some guys graduate does not mean you fall off the map. All 3 of those teams have some excellent talent.

Notre Dame is not a top anything program.

Arizona St is better than Utah, should be top 25.

Ole Miss at #10?? OK, maybe but I think North Carolina is better at 20.

Michigan a top 25 team? LMAO, they might be lucky go to a bowl(there is a reason the total is 6.5). It will take longer than two years for the Wolverines "spread offense" to work!
TT will fall off the map(at least top 25 map), loss Harell and Crabtree!!!

[SBR_John]

John, where are you getting your info?

Texas returns Lamarr Houston (20 career starts) and Sergio Kindle on the DL. Kindle has been playing on the edge for a year now. Also Eddie Jones is playing for them, Jones was the #1 DE recruit coming out of high school. This is only their weak link because they are so deep everywhere else.

As for Texas' secondary....all sophs? No. Deon Beasley is a senior. The TWO sophs in the secondary, Gideon and Earl Thomas are pre-season All-Big 12 2nd teamers. Not too shabby.

John, John, John....Michigan?

You mean Michigan with the true Freshman QB? Quick question...can you name the last BCS conference team that finished in the top 25 with a true freshman qb who started the year for them?

I will be impressed if you know the answer...and note---I said "started the year for them"?

Tebow and Pryor didn't start the season---besides that Forcier isn't Tebow or Pryor.

ND's schedule is weak, and like them or not--they should be pretty good this year. Those two receivers, Floyd and Tate are very good. The biggest change for ND is who is now calling the defense...Jon Tenuta. Tenuta did more at GT with a lot less talent.

Arizona State isn't that strong. They will be luck to finish in the top half of the Pac-10. Their new QB--Szakacsy hasn't taken a single snap since 2007. They have a favorable schedule but they still have to go on the road at Georgia (LOSS), and at Oregon and at UCLA.

Lets see who plays. Beasly wasnt a starter last year I dont think but obviously Im going off of memory from last year while you got the polish out early on me. I bleed burnt orange so I hope that defense can hold their own. The offense could be about the best we have seen since the Tyler Rose saddled up in the wishbone.

I'm all over Michigan in the opener minus about 11. I think this is the year under Rodriguez that they execute well. In my book they are a sleeper with some players and totally written off with no pressure on them.

[rake922]

I think Utah will win the rosebowl this year...... if they win out

[InTheHole]

great post great poll

[head_strong]

great post great poll

great post, you are on fire I think I might follow you around for awhile.

[ijustwant2bpaid]

Go bears! Best will be a first round pick in the future if he keeps his gane up and doesnt get hurt. Dudes from Richmond, they dont fukk around in Richmond.

[ZBOIZ]

LSU will win the SEC West .