Sports Collision’s Preseason College Football Top 25 – (25-21)
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the first ever edition of the Sports Collision’s College Football Preseason Top 25. This top 25 features analysis, record predictions, as well as bowl predictions for each team in the rankings. Let it be known though, that this top 25 is a prediction of how the teams stack up to one another. I have them ranked based on who I think is a better team all the way through. Now just because I have someone ranked higher than another does not mean that they cannot be higher in the conference at the end of the season or in the rankings. We all know that losses count up and late losses in the season matter in the polls. Isn’t that why we love college football? Each installment of this top 25 will feature 5 teams starting from #25 all the way down to the top 5 in the final blog. Without any further ado, I present the Sports Collision College Football Preseason Top 25.
25. West Virginia Mountaineers
Analysis:
When talking about WVU for the past few years, you always though Slaton and White. Well now that they are both gone, the thought must go to Noel Devine. The speedster is back, but freshman sensation Tavon Austin will also make the crowd go wild at WR. QB Jarrett Brown is a better passer than White ever was, but he will not be effective unless the offensive line can protect him better. On the defensive side, the Mountaineers have the best defense in the Big East, but with the offense being young and inexperienced, the D might have to work harder. LB Reed Williams is back after a medical redshirt and leads a strong group in a 3-3-5 scheme.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:9-3 (losses to Auburn, South Florida, Pitt) Big East Champion Bowl Prediction:West Virginia will win the Big East after South Florida loses to Connecticut in the last game of the season. WVU will be the representative for the Big East in the BCS as they play in the Fiesta Bowl. |
24. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Analysis:
Make no mistake about it……this is not your dad’s Nebraska Cornhuskers. This team is far from the ones with Tommy Frazier and Lawrence Phillips, which ran all over everyone and had the vaunted Blackshirt defense. The new look ‘Huskers throw the ball as much as they run it, but the running game is a strength this year for the boys from Lincoln. Their QB situation is not a hopeful one with newcomer Zac Lee taking over for Joe Ganz. Lee threw only 2 passes all of last year and played in only 2 games. On defense, Ndamukong Suh is a load at DT, but all three LB’s are new and that could pose problems against the potent offenses of the Big 12 South.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:9-3 (losses to Auburn, South Florida, Pitt) Big East Champion Bowl Prediction:West Virginia will win the Big East after South Florida loses to Connecticut in the last game of the season. WVU will be the representative for the Big East in the BCS as they play in the Fiesta Bowl. |
23. Florida State Seminoles
Analysis:
Despite allegations and the possibility of wins being taken away, the ‘Noles come into the season on their way back to the style that made them a force to be reckoned with. On the offensive side of the ball, FSU has an experienced QB, strong O-line, and young emerging running backs. At WR, the most experienced guy tore his ACL in offseason workouts and the rest are better at catching media attention than passes so far. On defense, Florida State once again has a strong LB corp, but they lack a strong pass rush. CB Patrick Robinson is one of the nation’s best and has 1st round pick written all over him. The ‘Noles have a difficult schedule and winning the ACC Atlantic Division would be seen as a successful season.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:8-4 (losses to VA Tech, TX Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma) 1st in Big 12 North Bowl Prediction:After getting destroyed by the South winner in the Big 12 Title game, Nebraska will play in the Alamo Bowl. |
22. Brigham Young Cougars
Analysis:
If you are looking for leadership in Provo, Utah then look no further than Senior QB Max Hall. Hall has many weapons including all-american candidate TE Dennis Pitta. The o-line needs to be re-built, RB Harvey Unga returns after a 1,000 yd season last year. Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s 3-4 defense struggled at the end of last year, and there is only 1 starter returning to the secondary. The front seven are supposed to be the anchor of the defense, but there is not as much depth as previously thought. The defense will have to step up if they want to handle some of the high powered offenses on their schedule.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:9-3 (losses to Oklahoma, TCU, Utah) 3rd in Mountain West Bowl Prediction:The Cougs will fall behind Utah after losing their Nov. 28 matchup and that loss will send BYU to the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. |
21. Utah Utes
Analysis:
Ty Whittingham has his work cut out for him in replacing QB Brian Johnson and following up an undefeated season. The Utes are solid on offense again, but the departure of Johnson opens things up at QB. A two year backup, JUCO transfer, redshirt freshman and true freshman are all battling. AT WR the Utes are strong and their RB situation might be one that surprises. The defense is built around LB Stevenson Sylvester and is very aggressive. The LB corp is the best in the Mountain West, but Utah is in desperate need of some cover corners. The one area that Utah is concerned about more than anything maybe kicker…..Yes I said kicker. How do you replace consensus Groza winner Louie Sakoda. That could be the difference in one or two games.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:10-2 (losses to Oregon and TCU) 2nd in Mountain West Bowl Prediction:The loss in the TCU game will lose the conference for the Utes and they will end up in the Humanitarian Bowl on the blue turf. |
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