Sports Collision’s Pre-Season College Football Top 25 (5-1)
As we come to the top of our list, I’m sure there are quite a few of you who will disagree with us. Please always feel free to comment and send us feedback. And now for our Top 5
5. Penn State Nittany Lions
Analysis:
Daryll Clark is back at QB and the Nittany Lions are ready to give JoePa another run at a national title. The backfield is loaded behing Clark and newcomer QB Kevin Newsome is a fantastic backup for Clark. The receiving group needs to regroup after losing their 3 WR’s who graduated last year. The defense should be solid again for Linebacker U and Navorro Bowman is no exception. Bowman is a monster and extremely quick. Sean Lee is another LB who can cause major problems for the weak BigTen. The offenses might not even get to the LB’s though with such a great d-line in front of them. Jared Odrick is a playmaker and run stuffer ala Terrence Cody of Alabama. The secondary is an area of concern with all 4 starters gone, but the replacements have looked great in the spring.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:12-0 1st in Big Ten Bowl Prediction:The Nittany Lions will be poised to make a run at the National Title game, but another undefeated team will beat them out for the national title game. The talk will only get louder for a playoff system as well. Penn State will end up representing the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl. |
4. Texas Longhorns
Analysis:
Colt McCoy is back and ready to make a national title run as well as get a Heisman trophy. McCoy’s best friend and best target Jordan Shipley makes this offense DANGEROUS. The running game is a problem and unless someone besides McCoy can lead the team in rushing, there will be no titles in Austin. I know most people will say I am nuts for having the Horns at 4, but the defense needs to prove things to me. Sergio Kindle is an absolute STUD, but he cannot be everywhere. The defensive line will miss Roy Miller, and that hole will have to be filled in order to make a national title run. The linebackers on the other hand are solid and Roddrick Muckelroy leads a unit that is strong enough to move Kindle to the defensive end position. Texas will be able to score points and blow people out, but in the big games, the defense will have to come to play.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:11-1 (loss to Oklahoma) 2nd in Big 12 South Bowl Prediction:Texas will lose the big game in Dallas this year and cost themselves a national title spot. They will play in the Fiesta Bowl as an at-large team. |
3. USC Trojans
Analysis:
Usually when talking about the Trojans over the last few years, you would mention the QB position as a Heisman candidate. Not only can I not do that this year, but the QB has NEVER PLAYED A DOWN OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!! Freshman Matt Barkley comes into LA as the starter and has the weight of the world on his shoulders. RB Joe McKnight is back and looks to become as explosive as he has been expected to be over the years. WR Damian Williams is the best offensive player on the roster and should help Barkley. The defense should be solid especially in the secondary. Safety Taylor Mays is maybe the best in the nation and leads a strong unit that led the nation in pass defense and pass efficiency defense. The Trojans are looking to find replacements for all 3 stud LB’s from last year, but the freshman and sophomores look great and make the unit quick.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:11-1 (loss to Ohio State) 1st in Pac-10 Bowl Prediction:The Trojans will lose in week 2 and then go undefeated for the rest of the season. It will set up a rematch with Penn State in the Rose Bowl. |
2. Oklahoma Sooners
Analysis:
Hmmm…..Who could be the best player on the Sooners team? Oh yeah, didn’t they have some guy win a Heisman last year. Sam Bradford is back and better than ever. He also has his stud TE Jermaine Gresham back as his favorite weapon. The WR’s need to be replaced, but there might not be a better backfield in the entire country. Demarco Murray and Chris Brown are an explosive 1-2 punch that both rushed for over 1,000 yards last year. The only offensive problem they have is that their line was too good last year and 4 of the All Big 12 lineman are all in the NFL now. Bradford’s protection is of the utmost importance and the line will have to be solid to open holes for the backs. T Gerald McCoy might be the best in the land at DT and looks to improve on his 6.5 sacks last season. The rest of the line is amazing and this group is the best in the nation. The safety position is one area of concern and no one has any real experience. If the Sooners want a return date in the title game, they will have to beef up on special teams and make sure the secondary is solid enough to handle the QB’s in the Big 12 South.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:12-0 1st in Big 12 South Bowl Prediction:After easily winning the Big 12 title game, they will get a long awaited rematch in the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena. |
1. Florida Gators
Analysis:
Well, let’s see. Who could be the number 1 team in the land? Who has EVERYONE put in the top spot around the country. The Mighty Gators are back and better than they ever have been. The leader of the team, Tim Tebow if you haven’t heard of him, might eventually be the best college football player of all time. The offense has speed all over the field and can spread out teams with their 3rd string athletes. The backfield is going to miss Percy Harvin, but Jeff Demps has world class speed and Emmanuel Moody looks to be the back that USC and Texas thought he would be when they recruited him. The WR’s will also miss Harvin and Louis Murphy, but Deonte Thompson is a burner who will stretch all defenses. Tebow’s leadership is an intangible that will lead the offense to big, big things. The defense is probably the best unit in the land. They have all 11 starters and their backups coming back. How fair is that? Brandon Spikes is the Tebow of the defense and might be the best LB in the country. The secondary has speed, experience and tenacity. The line is led by Carlos Dunlap, who some project to be a 1st Round NFL Draft pick. Overall, the Gators are the best team in the country on paper. If complacency sets in, then the Gators could be in trouble and they have a recent history of losing to lesser teams in the SEC West.
Schedule:
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Record Prediction:12-0 1st in SEC East Bowl Prediction:The Gators will get past the tough tests at LSU and against Alabama in the SEC Title game. They will face Oklahoma in a rematch of last year’s BCS National Championship game. |
