College Football -- Better Than Ever

[Imran Siddiqui]

Rankings (even though we aren't aggregating them until... Week 4 is it?)

1) Florida
2) Southern Cal
3) Oklahoma State
4) Texas
5) Alabama
6) Ohio State
7) Brigham Young
8) Mississippi
9) Boise State
10) Penn State

Just missing: Utah, California

[SlowwHand]

Word. Georgia is starting over again.
Florida is an excellent example of playing no one.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Considering that they've returned quite a bit of starters from a national championship squad, I'll list them at #1 until they show they don't deserve it.

[SlowwHand]

That illustrates my point perfectly. All the returning starters and they kicked the crap out of a nobody. I'm impressed.

[David Floyd]

Imran, you have Oklahoma St ranked way too high. They just aren't that good, IMO.

Obviously, Oklahoma is out of the title picture, barring a miracle.

I agree that OSU is way overrated, but so is Alabama and Penn St. I'd be surprised if 2 of those 3 ended up in the Top 10 at the end of the year.

However, if OSU can pull off a miracle and beat USC, then they have a clear road to running the table and playing either Florida or Texas in the National Title Game. Barring that miracle, I think we are headed for a 1 loss Florida (they lose to LSU) against an undefeated Texas, whose only tough game will be Oklahoma St in Stillwater. Oklahoma just gave us an clear road, otherwise.

USC almost has to lose 1 game this year, and no way will a 1 loss Pac-10 team, even USC, get ranked above a 1 loss Florida or (at worst) a 1 loss Texas team.

I do think that we will see a Mountain West team in the BCS this year, probably either TCU or Boise State.

LSU will finish in the top 10, after losing to Florida in the SEC Title Game. Texas will beat Kansas in the Big 12 Title Game. USC will win the Pac-10. FSU will bounce back after their loss yesterday to Miami and make, at least, their conference title game. As for the Big 10, they all suck, although I do agree that Michigan will have a somewhat better year this year (Notre Dame is going down hard - **** you Charlie Weis). When your best two teams are the consistently overrated OSU and Penn St, your conference has problems.

And thus ends my likely wildly inaccurate college football predictions.

[David Floyd]

Oh, and Ole Miss will finish ranked at least in the top 15, but more probably in the Top 10. Jevan Snead will have a breakout year, and will wish he played for a more nationally visible football program. Ole Miss will be 3rd best in the SEC, after Florida and LSU.

[Guynemer]

Floyd: Boise State is in the WAC. MWC includes BYU, Utah, and TCU as contenders.

Imran: Sorry about that call; I realized just after I hung up that the Rutgers game was on.


While I am pleased that Michigan went from losing to one of the worst MAC teams last year, to dismantling one of the best this year, I remain skeptical about the remainder of the season.

[David Floyd]

Guy,

Yeah, you're right. BYU was the team I was going for, not Boise State. The team that beat #3 Oklahoma (haha, **** you Bob Stoops).

[DanS]

It's always possible that Michigan will have a better year this year than expected. Running teams can improve more easily than passing teams.

ND-Michigan should be a good game. I look forward to watching it.

[Lord Avalon]

The Forcier is with us.

He didn't look like a true freshman at all (though it's possible there may be times when he does). The other true frosh QB Robinson has blazing speed. Defense was tackling! Shocking, I know.

Forcier staying healthy will be a major factor in U-M's success - he's got the best all-around ability. Robinson has a strong arm, but needs to work on his passing; run seems like options 1 & 2. The health of the secondary is another major factor, as depth there is thin. Cissoko was out in the second half with a shoulder/nerve thing (he'll be back for ND), and we got burned on a deep ball.

I, too, am looking forward to the game.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I don't think I am rating Oklahoma State too high. They had a great season last year and I think they'll have another one this year as well. They were ranked preseason #9 for a reason and they showed they deserved a high ranking. And they actually played someone .

Imran: Sorry about that call; I realized just after I hung up that the Rutgers game was on.

No prob. They got destroyed anyways

Though that explains the noise behind me (was at my local pub)

[David Floyd]

OK, but ranking Oklahoma State ahead of Texas is ludicrous.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'm just using Sloww's "they played against no opposition" ranking for the Big XII teams

[David Floyd]

But we all know that Sloww doesn't know what he's talking about. Seriously, Oklahoma State is a better team than Texas? Really? Come on Imran.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well they only lost to Texas by 4 last year. And have looked more impressive after Week 1. I don't think there really a dime's worth of difference between them, so far. We'll see as the season goes on. So I'll keep 'em how they are.