.

Yea! My husband bought the Athlon Magazine yesterday!

War Eagle! Wooo Pig Sooie! Hail State!:D

Longhorns at 11? :( Go Texas! Id like to see Florida do well also.

I hate UGa as much as the next guy, but I think it would be hilarious to see OSU lose to three different SEC teams in the title game in three consecutive years

^^^ BIG understatement. :) GO DAWGS! GO SEC!

It's crazy Wake is listed but no FSU or Miami.:confused:

Fight On Trojans! Beat the Buckeyes! :D

I wish I could cheer on my alma mater in this category, but alas I cannot. Booooo hoooooooooo.

So instead I say GO DAWGS!

Going to the Ohio State / USC game September 13

OH .................................................. ........................... IO

I've always liked the football expert's pre season polls. He does like a high/low thing and gives good run downs.


2008 College Football Preseason Poll
by Gregory Cox
College Football Director
1/29/08


If the exciting 2007 college football season has you wanting more, here is a look at the early projections for next season. I have compiled top 25 polls from The Sporting News (Matt Hayes) Rivals.com, ESPN (Mark Schlabach) CNN/SI (Stewart Mandel) and College Football News. Once a team is mentioned they are in. If they are not included in someone else’s poll I give them a rank of 30 and then average out the results.
LSU, Tennessee, Missouri, Michigan, Texas Tech, USC, Georgia, West Virginia, Kansas, RutgersTulsa have all technically posted wins in 2008 already. It is no surprise then to see the nine of those teams who are in BCS conferences ranked in the top 25. and
Perhaps also proving how much analysts are creatures of habit, 19 teams were listed by all five sources. I have included their high, low and average score with a piece of my own analysis. The term “OOC” reflects opponents the teams play “outside of conference” and I have indicated a key game for most teams. At the bottom are 12 OOC games which will shake up the rankings.
The 34 team field is led by the SEC (7) and Big Ten (6) although the Big XII’s 5 entrants are all in the top 15. The other conferences in order of teams included are the ACC (5) Big East (4) Pac-10 (4) Mountain West (1) and WAC (1).
#1 Georgia: High (1) Low (2) Average (1.60): This year they will have no excuses for not making the BCS title game with a lofty ranking to start out the season.
#2 Oklahoma: High (1) Low (7) Average (3.40): A ton of offensive talent returns, but the Big XII will be a minefield. At least this year they avoid Missouri in the regular season, but instead get Kansas.
#3 USC: High (1) Low (5) Average (3.60): I’m not sure a team with a new starting quarterback should carry a high preseason ranking, but with their reputation it is to be expected as Mustain battles Sanchez for the job.
#4 OhioState: High (1) Low (7) Average (3.80): If there is such a term as an “almost dynasty” the Buckeyes fit into that category. Their season hinges on an early meeting at USC. Winning could set them up to be the college version of the Buffalo Bills if they lose another BCS title game.
#5 Missouri: High (3) Low (8) Average (5.00): Chase Daniel is back to go after a Heisman and national title. If they can win their opener against Illinois in St. Louis then look out. Texas Tech and Oklahoma are off the regular season schedule while the finale against Kansas will again be played in Kansas City meaning with a potential Big XII title game three neutral field tilts determine their fate.

#6 Florida: High (3) Low (10) Average (5.40): Tim Tebow tries to join the Archie Griffn club with another Heisman, but don’t expect too much from this team in the competitive SEC. Their OOC should be a walkover with post-Brennan Hawaii, slumping Miami, FL and The Citadel visiting them plus a “road” game at mediocre Florida State. #7 LSU: High (6) Low (8) Average (6.80): Obviously expectations are not quite as high for the defending champions who this panel picks as the third best team in their own conference.
#8 West Virginia: High (7) Low (14) Average (10.60): Rich Rodriguez and his files are gone. So is Steve Slaton. Still, they are the class of the Big East until proven otherwise. With a loss to Auburn to open the Mountaineers likely won’t be national title contenders.
http://imagec11.247realmedia.com/Rea...ault/empty.gif
#9 Texas: High (5) Low (15) Average (11.20): There are at least five very good teams in the Big XII which isn’t just them meeting Oklahoma for the conference title any longer. If hosting Arkansas early wasn’t enough they also draw Missouri, Oklahoma (in Dallas) and road games at Texas Tech and Kansas.
#10 Wisconsin: High (7) Low (15) Average (11.60): All the Badgers do is pile up wins, but at some point I’d love to see them take the next step for a national title run. Their notoriously weak OOC contains only one minor hurdle, a trip to dangerous Fresno State.
#11 Clemson: High (8) Low (20) Average (12.00): The ACC needs a dominant team after an awful bowl season. With Cullen Harper at quarterback this might be their best shot in 2008, but it hinges on winning at Alabama in a high profile early season opener.
#12 Auburn: High (8) Low (16) Average (12.40): Somehow the Tigers never really live up to the hype, but here they are again with a high ranking to begin the season. Their opener at West Virginia will define their year.
#13 Kansas: High (11) Low (17) Average (13.40): Was 2007 a fluke? Now that Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech are on the schedule we’ll find out. They also visit South Florida which won’t be an easy trip.
#14 Virginia Tech: High (11) Low (17) Average (14.00): The defense and special teams have carried this team a long way. With Wisconsin bailing on their meeting the Hokies don’t have much to worry about outside of the ACC.
#15 Texas Tech: High (10) Low (23) Average (14.40): Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree will be hooking up for a lot of touchdowns, but how good can they be in the deep Big XII? Their early OOC should prepare them as they host Tulsa and visit Nevada, a pair of bowl teams, to start.
#16 PennState: High (11) Low (20) Average (15.80): JoePa has them going well again. Their OOC is ridiculously easy with three of four at home. The only decent opponent is Oregon State who won’t be as good as they have been the past two seasons.
#17 BYU: High (12) Low (22) Average (17.40): This is your BCS buster out of the Mountain West. If they can handle a pair of Pac-10 teams (at Washington. vs. UCLA) in their OOC they might go undefeated.
#18 ArizonaState: High (10) Low (NR) Average (17.60): Rudy Carpenter is back and as long as he doesn’t bad mouth any defenses they should make noise in the Pac-10. However, beating Georgia is probably too much to ask in September, even if it is at home.
#19 Oregon: High (16) Low (19) Average (17.80): I don’t know if I can go along with this given that Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart are gone from the backfield. Their OOC isn’t as tough as it was last year, but they do travel to Purdue and host Boise State.
#20 Illinois: High (16) Low (23) Average (19.40): I guess getting crushed by USC and losing Mendenhall to the NFL hasn’t turned anyone off of the Illini. The neutral site opener in St. Louis against Missouri should do the trick.
#21 Tennessee: High (12) Low (NR twice) Average (21.00): Obviously opinions vary on the Volunteers who like many teams on this list lose their starting quarterback in Erik Ainge. An early visit to UCLA shouldn’t trip them up, but they open SEC play against Florida (home) and Auburn (road) while later traveling to Georgia. Those three games take place inside of 22 days.
#22 Virginia: High (20) Low (NR twice) Average (25.00): The Cavaliers are building something in the ACC and taking advantage of slumping Miami, FL and Florida State’s demise. In an early bird opener against USC we’ll see how far they have come.
#24 Michigan: High (21) Low (NR twice) Average (26.20): There is more uncertainty for the Wolverines than any time in recent memory. They have huge holes to fill on offense where several players have taken their game to the NFL. After losing to Appalachian State I don’t think they can take their OOC lightly, even if it is Utah, Miami OH, Toledo and Notre Dame.
#25 South Carolina: High (23) Low (NR twice) Average (26.40): Is time running out for Steve Spurrier to get this team into an SEC title game or at least close? The schedule is fairly back loaded, but the opener against N.C. State is a game they can’t overlook.
#26 Pittsburgh: High (22) Low (NR twice) Average (27.00): This seems to be the surprise darling pick for the Big East that produced Rutgers in 2006 and Connecticut in 2007. Perhaps it was kick-started by the upset of West Virginia. There is a chance this team will start 6-0 with home games against Bowling Green, Iowa and Buffalo while traveling to Navy, Notre Dame and Syracuse.
#27 FresnoState: High (20) Low (NR three times) Average (27.20): Now that Hawaii has lost Brennan and head coach June Jones the WAC has an opening for a BCS buster. The Bulldogs are capable of filling that role, but it boils down to beating Wisconsin when the Badgers visit them early.
#28 Alabama: High (22) Low (NR three times) Average (27.80): Nick Saban can’t feel great about a 7-6 season in which his team struggled in a bowl over an ordinary Colorado team and lost to Louisiana-Monroe.
#29 BostonCollege: High (19) Low (NR four times) Average (28.00): Most of the panel feels the loss of quarterback Matt Ryan will doom the Eagles even in a weak ACC. However, other than a post-Kevin Smith Central Florida and Notre Dame, both at home, their OOC should get them off to a good start.
#30 WakeForest: High (25) Low (NR three times) Average (28.20): Another totally disrespected team that has quietly won 20 games over the past two seasons.
#31 South Florida: High (21) Low (NR four times) Average (28.40): Getting bombed by Oregon without Dennis Dixon likely turned most of the voters away from them, but they will get another opportunity to knock off a highly ranked team when Kansas visits.
#32 OregonState: High (22) Low (NR four times) Average (28.60): I’m surprised to see them mentioned even once considering their front 7 is gone. An early season trip to Happy Valley (Penn State) should put them out of the rankings to stay.
#33 Cincinnati: High (23) Low (NR four times) Average (28.80): It is amazing how overlooked the Bearcats are considering their recent success. Oklahoma is fantastic at home, but early next year the Sooners better be ready for this team.
#34 MichiganState: High (24) Low (NR four times) Average (28.80): The Big Ten should be improved next year and the Spartans will be one of the reasons why. They can get off on the right foot before the calendar even hits September by winning at California.
A few other teams to watch out for:
Purdue: Coming off an 8-5 season buoyed by a 4-0 record against the MAC this could be a dangerous team with Curtis Painter entering his senior year at quarterback.
Arizona: Last year’s schedule featured 8 bowl teams and a 2-6 record in those games doomed them, but they lost three times by a field goal or less and 20-13 at USC. Tuitama was ninth in the nation with 3,683 yards passing.
California: Their OOC features Michigan State (home) and Maryland (road) so we will find out quickly how the Bears respond to losing their top three wide receivers, starting tight end and leading rusher. Talent remains including speedy tailback Jahvid Best and Kevin Riley might beat out senior Nate Longshore at quarterback.

I'm looking forward to the Texas-Arkansas game very much. Will probably go to OU this year again (not 100% sure) and possible Texas Tech as well since the boyfriend is from Lubbock.

Fiance is thrilled, Phil Steele's preview mag just came out. That thing will be a fixture in our house until January.

Wow. Texas has a beast of a schedule.

ohh yeah, and



BOOMER f'IN SOONER!

http://thestatecom.typepad.com/let_i...a_football.jpg

GO SEC!!

FYI, Florida isn't a "southern" state cause it's a suburb of the North.

Exactly. It's Southern by geography but not Southern by culture.

I am looking forward to the Sept 13 USC vs OSU game -- just as long as the timing doesn't interfere with UGA at USC (South Carolina). We need revenge from last year. This is going to be an interesting season with tough schedules. August can't get here fast enough.

That really varies based upon where in Florida you are. Gainesville, FL is certainly a "southern" area. From the Georgia border down through, I'd say, Orlando (not including the touristy coastal areas but definitely including the small towns in the middle and also some of the bigger cities like Jacksonville), is definitely Southern by culture. Then from Orlando down through somewhere around Miami is super-Northern. And anywhere lower than that is basically a suburb of Cuba/Puerto Rico. Just to clarify.

It always makes me so mad that people ALWAYS underestimate UGA! I mean I'm not one to make predictions per se, but I'm definitely hoping for them going all the way and ending the season at #1. Stafford and Moreno are a force to be reckoned with. GO DAWGS!

yep. probably will make all home games, tech and definitely ou.

OK... I do have relatives in some parts of FL above Orlando, but we're all descended from GA. I just figured they kept their "GA country" ways in the new location. I'll take your FL word for it. ;)

You already know. I can't wait to see dem Dawgs! Where the hell is August already???

LSU is a tough team to rank anywhere with no quarterback.

No kidding. Good lord I'm glad that worthless turd Perilloux didn't go to Texas.

1. USC
The best team talent wise every year with one of the greatest coaches in NCAA, can they avoid injuries this year?
2. UGa
They return a lot of starters from a team that finished very strong last year. Mark Richt is a great coach that should be able to keep the team riding high.
3. OU
They also return a solid team and with Texas' program temporarily down this year presents a great opportunity for them to make a run
4. UF
They need to play better defense, especially in their secondary, if they're going to make a title run.
5. Clemson
Fast, possibly the only team that is as fast as USC on this list. They have a habit of starting strong and finishing really poorly but they may be able to overcome that this year.

USC's starting QB is Mark Sanchez. He won the job at the end of Spring Practice over Mitch Mustain

USC over UGa or Ohio State for the title

USC does have a QB- Mark Sanchez. They also have great backups for him should something happen.

Despite quarterback questions, LSU will inevitably teach Michigan what its supposed to when a FCS team pays a visit. I can guarantee App St. has never played in that kind of environment.

The big house is pretty daunting, even if it is a bunch of Big Ten fans. The really crazy ones are the losers that never even went to the school, they'll get loud.

Pretty much everyone is a backup at some point... he'll do fine.

I've actually heard and read a couple articles about how while yes, the Big House is large, Mee-chigan fans are notorious for sitting on their hands during the game. I'll see if I can find them.

From a blog from a Michigan kid....http://michiganzone.blogspot.com/200...keys-away.html

I've never been to a game in Death Valley, but from stories I've heard from my parents and some friends in the A&M Band that have gone to games there, its a completely hostile atmosphere. And thats' back in the Hallman-DiNardio time period when they weren't lighting the world on fire. God help Appy if its a night game.


Kitso
KS 361

It's not. It will be at 4PM Central Time on ESPN. That way we all get to fry.

That will very much play into LSU's hands, there is no way App. St. is goign ot be able to prepare to cope with the scorching heat and humidity that we in Louisiana are grown so accustomed to.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?id=3044646

"It's night, half the place is loaded, the fans have been partying for like 20 hours straight, this is the last place you want to bring a young QB into," says one coach.

It doesn't even mention the fact that more than Death Valley crowd has measured up on a seismograph. Michigan maybe bigger, but App. St. has never met over 92,000 drunk cajuns.

Much the same thing at LSU really. Thats why LSU hardly ever plays anyone in-state, most Louisiana collegians are fans of their own college, but LSU will inevitably trump it every time. I myself am much like that, my own schools football program is nothing to scoff at, they are pretty damn good in their own division, but its nothing like LSU.

Actually, they came down in November 2005 but it was a night game. ;) http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle...&ATCLID=211019

One other thing about that game. During a break, the ASU AD and another ASU official presented a check to the Katrina/Rita Student Relief Fund. It represented over $20,000 that the ASU family raised for our students. It was one of the more touching events that I had ever witnessed.

Hm, thanks for that reminder, I didn't remember that.

Not your fault. It was the only 2005 game that wasn't televised and it didn't get much press.

I don't think I would have had electricity by then anyway come to think of it.

Come again?

Think about that real hard and get back to me. Famous location...one of the most storied rivalries in sports.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/95/26...1ef1e1.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/102/2...8eac8e.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/95/26...1ef1e1.jpg?v=0

Generally what it looks like when one of us wins:

http://media.collegepublisher.com/me...s/79ds53o5.jpg

College Football and Alex Trebek
 

I had to share that one of my "favorite" teams made it onto "Jeopardy" today.

$200 clue referenced the team that played in the 2006 and 2007 BCS Championship Games for two consecutive years but did not fare well due to a total of 79 - 38 between both games.

I howled with laughter. So much, that I could not answer, "WHO IS OHIO STATE?" It would've been beautiful if someone had shouted,

"GO SEC!!!" :cool:

On another note, the last question referenced Boise State's 2006 Fiesta Bowl win and the player winning his girlfriend's heart with a proposal.

I need August 30 to get here pronto.

What you guys think about Ole Miss. (Obviously not a national title contender), but with Nutt and a possibly decent quarterback whose to say a possible bowl appearance?