After Two Weeks

[The Great iBoldin]

I'll have an article up on this later, but for now I just want to write.

 

I don't believe in pre-season polls. After Georgia Tech loses to a mediocre Big 12 team, and Virginia Tech comes out with a home loss to a FCS opponent (who here has legitimately heard of James Madison in the football world? Not many) it shows how useless and irrelevant it is to have writers decide who should be given hype and who shouldn't. Half of the writers who are participating in the polls honestly have no idea what they're talking about, and it's projecting a black cloud over their heads.

 

I do agree with some of the rankings (Tide number one, for example) but overall, they are really just factoring in simple variables, and aren't divulging deep enough into teams. Pollsters want to save face with major programs (such as VT) and still don't want to give the teams like Stanford, Utah or Nevada a chance to be ranked and how they would, in turn, handle the pressure. I'd love to see Colin Kaepernick in a big-time game. I want to see his mental capacity and how he handles a mistake under fire.

 

But most of all, I really just want to see mid-majors given the benefit of the doubt. It doesn't happen because someone recognizes the name of West Virginia and decides that despite a poorly run 3-3-5 defense and an inconsistent offense, WVU isn't [expletive]. They aren't worth my time to be included in the polls because they aren't a top-35 team. Oregon State is a top-25 team, and they showed it already.

 

[expletive] you, BCS. [expletive] you, NCAA.

 

*end rant*

 

Here is my top-25. STILL premature, but a better look at it then the AP poll.

 

1 Alabama

2 Ohio State

3 Boise State

4 TCU

5 Texas

6 Oregon

7 Iowa

8 Arkansas

9 Utah

10 Miami

11 Oregon State

12 USC

13 South Carolina

14 Wisconsin

15 Florida

16 Michigan

17 LSU

18 Oklahoma

19 Auburn

20 Nebraska

21 UNC

22 Stanford

23 Mississippi State

24 Notre Dame

25 Arizona

 

Listen, I give preference to SEC teams. The old adage that the SEC is the most pro ready may not be the same anymore, but it's still a war in the trenches, it's still power football and it's still home to the best conference in the nation. Seven teams out of 25 is a damn good average, there is still some quality football in the deep south.

 

I dislike the big 12. They're everything new in football, but it's home to overrated Oklahoma, mediocre Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and a [expletive]ty North division. The only teams worth a damn are Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. TCU should be in that conference. I'd rather have a mid-major, lose a bit of cash and have a more competitive division then play Kansas State. I guess it's all politics - well, it is - but it shouldn't be. Let a team like TCU do some damage. They can ball with Texas, no problem.

 

Big 10 is solid this year. They've often been labeled as soft, the Big Slow, whatever you have to call them. But Ohio State has their most powerful team in years with one of the best defense I've seen for an OSU team in about five or six years. Iowa has a disgusting defense and Ricky Stanzi is awesome. I find Wisconsin overrated but I think they're still a good team. And of course Michigan. They're fun to watch and should be ranked. Robinson is ridiculous and has my early Heisman vote. 500 yards of offense is insane. Kudos for Rich Rod for building that program up nicely.

 

Conference I hate this year is the ACC. Two teams, but Miami got spanked, showed they can't live up the hype in a big game. I can't imagine Jacory has much confidence left, and whatever it is, it's probably being miscommunicated as we speak (where's the leadership on this field? You can't make two huge miscommunications with the same two people. This isn't high school). UNC gets held together with an elite defensive unit and a mediocre offense.

 

Pac 10 enjoys some great teams this year. Both Oregon's, USC, Stanford and Arizona. Let me tell you, I love Nick Foles. What a great prospect. He and Andrew Luck are the real deals (and Luck more so). A very quarterback heavy conference. Barkley's a stud as well. Darron Thomas isn't bad and Ryan Katz is someone to look forward, granted he learns to throw more then 35% of his passes to his goddamn receivers. I really like that the Pac 10 is supplemented with talent top to bottom. Washington, UCLA, Cal are all tough games provided on variables. Arizona State's not bad. Live on, Pac 12, live on.

 

Big Least. Thanks for coming out..

 

Notre Dame loses to Michigan, but Brian Kelly has something going on there.

 

That's it for me. Share your rankings if you'd like..

[fish7718]

Nice list, where's Penn State? A loss @ #1 and they drop out? Meanwhile ND loses to an unranked at home and moves in... ok

[The Great iBoldin]

I forgot about PSU. Slide them in around 19-20. Freshman quarterback is going to be tough in a B10 season. Do they play both Iowa and tOSU?

[Phightins]

I forgot about PSU. Slide them in around 19-20. Freshman quarterback is going to be tough in a B10 season. Do they play both Iowa and tOSU?

 

Yes. Both away.

[fish7718]

I forgot about PSU. Slide them in around 19-20. Freshman quarterback is going to be tough in a B10 season. Do they play both Iowa and tOSU?

Yeah they play @ both of them, aside from that their schedule is fairly easy, home vs Mich and Mich st the only tests left on it. I don't think they will win the big 10, but I do see them playing in one of those second tier bowls again.

[Phightins]

Also, with my sister being in the band at UMass, and thus me getting to several of their games, I can say I have legitimately heard of the JMU football team (same conference) and I will probably see them later this season .

 

Not any less embarrassing for VT though!

Edited September 12, 2010 by Phightins

[Flash]

Damn. Gave Miami a lot of love there lol. I think we're still a good team and I'm not really worried about Jacory. yeah, he had a terrible game but I think he'll bounce back against a horrible Pitt secondary. Agree on the leadership thing though.