Georgia On My Mind
August 1st, 2008 at 10:50 amBy Chris
USA Today released their Preseason Top 25 College Football Coaches Poll today and as expected, Mark Richt’s group of Georgia Bulldogs sits atop these rankings. There were six teams receiving first place votes (Georgia, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida and LSU — who make up the top six teams) with Georgia leading the way with 22.
Now, as with all things poll-related, there is disagreement about who should be at the top and in college football, because these polls matter (even now), these discussions can get awfully loud and contentious. In fact, Deadspin makes sure to point out Georgia’s ranking disparity between SEC coaches and national coaches. Apparently, the feeling is the national coaches are giving Georgia too much love for bitch-slapping Hawaii in Sugar Bowl last season.
Whatever the case, teams like USC and OSU will get their chances to prove their worth; however, if somehow the Bulldogs make it through their ungodly SEC schedule with none or only one loss, it’s going to be hard to keep them out of BCS Championship Game.
Moving on. Here’s a breakdown of the Top 25 by the big-six conferences. Did somebody say 27 — as in, 27 days left until kick-off?
* ACC – three teams (#9 Clemson, #15 Virginia Tech, #23 Wake Forest)
* Big 10 – five teams (#3 Ohio State, #12 Wisconsin, #19 Illinois, #22 Penn State, #25 Michigan)
* Big 12 – five teams (#4 Oklahoma, #7 Missouri, #10 Texas, #13 Kansas, #14 Texas Tech)
* Big East – two teams (#8 West Virginia, #21 South Florida)
* Pac-10 – three teams (#2 USC, #16 Arizona State, #20 Oregon)
* SEC – five teams (#1 Georgia, #5 Florida, #6 LSU, #11 Auburn, #18 Tennessee)
This means only Brigham Young and Fresno State are the only two mid-major conference teams in the top 25. Based on that, it’s hard to see a BCS-busting team like Boise State or Hawaii (to a lesser extent) making it through this season.
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August 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
I was surprised to see Oregon and Wake Forest in the top 25. WVU at #8 is too high as is Texas at #10.
Penn State, Illinois and Tennessee are too low.
In the end, there are eight teams with a realistic shot at the NC.
I can’t wait for the season to kick off!
August 4th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Agreed about the season starting. Very much so. Although, outside UGA, Florida and USC, the rest of the contenders look like second-tier teams. I’m done buying what Bob Stoops is selling and Missouri, well, I’ll believe it when I see it.
However, the great thing about these “second-tier” teams is they all have a chance to have an impact on who goes to the BCS Championship, whether they make it there or not.