College Football USC ranked #1

[infrared41]

The first college football poll is out. Let the debating begin. Who's too high? Too low? Sleeper picks?

1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481

2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372

3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278

4. Texas 0-0 1,231

5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218

6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205

7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114

8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026

9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005

10. Ohio State 0-0 919

11. Louisville 0-0 836

12. California 0-0 763

13. Georgia 0-0 604

14. Auburn 0-0 595

15. Tennessee 0-0 583

16. Rutgers 0-0 466

17. UCLA 0-0 454

18. Penn State 0-0 440

19. Nebraska 0-0 388

20. Arkansas 0-0 360

21. Florida State 0-0 301

22. TCU 0-0 233

23. Boise State 0-0 222

24. Hawaii 0-0 214

25. Texas A&M 0-0 209

Too high: Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio State, Wisconsin.

Too low: Virginia Tech, Auburn and Georgia.

Sleepers: UCLA.

[Thad]

The first college football poll is out. Let the debating begin. Who's too high? Too low? Sleeper picks?

1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481

2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372

3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278

4. Texas 0-0 1,231

5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218

6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205

7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114

8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026

9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005

10. Ohio State 0-0 919

11. Louisville 0-0 836

12. California 0-0 763

13. Georgia 0-0 604

14. Auburn 0-0 595

15. Tennessee 0-0 583

16. Rutgers 0-0 466

17. UCLA 0-0 454

18. Penn State 0-0 440

19. Nebraska 0-0 388

20. Arkansas 0-0 360

21. Florida State 0-0 301

22. TCU 0-0 233

23. Boise State 0-0 222

24. Hawaii 0-0 214

25. Texas A&M 0-0 209

Too High: Auburn, Arkansas, Florida State

Too Low: Hawaii, Georgia, TCU

Sleepers: Georgia, A&M

[harperdc]

The first college football poll is out. Let the debating begin. Who's too high? Too low? Sleeper picks?

1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481

2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372

3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278

4. Texas 0-0 1,231

5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218

6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205

7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114

8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026

9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005

10. Ohio State 0-0 919

11. Louisville 0-0 836

12. California 0-0 763

13. Georgia 0-0 604

14. Auburn 0-0 595

15. Tennessee 0-0 583

16. Rutgers 0-0 466

17. UCLA 0-0 454

18. Penn State 0-0 440

19. Nebraska 0-0 388

20. Arkansas 0-0 360

21. Florida State 0-0 301

22. TCU 0-0 233

23. Boise State 0-0 222

24. Hawaii 0-0 214

25. Texas A&M 0-0 209

Too high: Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio State, Wisconsin.

Too low: Virginia Tech, Auburn and Georgia.

Sleepers: UCLA.

too high: LSU, Rutgers

too low: Cal, Boise St.

sleeper: OREGON (....naw, I'm not even believing that).

[TFoA]

Too High: Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA

Too Low: Auburn, VT, Penn St.

Sleeper: Hawaii. If They run the table, the people who were clamoring for Boise St. to become TEH TRUE NATL CHAMPPZZZSS are going to be doing the same thing come January.

[B-Rich]

too high: LSU, Rutgers

too low: Cal, Boise St.

sleeper: OREGON (....naw, I'm not even believing that).

While it's nice to see my alma mater (LSU) picked so high, I'll agree with you that they are ranked too high-- if only because then everyone is gunnin' for you. I'd rather us be in the middel of the pack and sneak up quietly, or even finsh strong and be ranked #3 at the end of the season as we were last year (we wuz robbed by the refs in the Auburn game).

Although LSU lost some key players ( Jamrcus Russell, Dwayne Bowe, LaRon Landry, et als), we have a lot of talent still there. Not enough to be no. 2, however.

[KevinMcD]

WTF Where is UB????????

Oh..... this is the TOP 25 not Bottom 25

[HedleyLamarr]

UGA ranked #13 seems about right. They have a lot to replace on defense, though last season's reserves got plenty of playing time. UGA should win the SEC East, there's no dominant team.

[rams80]

Nebraska strikes me as being a little low at #19. (Maybe they anticipate losses vs. USC and the Big XII South, though). They'll win the North division just fine, though.

[PeytonManningRocks]

Good to be number one...now if only we can beat the Bruins....

[HedleyLamarr]

It should also be noted, that Duke received their annual 25th-place vote from Coach Spurrier.....

[dfwabel]

As a UM alum, but was never a fan, they are ranked for disappointment as usual. LLLoyd Carr is one of the worst game day coaches who still has a job. Sadly, Les Miles will get the job in a year or two since he is the hotest coach who has Michigan connections. Les has had nice teams with OKState, but his LSU teams were damn strong and tanked that game @ Florida. I was there and the fumble at the goalline was horrible. He. like most UM coaches cannot make halftime adjustments. As a UM alum, I'd take the once failed Cam Cameron (Indiana) over Les Miles. Personally, the Big Ten team to look at is Wisconsin. The school which is generally under the radar makes noise. Another school with talent is South Florida. They get kids who can play, have a da*n good coach (Jim Levity), and have QB who will grow not to make mistakes.

I think tha TCU is too low, but WAC Commissioner,Carl Benson, thinks that the WAC is a better confrence than the Mountain West. I don't really care, but he (Benson) said so during media day. Personally, I think TCU was better than Bosie on a nuetral field. Plus the weak BSU schedule will finally catch up with them. A win at Washington this year should be their biggest road win, but how big is that really? BSU got smacked at Georgia while TCU has beaten OU, Baylor on the road and beat TxTech at home. Soon, their (BSU) poor schedule will hit them hard, like it has to Fresno State and TCU. The BCS schools will not plau home/homes with them at all, not even 2-for-1 one. Thus, they will have to wil their nonconference with MAC, CUSA, and non-BSC schools. That isnt revenue, period. You have to have quality home games to satisify the 50K who buy tickets to generate revenue for the entire athletic department.

[harperdc]

Oregon is actually scheduled to play a home-and-home with Boise St. in '08-09, with the game in Eugene coming first. and we haven't had serious struggles with the program since the early '90s, so that's not exactly a bad game to schedule.

[dfwabel]

Oregon is actually scheduled to play a home-and-home with Boise St. in '08-09, with the game in Eugene coming first. and we haven't had serious struggles with the program since the early '90s, so that's not exactly a bad game to schedule.

My point is that a BCS school can afford a $400,000 buyout for a game with a non-BSC school which may make the non-BCS $700,000 - 1M in revenue. Paying to get out of a road game after the lesser team went to you is a typical "deal". Texas Tech and OK State recently have bought out their return game to Fresno State, because they just don't want to play there. Kansas State also bought out, but TV money and the fact that Cincinnti would move their two year contract allowed for this year's game after Thanksgiving.

Earlier in the otts, the same thing occurred with other BCS schools for Fresno State. This could just be a factor with the WAC over Mountain West , since TCU's regional appeal and private school money looks to give them an edge to match with former SWC and Big 8 schools. While Fresno State has got a thinning reputation, and deservedly so due to their performance and rogue NCAA appearance throughout their athletic department.

[WJMorris3]

Wait, but Fresno State had to accept the buyout, right? If I was Fresno, I'd refuse to be bought out.

Notre Dame is too high with 90 points in voting. This is a team that, even if they were to go undefeated, would not deserve a spot in the BCS, as they don't play a tough enough schedule. Why even schedule games against Navy or Duke or Army, as opposed to a Florida who plays Tennessee and LSU on a regular basis, or a USC who regularly plays Cal, Oregon, or UCLA.

[Fred T. Jane]

As a UM alum, but was never a fan, they are ranked for disappointment as usual. LLLoyd Carr is one of the worst game day coaches who still has a job. Sadly, Les Miles will get the job in a year or two since he is the hotest coach who has Michigan connections. Les has had nice teams with OKState, but his LSU teams were damn strong and tanked that game @ Florida. I was there and the fumble at the goalline was horrible.

Les Miles is still playing with Nick Saban's recruits, and with Miles they just aren't s good as all the hype makes them out to be.

I for one expect Arkansas to win the SEC West in spite of Houston Nutt once again.

[tulanebc]

too high: LSU, Rutgers

too low: Cal, Boise St.

sleeper: OREGON (....naw, I'm not even believing that).

While it's nice to see my alma mater (LSU) picked so high, I'll agree with you that they are ranked too high-- if only because then everyone is gunnin' for you. I'd rather us be in the middel of the pack and sneak up quietly, or even finsh strong and be ranked #3 at the end of the season as we were last year (we wuz robbed by the refs in the Auburn game).

Although LSU lost some key players ( Jamrcus Russell, Dwayne Bowe, LaRon Landry, et als), we have a lot of talent still there. Not enough to be no. 2, however.

After seeing your post, I would have NEVER guessed you went to LSU.....

[AndrewPF]

Boston College (#26) should be good this year

[Seadragon76]

The first college football poll is out. Let the debating begin. Who's too high? Too low? Sleeper picks?

1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481

2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372

3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278

4. Texas 0-0 1,231

5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218

6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205

7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114

8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026

9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005

10. Ohio State 0-0 919

11. Louisville 0-0 836

12. California 0-0 763

13. Georgia 0-0 604

14. Auburn 0-0 595

15. Tennessee 0-0 583

16. Rutgers 0-0 466

17. UCLA 0-0 454

18. Penn State 0-0 440

19. Nebraska 0-0 388

20. Arkansas 0-0 360

21. Florida State 0-0 301

22. TCU 0-0 233

23. Boise State 0-0 222

24. Hawaii 0-0 214

25. Texas A&M 0-0 209

Too High: Virginia Tech (Something tells me that this isn't the same Hokie team. I dunno, I could be wrong), Auburn.

Too Low: Hawaii AND Boise State (When they meet in November, I say these two will be the last unbeatens in FBS play).

Sleeper: Hawaii. Think about it.. A great QB, fearsome WR corps, and a cream cheese soft schedule that gets tough only at the end with three of the potential WAC spoilers (America's Darling, Boise State. The dreaded Pistol offense of Nevada and the only team that may actually make Hawaii cringe... San Jose State) and a possibly hungry U-Dub team at the end. My friends, meet your 2008 Uncrowned champions.

[HedleyLamarr]

Notre Dame is too high with 90 points in voting. This is a team that, even if they were to go undefeated, would not deserve a spot in the BCS, as they don't play a tough enough schedule. Why even schedule games against Navy or Duke or Army, as opposed to a Florida who plays Tennessee and LSU on a regular basis, or a USC who regularly plays Cal, Oregon, or UCLA.

Sure, Florida plays LSU and Tennessee every year, but Florida annually schedules three cupcake games to round out their non-conference schedule. Florida's 4 non-conference games are Florida State, Western Kentucky, Troy, and Florida Atlantic....teams that lost at least 5 games each. Add to that, the usual 2-3 games against bad conference teams.

Notre Dame annually plays Michigan and USC, two teams that are usually in the Top 10 every year. And, for the record, Navy won more games last season than any of Florida's non-conference opponents.

For comparison's sake, USC and Florida play 4 teams that won at least nine games last year, while Notre Dame plays 6 games against opponents that won at least nine games.

Notre Dame usually has a schedule comparable to any team in the nation before the season begins. However, Notre Dame (and any other school, for that matter) usually makes their schedules years in advance, and can't control what happens to that program by the time the current season arrives.....so they schedule by their recent history. For example, the season Colorado won the Big XII title (or at least the division title...one of the two), Georgia and Colorado scheduled a home-and-home for like 6-7 years down the road. UGA didn't expect Colorado's program would turn to absolute crap that quickly.

[Fred T. Jane]

Notre Dame usually has a schedule comparable to any team in the nation before the season begins. However, Notre Dame (and any other school, for that matter) usually makes their schedules years in advance, and can't control what happens to that program by the time the current season arrives.....so they schedule by their recent history. For example, the season Colorado won the Big XII title (or at least the division title...one of the two), Georgia and Colorado scheduled a home-and-home for like 6-7 years down the road. UGA didn't expect Colorado's program would turn to absolute crap that quickly.

You're dead on. For an independent, Notre Dame's schedule is quite comparable to that of any of the higher echelon teams in BCS Conferences. Of course, since they're an Independent, going to Michigan,Penn State, as well as UCLA are obviously cakewalks, and USC's just going to South Bend to collect a cheque to cover their athletic budget for the year.