Horn Brain, I told you I didn’t have time to properly sort out a list of my own right now, but looking over your list, I’ll just note that I find myself in near total agreement.

A few points of departure:

Missouri: I don’t necessarily have a problem with you ranking them 10th, but I disagree strongly with the accompanying comment suggesting they’re not up to beating anyone above them on your list. They look to me good enough that a 12-0 regular season won’t surprise me. I’m not expecting it, but I think they’re good enough.

West Virginia: One of the reasons I abstained is precisely because my being more skeptical than you is so wishy-washy, with a reason approaching something like “negative momentum and distractions” fueling my concern about their ability to succeed. And that’s a damn meaningless statement.

Auburn/Clemson: Flip flop these two on my own preseason hunch ballot.

Rankings I liked: Oregon at #11, Kansas at #16, Texas Tech #19.

Nice post.

Here’s one put together with an odd mix of baseless assumption and blind fantasy.

1 LSU – Two potentially unrelated facts: You can’t spell Les Miles without two L’s and a Harvard Transfer QB may be the primary starter. But in a year with no clear number one they get my nod…since I have to pick one.

2 Georgia- Playstation national champ lacks on field/off field leadership, left tackle, collective ability to hold liquor. Knowshon is a great RB, but the rest of the offense needs to step up to his level.

3 USC- Great defense and coaching staff. Joe McKnight may be the best compensated football player in California, but the real story of the football season is Mitch Mustain ’s Mom out in LA…especially now that he sits atop the depth chart.

4 Oklahoma- The on field talent to win it all. The coaching staff to lose any given Saturday with a knack for Bowl game ineptitude.

5 Missouri- Experienced Defense, it lacks elite talent but executes well enough. Quality offense with enough star power with Daniel and Maclin to keep the defense being a problem. The Fulmer cup points probably mean they’re headed for a flame out.

6 Ohio St- Great defensive talent, good running game, and a not terrible QB. Looks a lot like the 2002 national champs to me (though Wells>>Clarret), but recent BCS hammerings make me question the coaching staff.

7 Florida- Tebow, Harvin, but who runs the ball (other than Tebow?). Also, who plays
defensive tackle? And though the secondary will improve, I’m not sure the pass rush will.

8 Texas- Great potential, improved coaching staff, but the questions won’t be
answered until they take the field.

9 WVU- Orson Swindle is on to something with the Larry Coker comparison. I see an accelerated decline compared to Coker…we’re talking Holiday Bowl. But I can’t justify dropping them to aid one of the teams below.

10 Auburn- Their offensive line is the bane of first round d-lineman, for both their excellent play and their Olympic level dive routines.

11 Clemson- No amount of on field talent can overcome the Bowden problem.

12 Oregon- A replay of last years team, but without the “best of times, worst of times” QB situation, and a platoon RB group making up for the loss of Stewart

13 Penn State- Excellent defense, quality at skill positions other than QB, but points deducted for questionable QB situation and Paterno(s),

14 USF- A great pass rusher, a quality (if overrated) QB, a good coaching staff.

15 Va. Tech- Frank Beamer continues his campaign against interesting football, eyes victory.

16 Tennessee- A good ground game and defense. Eric frickin’ Berry. But, no one knows how to underachieve quite like Phil Fulmer so this is probably a bit high.

17 Texas Tech- Opposite day version of Va. Tech. If the defense can be Kansas good (as in not exactly good, but fairly solid and consistent) they’re a top 10 team.

18 Wisconsin- Most Fearsome Slayer of unranked teams, armed with a great running game and a questionable defense.

19 Illinois- Lost some talent, but attempted to reload. Juice Williams should improve his complete percentage again, possibly breaking the 60% barrier.

20 BYU- Filling the role as “Non-BCS Team most likely to beat Oklahoma in a bowl game”

21 Michigan- They’ve got EEEEE Barwais, and a competent defense, but the offense is going to hit a painful transition (and transfer) year. Like Texas, this is the first chance they’ve had to overachieve in a long time, and I think they’ll take it.

22 Kansas- Average talent on defense, somewhat above talent on offense, but generally excellent execution. They’ll have a problem when they play a more talented team with an equal ability to execute. Good for being ranked, but not ranked higher.

23 Arizona St.- In remembering the abject humiliation UT laid upon them last season, we forget that ASU was a pretty solid team last year.

24 Alabama- With Nick Saban as master of the dark arts, they’ll do all right. A lot of close games with Bama capable of beating a better team or losing to a worse one.

25 North Carolina- Some team will exceed the modest expectations set for them. Butch Davis and Marvin Austin get my vote, despite the young offensive line, lack of line backer depth, and the only better than average receiving corps. How I justify them over A&M and Pitt comes down to my opinion of the college ability of failed NFL coaches – or baseless speculation. One of those.

Why you dislike Frank Beamer?

I don’t think Michigan has any business being in the top 25, or even 35. They are lucky they play in the Big Televen, because that offense in the SEC or Big 12 would have trouble scoring more than 2 td’s/game. All games they win this year will be because of their defense. Look at the projected offensive starters at Maize & Blue Nation. This will be another tough year in Ann Arbor.

I will simply give my opinion as to who is potentially overrated and who is underrated.

OVERRATED:

Florida- Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators will struggle in the SEC just like they did last year. I am NOT impressed and they are fo sure no #5.
Kansas- had a year to remember last year, but if I was betting my hard earned income- I will have to wager that the magical thunder will not strike twice in a row.
Clemson- better than Texas? Really? Since when?
Penn State- I know they are ranked fairly low as it is, but I think even lower would be more appropriate. Sometimes it seems as though big schools like Penn St. and the Paterno followers get a decent ranking every year to appease the fans but never seem to accomplish much of anything. It would be nice to see a team like Penn State do well for once, but once again, I wouldn’t count on it.

UNDERRATED:

LSU- I think LSU will be in serious contention to win the SEC. Georgia and Florida will be tough but I think LSU is fo sure better than Florida and has a good chance of beating Georgia as well.
Texas- a tough schedule? yes, but the new coaching staff members could prove the difference in staying ahead of the curve this year. We won’t know until we see them in action, but I’m going to put in all on Colt McCoy. If he does well, we do well.
Oregon- I was sold on some early posts- without a QB controversy, Oregon will do well.
Michigan- forget the loss to Appalachian State- though extremely embarrassing. Michigan looked strong throughout the end of the season last year and won an impressive bowl game. I think they will put a good run together this year.

TEAMS I HOPE ARE OVERRATED:

Oklahoma- obviously
UnlimitedSupplyofCheats- USC
Ohio State- what have you done for me lately

but tech looks right. I’m so tired of these polls having so much to do with the bowl games. If a team loses a bowl game they suddenly are supposed to do terrible the next season yet if they win (regardless of opponent) everyone thinks they will do well.

I don’t have a lot of hope for Tech this year. I don’t see them winning in Norman. They might not even win in College Station (that’s a big if). I don’t remember all of their schedule but their defense is extremely unknown. I hate Leach although he can run one hell of a passing game. He would be a great OC for a pass happy team but they need a HC who isn’t a moron and can actually coach defense.

Road schedule: at Arizona State, at LSU, at Auburn — plus Florida at a neutral site.