College Football Top 10 and Sleepers
By: Sean Higgs
The feeling here is that the National Title is Florida's to lose. Big 12 powers Texas and Oklahoma will be right behind the Gators. LSU, Alabama, Penn State and Ohio State are no push-overs. USC should never be counted out. Dark horses include Ole Miss, Cal and Va Tech.
Now for some analysis.
#1 FLORIDA GATORS -- Tim Tebow is back looking for BCS Title #3, and Heisman #2. This years Florida team is the best in a long time. Even with last years inexperienced D, the Gators managed to beat every team (except Ole Miss) by double digits. With 18 starters back, 11 on D, the Gators are everyone's pre-season favorites to win it all. Gators have 3 SEC home games, but the big test will be traveling to LSU on Oct. 10.
#2 TEXAS LONGHORNS -- HC Mack Brown is the king of consistancy. 15 straight years of starting and finishing in the Top 15 of the AP Poll. Longhorns bring back 16 starters led by Heisman hopefull Colt McCoy. After missing out of last years BCS Championship, this bitter bunch will be on a mission. The country's best road team at 51-16 the last 10 years, Texas will be licking their chops for a revenge shot at Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry game Oct. 17. Look for the 'Horns who beat the Sooners last year, to be extra motivated over their snubbing.
#3 OKLAHOMA SOONERS -- Can Bob Stoops please win a bowl game! We are now at 5 straight losses. This team is loaded with talent. Heisman Winner Sam Bradford is back to lead a prolific offensive attack. The D is anchored by a solid front 7. Oct. 17 vs Texas is the big game. Both teams should both be undefeated when they meet in mid-October.
#4 USC -- How can you not put this group in the Top 5. All Pete Carroll does is sit back and reload every year. We will see how deep the Trojans are this year with road games at Notre Dame, Cal and Ohio State. Big game early Spetember 12th at Ohio State. A big revenge game for the Buckeyes at home. An early indicator for both clubs.
#5 Penn State --- This Nittany Lions pick is pretty muched based on 2 things. 1, they have one of the easiest schedules for a big conference school. And 2, they get both Ohio State and Iowa, who upset them last year at home.
#6 Mississippi --- We are big fans of Houston Nutt. This is a risky pick considering how trendy a play Ole Miss is this year. With QB Jevan Snead, the Rebs look pretty impressive. Just like PSU, Ole Miss rates well with a weak schedule. Rebs bring back 16 starters which should help as they face Bama and LSU at home. Mississippi won't be sneaking up on anyone, and we will find out early if they are for real as they travel to South Carolina on Spetember 24th.
#7 Ohio State -- A rebuilding year considering that last year they were suppose to be title contenders. This season will be determined early with a big revenge game vs USC on Sept. 12. A road trip to Happy Valley on Nov 7 will have BCS impications providing both clubs took care of business early.Can't ever count a Jim Tressel out of anything.
#8 Alabama -- Crimson Tide bring another moster defense to the table. The offense is a little light with return starters though. The big game will be on the road vs Ole Miss.
#9 Virginia Tech -- HC Frank Beamer had a young bunch last year, and will be looking to make major strides here. 16 returning starters off a team that wasn't suppose to win the ACC Title but did. They will know what kind of team they have in Blacksburg early, as they face Alabama in Atlanta on September 5th.
#10 California -- The Bears round out our Top 10. Cal wins under HC Jeff Tedford, but many feel this is the year with a so-called down USC bunch. USC on October 3rd is their season. The Trojans will be coming in on their 3rd road game in 4 weeks so maybe the stars are lining up in Berkeley.
SLEEPERS
Obviously with Cal and Va Tech in the Top 10, we don't consider them sleepers. But others may not be as high on them.
Notre Dame -- Let's be honest here. Charlie Weiss has done jack since he got to South Bend. He has his recruits in place. Let's see what happens here. A Top 15 finish or better is expected.
Georgia -- All eyes were on the Bulldogs last year. We took the bait. This year, and improved OL, their undoing last year, will be much better this season. HC Mark Richt is at his best when undervalued. Oklahoma State on the road Spetember 5th is an early bench mark game. Other road games include Tennesseee and vs Florida in Jax.
Okalahoma State --- A loaded offense. Can they stop anyone?
Boise State --- Beat Oregon at home September 3rd and they could be this years Utah