First Stab At The 2010 BlogPoll Ballot
by ccmachine on Aug 18, 2010 3:13 PM CDT
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Here we go! Its voting time again. This year I'm moving my vote in the annual BlogPoll from my now defunct general sports blog to Crimson And Cream Machine. In addition the poll itself is moving from CBS Sportsline to Sports Blog Nation. Its a win-win for everyone and further proof that SBN is growing as the premier voice of the fan in the sports market.
The initial pre-season poll will be released this coming Monday and then once the season starts you can look for them to come out every Wednesday. For our part, here at The Machine, I'll post my ballot in time for you to completely scrutinize it. Let me know where you agree and where you think I'm complete insane. Make a good, solid argument and you could even change my mind as to how I'm voting. Here's a look at my pre-season ballot with a bit of explanation for the Top 10.
1. Alabama - Before any analysis is given here it should be noted that my philosophy has always been, you're number one until someone beats you. That's the benefit of being the defending champions. The Tide could have the best offense in the SEC this season. They're crazy fast on the edges with Julio Jones and Marquis Maze, powerful in the backfield with Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, and say what you want about Greg McElroy but the kid has never lost a game in which he started.
2. Ohio State - The Buckeyes are always good on defense and after watching what their offense did to Oregon in the Rose Bowl last January it appears that they're poised to make a run to the title in 2010.
3. Boise State - Wait...what? Its time to stop looking at the Broncos as a non-BCS conference team and start seeing them as a national power. No one from the "major conferences" is willing to play them in a home-and-home series which just reinforces my previous statement. Boise State has 18 returning starters (9 on each side of the ball) and a quarterback who should be a Heisman candidate this year. If they get past Virginia Tech on Labor Day then they're on the road to another undefeated season.
4. Florida - Tim Tebow is gone but the Gators are still loaded on offense. Jeff Demps, Emmanuel Moody and Deonte Thompson are all back as skill position players and most importantly four of the five offensive lineman are back. If Florida falls out of the hunt this year it won't be because of the offense.
5. Virginia Tech - The credibility of Tech's defense can never be questioned despite how many players transition in and out each year. Mark it down, the Hokies are going to give the Boise State rush defense their strongest test of the season right out of the gate. Ryan Williams emerged last year as an explosive back (and the Hokies will have Darren Evans back this year) and quarterback Tyrod Taylor will keep opposing linebackers guessing with the options he presents due to his ability to run the ball.
6. Oklahoma - Biggest offensive question mark, o-line. Biggest defensive question mark, corner backs. If Oklahoma provides reliable answers to those questions then look out because they are staked and loaded at every other position. Including 2009, Bob Stoops has only had three seasons in which his squad won less than 10 games in a season. The previous two times (1999, 2005) the Sooners came back to win the Big 12 championship the following season and the national championship in 2000. They're the odds on favorite to see that trend continue in 2010.
7. Texas - A new era is beginning in Austin, TX and feelings are mixed across the country. I understand that the Longhorn fans feel they should be ranked higher but they're going to have to understand my skepticism for right now. They'll be solid on defense but have a big question mark all over the offense. The formula is simple for Texas. Win and you move up on this list.
8. TCU - Gary Patterson has built his program on defense last year we saw the offense come along to balance out the Frogs. In 2010 they return 16 starters from a team that was almost perfect. Now they're looking to finish the deal in 2010.
9. Iowa - Quarterback Ricky Stanzi is 18-4 the last two years are the starting quarterback for the Hawkeyes. Last season ended with a win over Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl and greater things are expected in 2010.
10. Nebraska -The Huskers still have a lot to prove on offense but even in the absence of Ndamukong Suh the defense will still be one of the best in the country. A soft schedule to begin the season will provide Bo Pelini plenty of opportunity to work out the kinks on offense.
Crimson and Cream Machine Ballot - Week 1
| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama Crimson Tide | -- |
| 2 | Ohio St. Buckeyes | -- |
| 3 | Boise St. Broncos | -- |
| 4 | Florida Gators | -- |
| 5 | Virginia Tech Hokies | -- |
| 6 | Oklahoma Sooners | -- |
| 7 | Texas Longhorns | -- |
| 8 | TCU Horned Frogs | -- |
| 9 | Iowa Hawkeyes | -- |
| 10 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | -- |
| 11 | Oregon Ducks | -- |
| 12 | Miami Hurricanes | -- |
| 13 | Wisconsin Badgers | -- |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Panthers | -- |
| 15 | North Carolina Tar Heels | -- |
| 16 | Arkansas Razorbacks | -- |
| 17 | Florida St. Seminoles | -- |
| 18 | Georgia Bulldogs | -- |
| 19 | Penn St. Nittany Lions | -- |
| 20 | LSU Tigers | -- |
| 21 | Auburn Tigers | -- |
| 22 | Clemson Tigers | -- |
| 23 | Connecticut Huskies | -- |
| 24 | USC Trojans | -- |
| 25 | Missouri Tigers | -- |
SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings "
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Comments
As Far as preseason goes....
I can’t see anything wrong with it.
However, is USC even allowed on the ballot? :)
2 cents worth
If we are going to rank USC, then let’s put them in the top 15. They are fielding one heck of a defense this year and returning a solid leader at QB.
I would replace Clemson with South Carolina. They should be better defensively and also returning a solid QB.
Navy is an interesting team this year. I would slot them over Mizzou.
As for LSU, I just don’t see how they make the list. Maybe it’s me.
And thanks for the Top 10 vote. I had to beg Jon at Corn Nation to consider the Horns for at least an 8 spot.
Like the poll
My two issues would be Ohio State and Florida.
I just don’t see Ohio State being able to play a full season. They always seem to slip up somewhere on their schedule (almost lost to Navy last year, and lost to Purdue). I also dont think that Pryor’s potential will ever be maximized at Ohio State. Tressel ball isn’t made for his skill set.
For Florida, I think they are going to be a little lost without Tebow. Brantley is a good QB, and IMO he will be a better traditional QB than Tebow. I think the most important thing Tebow brought to that team was his leadership and toughness. Florida will miss these intangibles from Tebow, and I expect them to stumble and be somewhere in the 11-20 range this year.
I'd have to agree on both counts
So I guess it really just depends on how CC approached his voting. I’m assuming this is strictly as it’s described meaning “preseason” poll and not how he expects them to finish. Otherwise, like you I’d have major issues w/ both Ohio State and UF being that high. I’m highly skeptical that UT can keep rolling on offense given all that they lose with McCoy (and Shipley as well for that matter), so why does it appear that everyone is also giving UF the benefit of the doubt after they lose the chosen one?
No offense in the country relied more on one player than UF did on Tebow, so it’s only natural to assume they struggle on offense this year. Not to mention that Brantely, while however good he may be, is nowhere near as mobile as Tebow was so how will The Crier have to alter his scheme and how successful will that be?
The issue with this particular year is there doesn’t appear to be a truly dominant team/s.
Miami at #12 seems a little high to me. Randy Shannon has never proven really anything during his tenure despite having considerable talent. This version of Da U reminds me a lot of Okie State (the more talented version). Meaning, it’s always the same played out “this is our year” mantra that never seems to work out like they claim it will. Based on CC’s ballot, I’d have Wisconsin, Pitt, and UNC ahead of Miami at this point. Other than that, don’t sleep on Joe Pa. Never really been a fan, but the guy just keeps putting teams together and winning games they’re not supposed to.
"We call him The Hammer." - Bob Stoops on Ronnell Lewis
To be honest
I personally have no idea where I would rank Texas. I can see a situation where Gilbert has to go through his growing pains like any other QB and Texas finishes with 2-3 losses.
I can also see a scenario where Gilbert gets hurt, and we are forced to start one of the true freshman QBs and lose 4-6 games. (praying nervously that I didn’t just jinx it).
And the best case scenario, Gilbert went through his growing pains against Bama, and comes out slinging, there is balance in the run game, and we have a legitimate shot at getting back to the title game.
I can understand people ranking the Horns anywhere in the top 25 right now. If I had to personally put a rank on them, I would say #10 right now.
You are looking like a homer!
Not just where OU is concerned but where the conference is concerned.
Nothing would make me happier than to see OU ranked in the top six in both polls at the start of the year. I just don’t think its happenin.
Boise State at #3? Think about this. If they start the year at #3 and they win that first game, they are odds on favorites to make the NC game. That doesn’t mean they will win that game but . . . IF they start at #3, I like their chances better than anyone in college football. What have they done to deserve such treatment? Well they did give Oregon a drubbing last year but after that? I understand the sympathy for this team that no one wants to play — but it should take more than sympathy to get a #3 ranking.
Texas at #7? Cummon. Is their offense really good enough to rank the team in the top 10? You know they will drop two or three games next year because they won’t be able to put the points on the board.
Oregon at #11 may be a bit too high for them. They lost three starters because of “legal issues” — hopefully its only going to be three. That team has issues that have nothing to do with football. They have a great coach and the great program but the guys that step on the field have to be great as well. The latter requirement will be their downfall next season.
No love for Oregon State? This team may surprise a lot of folks next year.
mjc
Not sure if anybody else has noticed,
But everytime Boise State is given a chance, they perform well above expectations. That, and Kellen Moore is a monster.
by KratosWasASooner on Aug 18, 2010 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions
To be fair about Boise St...
They play a biggie first…all off season to prepare.
Then, they play a biggie last…5 weeks to prepare.
The reason nobody wants a home and home with them is it is a no win situation for the marquee program. You are supposed to beat them…and nobody wants to play football on a blue field. Stop behaving like a gimmicky program and perhaps then, and only then, will you garner the respect you seek so much.
Lastly, Boise St. would be the equivalent of TT in the Big XII – II.
"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." ~ Will Muschamp
"I always felt like, and I paid a price for it, that it didn't seem right for one guy to bring me down." ~ The Tyler Rose
"I'm Colt McCoy and I Am Second." ~ Colt McCoy
by Mulliganville on Aug 18, 2010 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions
+1
BS is again being given credit for playing a one game season. Nobody wants to play them… it is what it is. Tuff. 5 or 6 for them is okay 3 is too higjh. Like I mentioned and i am sure the OP knows. they PLAY ONE GAME A YEAR, excluding bowls. Play a tougher season schedule and I would reconsider, until then… no way.
+1 on the no win situation
That was exactly the scenario in the Fiesta Bowl and what I assume was a major reason why OU came out so flat. If they win, everyone says big deal you’re supposed to. If you lose, well we’re already familiar with that so need need to rehash.
"We call him The Hammer." - Bob Stoops on Ronnell Lewis
I guess I'm also an SEC homer
Since I have two of their schools in the top 4.
Did you watch Boise last year? They not only beat down Oregon but they also won a BCS bowl. They also have 18 returning starters. If they fall on their face out of the box against Va. Tech then I’ll drop them like a rock, but I don’t expect that to happen.
did you read the posts above.
give any team that kind of time to prepare those attentions starved people have odds in their favor. Play a full season of nobody’s and the team is fresh, no injuries, most of their games are at home on the blue field with blue sidelines that matches their blue jerseys perfectly and the odds are really stacked in their favor to have a perfect conference season. Great formula to bowl invites and prepare 5 weeks for a bowl game. Until things change they would never get any higher than 6 on my ballot.
Who do you think they are preparing for right now. No one else except Va. Why… they don’t have to. Look at their conference. Take everything into consideration, not just one or two games a year.
I agree with you 99%
but that 1% of me can understand the Boise rationalization.
Lets put ourselves in Boise’s shoes.
You are in a non BCS conference. So the thought process goes, you need to load up your non conference schedule with BCS worthy teams to bolster your schedule and garner respect. However, no one wants to play you because they know that you are probably the toughest non BCS school to play, and said BCS school gains nothing if they beat you.
It looks like Boise is doing all that they can to turn it around the perception but they are being blocked by the natural forces of college football.
(one thing they could do is get rid of the blue turf, that might help)
Considering their schedule this year, I would still be part of the camp that believes they should feel honored to be ranked in the top 10 preseason poll. I think 9/10/11 is a reasonable range for them.
Now, if they were to run the tables, and 2 teams from either the PAC 10, Big 12, SEC, Big 10, or ACC (sorry Big East, you get no love) were to also be undefeated, I think there is no way in hell Boise finishes ahead of an undefeated champion of one of those conferences. I could see Boise getting the nod over an undefeated Connecticut however.
Against TCU...not exactly a BCS powerhouse.
Utah got Bama when they were deflated by not being in the MNC.
It took BSU two trick plays and a gargantuan amount of luck to scrape by OU.
Texas was flat to play tOSU and it took a miracle at the end of the game to win, as they felt they should have been playing in the MNC two seasons ago (not trying to rehash the 3 way).
These kids are human and BSU has proven they can get up for big games given ample time to prepare. Nothing more.
"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." ~ Will Muschamp
"I always felt like, and I paid a price for it, that it didn't seem right for one guy to bring me down." ~ The Tyler Rose
"I'm Colt McCoy and I Am Second." ~ Colt McCoy
by Mulliganville on Aug 19, 2010 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions
The scary thing here....
if Boise does run the table, they will be in the MNC with a chance to play, more than likely, Tex…ahhhh GOTCHA! They will probably play Bama or tOSU. The Buckeyes will figure out a way to lose a game they should not…so I am penciling in ’Bama for the time being.
"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." ~ Will Muschamp
"I always felt like, and I paid a price for it, that it didn't seem right for one guy to bring me down." ~ The Tyler Rose
"I'm Colt McCoy and I Am Second." ~ Colt McCoy
by Mulliganville on Aug 20, 2010 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions
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