This used to be the sj.com football poll thread. Now it's just nothin...

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

Ole Miss starting at No. 8?

Can Ole Miss handle that kind of truth?

Last year they put together that nice little 6-game win streak that included the win at Florida (at least USC lost on the road ...). But sneaking up on everyone, and starting in the Top 8, are two entirely different enchiladas.

Opening at Memphis won't be an easy task. I'm almost inclined to take Memphis.

Also, Week 2: USC at Ohio State

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=972637

Pryor might carve USC's defense like a Thanksgiving turkey. Rivals talks about USC's potential explosive offense, yet the Trojans have a new QB.

Ohio State probably wins that game by 2 touchdowns, maybe 3.

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

Actually, the Rebs lost two straight -- South Carolina at home, then at Alabama -- before winning six straight.

And they won't have any trouble with Memphis.

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

Fixed.

USC just regurgitates its NFL talent. OSU doesn't see that in the Big 10. USC has way too much speed.

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

USC has to replace 8 starters on defense, including all 4 linebackers, including the Bednarik winner. New QB with only 4 career pass attempts to his name. At OSU.

No way USC wins.

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

But it's USC!!!!

I admit I ranked USC higher than I really thought they should be. But again, it's USC!

Replacing players doesn't always mean crap. Especially in the top tier programs. These teams aren't recruiting stiffs.

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

Of course. But so many guys playing their first college game will have an impact. Pryor, meanwhile, is going to run all over that defense.

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

I do think USC will choke in a Pac 10 game this year and be 11-1 going to the Rose Bowl, where everyone will say they're the most talented team in the country like they have the last two years. I just submitted them at No. 2 to slappy behind Florida. That might be too high, but at this point the only other two teams I'd have in front of them would be Texas and Oklahoma.

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

OK...this is the final version I'm submitting to the slappster. WV still didn't make it

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Ohio State
6. Ole Miss
7. Okie State
8. VA Tech
9. Bammy
10. Ga Tech
11. Oregon
12. LSU
13. TCU
14. Georgia
15. Penn State
16. Boise State
17. Cal
18. North Carolina
19. Utah
20. Kansas
21. Florida State
22. Oregon State
23. BYU
24. Texas Tech
25. Iowa

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

Two words: Colt McCoy.



1, Florida, all 11 starters on defense return, and from what I hear, they have a pretty good quarterback.

2, Texas, with the aforementioned McCoy at QB, is going to beat the shit out of folks till the Oct. 17 showdown with Oklahoma. If everyone is healthy on both teams, that's going to be the game of the season. But, like last year, Texas' next two games are at Tech and Oklahoma State (brutal stretch). Nevertheless, if there isn't a massive "45-35 on a neutral field!" rallying-cry poster hanging in the Horns' locker room, I'd be surprised.

3, Oklahoma is like a devastating NFL team during the regular season then turns into the Super Bowl Buffalo Bills during BCS bowls (lost 3 BCS title games and two other BCS games). But man alive, they return the Heisman winner back in QB Bradford and TE Jermaine Gresham and 4th-year OL Trent Williams and DT Gerald McCoy. Sooners open at Jerry Jones Stadium against BYU, which dropped Arizona State to play THIS game! I'm thinking Okie wins 72-7, maybe 72-0.

4, USC, the Trojans have won 82 of their last 91 games but come into '09 with only 3 returners on defense and a new QB who's supposed to be pretty nimble and smart, although Carroll has an increasing hard-on for freshman Matt Barkley. The offensive line is probably the deepest, most talented aspect of the team. I know USC just reloads, but I'll have to be convinced this year.

5 and 6 are interchangeable, and it just so happens they open the season in Atlanta. Good on Alabama for tough early scheduling (last year beat the shit out of my preseason No. 1 Clemson).

Anyhoo ...

5, Virginia Tech, returns 17 starters, including a 1,300-yard rusher at a freshman and Moddy's favorite QB, Tyrod Taylor. Or was it Sonner who loves Taylor? Either way, the Hokies must replace both inside linebackers. We'll know everything we need to know about Tech after the Bama game. Hokies also play Nebraska in the third game, but Nebraska's offense won't be nearly as good without Ganz and two graduated receivers.

6, Alabama, returns 9 on defense but must replace a ton on offense, including Slappy's favorite QB all of time, John Parker Wilson. So, there could be a lot of 13-10 and 16-7 wins that are not really secured till the final few minutes, which means, don't bet on Alabama if you like having heart attacks.

7, Ole Miss. I'm probably making a huge Clemson-esque mistake by putting a team that shouldn't be this high this high. 14 starters return, including a solid secondary. Held Texas Tech to 34 in the bowl game, which is pretty good considering the Red Raider offense last year. But as I've said, it's one thing to sneak up on everyone when you're a nobody, a whole other thing to be expected to kick ass out of the gate.

8, Georgia Tech, 17 starters return, including the ACC Player of the Year in 1,400-yard rusher Jon Dwyer. The DL must fill 3 slots, but Morgen Burnett returns. He tied for the national lead with 7 picks.

9, Oklahoma State, could score 50 per with QB Robinson (3,626 total yards), Hunter (1,555 rush yards) and Bryant (1,885 all-purpose yards). But the Pokes have to fill most of the secondary, so there could be a lot of 52-42 games. More often than not, take the over on Okie State this year.

10, Boise State, returns 14 starters, including QB Kellen Moore, from 12-1 team. Only weakness, it seems, is at receiver (only one guy returns who had more than 10 catches). The opener at Oregon is the whole enchilada for the Broncs: Lose and it doesn't matter what you do the rest of the season. That will be an intense game.

11, LSU
12, Penn State (I really like QB Clark)
13, Ohio State (I'm backing off the prediction of the Bucks beating USC easily. They might win, but it'll be a close game)
14, North Carolina (will have a killer defense, might be the surprise team in America if QB Yates stays healthy)
15, Oregon
16, Oregon State (5-0 in its last 5 bowl games, 22-5 in last 27 games after Sept. 30)
17, Georgia
18, TCU
19, Utah
20, South Florida (QB Grothe is 288 yards away from becoming Big East's all-time yards leader)
21, Florida State (Bowden turns 80 in November)
22, Iowa (road games at Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State)
23, Southern Miss
24, Kansas
25, Pitt (Panthers might win most of their games 6-3 or 10-7; great defense, sucky offense)

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

Correction: Oregon is at Boise State. Makes it ever better.

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

Oh, I was in Tyrod's corner. Moddy was too busy sucking off Glennon, who cost VT at least two games last year.

 

Re: 2009 SportsJournalists.com college football poll committee selected

Agreed on Glennon.
I don't think Beamer puts a big premium on QBs. He's pretty much satisfied with a QB who won't lose a game.