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Pre-Season College Football Top 25 By bryan@footballdialogue.com The college football season is almost upon us and it’s time to take a look at this writer’s pre-season top 25. 1. USC Trojans-The Trojans are the odds on favorite to wind up number one at the end of the 2007 college football season. They have the players on both offense and defense that can help them win games and get to the top of college football. 2. Michigan Wolverines-The Wolverines will feature one of the most powerful offenses in college football this coming season and will have a solid shot at making it to the top of the college football rankings. They could give the Trojans a run for their money and overtake the number one spot in the rankings. 3. LSU Tigers-The Tigers will compete for a shot at the national title in 2007 thanks to a solid offense and great defense. Look for the Tigers to give USC and Michigan a good run for their money for the top spot in college football. 4. Florida Gators-The Gators will fall a bit in 2007 thanks to the departure of several players who were a big part of the team but they should still be able to make it into the top five by the time the season is over. 5. Louisville Cardinals-Although Bobby Petrino has left the Cardinals, they still retain a majority of the players that gave them such a strong team in 2006 and so they should be able to maintain a spot in the top five. 6. West Virginia-The Mountaineers were a force in 2006 and shouldn’t experience much of a drop off in 2007. Look for Steve Slayton to help lead the Mountaineers into the top ten in college football and continue to play great football. 7. Oklahoma-Picking the Sooners to be seventh in the top 25 at the start of the season may be a surprise to some but they have the players to be very good in 2007. They could sneak up on a few teams and easily land in the top ten. 8. Virginia Tech-The Hokies did pretty good in 2006 and they should be able to not only continue on with their solid play but also improve over last season. Look for them to sit in the top ten for the whole season and win a lot of games. 9. Texas-There is some concern that the Longhorns will not do as well in 2007 as they have done in the past. They should be able to win consistently in 2007 but will have to face some improved teams in the Big 12 and therefore might slip a little this season. 10. Wisconsin-The Badgers didn’t lose a lot of talent after the end of last season and should have a very good team to field in 2007. They might end up surprising a lot of people and be ranked much higher than number ten. 11. Ohio State-I wouldn’t think that the Buckeyes would fall that far in 2007 but with most of their 2006 stars gone, they will have a lot of slack to make up and with that, they just won’t be able to get the wins they have had in the past. 12. Arkansas-The Razorbacks ended the 2006 season strong and could have another good year in 2007. On the legs of Darren McFadden, the Razorbacks will try to make some waves in college football and win a lot of games. 13. Tennessee-The Volunteers could easily win at least eight games in 2007 and could be a real worry for some teams. Look for them to be a team to be concerned with in 2007. 14. UCLA-The Bruins might be able to compete strongly this coming season after playing well at the end of 2006. Look for the Bruins to be centered somewhere in the middle of the rankings next season. 15. Nebraska-The Cornhuskers had a pretty good end of the season in 2006 and there hasn’t been much change on the team. So, look for them to stay in the middle of the top 25 in 2007 and be one of the better teams in the Big 12. 16. Auburn-The Tigers should be able to win eight to ten games in 2007 and raise some challenges in their conference. 17. Notre Dame-Quarterback problems might cause this team to drop in the rankings but with their defense, they might be able to stay in the top 25 all season and win some games. 18. California-Cal played some pretty games last season and with the team mostly intact from 2006, they should be able to maintain a ranking in the top 25 all season. 19. Boston College-Thanks to the play of their offense, the Eagles should have a good season in 2007. Watch them win some games and stay in the top 25 all season. 20. Wake Forest-The Demon Deacons had a great season last year but could take a bit of a fall this year. A lot depends on how their offense works and it should do well in 2007. 21. South Carolina-This is kind of a stretch here perhaps but they did improve their play at the end of last season and could win some games in 2007. 22. Miami (Fl)-A lot of people might laugh at this pick but the Hurricanes have a team that could crack the top 25 and possibly get to a decent bowl game. 23. Texas A&M-Anything is possible and the Aggies are on the rises and could surprise a lot of people in new season. 24. Georgia-The Bulldogs, usually a good team, will come into the 2007 college football into a tougher than usual conference but should still be able to stay in the top 25. 25. Hawaii-With quarterback Colt Brennan at the helm, Hawaii could go far in 2007. |
