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Top 20.....College Football Preview
1. OKLAHOMA - The Sooners opened last season a perfect 12-0, and were being lauded as one of the best College teams ever. before losing both the Big 12 and National Championship games. This year's club returns Heisman Trophy winner, QB Jason White, to lead an offense that averages 42.9 PPG in 2003. This is the most disciplined and talented team that coach Stoops has had at Oklahoma.
2. GEORGIA - Very talented and underrated, are these Bullgogs. The return of QB David Greene, WR Fred Gibson and DT David Pollack, along with fourteen other starters, means that coach icht will field his best team yet. Georgia will host both Tennessee and LSU, and play Florida at a neutral site. in what could well be a perfect season.
3. USC - Trojans finished the 2003 campaign 12-1, and a very profitable 11-2 vs the pointspread. Even with the ineligibility of All-American star receiver, Mike Williams, the return of junior quarterback Matt Leinhart and six defensive starters, makes coach Pete Carroll's team the class of the Big 10 again.
4. FLORIDA STATE - Make no mistake about it, the Seminoles are loaded on both sides of the ball season. They will need to halt a five-game losing streak to the Miami Hurricanes in Week One, to have a shot at running the table. We think they can.
5. TEXAS - Another solid, well-balanced team for coach Mack Brown, with the return of eight starters on both sides of the ball. Longhorns will most likely lose their fifth straigh to Oklahoma, in their Oct. 9 showdown, and finish the regular season at 10-1.
6. LSU - No less than 15 starters return from the 2003 BCS Championship team, that will again be led by its defense. Only our predicted loss at Georgia, keeps the Tigers from a higher rating.
7. Miami, Fl - Over the last four-year span, the Hurricanes have gone a stellar 46-4, and will again be a formidable opponent. There is however, some question at the key quarterback position, which is why we have them losing the home-opener to Florida State.
8. CALIFORNIA - The Bears have steadily improved under coach Jeff Tedford, and will return 7 starters on offense, along with 9 on the defense. Can't see them winning the Oct. 9 revenge game at USC, but they will play only four other teams that finished the 2003 season with winning records.
9. UTAH - Why not? All-Everythig, All-America QB candidate, Alex Smith, leads the Utes with 15 returning starters. Winners of the Mountain West title and the Liberty Bowl in 2003, this club figures to be evry bit as good. Another 10 win season, is the call here.
10. MICHIGAN - The only concern on this Wolverine team, is replacing four-year starter John Navarre at quarterback. The talent is there, but will it be up to the test of road games at Notre Dame, Ohio State and Purdue? We think, yes.
11. KANSAS STATE - Need to replace QB, Ell Roberson. The remainder of this club is solid.
12. AUBURN - Well-balanced club. Better than 2003, minus all of the BCS and media PreSeason hype.
13. OREGON - Big and talented team, that will play at California, but has no USC on the schedule.
14. TENNESSEE - Inexperienced team, but the talent is here to develop quickly, under coach Phil Fullmer.
15. MISSOURI - It's all about QB Brad Smith, and a favorable schedule, that includes Kansas State at home.
16. WEST VIRGINIA - QB Rasheed Marshall and fourteen other starters return for the Mountaineers, playing in the weak Big East Conference.
17. MEMPHIS - Non-BCS school, with the talent to go undefeated in Conference USA.
18. OHIO STATE - Only 9 starters returning for the Fiesta Bowl champs, but quality replacements are there. Coach Tressel will have his team prepared to compete.
19. FLORIDA - Gators continue to improve, but must play both Florida State and Tennessee on the road, and Georgia in Jacksonville.
20. VIRGINIA - Coach Al Groh's clun returns 16 starters, but have road games at Florida State and Virginia Tech.
Regards,
John
1. OKLAHOMA - The Sooners opened last season a perfect 12-0, and were being lauded as one of the best College teams ever. before losing both the Big 12 and National Championship games. This year's club returns Heisman Trophy winner, QB Jason White, to lead an offense that averages 42.9 PPG in 2003. This is the most disciplined and talented team that coach Stoops has had at Oklahoma.
2. GEORGIA - Very talented and underrated, are these Bullgogs. The return of QB David Greene, WR Fred Gibson and DT David Pollack, along with fourteen other starters, means that coach icht will field his best team yet. Georgia will host both Tennessee and LSU, and play Florida at a neutral site. in what could well be a perfect season.
3. USC - Trojans finished the 2003 campaign 12-1, and a very profitable 11-2 vs the pointspread. Even with the ineligibility of All-American star receiver, Mike Williams, the return of junior quarterback Matt Leinhart and six defensive starters, makes coach Pete Carroll's team the class of the Big 10 again.
4. FLORIDA STATE - Make no mistake about it, the Seminoles are loaded on both sides of the ball season. They will need to halt a five-game losing streak to the Miami Hurricanes in Week One, to have a shot at running the table. We think they can.
5. TEXAS - Another solid, well-balanced team for coach Mack Brown, with the return of eight starters on both sides of the ball. Longhorns will most likely lose their fifth straigh to Oklahoma, in their Oct. 9 showdown, and finish the regular season at 10-1.
6. LSU - No less than 15 starters return from the 2003 BCS Championship team, that will again be led by its defense. Only our predicted loss at Georgia, keeps the Tigers from a higher rating.
7. Miami, Fl - Over the last four-year span, the Hurricanes have gone a stellar 46-4, and will again be a formidable opponent. There is however, some question at the key quarterback position, which is why we have them losing the home-opener to Florida State.
8. CALIFORNIA - The Bears have steadily improved under coach Jeff Tedford, and will return 7 starters on offense, along with 9 on the defense. Can't see them winning the Oct. 9 revenge game at USC, but they will play only four other teams that finished the 2003 season with winning records.
9. UTAH - Why not? All-Everythig, All-America QB candidate, Alex Smith, leads the Utes with 15 returning starters. Winners of the Mountain West title and the Liberty Bowl in 2003, this club figures to be evry bit as good. Another 10 win season, is the call here.
10. MICHIGAN - The only concern on this Wolverine team, is replacing four-year starter John Navarre at quarterback. The talent is there, but will it be up to the test of road games at Notre Dame, Ohio State and Purdue? We think, yes.
11. KANSAS STATE - Need to replace QB, Ell Roberson. The remainder of this club is solid.
12. AUBURN - Well-balanced club. Better than 2003, minus all of the BCS and media PreSeason hype.
13. OREGON - Big and talented team, that will play at California, but has no USC on the schedule.
14. TENNESSEE - Inexperienced team, but the talent is here to develop quickly, under coach Phil Fullmer.
15. MISSOURI - It's all about QB Brad Smith, and a favorable schedule, that includes Kansas State at home.
16. WEST VIRGINIA - QB Rasheed Marshall and fourteen other starters return for the Mountaineers, playing in the weak Big East Conference.
17. MEMPHIS - Non-BCS school, with the talent to go undefeated in Conference USA.
18. OHIO STATE - Only 9 starters returning for the Fiesta Bowl champs, but quality replacements are there. Coach Tressel will have his team prepared to compete.
19. FLORIDA - Gators continue to improve, but must play both Florida State and Tennessee on the road, and Georgia in Jacksonville.
20. VIRGINIA - Coach Al Groh's clun returns 16 starters, but have road games at Florida State and Virginia Tech.
Regards,
John