Blogpoll: Preseason Ballot (First Draft)
I've been avoiding it as long as I can, because between trying to figure out who to rank, and more tryingly, how to rank the nation's Top 25, I've been searching for answers for the last few months. But with the initial Blogpoll ballots due next Monday, I decided to publish my first draft of my preseason rankings to make sure there are no glaring omissions. Should there be any changes, the final ballot will be posted next weekend.
The poll was created in accordance with the Blogpoll's stated intentions and guidelines:
The AP poll is full of voters who vote team X super high in the preseason because of its schedule; this is strongly discouraged by the BlogPoll. Preseason polls are supposed to be exclusively about how good a team is thought to be
As such, this preseason poll is NOT a prediction how the season will play out or who has the easiest road to the title. This ballot is strictly a one-man power poll.
| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Cal |
25 |
| 2 | Georgia |
24 |
| 3 | Oklahoma |
23 |
| 4 | Florida |
22 |
| 5 | Missouri |
21 |
| 6 | Ohio State |
20 |
| 7 | LSU |
19 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 18 |
| 9 | West Virginia | 17 |
| 10 | Clemson | 16 |
| 11 | Auburn |
15 |
| 12 | Texas |
14 |
| 13 | Texas Tech |
13 |
| 14 | Kansas |
12 |
| 15 | Tennessee |
11 |
| 16 | South Florida | 10 |
| 17 | Arizona State |
9 |
| 18 | Illinois | 8 |
| 19 | Penn State |
7 |
| 20 | Brigham Young | 6 |
| 21 | Wake Forest | 5 |
| 22 | Oregon |
4 |
| 23 | Virginia Tech | 3 |
| 24 | Cincinnati | 2 |
| 25 | Fresno State | 1 |
0 recs |
8 comments
Comments
Holy Red X's Batman!!
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever." - Anonymous
by The Beef on Aug 12, 2008 9:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Where do you see Red X's?
I see none…I feel left out…
http://www.rockmnation.com
Thrust nunchuk upward!
by Bill C. on Aug 12, 2008 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
MGoBlog is still working out the kinks
I think once the season starts, it’ll show red or green arrows for movement in the polls
http://www.RockMNation.com
Chance McDanielson for Heisman
by RPT on Aug 12, 2008 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the way
Make sure to check out Mizzourah’s Top 25
http://www.RockMNation.com
Chance McDanielson for Heisman
by RPT on Aug 12, 2008 10:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
In all...
...I’d say a pretty solid list there. Like I mentioned the other day, I can’t picture Allan Evridge starting for a Top 10 team, so I can’t put Wisconsin any higher than #11-12, but other than that…you’re extremely correct in not putting Michigan on the list. This current team has done nothing to earn it, other than wearing Michigan uniforms. You were also correct, I think, in not putting Pitt on there yet. I understand that they could be very much improved this year, but they should have to prove it first.
http://www.rockmnation.com
Thrust nunchuk upward!
by Bill C. on Aug 12, 2008 10:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
My mental notes as the list was being forged
- I was really searching for an excuse not to put USC at No. 1, but I really think that No. 1 is a complete wash between USC and Georgia. Both teams are ridiculously talented, so I went to the tiebreaker: coaching. Richt is an outstanding coach, but Carroll has the pedigree. The way I see it, though, is that those two are interchangeable at No. 1.
- When I was creating this, I found it divided into four tiers. Tier 1 is teams 1-7, Tier 2 is teams 8-15, Tier 3 is teams 16-22, and Tier 4 and teams 23-32. I think teams are easily rearrangeable within those tiers. And, on a similar note, I think the drop-off between Tiers 1 and 2 is massive.
- Semi-overlooked teams I’m high on: Tennessee (They’ll be a victim of the SEC East. I’m big on Jonathan Crompton), Wisconsin (Their style of play leads me to believe that Evridge only needs to be average for the Badgers to be good), Auburn (making the assumption the offensive transition is complete), Cincinnati (same idea as Wisconsin)
- Teams whose hype I’m not buying: Michigan (Threet is going to really struggle in RichRod’s offense early on), Alabama (extremely talented but WAY too young), Virginia Tech (benefactors of the worst BCS conference)
http://www.RockMNation.com
Chance McDanielson for Heisman
by RPT on Aug 12, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ditto on most of that...
And if you want another tie-breaker (though it would ruin the whole “resume” style of polling), you could go with schedule. USC is more likely to end the year at #1 because their schedule is infinitely more manageable.
I do think Tennessee will be good, and while I think Wisconsin will be tough as always…until Evridge actually proves to be even decent, I have to dock them a couple spots. Auburn always seems underrated to me, and I’m not sure about Cincy yet.
http://www.rockmnation.com
Thrust nunchuk upward!
by Bill C. on Aug 12, 2008 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know the 21-25 is hard...
I’m not sold on Cincy, who could be the fourth or fifth best Big Least team, or Oregon. I batted both around, and just couldn’t do it. Plus, if Oregon wears those sick uni’s, I’ll never put them in.
http://www.Mizzourah.net
by Big Head on Aug 12, 2008 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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