After analyzing the teams this season and coming up with my Top 25 I figured there were going to be fans wondering…what happened to Florida State, where’s Pittsburgh and is Fresno State going to get any love? That being the case I have 5 schools some experts are predicting will be in the Top 25 that I guarantee won’t see the Top 25.
#1 Boston College – The defense should be pretty good. They have a very good front 7 but they have a new, inexperienced QB coming off of Matt Ryan and a freshman runner. They are also weak in the defense backfield. They should do well enough to get to a bowl (Emerald Bowl maybe) but I see them just outside the Top 25.
#2 Florida State – This team has managed to disappoint the last several seasons. Not too mention the academic scandal that will shelve half the team for the first three games. The offense is a complete mess. QB Drew Weatherford has been a major disappointment and I look for him to continue to struggle. They have a fair running game at best and on defense the line is a disaster. There is some talent in the defensive backfield and at linebacker but not too much more. I see them right around .500, maybe the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
#3 Pittsburgh – What is amazing to me is how some preseason polls pick the Panthers as high as Top 10. The Panthers haven’t made a bowl game since Wannstedt showed up on the scene and they might be hard pressed to make it again this season. Most of the key offensive positions haven’t been decided yet. The defense should be good again but they lost their talented defensive coordinator to Auburn in the off-season. In my opinion the best case scenario is 7-5 and a birth in the Sun Bowl against Oregon or Oregon St.
#4 Virginia Tech – I like this team but I think they have a couple of issues that is the difference between finishing 9-3 and 7-5. The biggest issue is that the success of this team is driven by the Frank Beamer defense. The Hokies lost almost all of its starters from last season, most to the NFL. They are going to have a lot of youth and inexperience on the defensive side of the ball. The other issue is WR and RB. They lost their skill position players and will be depending on almost all freshmen to carry the load on offense. The schedule isn’t too bad so they should win 8 games. I am thinking just out of the Top 25. They might squeak in if Notre Dame or Penn State falter. Should end up in the Champs Bowl vs. Purdue/Penn St.
#5 South Carolina – I want to like the Gamecocks this season. I think Smelley is going to be a good QB and he has quite a few targets to throw to. Unfortunately the offensive line isn’t very good or experienced so the QB and runners will struggle. They also have a brutal schedule. Georgia, LSU and Tennessee are all at home but they finish out the season at Florida and Clemson. The young line and defense should gain experience as the season goes on but the tough back end of the schedule could kill their bowl hopes. A 7-5 record and a birth in the Independence Bowl vs. Oklahoma State/Kansas State are possible.
1 Comment
+00002008-07-26T08:22:16+00:00312008bUTCSat, 26 Jul 2008 08:22:16 +0000 10, 2007 at 3:32 p07
The ACC is still one year away from their expected prominence in division 1 college football. They will, however, have 3 0r 4 very good teams: Clemson, Virginia Tech, Miami, Wake Forest and possibly 3 sleepers in North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. I predict Clemson will win the ACC title this year. From all indications, Florida State should be a lot better than last year but their problems seem to be self inflicted; ie, lack of interest, coaching, etc.