Top 25 for 2010: Tech fans won’t like this; UGA fans might
The Crimson Tide will be high again in 2010, but dynastic? (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Some folks crank out a preseason Top 25 during the fourth quarter of the BCS title game. I didn’t, for two reasons: First, I was still too astonished by Mack Brown’s shovel-pass-before-the-half to have a coherent thought; second, I wanted to wait and see which juniors were leaving. The shovel pass rankles still, but we now have clarity regarding the NFL early entrants. And here we go:
1. Alabama: Sports Illustrated just proclaimed the Tide a dynasty, which is cart-before-the-horse stuff. Wasn’t it this time a year ago that we were saying Florida was unbeatable?
2. Iowa: Football, as with all things in life, is cyclical. And we saw in the bowl season that teams from the slow and boring Big Ten looked neither slow nor boring.
3. Oregon: Football is cyclical. (Am I repeating myself?) There’s room at the top of the Pac-10, and coming off one Rose Bowl the fleet Ducks — is that an oxymoron? — are poised to go back.
4. Ohio State: Here we have a second Big Ten team before we come to our second SEC representative. I’m not trying to be a heretic. I just think Terrelle Pryor is really good.
5. Boise State: The Broncos leave their blue turf to play Virginia Tech in Washington, D.C., next season. I’m sorry, but I don’t see them winning that game.
6. Florida: Lost Tim Tebow. Lost three big-time defenders. Might lose the head coach. Probably won’t lose more than one regular-season game, though. Cupboard’s not entirely bare.
7. Texas: I keep hearing that Garrett Gilbert showed signs in the BCS title game of being a top-flight quarterback. I thought he showed signs of being not nearly as good as Colt McCoy.
8. Virginia Tech: If you’re looking for the nation’s most consistently overrated team, look first to Blacksburg. But I see the Hokies winning the ACC in 2010, which I guess makes me complicit.
9. Nebraska: Scan these ratings and you won’t find LSU. How long before the Tigers make a hard run at Bo Pelini, who has done nice work in Lincoln, to replace Les Miles? Not long, I think.
10. TCU: Interesting, is it not? With all the coach-swapping we’ve just seen, two guys still in place are the two who coached the Fiesta Bowl — TCU’s Gary Patterson and Boise’s Chris Petersen.
11. Wisconsin: Earlier I noted that the Big Ten isn’t all that ponderous anymore. It is, however, still powerful. Check out this offensive line if you’re a fan of road-grading.
12. North Carolina: It hasn’t yet happened for Butch Davis in Chapel Hill, but it’s getting closer. Last season he had the D. Next season he upgrades the O and finishes ahead of the reigning ACC titlist.
Iowa will be better in 2010. Tech will not. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
13. Arkansas: Want a heartwarming story? Bobby Petrino upsets Alabama on Sept. 25, striking a blow for good guys everywhere. Yes, I’m kidding. About the story and the upset.
14. Pittsburgh: Dave Wannstedt wasn’t much of an NFL head coach, but he has built Pitt into something special. With Brian Kelly no longer at Cincinnati, here’s your Big East beast.
15. Georgia Tech: No, I’m not bailing out on Paul Johnson and his stylized offense. I just don’t think you can lose four of your five best players a year early and expect to be as good.
16. Penn State: Another Big Ten team! This one coached by a guy who fought in the Civil War! (I exaggerate, slightly.) Is the globe spinning backward on its axis? Is global warming real?
17. Oklahoma: We went almost a decade without being able to compile a preseason ranking that didn’t feature Big Game Bob Stoops in the top five. Time’s up on BGBS, I’m afraid.
18. Florida State: Two ways this can go in Year 1 after Saint Bobby — either the ‘Noles fall apart or they reclaim some sense of discipline. I’m taking Door No. 2.
19. South Carolina: This marks the 97th consecutive offseason Gamecock fans are getting geeked up for their big breakthrough. The 97th time just might be the charm, though.
20. Utah: The second-best team in the Mountain West (behind TCU) just might have the best coach (Kyle Whittingham). Tennessee just tried to hire him. He didn’t bite.
21. Georgia: Ten offensive starters return, but the exception is the quarterback. The defense gains Todd Grantham but loses six starters. You might say it’s a good-news-bad-news thing.
22. Navy: I’m not suggesting that losing Paul Johnson was a boost, but it didn’t exactly derail the Middies. They’re 18-9 in two post-PJ seasons. And they still run the ball.
23. Miami: Yes, there are four teams from the ACC Coastal on this list, another reason I don’t see Georgia Tech repeating. Although Tech should beat Miami this time.
24. Oregon State: The second-best team in the Pac-10 should be the Beavers, though it could be Stanford or Cal. It won’t be Southern Cal, though. You know why.
25. Houston: The Cougars have this quarterback. He has passed for 10,691 yards the past two seasons. His name is not Andre Ware. His name is Case Keenum. Pretty good name.
The Georgia defense in 2010: Not as many players but better-coached? (AP photo)
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539 comments Add your comment
messin with sasquatch
January 21st, 2010
7:28 pm
am I first?
hatega
January 21st, 2010
7:28 pm
screw ga and the sec
messin with sasquatch
January 21st, 2010
7:29 pm
he who is last is first.
Davis Mann
January 21st, 2010
7:29 pm
No Southern Cal. I mean…I grew up a Tech fan, graduated from UGA, and have had (previously) hated the pre-season hype that USC normally gets due to the fact that its weak schedule yields the potential to create a national championship contestant…but come on, not ranked? They have tons of talent and a coach that’s done more than Carroll, plus his son who fiery idiocy seems to be a magnet to talent.
messin with sasquatch
January 21st, 2010
7:31 pm
espn actually controls the polls. ohio state & usc are their hopes for the ultimate nc game annually.
Davis Mann
January 21st, 2010
7:31 pm
Kiffin can is a master of getting on the same mental level of his recruits…specialty positions especially.
Davis Mann
January 21st, 2010
7:32 pm
sas…that was one of my points
george
January 21st, 2010
7:37 pm
apparently mark napped during the 2nd half of the texas-bama game. gilbert had a heck of a performance and i think he will rank with never has lost mcelroy and the florida kid as next years great quarterbacks obviously including the michigan and usc kids who were freshmen this year.
Lord of the Lizards
January 21st, 2010
7:44 pm
Chant in the Florida locker room after this next years Georgia game: “Britches on the ground! Britches on the ground!”
UA Alum92
January 21st, 2010
8:02 pm
As a Bama fan I can honestly say that if we repeat this year it will either be a miracle OR the 2010 would have to be even better than this year’s fantastic squad (six first team All-Americans). We play four of MB’s top 25 during the regular season and six SEC teams that will be coming off bye weeks. That’s five more than anyone else in the SEC including four (out of five opponents) in the SEC West! Plus, we’ve lost eight defensive starters and the bullseye is gigantic.
I only hope we can be in contention for the NC.
CJ is jealous
January 21st, 2010
8:05 pm
and Mark is ridiculous. How close were you on your rankings last year home boy?
BuLLdawg
January 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
HOGWASH.
10 SEC and ACC teams in YOUR top 23. There is NOT ROOM for 10 of the Top 23 to come from The SEC and the ACC.
tchance
January 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
the Dawgs have the players on D, they didnt have the coach. A lot of people are going to be shocked by the meteoric rise next season when the D gels with a solid coaching staff and one of the many all American QB’s whose been on the sidleines this year stands out and rocks. Georgia was down one year, do you idiots in the SEC and techies actually believe that lightning is going to strike twice??? Think not!!! There’s a bad day coming for Florida and Tennessee, and especially some cocky ones on North avenue
BuLLdawg
January 21st, 2010
8:13 pm
30-24
ATLHawkeye
January 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
Iowa a solid top 10 pick, Mark. #2 a stretch, though. QB is something like 20-4 as a starter and coming back for his senior year. Tough games at home in 2010 vs. on the road in 09. Big Ten still not the SEC. But Iowa is executing under Ferentz, especially in January bowls since So Cal taught him a lesson in 2002. If you don’t believe me check out the bowl results since 2002 – a record UGA and Tech would love to have.
Gator in the Hootch
January 21st, 2010
8:36 pm
There is only one thing for sure in this story……….and that is: the only Bama girl in that picture who could make a Gator line up is the third one from the left. The rest would not make the cut even at FSU!
Tide Rising
January 21st, 2010
8:38 pm
UA Alum 92,
I second that. Its hard to see us repeating with 8 defensive starters lost even though we’ve had back to back no. 1 recruiting classes. The talent now stacked up is crazy good but it takes time to develop cohesiveness and experience. I can see us losing an upset like the Carolina game and then maybe one of our tougher games like a Penn State or Florida.
The other thing is that its just ridiculous that for the 4th year in the row that we lead the nation in the number of our opponents who take their bye week before playing us. 6 of our 8 sec games and 4 of our 5 division opponents take their bye week before playing us? That’s just stacking the odds against us. It almost worked last year when UT and AU teams that had no business playing us close almost beat us with 2 weeks to rest and prepare. Its inherently an unfair disadvantage but at least its being addressed with the sec office.
I think I would put Florida top 2 or 3 again. Who cares if Tebow is gone. Brantley is going to be great and that whole team is stacked with a ridiculous amount of talent. I see them being in the thick of things as well.
Rolls Tides.
real college football fan
January 21st, 2010
8:41 pm
you must be kidding uga in the top 25! no qb, bad oc, new dc , best lb gone. AJ GREEN CANT STOP THEOLINE FROM PENITLIES OR PLAY QB
Big L
January 21st, 2010
8:42 pm
okay, I see a turnaround for the dawgs next year. But there is no way in hell Im claimin a NT next year. I have to deal with sane people where I work and they would give me hell. I drink the red and black kool aid but woohoo. That is some stout mess ya’ll are drinkin. National title. Hey , I’ll take it .
Tide Rising
January 21st, 2010
8:43 pm
Gator in the hooch,
Not nice. Somewhat true though. I wasn’t impressed with 3 or 4 of them and they certainly weren’t anywhere near the best of what I’ve seen at Bama. During the game I noticed that the really hot ones were mostly grouped together in the middle.
Go DOGS
January 21st, 2010
8:43 pm
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
7:08 pm
No time for women, I see? Go figure….
Big L
January 21st, 2010
8:47 pm
hey Lord of Lizards, the song in Floriduh locker room would actually be , jean shorts on the ground , jean shorts on the ground , lookin like a fool with your jean shorts on the ground. With yo dirty wife beater and a finger in they eye. Lookin like a fool with yo jean shorts on the ground.
red5.ws
January 21st, 2010
8:55 pm
Arkansas 13, Tech 15, Boise State ?????? Florida loses everybody….put down the crack pipe Mark
Hey Bratley
January 21st, 2010
9:05 pm
Now a days, nearly every team is one injury away from losing 2 or 3 games they might have won. There will be no dynasty in the SEC. Ingram will be nagged by a high ankle sprain all next season and alabanana will lose to Louisiana-Monroe again
Hey Bratley
January 21st, 2010
9:07 pm
Florida 8-5 next year with or without coach psycho(he does look like anthony perkins)
Tide Rising
January 21st, 2010
9:07 pm
I know some of you folks are delighting in the fact that Florida loses a lot of good players. They also have a lot of great players waiting in the wings. When its all said and done John Brantley will be a better pro qb prospect than Tebow was. The demise of the gators is greatly exaggerated and I would personally put UF, Texas, Bama, anywhere in the top 3 in no particular order. They would be interchangeable in my opinion.
Tide Rising
January 21st, 2010
9:14 pm
Hey Bratley,
Ingram will get a high ankle sprain. I got news for you. Trent Richardson his backup may be even better, more powerful and is faster than Ingram in a dead heat race. Don’t think we play La-Monroe but I’m glad to see you still getting mileage over a game 3 years ago.
If we finally lose a regular season game or 2 it probably won’t be because of injury. Won’t use that excuse. It will be because for the 4th straight year we lead the nation in # of opponents who take their bye week before playing us and thus gaining a competitive advantage with 2 weeks of rest and preparation.
We have 6 sec opponents and 4 of our 5 division opponents take their bye week before playing us. The tremendous advantage everyone has over us in terms of scheduling and bye weeks is what could do us in. Not injury.
bamaguy
January 21st, 2010
9:15 pm
Folks in Alabama didn’t appreciate that “Dynasty” label on SI either, Mark. I mean, heck, three years ago we were in the Independence Bowl. But as far as the quarterback goes, you don’t need much of one with Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram both in the backfield. The SEC title game will be Alabama and Florida for at least the next two years.
Dawgie Howser
January 21st, 2010
9:18 pm
We could lose 11 starters on defense and still improve without W-Mart.
Big L
January 21st, 2010
9:21 pm
Tech will win enough to be ACC significant in 2010. Not outside of ATL significant.
30-24 Dawgs - WE RUN THIS STATE!
January 21st, 2010
9:23 pm
Mark, totally agree that tech will take a step back after losing 2 best players on both sides of the ball.
Not to mention CPJ’s offense is AVERAGING 5 points per bowl game.
30-24 all year long.
This just in
January 21st, 2010
9:25 pm
..Tech fans are fairweather fans. I especially love the part about, “…not to hate, BUT..” LOL
This is from an Alabama rag:
“FAN SUPPORT: What did Peek love most about playing for Alabama?
The school’s fan support.
“We love them to death,” Peek said. “They’re fanatics and they’re fanatical, and that’s why I love them. I came from Georgia Tech, where – you know, no hating – but they had fair-weather fans. Unless they had a big game, they really didn’t want to show up. … That’s why I love this place so much. It has so much heritage and tradition. They almost live and die with you every Saturday. And that’s why you love them to death. At the end of the day, we almost want to win those games as much for them.”
mobilejacket
January 21st, 2010
9:45 pm
I don’t see Alabama as Number 1. With two juniors leaving early, they lose 12 starters from their National Championship team- nine on defense.
BuLLdawg
January 21st, 2010
10:17 pm
Here is a sport you do know something about. Why not write about this instead ?
15 times Andy Landers has beat Pat Summitt. No coach has done better against Pat Summitt than Andy Landers.
18 times the 2 teams have met with both teams ranked in the Top 10 in the Nation. The vols beat Andy Landers for the National Championship Game in 1996.
53-50, as Andy Landers teaches Defense.
Vincent J. Dooley, as UGA Athletics Director, hired Andy Landers as UGA Lady Bulldogs’ Head Women’s Basketball Coach April 1979.
26 NCAA Tournaments for UGA’s Andy Landers is 2nd Best in The Nation, including 5 Final 4 for Andy Landers.
25 Wins a season and this is the 29th Season at UGA for Andy Landers, who is now over 800 Wins in his Career and already named to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
He Graduates ALL of his Players. All.
19 of his former players have played in the WNBA.
429 weeks Andy Landers has been Ranked in the AP Poll, which is 3rd Best in the Nation.
And, tonight Andy Landers beat Pat Summitt for the 15th time head-to-head.
Runner-Up in 1985 and 1996, the 5 Final 4s, 10 Elite 8s, and 16 Sweet 16s, Andy Landers has been ultra successful as a motivator and as a recruiter, along with his main prowess of teaching Defense.
Only 3 teams have done better since 1979 than Andy Landers’ teams, taking the Final AP Poll Rankings and comparing them across all teams.
11 SEC Championships or SEC Tournament Championships for Andy Landers at UGA, and that is 2nd Best in The SEC, the Nation’s Premier Women’s Basketball Conference forever – like Football.
Janet Harris, 4-Time Consensus All-America.
Teresa Edwards won her 1st Gold Medal in 1984, and is the 1st Woman or Man to compete in 5 Olympics in Basketball. Teresa Edwards Won her 4th Gold Medal in 2000.
Katrina McClain competed in 3 Olympics with Teresa Edwards winning the Gold Medal in 1988 and 1996 together as the Backbone of the U.S. Olympics Team.
Recently the vols have had Superior Basketball Teams under Pat Summitt, but the games were not decided until the final basket really ever in the history between Andy Landers and Pat Summitt.
National Coach of the Year 4 times, Andy Landers is a lot of fun to watch coach.
31 All-America UGA Players Andy Landers recruited here.
57 All-SEC Academic Honor Roll, Andy Landers’ Student-Athletes are much better than Georgia tek’s in the classroom, and always have been. These 57 All-SEC Academic Honor Roll players for Andy Landers are in fact his 57 Best Players.
They all Graduate.
Andy Landers so far this year has beat Georgia tek again (he’s Never Lost them in Athens), Oklahoma, Rutgers, Virginia, Kentucky and Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Lady vols, and all 6 of them are Top 25 teams.
He will play another 10 Top 25 teams before the end of the season, and 4 of those are coming up now against 4 Ranked SEC Teams.
We don’t have the typical Andy Landers’ Guards this season, but they are a terror on Defense and push the ball underneath very well to The Bigs. They just can’t hit the broad side of a barn.
He inside play however, has been stellar. Ask the vols, who had lost only 1 game all season long and were Ranked Number 3. Andy Landers was Number 8. Those 2 will change places after tonight.
When Jasmine James makes a basket or Ashley Houts, Andy Landers will have a team like his teams of the past and we shall make a run through The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament yet again this season.
Porsa Phillips and Angel Robinson make a great duo underneath for Andy Landers. Meredith Mitchell is a complete player. They all 5 play Defense as well as any Andy Landers have ever taught. It is really all he teaches. They get it. Tonight, for example, we forced the vols into 23 turnovers, none more crucial than their last.
53-50.
Andy Landers’ Lady Bulldogs and Pat Summitt’s Lady vols are The Class of The SEC.
The Win tonight was in HDTV on ESPN2, the host of the NCAA Women’s Tournament. The SEC Tournament this year is at Gwinnett Arena in Duluth Georgia.
Tennessee and Georgia both could be Number 1 Seeds.
The SEC expects at this point to put 7 SEC Teams in The NCAA Tournament, with only 5 SEC teams not making the Big Dance while the Big East expects to have 8 who will not make the Big Dance.
Notre Dame, you should note, does Consider Itself in the Big East Conference. The BCS gives them a bye playing their soft lousy easy schedules in football, but has changed the rules to favor Notre Dame alone.
It would mean so much to The Lady Dawgs if we would get off our butts and build a replacement for The Stegosaurus.
Playing at Stegeman tonight, Andy Landers on the season, is now 18-1.
BuLLdawg
January 21st, 2010
10:19 pm
Mark Bradley, talk about basketball, that is the only sport you know anything about.
53-50 UGA over the vols tonight.
15 times Andy Landers has beat Pat Summitt. No coach has done better against Pat Summitt than Andy Landers.
18 times the 2 teams have met with both teams ranked in the Top 10 in the Nation. The vols beat Andy Landers for the National Championship Game in 1996.
53-50, as Andy Landers teaches Defense.
Vincent J. Dooley, as UGA Athletics Director, hired Andy Landers as UGA Lady Bulldogs’ Head Women’s Basketball Coach April 1979.
26 NCAA Tournaments for UGA’s Andy Landers is 2nd Best in The Nation, including 5 Final 4 for Andy Landers.
GT Fan...
January 21st, 2010
11:41 pm
Nice comment from early on in this blog …….. After 2008 season just how many people prognosticated that “after losing 3 d-lineman to the NFL, GT will have a very hard time matching the 9 wins from 2008″
And even with a suspect D in 2009, the Yellow Jackets won 11 games.
Now the prognosticators are back …… lost 2 best D & O players, GT will be LUCKY to win 6 games, back to the blue field, offense has been exposed, everybody’s got the blue print on stopping the high school offense, PJ can’t win without Gailey’s players, etc., etc. Vegas will take your bets if you care to place them.
RTW
January 21st, 2010
11:59 pm
Mark, I believe! How much should I wager?
GT3O
January 22nd, 2010
1:22 am
I like how UGA thinks they have an established running game. Why because you played GT and T A&M? Hello?! Every team had their best rushing stats against GT!
UGA hasn’t exposed anything on GT’s offense anything, the only thing UGA exploited was Dave Wommack’s defense. UGA still allowed GT 24 points and a lot of rushing yards.
JASon
January 22nd, 2010
1:43 am
A little research shows that the team you picked to be number one is only returning FOUR starters on defense, including losing the heart of that defense, a guy by the name of Rolando McClain. Yeah, your list is crap
whatever
January 22nd, 2010
2:17 am
Tech will be lucky to win 7 games??? I remember another Knuckle dragging ass hat telling me they would not win a single game the first year. DUMBASSES
960608
January 22nd, 2010
2:22 am
John Brantley would start at any other SEC school next year.
You fools saying UGA is back need to realize you can’t beat UF when you’re good. Florida is the team to beat next year
DDT
January 22nd, 2010
5:52 am
Obviously GT30 didn’t watch the game. Or he’s got Tech Lying Eyes Syndrome. Dwyer-33yds/Nesbitt-41yds. GT rushing total 200 yds. What is that moron? 200 below their average. And Iowa stuffed it up PJ’s fat azz to the tune of 155 TOTAL yds. PJ will never beat good teams outside the ACC with that offense.
CFBFan
January 22nd, 2010
6:47 am
LoL @ Gators being #6. They are losing 14 starters counting their kicker & KR/PR/RB James. Possibly 15 if Black comes out early too. The other 12 are 6 juniors & 6 seniors. Eveyone knows the Gates haven’t left the state to play anyone since 1991 when Syracuse ahmmered them. They also play the weakest OOC in the nation with 3 high school teams every year. With Vandy & Kentucky on the schedule that means they win at least 5 games by just showing up. All they have to do is one decent SEC game like Arkansas, Miss St, Auburn, etc to be bowl eligible. What a joke that schedule is!!! The lose at least 4 games though in 2011
Gt4ever
January 22nd, 2010
8:00 am
BuLLdawg needs some help……… He spent all that time pontificating about UGA basketball…. Girls basketball at that! It must be pretty bad when all you have is girls basketball. I almost feel sorry for him….
Gt4ever
January 22nd, 2010
8:09 am
Well almost…… I mean, girls basketball, give me a break!
Reality
January 22nd, 2010
8:33 am
I LOVE HOW THE IDIOT UGA FANS ARE NOW CALLING THE TECH PLAYERS TURNING PRO SUCH GREAT TALENT….. they didn’t call them that a month ago! Such hypoocrites.
Gt4ever
January 22nd, 2010
8:39 am
Couldn’t agree more CFBFan, The problem is that UF is not the only team….. They are smart, as this sets them up for a NC run every year…. The team that plays a tougher OOC schedule is penalized, especially if they should lose, so why play better opponents. Until there is a legitimate reason to play equal talent all year long, the big boys will hedge their schedule, and you really can’t blame them…
DDT
January 22nd, 2010
8:59 am
You’re absolutely correct Gt4ever. Teams in tough conferences like the SEC play tough guys in conference. They don’t have the luxury of an ACC schedule where the cupcakes are in their own conference. They would be nuts to dig their own graves like that. And until the rest of college football can beat the UFs, Bamas, et al on the field in BCS bowls they really have no reason to complain. The ACC has proven time and again that they can’t win the BCS bowls even with those ACC padded win totals.
JMc12203
January 22nd, 2010
9:48 am
Bremen Dawg, get your facts right. How can they be 0-2 in their last THREE non ACC games??? Just like a UGA fan.
I was surprised that Mark lists Tech @ 15. Most of the other way too early top 25 rankings have Tech listed @ 12 or 13, which is too low. As far as UGA goes, looking at that schedule, I see losses to Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, GT, and possibly Missy State, the most improved team in the SEC, and probably to South Carolina. That does not translate into a very high ranking, but it does translate into another trip to Shreveport, where you can play another INFERIOR opponent, and pad your season with a victory that you can shout to the heavens about like this season.
Darindawg
January 22nd, 2010
9:53 am
Alabama loses to much on D. UF will lose 4 games including UGA. UGA will play Ark twice and win the SEC. The national champion…try Nebraska vs Boise St. I’m telling ya, BSU will crush Oregon St., squash VT and make the whole world admit they are contenders. Man this team is for real. As for the ACC…Tech loses 4 maybe 5 games and FSU will win the whole ball of wax.