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
GeoffDawg
January 21st, 2010
11:56 am
Dan – I think McElroy played with some broken ribs in the title game. I wouldn’t use that performance as a barometer for success next year. Conversely, he had a fantastic game against Florida.
Alpharetta Dawg
January 21st, 2010
11:57 am
Another stupid article from Clueless Bradley…
Tech is 2 spots worse even though they lost their 4 best play makers. Without Bay Bay blocking on the edge they will struggle on O all year not mention UNC, VT, UM, and FSU will all be significantly better. Tech will lose a minimum of 4 games next year.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 21st, 2010
11:58 am
I also have the scoop on the black helmets. I am ready to tell everything I know. They should have paid my medical bills and reimbursed me for all this thinner.
MR
January 21st, 2010
12:00 pm
@Alpharetta Dawg
The loss of Bay Bay will be seen but not because of blocking. CPJ will make sure things work. VT will be down defensively, UM they come to us, and UNC, not sure they will be that good. We don’t play FSU in the regular season, would have to meet them in the championship game…oh that is right we will not be good enough to get that far.
ChippersLoveChild
January 21st, 2010
12:00 pm
The Big Ten is 6-6 against the SEC in bowl games in the last five years, 12-14 in the last ten… the conferences aren’t nearly that far apart, the SEC is just stronger at the top.
Ted M
January 21st, 2010
12:01 pm
Mark,
You know what sucks about these blogs…when you pull out print addition the next morning and find you’ve already read it.
Jeff
January 21st, 2010
12:01 pm
After losing our juniors, I’ll take a top 15 ranking
MR
January 21st, 2010
12:02 pm
The SEC has won the NC with 3 teams…..top to bottom the SEC is not better than any other conference. Ala, Fla, LSU is all they have and that will not change for awhile.
Mark "Mr Turnaround" Richt
January 21st, 2010
12:03 pm
Grantham at Dallas, and Lakotas at UCONN, were BOTH one of the LEAST penalized teams.
But, Richt is 27-2 when Georgia gets 10+ penalties, so you’re wrong there too.
Miami got a LOT of penalties the year they won the Natl Champ. Wrong there too. Gators have a lot of penalties 2005-2008.
Defense?
Not a problem, we have Grantham, the guy who spurned and turned down Nick Saban. Grantham has a track record of quick turnarounds, like Colts form 3-13 to 13-3 and Browns 4-10 to 10-6, both in 1 year.
Shaky?
That’s what our opponents will be against the Grantham D.
GeoffDawg
January 21st, 2010
12:05 pm
I don’t think tech will miss Thomas because of his blocking but rather because of his sure hands. He demonstrated some of the most reliable catching ability in the country last year which is what prevented so many of tech’s drives from stalling out when the runs were being stuffed. Even if the next guy is only 90% as good at converting those first downs, how much will that translate on the scoreboard? It’ll definitely have an effect and will likely prove to be a bigger loss on offense than Dwyer.
Alpharetta Dawg
January 21st, 2010
12:05 pm
MR…CPJ will make things work just like he did in the last two bowl games…You have an undersized line and now no physical blocker on the edge to spring the sweeps…let’s keep it simple for you…Tech will be back to their usual place next year…4 to 5 loses!
Can you feel the love...
January 21st, 2010
12:07 pm
I guess you are trying to rattle the SEC faithful with only two in the top 10, then throwing the Hogs in the mix.
Tech is about right, but UGA with another new QB is not going to make the top 25
AceDawg
January 21st, 2010
12:07 pm
New coaches need talent, not tremendous talent, to quickly make an impression. I look forward to seeing Grantham work the Dawgs into a new defense. I am fully confident that the defense will be good at minimum, and maybe really good. UGA recruits well enough that a much better defensive coaching effort with young players will be better than a tired Martinez one with veterans. It’s just sad we couldn’t get Reshad Jones and Rennie Curran to stay and help UGA’s defense even more quickly. They could’ve gotten NFL preparation for a whole season and had a memorable final year with the Dawgs.
FOOTBALL SCHOOLS IN THE NE?
January 21st, 2010
12:07 pm
Oh yea, we play hockey
Johnny Weissmuller
January 21st, 2010
12:07 pm
Mark “Mr Turnaround” Richt
Man, you really have drank the kool-aid
Good luck with it all, but don’t be too disappointed if you lose to UF (again), AU @ AU, USCe @ USCe, and to the customary UK or GT or Vandy or Tenn
You can’t tell me at the beginning of last season that you thought UGA would’ve lost to UT, UK, Okie State, and LSU…….but hey, most UGA fans think they’ll go 13-1, 14-0, 12-1 at the beginning of every season…so what’s new
GeoffDawg
January 21st, 2010
12:07 pm
MR – you’re only talking about over the last four years. Georgia’s been right on the cusp of playing for it all twice in Coach Richt’s tenure and Auburn’s had an undefeated season and got the shaft due to a low preseason ranking. I think you’re being a tad disingenous.
cattle dawg
January 21st, 2010
12:10 pm
Geoffdawg, I think tech will miss thomas blocking, but your dead on about his catches. He kept a many a drives going by catching those prayers that nesbitt would throw up.
StingerSplash
January 21st, 2010
12:13 pm
No conference was as underwhelming as the Pac 10 in bowl season. They are all overrated.
UT may not have been world beaters, but VPI dismantled them and convincingly so. Plus, they bring back Ryan Williams and the guy whom he replaced. I don’t think they are overrated. Boise will get a cold slap of reality even worse than our friends in Athens delivered a few years ago.
And after their bowl showing, do you really want to rate the Cougars of Houston (reality show idea!) that highly?
george
January 21st, 2010
12:14 pm
So you have UGA ranked but not LSU or Auburn?????????????????????? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA you just lost a lot of credibility in my book.
Ted M
January 21st, 2010
12:14 pm
Has Navy ever been ranked in the preseason 25? Just curious.
louisville slugger
January 21st, 2010
12:15 pm
Mark, I hope you’re wrong about GT, but I think you’re right about the Coastal, it’s gonna be a bear this year. This may be the year the ACC gets back some of the respect they’ve lost in football over the last few years.
BTW, cold rain in Louisville for the last two days, I think I prefer snow…
Reality
January 21st, 2010
12:16 pm
Really, pre-season rankings mean nothing at all. Doesn’t matter if it is you, SI, or who ever. It’s just a way for sports writers to keep their job.
Mark "Mr Turnaround" Richt
January 21st, 2010
12:17 pm
If you don’t think Mr. Turnaround, Mark Richt himself, who has NEVER had 2 non Top 10 seasons back to back, who has ALWAYS followed up an 8 win season with a #2 or #3 ranking the next season, can handle the lowly 2010 Gators, who lost 5 starters on defense, and 6 key starters on offense, lost 4 coaches, then who’s drinking the kool-aid Bro?
Johnny Weissmuller
January 21st, 2010
12:18 pm
Mark “Mr Turnaround” Richt
At the beginning of last season, did you predict that UGA would have 5 losses and one of them being to UK @ home and UTenn with Kiffin as coach?
Tech Nerd # 174543
January 21st, 2010
12:20 pm
We should be # 1. Paul Johnson is so good that he can’t even win a bowl game. National Championship 2010-16. Buuzzz Buzzz Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz
raymond
January 21st, 2010
12:20 pm
I have seen several publications say the Dawgs only have 4 starters coming back but we have both DE Houston, Dobbs, two LB Dowtin, Gamble, and CB Boykin that’s five.
SEC sux dogs are poopheads
January 21st, 2010
12:21 pm
all that 5 star recruiting and that’s the best you got for those ugay poopers? GT will prevail. I know VT is already waiting on us but that is fine. GT won with Gailey with much less talent at Blacksburg and it can happen again. Do not underestimate Anthony Allen and Josh Nesbitt is only going to get better. With a much improved defense, the offense won’t have to succeed on every drive but God bless them they just might. Not concerned with your rankings.
Reality
January 21st, 2010
12:21 pm
You are totally wrong about VA Tech being the nations most consistantly over rated team. It is uga. This was ‘proven’ by ESPN when they did an analysis over the last 10 years comparing preseason ratings to post season ratings.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 21st, 2010
12:23 pm
Right now, Georgia enters the season without a full time mascot. No team without a mascot is a real threat to anybody. I could have been a contender but for the painting incident.
superDawg
January 21st, 2010
12:23 pm
I see UGA on the rise this year and that will not be good for the nerds at tek.When UGA has had 11 games behind them with their 3-4 “D” the tek O will be POUNDED RED.
Bulldog38
January 21st, 2010
12:25 pm
I don’t know if anyone else has pointed this out to you or not yet, Mark, because I just got on here. But, UGA is losing six starters on defense. Not seven. Owens & Atkins at DT, Curran at LB, and Miller, Jones, and Evans in the secondary. They are losing some quality depth at DT with Weston graduating, as well. However, he wasn’t a starter.
Mark Bradley
January 21st, 2010
12:30 pm
I was counting Kade Weston, Bulldog38. I’ll make the change.
DirtyDawg
January 21st, 2010
12:31 pm
Gee Mark, you’re always so accurate with your predictions, and un-biased with your opinions, I guess we’ll just have to settle for an upset of Florida, revenge on Tennessee and our continued dominance of the Trade School. On the other hand, you could be eatin’ your words by the end of October – by the way, when it’s on paper it’s obvious, but when it’s by way of those tubes and pipes and such, you know, the internets, what ‘medium’ do you serve them on? Regardless, I suppose you’ll just have to have ‘em one byte at time.
Paddy
January 21st, 2010
12:32 pm
Dan……I agree with you but with one exception. FSU is not that far away from being really good again. One year but not years away. Jimbo is a very good coach and top recruits are now listening to the Noles again. Their signing class is very good and may turn out to be great.
Smoke Porterhouse
January 21st, 2010
12:33 pm
Mr Turnaround – this guy sounds like he’s named after what he likes to do in a group of guys.
Technophobia
January 21st, 2010
12:36 pm
By the end of the season UGA will be saying the same thing they always end up saying………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrq96cW2BuY&feature=related
Luke Duke
January 21st, 2010
12:36 pm
Smack Talk Rankings – fleabags #1 again!
YellowJacketFalcon
January 21st, 2010
12:36 pm
So Mark I guess you had your head in the sand during the regular season & pulled it out just for the bowls. Other than the OB, Iowa was NOT a good team AT ALL. I watched them get manhandled by Indiana, yes Indiana. The same Indiana that Virginia blew out 47-7. Not to mention, MSU & Northern Illinois. Yet they are #2 on your list…and BSU, which you said will loose to VT, is ranked AHEAD of the Hokies.
PLEASE, pick Tech to loose every game in 2010. Your predictions always seem to backfire.
coach smith
January 21st, 2010
12:39 pm
Florida has lost a whole lot more than “maybe a coach and 3 big time starters”
Florida Gators
Coaches lost: D-coordinator, WR Coach, Secondary coach, maybe head coach
Players lost: Tebow, Hernandez, Cooper, M.Pauncy (and 3 other o-linemen)
Spikes, Dunlap, Hayden, 10 of 11 defensive starters in all
Lets see, losing 3 or 4 coaches and 16 or 17 total starters and Bradley thinks “they probably won’t lose more than 1 game” GIVE ME A BREAK
YellowJacketFalcon
January 21st, 2010
12:39 pm
Next Issue Mark’s 2010 NFL Projections
“The Falcons will be ranked #2 in the AFC North, right behind the NY Giants…”
Nate
January 21st, 2010
12:40 pm
Why would you think Gt fans wouldn’t like this? I thought the way you were writing you would have gt at 25 and uga at 15. I think 15 is about right for gt with groh coming in and nesbitt still our qb. i disagree with unc. their qb is not good. they will be the same thing. lose 3 close games. wisconsin should not be that high and neither should iowa. you can’t rank a team from one game. oregon is too high too.
i think tech will repeat bc of groh. he will beat vt. we will likely lose to unc in a close one. but they will lose 3 acc games while we have 2 losses. kansas will be bad next year so that will be a win. uga will be tough as usual. i think if gt beats uga, they finish with 2 losses, both in conf. we beat miami and vt and they will both have at least 2 conf losses too.
Jerry
January 21st, 2010
12:43 pm
Tech plays bama away and home beginning in 2013. That’s good news. By that time, saban will be gone(usc) and they will be on probation after being investigated for cheating.
Atlanta Jacket
January 21st, 2010
12:43 pm
GT is probably right – tough road schedule. Uga will be lucky to finish in the TOP 25 – see breaking in a new qb – unless they stick to their running game which looks good. Could this be the year Uga actually beats UT & UF in the same season?
YellowJacketFalcon
January 21st, 2010
12:44 pm
Wow! UGHEY gets it’s 5th choice at DC (who gave up 34 to Brett & the Vikes, got fired as a DC from the pathetic Browns)& already he’s the man Nick Saban wishes he was. Nick Saban wear’s Grantham PJs, Chuck Norris checks under his bed at night for Grantham, They’re changing the Heisman Trophy to the Grantham Trophy, etc.
Jerry
January 21st, 2010
12:44 pm
UF also lost their sideline broadcaster. LOL
SEC sux
January 21st, 2010
12:45 pm
to Gumbo Dumbo Jumbo tigers, your team sux! Now I will say it in French so you can understand…Gumbeaux Dumbeaux Jumbeaux tigers, your team sux and is a disgrace!
and SABAN aka Satan will choke and figure out a way to haul @$$ somewhere else, the day is coming
JB
January 21st, 2010
12:45 pm
Yes, this will be Tech bashing, but Bradley is right, only it will be worse…..There is not a lot of Talent around those 5 or 6 studs Tech has. This year and next, they will be exposed. Johnson will not get the
type players back in this program he is losing. Those guys were way, way above average. Tech does coach up, but the surrounding cast is weak. Tech fans will really be disappointed the next couple of years.
Big J
January 21st, 2010
12:46 pm
Bradley,
You are ranking a 7-5 team at best without a qb in the top 25? Your love for UGAY has no shame! This really takes a hit for your credibility. Joe Cox playing last year should give UGAY fans some insight on how bad the other qb’s are.
crackbaby
January 21st, 2010
12:46 pm
MB quotes:
1) I wanted to wait and see which juniors were leaving.
2) I just don’t think you can lose four of your five best players a year early and expect to be as good.
Now, let’s look at Alabama. NINE defensive starters, that’s 9 as in nueve, as in 9 out of 11, are gone. 7 seniors and two juniors going to the NFL. But you expect them to be as good?!
Interesting that USC (the Trojans) were left out. A young team with a lot of talent.
geeked up
January 21st, 2010
12:46 pm
97th time is about right… GO COCKS!