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
GaPnt
January 21st, 2010
2:58 pm
You’re smoking dope if you think Bo Pelini is going to leave Nebraska for LSU. He’s found his place and he’s staying. The only place he may move to would be Ohio State.
Rival Fans are Idiots!!
January 21st, 2010
2:59 pm
GT4ever,
You talking about this article:
Montez Robinson, who was suspended indefinitely from Georgia’s football team after a December arrest, has been reinstated.
Robinson has resumed off-season activities with the team but will be required to sit out the first two games of the 2010 season and will receive internal discipline and counseling, UGA said.
Robinson, a freshman defensive end, was charged with misdemeanor simple battery for allegedly assaulting a female student Oct. 20 and with second-degree criminal damage, a felony, for allegedly breaking taillights on her car Nov. 30. His case could go to trial in March.
OMG they are just going crazy in Athens. What was I thinking? I really didn’t know that breaking someone headlisghts was a felony. We should just throw this kid in jail and throw away the key. Sounds like GT4ever has found him guilty even before his trial in March. Dude really? Grabing someone’s arm is simple assault. Nice try, though.
ugaaccountant
January 21st, 2010
3:00 pm
GT30 – Reasonable argument, but you have to factor in GA’s much easier schedule in 2010 than 2009. We have 2 highly likely wins for UGA that were losses last year, Colorado and Miss St. instead of Ok. State and LSU. Both of these are games we’d win 9 out of 10 times. Plus we dump Arizona State as well for someone even easier.
GT3O
January 21st, 2010
3:00 pm
Hey Ed,
GT zero arrests in the offseason in 2008 and 2009.
How many arrests has UGA had under Mark Richt?
So you would rather your 18 year old go and play under a coach with no discipline? Or rather a coach to holds his players responsible for their actions and consequently keeps them in-line.
Monticello Dawg
January 21st, 2010
3:02 pm
What SEC coach other than Meyer has a winning record against Richt? Richt is 3-1 against Bama.
I think many on here do not realize how good Aaron Murray is. You will find out soon enough.
Solid Gold Dancer
January 21st, 2010
3:03 pm
Mark, I think you right on with the ranking. I place the Jackets around 18-20. I know CPJ can coach, but he may not have the bodies for this year……we’ll see. I do think the D will be better. But unless a small passing game developes, the O will lose some punch this year. The dawgs should be a top 25 team as well and be in the running for the east side SEC. Tennessee will struggle and Florida will not be as potent.
ugaaccountant
January 21st, 2010
3:03 pm
Busting someones taillights is a felony? Is the standard $20 bucks of damage or something? Certainly it’s a crime and his 2 game suspension seems right based on the evidence so far, but a felony? If the courts call everything a felony, it’s hard to know who is truly dangerous and who is a kid that lost his temper one time.
GT3O
January 21st, 2010
3:05 pm
ugaaccountant,
that’s the better argument. I’m not saying GT doesn’t deserve 15, I think that’s plenty fair considering the last game of the year. I just don’t see the losing players argument considering we really didn’t lose too many and GT returns a lot.
No doubt GT has a brutal road schedule next year. Anytime you go to Clemson and Va Tech it’s tough.
I also wasn’t arguing that GT will be better than UGA just so you know. That remains to seen for ANY college football team at this point. I just didn’t like the argument for his reasoning. That’s the second article he’s used this reasoning in.
BTW, I just graduated Ga State with my accounting degree, good to see the accountants representing. It’s time for the busy season. What year did you graduate?
traderdawg
January 21st, 2010
3:06 pm
The nation’s most consistenly overrated team is Ohio State hands down.
Eric
January 21st, 2010
3:07 pm
The top 25 may look like this at the beginning of the season,but not at the end. Write this down in ink. Auburn finishes in the top 10. War Eagle!!!
NY JETS
January 21st, 2010
3:08 pm
Thrashers will be moving to Hamilton Ontario!
PT
January 21st, 2010
3:11 pm
I really don’t care if Robinson plays another down at UGA, but I can give you far worse examples than this by our Judicial System. It seem as though we expect better leadership out of our coaches and university system than we do of ourselve as a community.
GT3O
January 21st, 2010
3:14 pm
Traderdawg….
+1,000,0000.
I’ll never understand it. It seems like every player that school lands is the next best thing since sliced bread.
Island Eagle
January 21st, 2010
3:16 pm
eighty-second
Not Disappointed
January 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
We shall see. I don’t think Tech will be worse. Maybe better, but it’s my opinion.
Ramblin Wreck!
Rival Fans are Idiots!!
January 21st, 2010
3:18 pm
GT30 – Where in any articles have you seen CMR have no displine. Just because your players aren’t getting caught doesn’t mean they are perfect little angels. I believe the Atlanta police are busy with the rest of the student body and downtown ATL. Keep drinking that hatred koolaid my man.
TampaGator
January 21st, 2010
3:23 pm
Those of you Dawg fans that think Florida is rebuilding…you are just dreaming as usual. Florida is just reloading. Brantley will bring a much more explosive offense to the table and his passing skills are truly outstanding. Dubose and Moore return at WR and they will join Thompson and others…including some really good freshman from last year and some outstanding freshman recrits at WR coming in as well. The OL will be one of the best in the SEC again. Pouncey replaces his brother at center. Wilson (top OG recruit in the country two years ago) replaces Pouncey at guard, if he is not beat out by an outstanding freshman from last year. All the other OL return. Moody, Demps, Rainey, and Gillesie (look out for this kid) will thrive more in the “I” formations that Florida will run more of next year. On D – Ronald Powell will push to start at Dunlap’s DE spot and there will not be much of a drop off with this kid alternating with Justin Trattou there. Plus Ealey will challenge for the other DE spot that will start William Green and be backed up by Duke Lemmens. And there are 3 other outstanding DE getting ready to challenge as well. The DT spot is losing no one from last year and is 3 to 4 deep at both DT positions and they will be joined by two of the top DT recruits in the country. Joe Bostic is a monster player at MLB and has great leadership skills demanded of the position. He is very big, very quick, very strong, and very fast for a MLB. I am serious about that. He is one of the major reasons Luc went to FSU. Hicks and J.J. Jones return for their senior season at OLB and will be joined by Janlani Jenkins, the top OLB recruit in the nation last year. Will Hill will easily replace Wright at free saftey and will most likely upgrade the position with his speed and hard hitting abiility. All the strong safeties return and will be joined by Matt Elam, probably the most gifted recruit in the country this year. The kicker and the punter return. Exactly how is that a rebuilding process? Also, Meyer is recovering so well that he is planning to be back for the beginning of summer practice and might even make it back for spring practice. Keep the dream alive, Dawg fans. Then wake up every November to reality.
Cecil34
January 21st, 2010
3:25 pm
Tech at 15 is optimistic at best.
Since Nesbitt will return at QB, then they will have virtually no passing game. This will have the effect of causing 3 to 4 losses right there.
Every DC in the ACC is going to watch that Orange Bowl film and when they do, they will know that if you crash the middle, and take away the dive and the keeper, then half the problem is solved.
And with no real intermediate or short passing game, well….
Now, if Tech’s defense improves under Groh, then it won’t be imperative for them to score 40+ to have a chance to win. But that is a big if for Groh’s first year.
No question in my mind that this is going to be an interesting year for the triple option and it’s future on the Flats…
UGA will have far less issues on the defensive side of the ball than they will on the offensive side.
Starting a freshman QB will negate most of the positives on that side of the ball – there is a learning curve when playing college instead of high school and I haven’t seen anything lately that makes me think the UGA coaching will make up for that curve.
Grantham isn’t going to have a Ware and a Spencer at the OLB spots, but they will have the speed and size to compete and stay in most ballgames.
They better emphasize this, because I don’t see a lot of points being scored offensively. Do not extrapolate what running King and Ealey did against Tech to be the norm.
In truth, this whole top 25 Bradley did is whacked out. Mark, crack is whack!
Call it Like It Is
January 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
News Flash as GA will not finish in the top 10!
Gators win the East again in 2010!
Enough Said!
Just The Facts
January 21st, 2010
3:35 pm
Pure speculation….How often does a preseason #1 finish first…..is it as high as 10-20%????????????????????What about USC???????????????
GeoffDawg
January 21st, 2010
3:37 pm
I nodded off about halfway through your post TampaGator. Don’t spoil the ending for me though. I’ll come back to it after some coffee.
Business writing tip – avoid run on paragraphs and add space periodically between points. It’s much easier on the eyes.
JacketLady
January 21st, 2010
3:38 pm
Go ahead rank GT wherever. Better to be lowly ranked and win than highly ranked and lose….Bring everybody on!!!!
Alabama & The Jets
January 21st, 2010
3:39 pm
Alabama has about the same chance to finish next year #1 as the Jets do to win the Super Bowl………..slim to none!
GeoffDawg
January 21st, 2010
3:42 pm
Alabama & The Jets – You just made a big enemy in Joe Namath. He’s an angry drunk.
David
January 21st, 2010
3:45 pm
You are high if you think UNC is that good. TJ Yates is still their QB
Alabama Jack
January 21st, 2010
3:50 pm
Mark, I won’t argue with your picks. I mean, after all, they are pre-pre-season so who knows, injuries, academic problems, incoming freshmen, coaching changes – any or all will have an impact before the first game.
On a related note I called Coach Richt to buy some tickets to the Georgia Bulldogs Ball, and he told me himself that “Georgia Bulldogs don’t have any balls.” So there.
root4au
January 21st, 2010
3:54 pm
Mark it down. The winner of the iron bowl wins the west and heads to Atlanta.
Bernie
January 21st, 2010
3:59 pm
TampaGator is right… GATORS ARE RELOADING NOT REBUILDING!
Nice info on us…said it all…to the rest of these yayhoo’s
Ray Barone
January 21st, 2010
4:03 pm
Good picks for a fellow sports writer
Joe Namath
January 21st, 2010
4:07 pm
Who’s an angry drunk? I just wanna kiss Suzy. Can I kiss you Suzy?
Georgia will struggle next year
January 21st, 2010
4:11 pm
The problem is that the returning starters are not very good.
I like AJ, Glenn, Boling and maybe White of the Starters as top level SEC players. Other than that thaey are all just ok..
I say UGA will be 5-7 and again not a top 25 team.
Nativebird
January 21st, 2010
4:13 pm
Where is Southern Kal “iffins”?
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
January 21st, 2010
4:15 pm
blah blah blah all preseason rankings are crap. recruiting is not even finished, no spring games yet, no offseason injuries or fall practices yet. point is, no one here can predict anything at this point. all you have to go off of is returning starters and incoming class. UF has a great class “supposedly” coming in but who knows if they’ll be busts or caught in a drug sting. GT fans- please, i beg you, stop humiliating yourselves.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
January 21st, 2010
4:17 pm
georgia will struggle- that is the stupidest comment i’ve read so far. Hmmmm, let me guess what school you support?
GT
January 21st, 2010
4:17 pm
USC will do as well as they did under the previous coach. Why, because we hate the new one and that always causes that team to perform better in my case. Arkansas is suddenly in the top 20, we all hate Bobby Petrino, so it had to happen.
Twoof
January 21st, 2010
4:18 pm
GT30, Tech can’t find it’s azz with both hands outside the ACC.
GaGator
January 21st, 2010
4:19 pm
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.
This is very optimistic # 21; Georgia could easily lose 4 maybe 5 SEC games.
You can book Florida, Miss State and Arkansas.
Losing 6 starters from a sorry defense may be a plus, let some new guys play and get ready for 2011. I just afraid 2010 is going to be a long year for the dawgs.
heeldawg
January 21st, 2010
4:20 pm
My thoughts here:
1. Tech loses more than Georgia did after the 2008 season, and this Tech team was not as good as that Georgia team. Jackets will play against tougher ACC competition this year as UNC, Va Tech, Miami all will improve. Offense will be worse and defense will be no better minus its two best players. And they won’t beat Georgia this season. CPJ is a very good coach, but he’s no magician. Jackets go 9-3 or 8-4 in regular season. No ACC title in 2010.
2. Georgia will be better on offense because of the established running game and improved OL play. They won’t have to depend upon the QB to win games for them (even though he will–Murray will be an upgrade from Cox in terms of talent, and I doubt he’ll be responsible for more turnovers). Dawgs will average over 30 ppg on offense.
3. The Georgia D will be better against the pass (finally) and worse against the run next season. But they’ll be more competitive overall despite the personnel losses–LBs will be solid, corners will be fine, and Hamilton/Rambo as a team will be better than Jones/Evans at FS. DL is a real question mark, but there is talent available, and there’s no question that the D won’t be out-schemed as badly as they have been the past few seasons. An easier schedule means the Dawgs will win 9 or 10 during the regular season (note that a blown official’s call cost them the LSU game in 2009, and the UK game was in hand until the critical avalanche of second-half turnovers, so even this year’s sorry team could have gone 10-3). Dawgs will win easily over La-La, UK, Vandy, Idaho State, Colorado and Miss State; they should be favored over Tech, Auburn, Arkansas and UT; Florida has to be pegged as a probable loss until the Dawgs prove they can win that game, and the biggest swing game of the year is the South Carolina game, as the Gamecocks might actually be good next season. Win the easy ones, go 3-1 in the probable wins, lose to the Gators and the USCe game becomes the difference b/t 9-3 and 10-2.
3. The Gators could be really good or just okay good at the beginniong of next season, but with this recruiting class they’ve got coming in, they’ll be tough to beat in the latter half of the year, and even tougher the next (2011) season. I don’t think they’re going anywhere, despite Urban Meyer’s health concerns and the departure of Saint Tebow.
4. I like Derek Dooley, but UT fans are going to need to be patient. Next season could be a long one on Rocky Top.
Twoof
January 21st, 2010
4:21 pm
GT hasn’t learned to finish. They choke at the end of every season like it was an annual ritual.
Mark Bradley
January 21st, 2010
4:25 pm
Georgia losing to Mississippi State is one I can book, GaGator? Huh.
JACKETS STING AGAIN
January 21st, 2010
4:28 pm
We have many good players coming in GO JACKETS!
Rival Fans are Idiots!!
January 21st, 2010
4:31 pm
UF fans are the funniest. They think they are above rebuilding. Really guys? Really? What was 2007 for the gators? It sure wasn’t reloading. So who is dreaming now?
STING ME IN THE JUNK BIG BOYS!!!
January 21st, 2010
4:33 pm
OMG!!! THE JACKETS ARE GONNA TOTALLY LEAD A GOBLIN HORDE ONTO THE FIELD AGAINST THOSE UGA FOOTBALLERS NEXT YEAR AND ROLL A MEGA + 70 DAMAGE ON THOSE BIG … STRONG … SWEATY … MMMMMMMMMMMMM
florida Trash
January 21st, 2010
4:35 pm
Ya’ll’s a buncha crackheads!!!
WHATEVA!! PERCY HARVIN!! PERCY HARVIN!!!
OSCAR
January 21st, 2010
4:38 pm
Scott Brown for President!!!!
Bow Wow
January 21st, 2010
4:39 pm
Richt has returned to his previous disciplinary policy, or lack thereof. Beat up your girlfriend, smash her car, and get locked up twice in a week. That will get you a two game suspension in September. Expect a banner year of arrests for Richt’s puppies.
30-24 Dawgs - WE RUN THIS STATE!
January 21st, 2010
4:42 pm
I’ll tell you what else never ends – 30-24, all year long!
UrbanMeyersCrotchlessJeanShorts
January 21st, 2010
4:42 pm
I looked really good on Charlie Strong … *SNIFF*
UrbanMeyersCrotchlessJeanShorts
January 21st, 2010
4:42 pm
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UrbanMeyersCrotchlessJeanShorts
January 21st, 2010
4:43 pm
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