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
GaGator
January 21st, 2010
6:39 pm
Oh. I forgot, I got “TEST” through.
Steve
January 21st, 2010
6:39 pm
“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.
Then why rank them fifteenth?”
Because that’s probably 10 spots higher than they really deserve. Even in 2009 they were highly overrated and the last two games of the season (against two of the best three teams they played) proved that. The ACC is mediocre at best, and the Jackets ran their record up in a platry conference. Enough said.
keeping it real
January 21st, 2010
6:39 pm
MB where is Clemson? You have Miami and FSU which Clemson beat last year ranked but not Clemson…..that’s okay we will do it on the field….remember GT has to play us up at Clemson this year, as usual no respect given so we’ll just have to earn it!!!
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:40 pm
ugaaccountant
January 21st, 2010
6:37 pm
yellow fuzz – perhaps you should wait until you actually beat UGA to get your “payback”. Right now all the dog fans get a chuckle out of seeing posts like yours the first time or two, and then just start to pity you.
If you want to go to an ACC board and brag about the ACC title, now is your chance. Don’t wait another year to start bragging because by then there will be a new champion.
And don’t brag too much about being in a BCS bowl game after you’ve lost the game. Not all that impressive to be beat by Iowa.
Dude,
WE finished 13th in the Nation. How bout you?
Yellow Fizz
January 21st, 2010
6:41 pm
I think Paul Johnson cute even with that ball sac under his chin
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:41 pm
And, I’ll go out on a limb here and say Iowa was a little bit better than A & M.
Hahahahahahahahahahaha
Proof Richt gets Natl Champ in 2010
January 21st, 2010
6:41 pm
Richt’s jersey # at Miami in college was #9.
Which means, after Richt’s 9th season as Head Coach at Georgia, and after 2009, Richt will win his 1st Natl Championship.
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:42 pm
Don’t blame me because Outback scoffed at you.
DDT
January 21st, 2010
6:43 pm
Georgia Tech 1-2 in last 3 games. The annual joke by the coke choke has become a ritual.
Bremen Dawg
January 21st, 2010
6:44 pm
Mark, that one girl on the end looks a little chubby, did you squeeze that photo in a little bit in photoshop?
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:44 pm
And the Music City folks. lol
ugaaccountant
January 21st, 2010
6:45 pm
Yep, all of the insults you throw at UGA are relevant, when posted by fans of Florida or Tennessee or even Kentucky. However, when posted by a Tech fan, they don’t matter because we beat you on your field.
I wonder if it makes you cry to know that Kentucky fans have more right to talk trash to Dawg fans than you do.
DDT
January 21st, 2010
6:46 pm
Paul Johnson = 2 bowls, 2 losses, 63-17, TO 10 pts.
Proof Richt gets Natl Champ in 2010
January 21st, 2010
6:46 pm
Richt’s Jersey # was #9 in College at Miami.
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:46 pm
Enter your comments here
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:47 pm
and umpteen defensive coordinators
Just the Facts..
January 21st, 2010
6:47 pm
UGA, Isn’t rebuilding MB. UGA wasn’t properly coached, and you’ll see the significant improvement in play. Your going from WM who clearly wasn’t ready for the DC job to a guy that’s been a DC in the NFL. Don’t be surprised if UGA finishes in the top 10, the talent is to good not to achieve, and now they’ll have a coach who’ll push them, instead of someone who’ll let upper classmen play(Brian Evans) when he clearly was at best a mid tier safety! The biggest question all coaches better ask themselves is how are we going to match up at WR with UGA next year. Mike Bobo knows he has to step it up or he’s gone. This will be the most watched UGA team since Richt got there. I’m guaranteeing a major turnaround in 2010!
ugaaccountant
January 21st, 2010
6:47 pm
“Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:46 pm
Enter your comments here”
Most profound thing you’ve posted all day, kudos! Perhaps tommorrow you can post something mind bending like “First!” and then Mark Bradley can congratulate you. Oh how special you will feel on that day when you, Yellow Fuzz, are hailed as First!
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:47 pm
DDT,
Gotta start somewhere dude
Proof Richt gets Natl Champ in 2010
January 21st, 2010
6:48 pm
Richt has won exactly 90 games in 9 seasons as Head Coach at Georgia.
Remember, his game jersey at Miami was #9.
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:49 pm
Just the Facts
I’m guaranteeing a major turnaround in 2010!
YOU SAID THE EXACT SAME THING LAST YEAR. ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gator
January 21st, 2010
6:49 pm
Enter your comments here
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:50 pm
ugaaccountant
whatever that means
Bremen Dawg
January 21st, 2010
6:51 pm
I don’t see Tech in the top 25, high school offense is going to get stuffed by more and more defenses. Thats why you don’t see it anymore. Defense will be rebuilding and will still let them down. Tech finishes the year at 6-6.
I see Georgia in the top 10, top 15 at the end of the year after that 3-4 shuts down that high school triple option crap.
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:51 pm
Proof Richt gets Natl Champ in 2010
January 21st, 2010
6:48 pm
Richt has won exactly 90 games in 9 seasons as Head Coach at Georgia.
Remember, his game jersey at Miami was #9.
HHAAIILL Yeah!
Proof Richt gets Natl Champ in 2010
January 21st, 2010
6:51 pm
There are 9 letters in Mark Richt’s name.
There are 9 letters in the names of the 2009 Natl Champ coaches and all 3 1st names end with a “K”:
Nick Saban
Mack Brown
Mark Richt
Technophobia
January 21st, 2010
6:51 pm
I predict UGA goes unarrested next year. They’ve got it all, driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance.
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:53 pm
Alright, 5 more minutes more is all I have tonite.
Just the Facts..
January 21st, 2010
6:53 pm
Yellow Fuzz, I’ll go out on a limb and say Iowa was alot better than TECH! Come to think of it so was that team that played in Shreveport. Uh what’s there name uh GEORGIA, you know 30-24!
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:54 pm
come on dogs. give some more material quick
Bremen Dawg
January 21st, 2010
6:54 pm
Tech vs non ACC in last 3 games. 0-2
I really liked watching Iowa shut down that triple option crap.
ugaaccountant
January 21st, 2010
6:54 pm
Your mom’s limiting your computer time again? How sad.
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:55 pm
Just the Facts,
That’s why, when all was said and done, that YOU were ranked 13th nationally, right?
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:56 pm
ugaaccountant
nope. Gotta go to work.
Proof Richt gets Natl Champ in 2010
January 21st, 2010
6:57 pm
Every 10 years, the team that Mark Richt coached or played on is in the Natl Champ:
1980 Georgia
Richt is the current Georgia Coach
1990 Miami
Richt played college football at Miami
2000 Miami
Richt played college football at Miami
2010 Georgia
Richt is the Head Coach of Georgia
1eyedJack
January 21st, 2010
6:57 pm
Yeller Fuzz, I can tell you the last time UGA was ranked 13th in a meaningless January Poll and had played in and not only WON a BCS bowl, I was ALIVE!!!….. How ’bout you?
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:58 pm
Proof Richt gets Natl Champ in 2010
OK, I’ll take the field. How much?
RollBama
January 21st, 2010
6:59 pm
Disagree that UGA will be a top 25 program next year even though they certainly have top 10 talent. The only year Richt managed to win the SEC was a down year overall for the conference. Not sure next year will be…but I admit it is a possibility with Kiffin and Meyer situations in the East. UGA does not play either of the top two West teams in Bama or LSU next season which certainly helps out their situation as well.
But the new DC has yet to prove he is worth all the $ UGA threw his way. Indeed he may end up no better than Martinez. I personally expect more aggresiveness out of the Georgia D but they will give up as many or more big plays with Grantham. Not having an experienced QB will make Georgia one dimensional but they will bring back a very experienced line and backfield other than the QB. If they can get out of September with only 1 loss they likely win 10 games since UF and Tenn appear headed for a down year. So it is certainly possible for UGA to win the East even with a mediocre D and very mediocre coaching staff. (BTW…don’t give the Richt has won ten games for such and such years…with all the talent he has had what good coach would not have won ten games??? Why can’t he beat anyone out of conference that is half way decent other than last years win against GT? Hawaii??? Michigan State??? Both finished 18th in the polls! His best out of conference win as a head coach was to GT last year and they finished 13th and of course next year they play absolutely nobody out of conference other than Tech. Colorado…you have to be kidding me!
C&G'SGG
January 21st, 2010
6:59 pm
Make it Rain
January 21st, 2010
11:11 am
UGA won the ACC, shouldn’t they be ranked a little higher???
MAKE IT RAIN HAS WATER ON THE BRAIN.
Delusional
January 21st, 2010
11:52 am
MB – did you forget what the middle tier (UGA and Scar) SEC teams did to the ACC champs at the end of the year? And the ACC Champ (GT) didn’t look too good in their bowl game – which you credit to Iowa being the 2nd best Team in the country?? You give the ACC and Big Ten way too much credit. Also, ranking Ark but not AUB, Ole Miss or LSU is a mistake…its all about Defense and Ark has not shown an ability to play D against top teams. I agree UGA is still rebuiliding but GT falls out of the TOP 25 by seasons end..
Delusional, DELUSIONAL YOU ARE.
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:59 pm
1eyegotjacked,
lol.
ugaaccountant
January 21st, 2010
7:00 pm
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
6:56 pm
ugaaccountant
nope. Gotta go to work.
Seriously, I applaud you for having a job. Glad to know you’re not leeching off of someone else. Best of luck in your career, may you someday actually work in the daytime.
Bremen Dawg
January 21st, 2010
7:01 pm
Let the nerds have fun with their one good season, You know they only get a good season 1 every 10 years or so and we are always in the top 10, top 15 year after year. Just one down year and the nerds are having fun with it.
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
7:01 pm
See you guys later. It’s always a pleasure speaking down to soooo many!
Bremen Dawg
January 21st, 2010
7:03 pm
RollBama,
Don’t get to used to Saban, he is bad at making like a tree and leaving. Remember that he got torched in Athens a few times at LSU. You will have a down year and it may come sooner than you think.
dan
January 21st, 2010
7:03 pm
rank georgia that is a laugh
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
7:03 pm
ugaaccountant
At Tech you really do learn great time management skills. For the 3rd straight semister I have taken a full course load AND worked 40 hrs a week AND managed time to needle you AH’s in between! Good night!
Technophobia
January 21st, 2010
7:04 pm
It’s gonna be weird cheering for a “coach Dooley” next year.
Yellow Fuzz
January 21st, 2010
7:08 pm
Ugaaccountant
At Tech you really do learn outstanding time management skills. For the 3rd semester in a row I have taken a full course load AND worked 40 hrs a week AND still made time to needle you AH’s in between. Have a “guit” one!
jw
January 21st, 2010
7:12 pm
Bradley, was that just to get us to read this crap? Why would a UGA fan like this? You picked GT, and South Carolina over UGA? GT is loosing more key players than UGA.. jeez this Man crush on CPJ is about as old and stale as your jokes..
1eyedJack
January 21st, 2010
7:13 pm
The trouble ain’t that there are too many fools…., it’s just that the lightnin’ ain’t distributed right.