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sunburn_on_the_brain Ballot for 2016 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 27, 2016, 2:29 p.m.

Overall Rationale: It's preseason, so it's a crapshoot.   Teams I'm not so high on:  Baylor.  I don't think they're a 4-8 team, but I don't think they're top 25.   Oregon.  Seriously, they can't develop a quarterback from their recruiting classes?  Arizona State. New line, new QB (no one on their roster has thrown a pass in college, and Wilkins has only a few snaps.)  and their secondary shows not much hope for improvement.  They'll live and die on their running game with Richard and Ballage (they're beasts, though.)   Utah.  I just don't feel they've got top 25 in them this year.  Bowl team, likely, but not a high one.  Ole Miss.  They've lost some key guys and they've got a big cloud over them  Teams I'm higher on than others:  Texas Tech.  They need to improve on defense , but they've got a LOT of firepower.  If they find some playmakers on D they may run some good teams off the field.   Nebraska.  I have them in my rankings.  Riley can get a lot out of what he has to work with. Again, they just have to finish games. BYU.  They're loaded at QB and they're always a physical team.  They have got a BRUTAL schedule so their record may not reflect how good they are.  And of course (call me a homer, I don't care) Arizona. Their defense should be a good chunk better than last year. If they're just a few points better on defense this year and the offense stays healthy, they could win 10. Even with the injuries on offense they put up 37 ppg last year. The defensive injuries last year were just ridiculous, and this year they'll have a more aggressive scheme.  They even have a bye week this year!

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide Defending champion (and to me that's an automatic #1 ranking until you lose, that's a privilege that comes with winning the title) and they're just loaded.
2 Clemson Tigers They didn't lose much and they still have the playmakers.  If they get past FSU, sky's the limit.
3 Florida State Seminoles Another loaded team.  They've got the ability to run the ball with authority.  Talent + running game = high ceiling.
4 Michigan Wolverines Harbaugh was a few points away from having this team in the playoff last year. Now he's had time to work with the roster and recruit.
5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Kelly has too much talent on this team and an embarrassment of riches at QB.
6 TCU Horned Frogs I think they can win the Big 12, which isn't in my opinion as powerful a conference as some think (Baylor still being seen as top 25 kind of tilts the scales for a lot of people.)
7 Oklahoma Sooners These guys are a big favorite for a lot of people and I get why, but I think they've lost more than people think, especially on defense.  They'll struggle to keep Houston contained and then TCU will test them in a track meet. 
8 Michigan State Spartans Solid team, but they may have lost a bit much by losing a senior QB.  I don't see them winning the B1G this year because they're going to be in a slugfest with too many good teams, and I think they're going to lose one too many games.  Still a possible Rose Bowl team, especially if Michigan makes the playoff.
9 Houston Cougars Herman's got his pieces in place.  If UH is going to have a signature year, this is their best chance.
10 Tennessee Volunteers I would rank them higher but I don't know how much I trust Dobbs.  They could make a lot of noise this year, but they have to finish games.
11 LSU Tigers Some people think they're a title contender.  Let's see how they do at QB first.  Fournette is a beast but he can only do so much.  Defense should be nails.
12 UCLA Bruins Mora's got too many good players to lose too many games this year... right?  This is an odd year in the South and they should be favored to win it.
13 Washington Huskies They return almost everyone and these guys showed flashes of brilliance last year.  One of the biggest keys will be Browning's accuracy. 
14 North Carolina Tar Heels They'll have their shot this year, and if they win the ACC they'll have earned it. I don't know how confident I am in this team, but Fedora has his classes in and he's a solid coach.
15 Florida Gators They won ugly last year but they won - a lot.  If they can get the offense clicking they could win the SEC East.
16 Washington State Cougars I'm higher on this team than most.  Leach has been steadily building this roster and he's got a bunch of guys now who can run this offense the way he wants to.  The question will be if the defense can get off the field against the more physical teams on their schedule.
17 Louisville Cardinals These guys should be fun to watch this year.  They're going to be good but they're going to give away a couple of games they shouldn't.
18 Ohio State Buckeyes Meyer is an all-timer coach and he's got a loaded roster and has been recruiting like a mofo.  But they lost so much to the draft.  They could just as easily win the B1G as they could lose three games, so I'm playing wait-and-see.
19 Oklahoma State Cowboys Solid roster, and it feels like Gundy's had this team really close lately.  A couple of breaks go their way, and Bedlam could be a huge game.
20 Nebraska Cornhuskers They were a lot better than their record last year, but Riley needs to get these guys to finish games. 
21 Stanford Cardinal New QB, and inexperience on the line.  McCaffrey is a hell of a player but I don't know that he'll be enough. If they can't throw the ball they'll be in danger of losing 4-5.
22 USC Trojans Very solid roster - this is USC and recruits want to go their.  But there's a new coach and new staff, a new QB, and they're going to lose 3-4 games most likely as they put everything together.  I think they're going to be a force in the last third of the season.
23 Iowa Hawkeyes I... I just can't summon up the courage to talk to you kids about Iowa right now :)
24 Miami Hurricanes I think Richt will get a lot out of the roster, and Kaaya as well.  Enough to challenge for the ACC? No.
25 Texas Longhorns Strong has too much talent there to repeat the last two seasons.  He inherited a really bad situation there but I think they win 8 this year.

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