Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Aug. 17, 2018, 4:08 p.m.
Overall Rationale: If you came to look at my poll to call me an idiot:    1. Let me assure you, I am fully aware that I am an idiot.    2. It is a preseason poll -- we know very little at this point and it doesn't matter at all. 
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
Death, taxes, etc. |
| 2 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
Only games that weren't 2+ touchdown wins last season: a 1 point win on the road against Notre Dame (10-3, #11) with a true freshman QB starting the second game of his career, a 6 point win in the Rose Bowl against OU (12-2, #3) and the Heisman winning QB who has the two highest single season passer ratings in the history of college football, and a 3 point loss against the machine ranked ahead of them. They return one of the best true freshman QBs in recent memory.   Recruiting classes 2016-2018 ranked 6th, 3rd, 1st.  |
| 3 |
Clemson Tigers
|
Best defensive line in the country. Been one of the best teams in the country the past three years.  |
| 4 |
Michigan State Spartans
|
(DISCLAIMER: Probably going to be higher than most people on Michigan State, I am aware of that) They went 10-3 last season, finishing ranked #15, and they return 92% of last year's production, more than any other team in the country. Mark Dantonio has proven his coaching ability, finishing with 10+ wins 6 of the past 8 seasons.  |
| 5 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
Really good team last year, and they are returning a lot this year. They have a pretty damn brutal schedule though, so their win total at the end of the season may not accurately reflect how good they are.  |
| 6 |
Wisconsin Badgers
|
Chryst has given us no reason to doubt he can get Wisconsin to 10+ wins. A lot to replace, but I'm assuming they have some under-recruited mid-westerners to fill roster holes.  |
| 7 |
Washington Huskies
|
Two good seasons in a row, a proven coach, and a stud QB returning.  |
| 8 |
Auburn Tigers
|
Auburn hasn't shown they can string two good seasons together in the past decade... but here I am, thinking this is the year they buck the trend despite playing Washington OOC, @ Mississippi State, @ Georgia, and @ Bama.  |
| 9 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
Obviously talented. Putting them here for now because their coaching situation is up in the air (who are we kidding? They are going to bring Urban back, they don't give a shit) |
| 10 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
Good team last year, returning a pretty nice amount of production per Bill C, and a proven coach.  |
| 11 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
Not 100% confident in Lincoln Riley without an other-worldly good QB. We'll see.  |
| 12 |
TCU Horned Frogs
|
Gary Patterson. |
| 13 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
Have been solid for 2 straight years. Have a really good coach. But also lost one of the best RBs in the country.  |
| 14 |
Stanford Cardinal
|
They have a running back who is pretty good.  |
| 15 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
This feels about where they should be, based on some decent success in Harbaugh's first two years followed by a down season from which they are returning most of their players.  |
| 16 |
USC Trojans
|
Losing a LOT from last year, but they always have good enough athletes to compete.  |
| 17 |
West Virginia Mountaineers
|
Will is a good QB. Dana has sweet hair.  |
| 18 |
FAU Owls
|
ALL ABOARD THE LANE TRAIN!!! |
| 19 |
UCF Knights
|
Pros: returning some really good players from an undefeated season.    Cons: losing a really good coach from an undefeated season.    |
| 20 |
Arizona Wildcats
|
Tate and Sumlin were a match made in heaven.  |
| 21 |
Iowa State Cyclones
|
Betting on Campbell this season. Blind faith. |
| 22 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
Good team last year, but they're losing a fantastic coach and also their star quarterback was last seen with his foot dangling off his leg like like a bandanna-bindle hanging off the end of a hobo's stick.  |
| 23 |
Oklahoma State Cowboys
|
Three top 15 seasons in a row, and a proven head coach... but they rank 120th out of 130 in returning production. Gonna have to wait and see how the new guys do.  |
| 24 |
Boise State Broncos
|
Just feels right having them about here. |
| 25 |
South Carolina Gamecocks
|
No clue, honestly.  |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.15 |
| 3 |
Clemson Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Michigan State Spartans
|
1.60 |
| 5 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
1.35 |
| 6 |
Wisconsin Badgers
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
Washington Huskies
|
0.00 |
| 8 |
Auburn Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 9 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
-0.39 |
| 10 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
-0.80 |
| 12 |
TCU Horned Frogs
|
0.18 |
| 13 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
-0.38 |
| 14 |
Stanford Cardinal
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.00 |
| 16 |
USC Trojans
|
0.00 |
| 17 |
West Virginia Mountaineers
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
FAU Owls
|
2.96 |
| 19 |
UCF Knights
|
0.00 |
| 20 |
Arizona Wildcats
|
4.65 |
| 21 |
Iowa State Cyclones
|
3.86 |
| 22 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
Oklahoma State Cowboys
|
0.00 |
| 24 |
Boise State Broncos
|
0.00 |
| 25 |
South Carolina Gamecocks
|
0.00 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
Virginia Tech Hokies
|
0.75 |
Florida State Seminoles
|
0.51 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.32 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.00 |
Total Score: 17.91