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Miami_da_U Ballot for 2018 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 16, 2018, 2:49 p.m.

Rank Team Reason
1 Clemson Tigers Filthy Dline, which imo is the most important position group on a team (with OL being 2nd). Great talent at QB. Think they are angry after how last season ended, and that trash loss to Syracuse. Many guys that could have left early stayed. They have a lot of talent and a lot of experience that chose not to go the NFL so that they could win another National Championship.. This is more like 1a with bama at 1b though. Clemson has a solid schedule. @ Texas A&M and @ FSU. Then South Carolina to finish off the season.
2 Alabama Crimson Tide Theyve been reloading at an elite level for years. Surprised Saban isn't just going with Tua as QB1. I think rotating between the qbs isn't going to have the best effect on the offense. I really dislike when teams like Bama schedule teams like The Citadel in the final few weeks of the season. If both Bama and Clemson finished undefeated I'd rank Clemson higher, which is why I have them higher here.
3 Wisconsin Badgers Literally ALL their tough games are on the road. If they win those, they'll get bonus points in my book for that. I fully expect them to be playing in the B1G championship. The only question is will they finally win it?. They ended the season very strong against Miami, but the question is will they take the next step or will they just kinda stall in place? Wisconsin has a high floor, but we'll see if they have a high ceiling or not.
4 Georgia Bulldogs They are killing it in recruiting. However they did just lose a shit load of upperclassman that all chose to return which created that dream season they had last season. Pretty solid schedule, so they'll be tested for sure. I don't think they're as good of a team as they were last year though. I wont be surprised if they win out or if they drop 2 games. But right now they're more proven than Miami, Oklahoma (w/out Baker), and tOSU (possibly w/out Meyer). So they deserve to be ranked higher at the moment. 
5 Miami Hurricanes I know the most about Miami:Talent wise, they're the best they've been in over a decade and a half. they have one of the top LB and DB groups in the Nation with Jaquan Johnson, Michael Jackson, Shaq Quarterman, Mike Pinkney, etc. They lost a lot on the DL, but I don't expect any drop off at all, as they essentially just reloaded at the position. So defensively I think they are set to be better than last year where they were at or near the top in turnovers, sacks, tfls, yards/play, etc. Offensively RB and WR is loaded, but have major questions along the OL and QB. the OL has a lot of experience, but they weren't very good last year, especially in the run game. And now they moved their former RT to LT, and former RG to RT. If those two position switches work out their OLine will be good, if not this offense could stumble (though likely still be quite explosive). At Qb, Malik Rosier is going to start, and I think most Hurricane fans are hoping one of the Freshman (Nkosi Perry, Jarren Williams, or Cade Weldon) step up and beat him out for the starting job. So ultimately if they get good QB play, and the OLine holds up, they have a great chance at winning out, at least until Clemson. Can they beat Clemson? Or at least keep it close and still make the CFP? 
6 Ohio State Buckeyes They'd be higher on the list, but Personally I think Urban Meyer is at least suspended, if not fired. This has been a major distraction for the team, and I definitely think its going to have negative affects on the season. Plus they have an awesome schedule @TCU, @PSU, and @MSU! plus the home game vs Michigan and even Oregon State making it two P5 non con games, which is what I like to see. The Talent and schedule is there for tOSU to make the CFP. If Urban Meyer is cleared, they have a solid shot (though I don't think they go undefeated). If he's not, I doubt they do.
7 Oklahoma Sooners Sorry OU fans, I just don't believe they'll be as good without Baker Mayfield running things on offense. I don't think there will be a massive dropoff or anything, especially with Rodney Anderson and the talent at WR, but they're gunna have to prove themselves before I rank them above teams 3-6. I think the offense will be great, just maybe not ELITE.Add that to the fact their Defense lost some big players and they already struggled mightily at times last season, and I'm not as optimistic as most seem to be about the Sooners. I think they really NEED the incoming freshman to step up this season, and I'm sure some will, but they'll also make freshman mistakes. Without Baker Mayfield they need the defense to be More consistent than last year. If they step up, they'll win the B12. If not, well....they'll still probably win the B12, but wont be CFP bound at least.
8 Washington Huskies
9 USC Trojans
10 Auburn Tigers
11 Michigan State Spartans
12 Michigan Wolverines
13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
14 Penn State Nittany Lions
15 Stanford Cardinal
16 Florida State Seminoles
17 TCU Horned Frogs
18 Virginia Tech Hokies
19 Mississippi State Bulldogs
20 LSU Tigers
21 West Virginia Mountaineers
22 Boise State Broncos
23 UCF Knights
24 Texas Longhorns
25 South Carolina Gamecocks

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