By: David Folz
As we count
down the days to college football the pre-season polls are coming out as we
gauge how teams could do this season.
There will be the usual favorites like Alabama, LSU, and USC at the top
but then some surprise teams in the middle and back of the Top 25. I will break down the Top 25 as I feel they
will be placed or there around. It will
be in segments of 5 teams, starting with 25-21, 20-16, 15-11, 10-6, 5-1. Today we focus on the back end of the Top 25.
25. Boise
State- The Broncos season will be made in the first month because they face
Michigan State, BYU and Southern Miss.
They are the overwhelming favorite in the Mountain West thanks to the
departure of TCU and the underwhelming talent in the conference. They will have a crucial opening month but
should threaten 10 wins again. This is a
special year for Boise because they can prove they don’t rebuild their program
when top talent leaves, they just reload.
24. Florida-
This all comes down to who starts for the Gators this year and the thought is
Jacoby Brissett is the guy. They could
go with a 2 QB system but this is not a Chris Leak/Tim Tebow thing. The defense will have to be stout if the
Quarterback play is not there again.
While Florida is not looked at as the favorite in the SEC East, they
cannot be overlooked either. Will
Muschamp is looking at year two after a very disappointing first year in
Gainesville. The offense has to improve
from 107th last year.
23.
Nebraska- The reason I put the Cornhuskers down at 23 is a simple one: Taylor
Martinez must learn to throw the ball with consistency if he expects and the
Huskers expect to win the big games this year.
Last year, especially in the blowout against Wisconsin, that was very
relevant that for so much that Martinez can run, he cannot throw well at
all. If the Cornhuskers want to do
anything this year, and for Husker nation that means at least a New Years Day
bowl game, it rests on Martinez’s progression as a passer.
22. Georgia
Tech- The Yellow Jackets are a very tough team because they not only have the
wishbone option offense, but there is always a twist in it. They won’t be known for their passing attack,
but that needs to improve from merely 49 percent a year ago. They are very unproven at Wide Receiver, with
no player at the position making a single collegiate reception. The running game is obviously one of the best
and will continue to be. The defense
however needs to get better. If they
improve passing to being adequate, and the defense allows less rushing yards
and points, then they could challenge for 10 wins this year.
21. Ohio
State- The Urban Meyer era will begin in Columbus, a year after the tattoo
sanctions and a roller-coaster year with Luke Fickell at Head Coach. The first thing that Meyer did was expand the
offense for Sophomore Quarterback Braxton Miller who was horrendously
inconsistent last year. The problem is
they are ineligible for the post-season this year due to the sanctions from the
tattoo incident last year. The
difference will be on the progression on Miller, the defense and if that
improves because they looked lost in big games a year ago. The drive may be there this year to get back
to winning, even with the sanctions. It
will however remain to be seen how much drive the Buckeyes have knowing they
are not playing for a conference championship or bowl game this year.
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