wilheim
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It's never too early to predict next season's top teams.
So your bracket is shot, your favorite team is out of the tournament and the Big Dance is as played out as a Capital One commercial. Don't worry, I have the cure for your March Madness hangover. With college football teams holding spring practices around the country and the start of the season only five months away, it's never too early to predict who the top 16 teams will be this season.
1. USC -- This choice is as predictable as a Paris Hilton joke during a Tonight Show monologue. The back-to-back national champions and winners of 22 straight probably could beat a few NFL squads next season, and that's not a stretch considering about a dozen starters will be playing on Sundays after next season.
2. Tennessee -- The Vols' offense should be running like Clockwork Orange come fall with the return of quarterback Erik Ainge, who threw for a Tennessee-freshman record 17 touchdowns and led the team to a 7-1 record before injuring his right shoulder. With Ainge throwing up Peyton Manning-like numbers and tailback Gerald Riggs Jr. on the verge of a monster season, coach Phil Fulmer might be holding up his second national title with an offense that would be second to none during his time in Knoxville.
3. Texas -- Putting Texas near the top of your annual preseason rankings is like predicting Martin Scorsese will win Best Director in your annual Oscar pool. On pure talent and prestige alone, you'd be a fool not to do it, but in the end you're always wrong. Unlike Scorsese, however, this year maybe different for the Longhorns. If Vince Young can use his arm as effectively as his legs, the Longhorns, who return 16 starters from last year's Rose Bowl-winning squad, easily could make a return trip to Pasadena.
4. Iowa -- Quarterback Drew Tate is the leader, but the team's success will depend on the health of Iowa's tailbacks. Last season the Hawkeyes' backfield had to recover from more losses than the cast of ER. Nearly every runner on their roster was injured, making Iowa a one-dimensional team. That won't be the case this season, as a healthy Sam Brownlee and Albert Young will vie for carries and take the workload off of Tate.
5. Oklahoma -- The Sooners were decimated with departures, and the biggest loss will be quarterback Jason White (What? He couldn't get a seventh year of eligibility?). Rhett Bomar should do fine in his place and if the redshirt freshman can have half as good a season as his recruiting classmate Adrian Peterson did last season, Oklahoma might actually make it to the national title game and win it.
6. Florida -- There's a reason why Urban Meyer turned down his "dream job" at Notre Dame, and it's not just because UF is located in Gainesville and not South Bend. The Gators are loaded and ready to win now. With stud quarterback Chris Leak leading Meyer's "fast-break" offense, the Gators should once again be one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation.
7. LSU -- Les Miles inherits a talented roster from Nick Saban, whose recruiting classes were ranked in the top 10 the past four years. The Tigers' newest recruit, however, might make the biggest splash. If hotshot freshman quarterback Ryan Perrilloux can live up to the hype he's garnered in the Bayou and utilize one of the most athletic receiving corps in the country, LSU could return to its championship form of two years ago.
8. Michigan -- Outside of Los Angeles, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better QB-RB-WR trio than Chad Henne, Michael Hart and Steve Breaston. That said, even if the Wolverines field one of the most explosive offenses in the country, it won't matter if the defense implodes like it did at the end of last season.
9. Ohio State -- The Buckeyes should have one of the best defenses and easily the best linebacking corps in the nation with the return of nine starters, including linebackers Bobby Carpenter, A.J. Hawk and Anthony Schlegel. Ohio State needs to find some consistency on offense and a replacement for kicker Mike Nugent, which will be easier said than done.
10. Auburn -- After a magical undefeated season, the Tigers will return to the real world after the losses of most of their major stars, including tailbacks Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. Auburn won't fall that hard, however, as it returns six starters from one if the best defenses in the country.
11. Louisville -- With quarterback Brian Brohm guiding an impressive aerial attack and tailbacks Michael Bush and Eric Shelton carrying the load on the ground, the Cardinals should make a smooth transition into the Big East. In fact, look for Louisville to win the conference and play in a BCS game.
12. Arizona State -- Off-the-field controversy aside, the Sun Devils are primed at giving USC a run for the Pac-10 title. With Sam Keller running the offense and All-American receiver Derek Hagan catching everything in sight, Dirk Koetter could field his highest-scoring offensive side since his days tearing up the blue turf at Boise State.
13. Virginia Tech -- Much of this team's success hinges on the play of quarterback Marcus Vick. No one's expecting him to play like Michael, but if he can step up and be half the player and leader his brother was in Blacksburg, the Hokies should be the favorite to win the ACC.
14. Miami -- This pick has more to do with history than current talent, because there are more question marks surrounding the 'Canes than Matthew Lesko's jacket. Aside from the quarterback battle between Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman, Miami needs to find a replacement for tailback Frank Gore.
15. Florida State -- Another prestige pick. The Seminoles' offense has been a shell of its former self since the departure of Mark Richt to Georgia, and things won't get better until the 'Noles settle on quarterback (likely Wyatt Sexton) and get a consistent running game.
16. Texas A&M -- This could be the season Dennis Franchione's squad finally takes shape. With quarterback Reggie McNeal running wild on helpless defenses and eight starters returning from an Aggies defense that was reaching Wrecking Crew status last year, A&M could be a top-10 team after its first nine games. But closing out the season against Oklahoma and Texas will prevent them from dreaming of anything better than a Holiday Bowl trip.
S.I.com
So your bracket is shot, your favorite team is out of the tournament and the Big Dance is as played out as a Capital One commercial. Don't worry, I have the cure for your March Madness hangover. With college football teams holding spring practices around the country and the start of the season only five months away, it's never too early to predict who the top 16 teams will be this season.
1. USC -- This choice is as predictable as a Paris Hilton joke during a Tonight Show monologue. The back-to-back national champions and winners of 22 straight probably could beat a few NFL squads next season, and that's not a stretch considering about a dozen starters will be playing on Sundays after next season.
2. Tennessee -- The Vols' offense should be running like Clockwork Orange come fall with the return of quarterback Erik Ainge, who threw for a Tennessee-freshman record 17 touchdowns and led the team to a 7-1 record before injuring his right shoulder. With Ainge throwing up Peyton Manning-like numbers and tailback Gerald Riggs Jr. on the verge of a monster season, coach Phil Fulmer might be holding up his second national title with an offense that would be second to none during his time in Knoxville.
3. Texas -- Putting Texas near the top of your annual preseason rankings is like predicting Martin Scorsese will win Best Director in your annual Oscar pool. On pure talent and prestige alone, you'd be a fool not to do it, but in the end you're always wrong. Unlike Scorsese, however, this year maybe different for the Longhorns. If Vince Young can use his arm as effectively as his legs, the Longhorns, who return 16 starters from last year's Rose Bowl-winning squad, easily could make a return trip to Pasadena.
4. Iowa -- Quarterback Drew Tate is the leader, but the team's success will depend on the health of Iowa's tailbacks. Last season the Hawkeyes' backfield had to recover from more losses than the cast of ER. Nearly every runner on their roster was injured, making Iowa a one-dimensional team. That won't be the case this season, as a healthy Sam Brownlee and Albert Young will vie for carries and take the workload off of Tate.
5. Oklahoma -- The Sooners were decimated with departures, and the biggest loss will be quarterback Jason White (What? He couldn't get a seventh year of eligibility?). Rhett Bomar should do fine in his place and if the redshirt freshman can have half as good a season as his recruiting classmate Adrian Peterson did last season, Oklahoma might actually make it to the national title game and win it.
6. Florida -- There's a reason why Urban Meyer turned down his "dream job" at Notre Dame, and it's not just because UF is located in Gainesville and not South Bend. The Gators are loaded and ready to win now. With stud quarterback Chris Leak leading Meyer's "fast-break" offense, the Gators should once again be one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation.
7. LSU -- Les Miles inherits a talented roster from Nick Saban, whose recruiting classes were ranked in the top 10 the past four years. The Tigers' newest recruit, however, might make the biggest splash. If hotshot freshman quarterback Ryan Perrilloux can live up to the hype he's garnered in the Bayou and utilize one of the most athletic receiving corps in the country, LSU could return to its championship form of two years ago.
8. Michigan -- Outside of Los Angeles, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better QB-RB-WR trio than Chad Henne, Michael Hart and Steve Breaston. That said, even if the Wolverines field one of the most explosive offenses in the country, it won't matter if the defense implodes like it did at the end of last season.
9. Ohio State -- The Buckeyes should have one of the best defenses and easily the best linebacking corps in the nation with the return of nine starters, including linebackers Bobby Carpenter, A.J. Hawk and Anthony Schlegel. Ohio State needs to find some consistency on offense and a replacement for kicker Mike Nugent, which will be easier said than done.
10. Auburn -- After a magical undefeated season, the Tigers will return to the real world after the losses of most of their major stars, including tailbacks Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. Auburn won't fall that hard, however, as it returns six starters from one if the best defenses in the country.
11. Louisville -- With quarterback Brian Brohm guiding an impressive aerial attack and tailbacks Michael Bush and Eric Shelton carrying the load on the ground, the Cardinals should make a smooth transition into the Big East. In fact, look for Louisville to win the conference and play in a BCS game.
12. Arizona State -- Off-the-field controversy aside, the Sun Devils are primed at giving USC a run for the Pac-10 title. With Sam Keller running the offense and All-American receiver Derek Hagan catching everything in sight, Dirk Koetter could field his highest-scoring offensive side since his days tearing up the blue turf at Boise State.
13. Virginia Tech -- Much of this team's success hinges on the play of quarterback Marcus Vick. No one's expecting him to play like Michael, but if he can step up and be half the player and leader his brother was in Blacksburg, the Hokies should be the favorite to win the ACC.
14. Miami -- This pick has more to do with history than current talent, because there are more question marks surrounding the 'Canes than Matthew Lesko's jacket. Aside from the quarterback battle between Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman, Miami needs to find a replacement for tailback Frank Gore.
15. Florida State -- Another prestige pick. The Seminoles' offense has been a shell of its former self since the departure of Mark Richt to Georgia, and things won't get better until the 'Noles settle on quarterback (likely Wyatt Sexton) and get a consistent running game.
16. Texas A&M -- This could be the season Dennis Franchione's squad finally takes shape. With quarterback Reggie McNeal running wild on helpless defenses and eight starters returning from an Aggies defense that was reaching Wrecking Crew status last year, A&M could be a top-10 team after its first nine games. But closing out the season against Oklahoma and Texas will prevent them from dreaming of anything better than a Holiday Bowl trip.
S.I.com
