Preseason Blogpoll Ballot
MGoBlog Ballot - Week 1
Tim's departure and SBN's takeover of the poll's maintenance means I can re-join the voting public without putting myself in the strange position of criticizing my own ballot.
So here it is. I won't go through the relatively chalk portions of the ballot but will explain large deviations between it and the AP poll:
STANFORD #1
Stanford was an ass-kicking machine last year that returns the best quarterback in the country, two potential first round picks on the offensive line, another at tight end, and most of the starters from a top 20 defense. Even if their talent level isn't quite up to par with the usual profile of a national championship contender, having Luck more than makes up for that. Most of the top ten have questions at the most important spot on the field.
LSU SKEPTICISM
I'm voting after their starting quarterback may or may not have kicked a marine in the head but probably might have did. Even if he didn't, Jordan Jefferson is terrible and always has been and LSU skated by last year on insane occurrences en route to the #86 yardage offense.
This is when it all caves in for the Mad Hatter.
I HATE BOISE STATE
Potatoes are overrated and I loathe putting teams that no one will know anything about so high up.
THE HOLGORSEN EFFECT
Blame Smart Football and EDSBS for my belief that Skulletor is the real deal and can install his system lickety-split at West Virginia. Thus I'm higher on WVU than the AP and slightly down on Oklahoma State.
WISCONSIN AND NEBRASKA AT THE EDGE OF THE TOP FIVE
The Big Ten's best teams benefit from the above three items and pass Texas A&M based on my belief that LSU wasn't really that good last year. LSU had a shiny record, though, and A&M beat them up, and therefore A&M is this year's designated Team Everyone Overrates Because Of A Bowl Game. Ole Miss says hi.
I AM SECRETLY DOUG GILLETT
I do have Georgia extremely high. Aaron Murray was secretly great last year; Isaiah Crowell can be an instant impact RB, and the defense returns seven starters as it enters year two under a new coordinator. Bounce coming.
ILLINOIS?
Nathan Scheelhaase exploded towards the end of last year, going from a no-pass all-run guy to Denard Robinson junior. I think they'll get into that 8-4 range that teams at the end of the poll tend to.
TELL ME THAT I'M INSANE
They've moved the deadlines to Monday this year but if you tell me the insane things here I'll change them if I'm convinced.
UPDATE: People have told me I'm insane. Scheelhaase did not finish last year blazing except against terrible defenses and they've lost big chunks of their talent, so they're out. Not having South Carolina was an oversight, so they draw in. I've moved ND down a little and WVU up, as well.
Final result:
MGoBlog Ballot - Week 1
| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford Cardinal | -- |
| 2 | Oklahoma Sooners | -- |
| 3 | Alabama Crimson Tide | -- |
| 4 | Oregon Ducks | -- |
| 5 | Florida St. Seminoles | -- |
| 6 | Wisconsin Badgers | -- |
| 7 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | -- |
| 8 | Georgia Bulldogs | -- |
| 9 | Boise St. Broncos | -- |
| 10 | Oklahoma St. Cowboys | -- |
| 11 | LSU Tigers | -- |
| 12 | Texas A&M Aggies | -- |
| 13 | Virginia Tech Hokies | -- |
| 14 | West Virginia Mountaineers | -- |
| 15 | TCU Horned Frogs | -- |
| 16 | Ohio St. Buckeyes | -- |
| 17 | South Carolina Gamecocks | -- |
| 18 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | -- |
| 19 | Michigan St. Spartans | -- |
| 20 | Florida Gators | -- |
| 21 | USC Trojans | -- |
| 22 | Texas Longhorns | -- |
| 23 | Arkansas Razorbacks | -- |
| 24 | Mississippi St. Bulldogs | -- |
| 25 | San Diego St. Aztecs | -- |
SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings »
As always, this will be in flames by week three.
August 28th, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^
He was also their tackle leader and the soul of the defense, despite having Von Miller on their defense. Hodges went out in the first quater and and Les Miles just exploited that hole in the defense like crazy. It was a completely different defense and game once Hodges went out. I don't know if A&M would have won it had Hodges not went out, because LSU's defense was pretty good too, but it doesn't matter now.
A&M returns 19/22 starters and they should be good. I think 10-ish is appropriate. They have an explosive offense and the defense should improve over last year. They loose Hodges and Von Miller, but the 9 other returning defensive players should help their replacements.
August 28th, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
FSU over OU and they will sweep the rest of the season at #1 ....
August 28th, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
FSU over OU and they will sweep the rest of the season at #1 ....
August 28th, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
Herbstreit picked Iowa to be in the Big Ten championship game, so he'll probably be committed to Bellvue before you
August 28th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
No change to the top 13 schools, eh? I love it when 6/7 of my suggestions get rejected. Fools! I'll show them all!
August 29th, 2011 at 12:09 AM ^
I would not be surprised to see them 6-0, but from the game vs. Washington on Oct 22 onward things start getting a bit more challenging, but at least Oregon, Cal and Notre Stain are at home to close out the year.
Man, I really wish Michigan would restart a home and home series with Stanford...
August 29th, 2011 at 9:13 AM ^
I love Boise State. I hope they win the whole thing.
August 29th, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
They're a legit top 10 team. Kellen Moore is an outstanding college QB who does not make many mistakes. Doug Martin is a bondafide early round(1st/2nd) NFL prospect. Their OL are always rock solid and they generally keep Moore's jersey clean. They lost two of their key players in Young and Pettis, but my feeling is Moore is good enough that he can find new targets to throw to.
BSU defense were dominant last season, ranking in top 10 in pretty much every categories. They do lost Winterswyk, Venable, but still return an healthy amount of starters from last season.
I do think that BSU is better than UGA who is overrated IMO. This is a game that I look forward watching as the season opener. TCU is another big test who has done well in the past few years including their Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin.
August 29th, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^
Last year the Longhorns losing record was about as big a fluke - if not more so - than LSU's winning record. Texas is LOADED with talent, and now not having to face Nebraska they will put up at least 9 wins this year and finish in the top 15...count on it.
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