BlogPoll Preseason Ballot: Last Call

by David Hooper on Aug 21, 2009 12:11 PM EDT

I'm going to finalize my BlogPoll ballot and submit it this weekend. It's due in to Brian by 10 AM on Monday, so I'm going to submit it Sunday afternoon (I want to be early because I've never submitted one before). As a quick reminder, my preseason ballot will pay no attention to the schedules that the teams play and will only focus on how good the teams appear that they should be. Also, I will list 30 teams, even though the ballot will only have 25 when submitted; this lets you see who I have next in my mind. So...

Quick thoughts:

Yes, I have Tennessee in the top 30. I really want them in the top 25, to be honest, but I'm willing to wait and see how things go; there's just way too much transition to ignore. Even with all the mistakes that have happened in practice, this team sounds like it's miles beyond last year, and the talent is sufficiently in place to be a top-25 team. So they're on my radar for more reasons than me being a UT blogger.
Notre Dame. Ugh. This is mostly an artifact of their ~~artificially inflated in the rankings~~ talented recruiting classes getting another year older and that "but they're so young!" argument finally being out the window. Yes, their schedule consists of USC and the Lollipop Guild. Ignoring that, I really want them out of there, but I think that's mostly out of spite. So 25 for now, unless you convincingly think otherwise.
LSU. The more I hear, the more I believe that LSU can take out Alabama in the West. But like Tennessee, we'll give them one game with the new defense.
Nebraska? Help? I feel like they should be there, but I can't figure out why.
Ditto for Miami.
I'm very malleable on the 15-25 range. The top 10 are speculative enough. These can go anywhere.

Well?

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

BE

So you have Cincy tops in the Big East? I’ve now heard four different predictions with four different top teams (Rutgers, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Pittsburgh). Once you get out of the top four, everyone has massive question marks. I guess you just have to go by which ones are smaller (or are looking like they could be answered).

by Incipient_Senescence on Aug 21, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

I'd flip a 4-sided coin if I could.

If a team wins the Big East, is anybody around to care?

by David Hooper on Aug 22, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Beano Cook Cares.

Eric Berry for sending the guy who wins the Heisman spinning 720 degrees in the air at the podium - or for intercepting it and returning it to where it rightfully belongs

by Chris Pendley on Aug 23, 2009 7:49 AM EDT up reply actions

You know I'm not buying Ole Miss

But it’s all very arbitrary.

"Florida didnt win their first SEC title until 1991 and now they think they invented football."
-Ron Zook

by rustytanton on Aug 21, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

I'm really close to bumping Cal above them, actually.

Cal has a lot of experience and quality talent on both lines, along with a great running back. They should be able to control the clock and dictate game flow against most teams, and Tedford is still a very good quarterback coach.

by David Hooper on Aug 21, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I would support such a bump

_________________________________
Eric Berry is better at football than you

by kidbourbon on Aug 21, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Notre Dame

to me, the Lollipop Guild is exactly why some are ranking them in the preseason…and if we’re not taking that into account, I’d be much more inclined to go with a team that’s shown more in the past – like Kansas, with arguably better overall talent and a more proven quarterback in Reesing – than the Irish. Of course, they’re liable to stay ranked for a while against that schedule if they can beat Michigan, so we’ll see.

Will - Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Aug 21, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

It's not just me then.

Thanks.

by David Hooper on Aug 21, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll agree on this too.

While I think this year will be pretty good for the Irish, right now the questions on the running game and defense add up.

Eric Berry for sending the guy who wins the Heisman spinning 720 degrees in the air at the podium - or for intercepting it and returning it to where it rightfully belongs

by Chris Pendley on Aug 22, 2009 7:28 AM EDT up reply actions

If ND had anybody difficult (besides SC & Michigan) on their schedule, I'd agree.

Nevada, Mich State, Purdue, formerly 0-12 Washington, BC, Wash State, Navy, Pitt, U Conn and Stanford.

I know hooper’s not focused on who they play yet, but that will have a poll-inflating effect as they eat creampuff after creampuff. Beating up on mama’s boys will put them in the top 25 even though rustystanton is right – they aren’t that much better.

(Note the lack of SEC schools from a school that can ask to schedule anyone because of the TV ratings and get the game.)

by memphispete on Aug 23, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

You’ll be pleased, then in my final ballot. I didn’t look at schedules, but the thoughts and opinions of others did matter to some degree; when so many other pollsters do look at schedules and place accordingly, it can have an indirect influence on my read of the situation.

Another thought: how happy do you think NBC is to see the Notre Dame slate that they get to air? How much did they pay for the rights to show games that nobody will be interested in? And they’ll be competing with the ESPN/ABC/local games that everybody else enjoys?

Niiiiiiice.

by David Hooper on Aug 23, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions