Off-season, Pre-season Top 25

[subsetr]

I like our chances against WVU. It could go either way, but with a game plan to control the clock on offense and prevent the big play on defense, we should be able to run the ball on them at will.

As long as Geno doesn't have an RGIII day against our secondary (possible, doubtful) I think we take it.

[Beast 512]

Georgia belongs in the top 10. Their roster is ridiculous.

[Kip Jordy]

Georgia belongs in the top 10. Their roster is ridiculous.

Richt is always good for a couple of losses which is why I didn't consider them Top 10 material. After looking at their schedule though I could be wrong.

09/01 -Buffalo
09/08 -at Missouri
09/15 -Florida Atlantic
09/22 -Vanderbilt
09/29 -Tennessee
10/06 -at South Carolina
10/20 -at Kentucky
10/27 -Florida (at JAX)
11/03 -Ole Miss
11/10 -at Auburn
11/17 -Georgia Southern
11/24 -Georgia Tech

[BoBigRed]

Richt is always good for a couple of losses which is why I didn't consider them Top 10 material. After looking at their schedule though I could be wrong.

09/01 -Buffalo
09/08 -at Missouri
09/15 -Florida Atlantic
09/22 -Vanderbilt
09/29 -Tennessee
10/06 -at South Carolina
10/20 -at Kentucky
10/27 -Florida (at JAX)
11/03 -Ole Miss
11/10 -at Auburn
11/17 -Georgia Southern
11/24 -Georgia Tech

I bet they lose at Mizzou. Mizzou is always good for one big win per year and Georgia is always good for one bad loss - and Pinkel might actually outcoach Richt. And I bet they lose at South Carolina - so 10-2.

[Kip Jordy]

I bet they lose at Mizzou. Mizzou is always good for one big win per year and Georgia is always good for one bad loss - and Pinkel might actually outcoach Richt. And I bet they lose at South Carolina - so 10-2.

Problem with that is Franklin will just be returning from shoulder surgery and won't be playing a Big 12 defense (Texas exempt).

[DrippinSprangs]

Where do they get this $#@!. I've seen several aggy claim that we had a losing season last year. Do they not realize we finished with a better record than them?

I think they were referring to consecutive losing seasons in conference.

[PittsburghTiger]

I was thinking in regards to the top of the conference. The Big East is nowhere near as good, top to bottom, as the Big 12. I just don't think WVU goes in and runs the table.

Eh, I think the 11-15 range is about right. Considering what we bring back and the team getting rid of Casteel I think that's not terrible. If we were in the top ten to begin with i'd agree with you in a heartbeat.

[WhoooTex]

I was thinking in regards to the top of the conference. The Big East is nowhere near as good, top to bottom, as the Big 12. I just don't think WVU goes in and runs the table.

West Virginia is scary though, in that sort of Deliverance way. I thought they'd beat Clemson and I thought there was a possibility they would "embarrass" them. I didn't think they'd go Stoops-vs-Mack on them, though. 70 in a bowl game? Furk.

[EvilCaseMcCoy]

West Virginia is scary though, in that sort of Deliverance way. I thought they'd beat Clemson and I thought there was a possibility they would "embarrass" them. I didn't think they'd go Stoops-vs-Mack on them, though. 70 in a bowl game? Furk.

Pshhh, I've scored 90 points on NCAA 12 before...... /humblebrag

[tantric superman]

West Virginia is kind of scary -- some impossible roads that you would not want to get caught with a flat on. But kind of beautiful too. I'd imagine our folks who make it out there for a game could set up some nice side trips -- New River Gorge, etc.

[TxStArmadillo]

http://espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/story/...conference-usa

This might help UNT's chances of making it big time! They're going to Conference USA.

[H34TX]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN86d0CdgHQ

[Dolemite]

I bet they lose at Mizzou. Mizzou is always good for one big win per year and Georgia is always good for one bad loss - and Pinkel might actually outcoach Richt. And I bet they lose at South Carolina - so 10-2.

I bet they lose at Mizzou too. Also maybe TN, Florida, South Carolina.

[tantric superman]

Was at the Lockhart's in Bishop Arts District today and the Oregon spring game was on. I almost swooned.

We need to get this thing started. Going to be a long summer.

[Mountaineer Maniac]

I was thinking in regards to the top of the conference. The Big East is nowhere near as good, top to bottom, as the Big 12. I just don't think WVU goes in and runs the table.

Agreed. While I wouldn't be shocked at all to see them run the table, I think we'll end up with one or two with a third being a possibility if a huge injury or upset occurs. I'm expecting a BCS birth and I'll be disappointed with anything else. This is a great team with a unique scheduling opportunity (7 home games and one "neutral" game in DC) combined with a "down" year for the Big 12.

[Bunny the Lifeguard]

LSU will be very good next year. They will finally have a real QB, and they return all of their RBs and most of the O-Line. The D also returns some key starters and will reload like always.
But they do face a brutal backloaded schedule.

[Steve Lattimer]

combined with a "down" year for the Big 12.

Down? With 6 teams in this preseason top 25? Tech and ISU are always good for an upset or two every year as well.

Last year was the down year.

[hamttx]

Agreed. While I wouldn't be shocked at all to see them run the table, I think we'll end up with one or two with a third being a possibility if a huge injury or upset occurs. I'm expecting a BCS birth and I'll be disappointed with anything else. This is a great team with a unique scheduling opportunity (7 home games and one "neutral" game in DC) combined with a "down" year for the Big 12.

Well its good to see you are falling right in with us in the Big12. That said, You might want to watch out for that "BCS or disappointed" thing however. Strange $#@! can happen around here. Good team or not.

[USC Traveler]

Georgia has a laughably easy schedule next year:
Buffalo
at Missouri
Florida Atlantic
Vanderbilt
Tennessee
at South Carolina
at Kentucky
Florida
Ole Miss
at Auburn
Georgia Southern
Georgia Tech

Agreed. The OOC is beyond belief, and the SEC East just plain sucks right now.

South Carolina is decent but in no way special, UF is in rebuild mode after the $#@! sandwich that Urbie left, and the rest of the division is a joke.

This is the most underreported aspect in the media regarding SEC coverage- the difference between the West, with legit powers in Bama and LSU, and Arky as a very solid second tier team vs the East where UGA and the $#@!s are mediocre teams playing in a terrible division.

[thewacokid]

Agreed. While I wouldn't be shocked at all to see them run the table, I think we'll end up with one or two with a third being a possibility if a huge injury or upset occurs. I'm expecting a BCS birth and I'll be disappointed with anything else. This is a great team with a unique scheduling opportunity (7 home games and one "neutral" game in DC) combined with a "down" year for the Big 12.

The Big 12 was supposed to be "down" this year as well, but OSU, KSU, and Baylor surprised. I think there are too many good athletes in this league to ever have a Big East/ACC-esque season.

Agreed. The OOC is beyond belief, and the SEC East just plain sucks right now.

South Carolina is decent but in no way special, UF is in rebuild mode after the $#@! sandwich that Urbie left, and the rest of the division is a joke.

This is the most underreported aspect in the media regarding SEC coverage- the difference between the West, with legit powers in Bama and LSU, and Arky as a very solid second tier team vs the East where UGA and the $#@!s are mediocre teams playing in a terrible division.

This. The East was pure dog$#@! last year, Scar and UGA were the only decent teams.

[BrownTown]

im going to throw some raging frat parties up in west virginia. banging bitches all over the place

[Dolemite]

LSU will be very good next year. They will finally have a real QB, and they return all of their RBs and most of the O-Line. The D also returns some key starters and will reload like always.
But they do face a brutal backloaded schedule.

Eric Reid will be back. He's going to be all pro one day.

[PittsburghTiger]

I don't suppose that many of you all will drive to Morgantown...but if any do...BEWARE of one of the dumbest SpeedTrapTowns in all of America...straight out of The Dukes of Hazzard.....

Sommersville, West "by God" Virginia. If you have out of state plates...BOOM! Ticket!

[Steve Lattimer]

I don't suppose that many of you all will drive to Morgantown...but if any do...BEWARE of one of the dumbest SpeedTrapTowns in all of America...straight out of The Dukes of Hazzard.....

Sommersville, West "by God" Virginia. If you have out of state plates...BOOM! Ticket!

That's a bold statement

[PittsburghTiger]

I have been nailed in Sommersville....AND, a Hoopie drove across the divided highway in his 30-color truck and T-Boned my parents as they drove through on their way to Georgia...Totaled a brand new car. Then they tried to bill my dad for a ride in an ambulance...he rode to the hospital in the police car...then, they tried to bill him for reading his x-rays...which he read himself...You have been warned...If you drive up from southern West Virginia...watch your speed in Sommersville.

That's a bold statement

[Baboontyme]

Georgia & Michigan State are laughable. Didn't we just do this with Florida State in 2011? tOSU will be ranked much higher by years end. The BIG is soft and Urban will dominate until he strokes out (please be soon).

Wasn't going to comment but now I have to.

Get back with me in November. MSU's defense is going to $#@! down the throats of the rest of the conference. Returning 9 starters and have the bodies up front to make up for Worthy's absence. I'm not too worried about losing Cousins. Incoming starter (Maxwell) has the pedigree to be great and the OL will be GREATLY improved, so the running game is going to carry the bulk of the workload anyway.

Funny, you would think after winning 11 games the past two years and beating a decent SEC team in a bowl game we would start to get some respect.

[mulletpelini]

Has everyone forgotten who the coach is at USC because that idiot costs them a few games every year.

[WhoooTex]

Funny, you would think after winning 11 games the past two years and beating a decent SEC team in a bowl game we would start to get some respect.

People haven't forgotten the Alabama game. It's not fair but it's reality.

[The Missing Link]

MSU's defense is going to $#@! down the throats of the rest of the conference.

While this is true, I think Michigan will be back holding the reins in the B1G. They are going to be a balanced team capable of winning in a lot of different ways.

[BoBigRed]

Agreed. The OOC is beyond belief, and the SEC East just plain sucks right now.

South Carolina is decent but in no way special, UF is in rebuild mode after the $#@! sandwich that Urbie left, and the rest of the division is a joke.

This is the most underreported aspect in the media regarding SEC coverage- the difference between the West, with legit powers in Bama and LSU, and Arky as a very solid second tier team vs the East where UGA and the $#@!s are mediocre teams playing in a terrible division.

It's cyclical. I remember in the late 90s and early 2000s the SEC East was the bee's knees.

[The Missing Link]

A SEC West - B12 South merger would have been awesome the past decade.

[Baboontyme]

People haven't forgotten the Alabama game. It's not fair but it's reality.

True, and it is kind of fair if you don't follow the program closely. Quite honestly that MSU team wasn't anywhere near as good as last year's team, nor as good as I expect next year's team to be. A lot of things broke their way that year. And that Bama squad....well, $#@!. Angry. And really, really good.

While this is true, I think Michigan will be back holding the reins in the B1G. They are going to be a balanced team capable of winning in a lot of different ways.

Objectively, I disagree. Much like MSU's 2010 campaign, a lot went right for Michigan last year. The schedule broke their way, and more than one of their wins were flukey. Hoke is recruiting up a storm but that isn't going to pay immediate dividends. They lose a lot on both sides of the line this year, and in the B1G that is not going to bode well for them. I expect them to take a step back this year and be ready to compete again in '13 and beyond.

Might sound like a homer take but I'm pretty grounded even when looking at rivalries. We'll see, really excited for this year.

[BoBigRed]

True, and it is kind of fair if you don't follow the program closely. Quite honestly that MSU team wasn't anywhere near as good as last year's team, nor as good as I expect next year's team to be. A lot of things broke their way that year. And that Bama squad....well, $#@!. Angry. And really, really good.

Yeah. Bama shouldn't have lost three that year.

[TxLonghorn]

Mentioned this in another thread, but Stanford is overrated. As is Michigan State. Don't like their schedules and think their fans will be a little disappointed by seasons end.

[tantric superman]

Mentioned this in another thread, but Stanford is overrated. As is Michigan State. Don't like their schedules and think their fans will be a little disappointed by seasons end.

In the last two BCS final rankings, the 15th ranked team had 3 and 4 losses, respectively. USC, Oregon should beat Stanford, but I don't think the ranking is all that crazy. The defense is going to be improved and should do fine, and the running game is going to be pretty strong, especially if Shaw doesn't get too conservative about playing his freshman.

They start out with an early loss because they play USC before their freshmen are quarterback are clicking, but they will do okay as the season progresses.