AP Top 25: Florida #1

I'm always curious, are voters voting on who they think will be there at the end of the season, or who the top teams are going into the season? It always seems that most voters just count the returning starters and rank them that way - but I still don't understand the love for Notre Dame. And given the history of preseason polls I can't decide whether it will be Oklahoma State or Ole Miss that loses early.

AP TOP 25
1. Florida (58) 0-0 1,498
2. Texas (2) 0-0 1,424
3. Oklahoma 0-0 1,370
4. USC 0-0 1,313
5. Alabama 0-0 1,156
6. Ohio State 0-0 1,113
7. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,054
8. Mississippi 0-0 1,047
9. Oklahoma State 0-0 989
9. Penn State 0-0 989
11. LSU 0-0 914
12. California 0-0 746
13. Georgia 0-0 714
14. Boise State 0-0 659
15. Georgia Tech 0-0 593
16. Oregon 0-0 587
17. TCU 0-0 521
18. Florida State 0-0 307
19. Utah 0-0 289
20. Brigham Young 0-0 267
21. North Carolina 0-0 261
22. Iowa 0-0 229
23. Notre Dame 0-0 225
24. Nebraska 0-0 207
25. Kansas 0-0 134

And the rest: Others Receiving Votes
Oregon State 122, Illinois 105, Pittsburgh 103, Michigan State 100, Rutgers 83, Texas Tech 76, West Virginia 57, Cincinnati 44, Clemson 42, Miami (FL) 40, East Carolina 30, Tennessee 15, Arizona 13, North Carolina State 10, Boston College 9, CENTRL MICHIGAN 7, Auburn 7, UCLA 7, Northwestern 5, South Florida 3, Southern Miss 3, Vanderbilt 3, Missouri 3, South Carolina 2, Nevada 1, Arkansas 1, Houston 1, TROY 1, Tulsa 1.

 

Three votes for Missouri. :'(

 

Mi-who?

 

I see the writers were feeling generous.

 

If Gabbert's for real, the Tigers could surprise. But for the record, I didn't rank them in my mock poll, either

 

But Lou Holtz picked Notre Dame to play Florida in the title game.

 

Notre Dame has a cakewalk schedule with its 7-4-1 plan (seven big home games, four road, one neutral), it's toughest game is USC in South Bend, there are over 100 returning starts on the offensive line, skill positions loaded and a decent defense. I seriously would not be surprised to see 11 wins. They should beat Michigan. Only losses I see on their schedule are Mich State in South Bend (Sparty always gives the Irish fits) and USC. Seriously, look at this:
Sept. 5 NEVADA
Sept. 12 at Michigan
Sept. 19 MICHIGAN STATE
Sept. 26 at Purdue
Oct. 3 WASHINGTON
Oct. 10 Open Date
Oct. 17 USC
Oct. 24 BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 31 vs. Washington State (at San Antonio, Texas)
Nov. 7 NAVY
Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh
Nov. 21 CONNECTICUT
Nov. 28 at Stanford

They will end up in the top 10 and play in a BCS bowl.

 

At Pitt isn't a gimme. And at Purdue could be a slip up. Maybe BC.

Your overall point that they'll be better than people might expect...I agree. nine or 10 wins probably.

 

I'll be surprised if Notre Dame enters the USC game without a loss. Notre Dame is a middle of the road team. And if they do enter the SC game 3-2 - they'll be talking about Weis needing a USC win to avoid getting the heave.

 

Dan, I'll take that action if you want to bet. The team I don't see is Penn State. Sure, Royster and Clark are back but they lost their offensive line and all three receivers. And the defense is decent, but not a defense that will win games. No way they are a top ten team. ND would roll the Nittany Lions.

 

Ha! Wrong again! You're seriously overestimating ND's defense.

Five losses, maybe six. At least three of those at home. Weis is toast.

 

Please ... PLEASE ... let ND cruise through that bullshit schedule. Because they will get positively skullfucked if they run into anybody worth a damn in a BCS game.