USA Today Preseason Poll

[AUChizad]

Let the begin.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/usatpoll.htm

[Godfather]

Let the begin.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/usatpoll.htm

Hey at least we are ranked, they way everyone was talking I wasn't sure we would be.

[AUChizad]

Auburn is the only team that will face all 7 other ranked SEC teams.

Do we officially have the toughest schedule in college football according to the preseason poll?

[Snaggletiger]

Not a bad poll IMO.  8 SEC teams in the top 25.  And I really don't have a problem where we are.  You just can't look at what this team lost and expect more.  If they're fo realz, they'll move up. 

Until South Carolina proves something on the field, fuck those cocks.

[Townhallsavoy]

I actually like South Carolina to be ranked higher.  They return a lot of talent who should mature for this upcoming season. 

Why Florida State and Texas A&M are ranked so high I have no idea. 

And what criteria did the coaches use to vote?  Just arbitrary?  Personal opinion? 

Is this a ranking of where the coaches believe these schools will finish?  Is this a ranking of who has the best teams?  So even if Oklahoma loses a few games, they're still considered the best team who is underperforming? 

Why it's confusing:

#2 Alabama
You can hammer Auburn and other schools for losing critical talent but praise Alabama for losing critical talent that lost three games last year.  Not saying Auburn should be #2; I'm simply wondering why Alabama is such a lock for a top five team.

#5 Florida State
They return a lot of talent but lost their starting quarterback.  The talent they return lost 4 games last year, yet they are ranked like those issues are no big deal.  Not saying Florida State is going to have a bad team; I'm simply wondering why they're #5.

#12 South Carolina
How is South Carolina any different than Florida State?  How are they not better than Florida State?  Is it that they compete in the SEC, so their schedule is more difficult?  Therefore, they aren't ranked as high as Florida State? 

#16 Ohio State
The head coach is gone.  The starting quarterback of the last three years is gone.  Adversity is at an all time high as the NCAA is about to levy penalties against the program for serous infractions.  And Ohio State is still ranked?  Again, is it because their schedule is such a cupcake that no way this team loses more than three games?  Or do they really think Ohio State in the face of adversity is the 16th best team in the country?

#19 Auburn
Not one non-Auburn media member or coach has predicted Auburn to have a good season.  6-6 is what Auburn should be striving for.  If Oklahoma, Florida State, and South Carolina were all ranked based on their team and schedule, how is Auburn ranked #19?  Auburn is going to play with 51% freshmen and has five of the toughest road games in the country.  And again, everyone besides Auburn fan has declared that Auburn will have a difficult year.  Why are the top 25 ranking if it's going to be so bad?

#24 Texas
Um, 5-7 record last year?  Lost both coordinators?  Starting quarterback is shaky.  Running back is very young.  Why are they ranked in the top 25?  What have they proven to be ranked? 

This preseason rankings are stupid.

[Godfather]

#2 Alabama
You can hammer Auburn and other schools for losing critical talent but praise Alabama for losing critical talent that lost three games last year.  Not saying Auburn should be #2; I'm simply wondering why Alabama is such a lock for a top five team. 100% agree

#5 Florida State
They return a lot of talent but lost their starting quarterback.  The talent they return lost 4 games last year, yet they are ranked like those issues are no big deal.  Not saying Florida State is going to have a bad team; I'm simply wondering why they're #5.  Disagree here, I actually think they will be in the main hunt for it all.  The reason... last year was Jimbo's first year and they were still good while they might be younger the talent is vastly improved. In fact my early preseason prognostication says that the winner of the Oklahoma vs. FSU game will be representing one side of the MNC this year.

#16 Ohio State
The head coach is gone.  The starting quarterback of the last three years is gone.  Adversity is at an all time high as the NCAA is about to levy penalties against the program for serous infractions.  And Ohio State is still ranked?  Again, is it because their schedule is such a cupcake that no way this team loses more than three games?  Or do they really think Ohio State in the face of adversity is the 16th best team in the country? 200% agree


This preseason rankings are stupid. 10000000000000% agree

[GH2001]

I don't get a lot of their infatuation with UGA either.

They lost 7 games last year.
Top 2 RB's - gone.
3rd String RB - Suspended for Boise.
True Freshmen Crowell is all they have on the depth chart at RB worth a crap.
AJ Greene - gone. Its safe to say he was the difference in 4 of their 6 wins.

And people think they are LOCK for the EAST?

[AUChizad]

#2 Alabama
You can hammer Auburn and other schools for losing critical talent but praise Alabama for losing critical talent that lost three games last year.  Not saying Auburn should be #2; I'm simply wondering why Alabama is such a lock for a top five team.

Agree with your entire assessment, especially this one.

In what world is AJ McCarron & Philip Sims better in any way than Mosely, Trotter & Frazier. I'd take the worst of our three over the best of their two.

Trotter & Mosley both appear to be far more mature and experienced than McCarron, both physically and mentally, at least to me. Add to that, anyone with a chest tat like that, can't be the best decision maker.

Give me Frazier over Sims all day every day.

[The Prowler]

I'm not sure why FSU is ranked #5, go ahead and put them #1 or #2 because that's where they'll be when they face Boise State for the BCS National Championship.

[Kaos]

Not a bad poll IMO.  8 SEC teams in the top 25.  And I really don't have a problem where we are.  You just can't look at what this team lost and expect more.  If they're fo realz, they'll move up. 

What's funny to me is we lost what we didn't have entering the season.  Questions?  Quarterback and defense. 

Answers: Heisman and Lombardi.  Hmmm. 

Who knows what we have that we don't know we have this year.  Or what anybody else has either. 

[jmar]

What's funny to me is we lost what we didn't have entering the season.  Questions?  Quarterback and defense. 

Answers: Heisman and Lombardi.  Hmmm. 

Who knows what we have that we don't know we have this year.  Or what anybody else has either.

Agree with your entire assessment, especially this one.

In what world is AJ McCarron & Philip Sims better in any way than Mosely, Trotter & Frazier. I'd take the worst of our three over the best of their two.

Trotter & Mosley both appear to be far more mature and experienced than McCarron, both physically and mentally, at least to me. Add to that, anyone with a chest tat like that, can't be the best decision maker.

Give me Frazier over Sims all day every day.

They are basing it on five defenders that will go in the first three rounds plus Richardson and any QB that can execute play action when teams start cheating up...which they will because this is a good but not overwhelming offensive line. The fans are concerned about Carter because Mayes and Hanks don't get them excited. The local media justifies the ranking because of a favorable schedule but I think Alabama will do well to finish #2 in the SEC West.