Southern Pigskin's Pre-Pre-Pre Season Top 25

[FloridaGatorforLife]

1. West Virginia – Bill Stewart takes over what will arguably be the fastest team in college football. Quarterback Pat White and running back Noel Devine provide an offensive threat few teams can match. This team can flat out fly. An out of conference test against Auburn may tell the tale.

2. Ohio State – The back-to-back runner-ups return as much talent as any team in college football. Running back Chris Wells is the next superstar in Columbus and is ready to become a Heisman candidate. James Laurinaitis has decided to return to school at linebacker.

3. Florida – Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow will be back for his junior season and he will have a new friend on offense: USC transfer Emmanuel Moody at running back. He could be the x-factor the helps take the Gator offense to the next level. The young defense should only improve.

4. Georgia – After humbling Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, the Bulldogs are ready for bigger things in 2008. Tailback Knowshon Moreno will be the premier tailback in the SEC. He and quarterback Matt Stafford are an exiting young duo. The defense will be loaded with upperclassmen. The same goes for the offensive line. The schedule is brutal, which may hold this team back some.

http://www.southernpigskin.com/page.cfm?story=11609&cat=exclusives

Others to note:
5. Southern Cal – Some retooling must be done, but the Trojans have recruited as well as any team in the nation the last few years. Joe McKnight appears to be the next Reggie Bush and former Arkansas quarterback Mitch Mustain will battle Mark Sanchez for the starting quarterback spot.

6. Oklahoma – Quarterback Sam Bradford threw 36 touchdowns in his first season in Norman. He and tailback DeMarco Murray are a stellar one-two offensive threat in the backfield. The defense returns six starters and should be typically strong.

7. LSU – The defending national champions will need some new names to step up, but they certainly have the talent. Ryan Perrilloux takes over under center and he appears ready for big things. The defense will miss a handful of key leaders, including All-American Glenn Dorsey.

12. Auburn – Defensively, few teams will be better. The offense will undergo a major transition, but quarterback Kodi Burns looked impressive in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. If this team can overcome coordinator changes, it could be a big year.

13. Tennessee – Replacing quarterback Erik Ainge is the obvious starting point for the SEC East champions. Jonathan Crompton is poised to step in and not miss a beat. The running game and defense should be strong points for this team.

15. Illinois – Ron Zook and company made major strides in 2007, earning a Rose Bowl bid and upsetting top-ranked Ohio State. Quarterback Juice Williams returns, but running back Rashard Mendenhall and many defensive stars must be replaced.

22. Florida State – The Seminoles will enter year two of the Jimbo Fisher era with a strong offensive core coming back. Academic suspensions from 2007 will continue through September. The home-heavy schedule is much friendlier than last season.

24. South Florida – Quarterback Matt Grothe returns for the Bulls, headlining a team that will be very experienced on both sides of the football. USF will have to work on being more consistent after slipping some late last year.

25. Alabama – The offense returns eight starters and should be especially strong on the offensive line. This team should take a considerable step forward in year two of the Nick Saban era.

Go Gators!

 

[GatorsDiva21]

Hmmmmm Vety interesting, Ohio St having as much talent as anyone, that raises a few eye brows just in itself, Yeah I forget there the top dogs till the BCS rolls around, then like year after year proven to be NOTHING!!!! so really no surprise. I think we should be ranked ahead of them, and obviously enough west virginia.

 

[shandsgator8]

OSU has talent, but as for their coaching...:confused0082:

 

[GatorStud]

pOSU --up to but not including playing the SEC for championships. The lovefest the drive by media has for the buffalo bills of the NCAA is unbelievable.... they should be behind any SEC team except for maybe the hillbillies and tide