FanNation

My first blog post for the 2008 NCAAF season, which is basically my 2008 pre pre pre pre season rankings, if the teams where to take the field next week. Of course, the off season fluxes and changes will obviously change these rankings (especially over the next few days with underclassmen declaring for the NFL or stating their intentions to return). I'll take a look into my #1 - #5 teams in this post, along with their team's schedule for 2008. Again, early, but why not, it's a long wait until this September.

#1 - Georgia.
With the  super young O-line coming back, along with Stafford and Moreno, look out. Most of that same defense that harrassed Brennan & Hawai'i's profilic offense is as well. Taking into consideration that you should judge a team on its overall talent, and not factor in its schedule, Georgia is a clear-cut #1 in my mind. Now, mix in that schedule, thinks begin to look a little less rosy.

8/30, Georgia Southern
9/6, Central Michigan
9/13, at South Carolina (USC beat UGA at home in 07...)
9/20, at Arizona State (could be a lot tougher than you'd think)
9/27, Alabama (expect Saban's Tide to show improvements in 08)
10/11, Tennessee (the loss to UT cost UGA a shot at the SEC in 07)
10/18, Vanderbilt
10/25, at LSU (at Death Valley, enough said)
11/1, Florida in Jacksonville (one of the biggest games of 08)
11/8, at Kentucky
11/15, at Auburn (Jordan-Hare will be raucous to say the least)
11/29, Georgia Tech
12/06, SEC Title Game

#2 - Oklahoma.
Stoops, Bradford, & company look to return one of the most explosive offenses and a relatively stout O-line/ D-line/ defense. What does that equal? You got it, the #2 super preseason spot. Take into consideration Stoops is bringing in another monster class to Norman, and you've got what could be the title contending team out of the Big XII. Problem is, the schedule is full of possible trap games should the Sooners not be prepared or 100% (see Colorado and Texas Tech of 2007).

-9/6, Cincinatti (not exactly a powderpuff, eh?)
-9/13, at Washington (trap written all over it)
-9/20, open date, to be filled with I-AA opponent
-9/27, Texas Christian (05 - TCU 17, OU 10... in Norman)
-10/4, at Baylor
-10/11, Texas at Dallas (always a top game, TX will be loaded too...)
-10/18, Kansas (should be a great Big XII matchup)
-10/25, at Kansas State
-11/1, Nebraska (this USED to be a powerhouse matchup)
-11/8, at Texas A&M
-11/15, Texas Tech (the 07 loss to TT kept OU out the national title game)
-11/29, at Oklahoma State (Bedlam to it's finest, OSU always plays OU tough in Stillwater)
-12/6, Big XII Title Game

#3 - Ohio State.
Could return up to 20 starters for a surprise team in 2007. Defense will be stout as usual with a Tressel ran team, Wells could be a Heisman candidate, and Boeckman returns with a full year as a starter under his belt. Should the team shake off the psychological woes that come with two back-to-back title games losses, they should be in direct contention for another Big Ten/ national title game berth. The 9/13 match-up with USC will be the premiere nonconference matchup of 2008, and will go a long way to determining how far this team goes. What to watch: whether Laurinaitis/ members of the O-line go pro.  

8/30, Youngstown State
9/6, Ohio (last minute fill in)
9/13, at USC (THE non-conference game of 2008)
9/20, Troy (the Trojans are always a great scheduler/ opponent)
9/27, Minnesota
10/4, at Wisconsin (first Big Ten test of season)
10/11, Purdue
10/18, at Michigan State (MSU is on my '08 "dark-horse" list)
10/25, Penn State (Paterno always plays Tressel tough)
11/8, at Northwestern
11/15, at Illinois (revenge for 07 will certainly be on the Bucks minds)
11/22, Michigan (Rich Rod, welcome to "The Game, The Rivalry")

*note, tOSU and the Big Ten have their first "bye weeks" in 08, that being 11/1 this year and being reason for the August 30th start to the 2008 season for some Big Ten teams.

#4 - USC.
Whenever a team is as loaded as USC is, you cannot help but have them in your top 5.  The team will suffer some general losses across the board on both offense and defense, but the shelves should be plenty stocked with replacements, some of whom got playing time when USC suffered several injured starters in 2007. I would have had the Trojans higher, but breaking in a new QB will give them at least a few growing pains.

8/30, at Virginia (sneaky first game considering UVA's 07 success)
9/13, Ohio State (again, THE non-conference game of 2008)
9/25, at Oregon State (another tricky game, remember 06?)
10/4, Oregon
10/11, Arizona State
10/18, at Washington State
10/25, at Arizona (I expect the Wildcats to be a surprise team in 08)
11/1, Washington
11/8, California
11/15, at Stanford (it'll either be another upset, or a revenged laden blow-out)
11/29, Notre Dame (The Irish shouldbe more competitive in 08)
12/6, at UCLA (the last trip here cost USC a title trip in 06)

#5 - Missouri.
Call me crazy, but they are returning a plethora of talent.  The schedule also takes a Kansas of 2007 type turn, with Oklahoma off. I do believe, OU was the only team they lost to in 2007. Abeit twice. None the less, the Tigers return with more resolve and determination as ever after their throttling of Arkansas and BCS "snub" in 07. Expect great things for Pinkel and company in 08.

8/30, Illinois in St. Louis (great non-conference kickoff game)
9/6, Southeast Missouri
9/13, Nevada
9/20, Buffalo
10/4, at Nebraska
10/11, Oklahoma State
10/18, at Texas (toughest game for Mizzou in 08, but they have the offense to compete)
10/25, Colorado
11/1, at Baylor
11/8, Kansas State
11/15, at Iowa State
11/28 or 11/29, Kansas in Kansas City (the 07 environment was crazy, make it times ten for 08)
12/6, Big XII Title Game

Look for #6 - #10 tomorrow.