Mandel looks ahead to '09 with 'absurdly early' Top 25

2009-12-04T10:01:24-05:00

2009-01-20T13:00:09-05:00

498

2009-01-20T13:00:09-05:00

2009-05-27T11:31:00-04:00

Bulldog Fan

Atlanta 785365

552 Georgia will throttle Tech this year ... last year was a fluke. We've dominated the Vocational / Technical School in Atlanta for over 20 years! 5542360

2009-05-27T11:29:05-04:00

Bulldog Fan

Atlanta 785365

551 SEC rules the roost! 5542310

2009-01-25T20:43:24-05:00

Ravenous Isle

Westfield 684910

553 Only one Big East team in the Top 25???? And at #25, no less. Every year, the Big East is over .500 in Bowl play and we always get the short straw from the writers. Watch out for Cincinnati and Rutgers again next year....much better teams than some of your #15-25 picks! 4107240

2009-01-25T14:02:13-05:00

Exit 7A

Clarksburg 684759

552 If Rutgers can get one of the Freshmen QB's to step up to replace Mike Teel, I think they will suprise a lot of people in the Big East and beyond. 4104925

2009-01-20T19:35:10-05:00

Lucerne

Lebanon 604481

it's a tired argument. all these "warm weather and west coast" players go play on sundays in green bay and don't seem to have any trouble.

390 My point is that Big 10 teams always have to travel...The Rose Bowl was essentially a home game for USC and is every year they play in it...They're not staying in hotels, they're staying at home with friends and family close by...I'm not an idiot about it and I realize Bowl games are played in warm weather for a tourism reason...Conferences like the Big 10 play the type of game they do because they have to play ball control...When you're playing in November in Pennsylvania, Ohio or Michigan it's cold, damp, wet, muddy and many times raining, sleeting or snowing...Let's see the likes of LSU, USC, Florida etc. put up the numbers they do in that kind of weather...Point is, as you may note from the recent NFL playoffs, defense is most important when you're the Steelers, Giants, Ravens, Eagles (there's a pattern here)...This whole thread is a non winnable argument. 4055388

2009-01-23T19:30:39-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/680/961/thumb/Florida_Gator.jpg 5 CA

joshgator97@yahoo.com

Culver City 681601

My point is that Big 10 teams always have to travel...The Rose Bowl was essentially a home game for USC and is every year they play in it...They're not staying in hotels, they're staying at home with friends and family close by...I'm not an idiot about it and I realize Bowl games are played in warm weather for a tourism reason...Conferences like the Big 10 play the type of game they do because they have to play ball control...When you're playing in November in Pennsylvania, Ohio or Michigan it's cold, damp, wet, muddy and many times raining, sleeting or snowing...Let's see the likes of LSU, USC, Florida etc. put up the numbers they do in that kind of weather...Point is, as you may note from the recent NFL playoffs, defense is most important when you're the Steelers, Giants, Ravens, Eagles (there's a pattern here)...This whole thread is a non winnable argument.

551 Apparently you did not watch the UF vs FSU game in November. It was a torrential downpour (it rains about 50% of the days of the year in Florida) that was so bad that they needed Noah's Ark to get from one goal line to the other. To say that southern teams don't play in bad weather is ignorant and stupid. Not to mention the extreme heat and humidity (there have been several football players who have collapsed and even died playing in the heat of Florida). Move to Florida for a year and you will write back to me with a sincere apology and say that southern teams do compete in extreme weather...maybe not the EXACT same weather you have, but still extreme in it's own right!!!! 4093935

2009-01-23T17:04:05-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/680/961/thumb/Florida_Gator.jpg 5 CA

joshgator97@yahoo.com

Culver City 681601

550 That last one was regarding # 354 do_or_die_dixie 4091894

2009-01-23T17:01:35-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/680/961/thumb/Florida_Gator.jpg 5 CA

joshgator97@yahoo.com

Culver City 681601

549 January 20, 2009 06:33 PM ETReport Abuse | QUOTE of course everyones looking down at ole miss. take into thought that 1. since 02 we are 2-1 against Florida I wouldn't put too much stock in that 2-1 record vs. Florida since 02 considering that at the time Ron Zook was coach (not Spurrier OR Meyer) and UF's performance declined for about 3 years before Zook "got the HOOK" (pardon the rhyme). During Spurrier's tenure and Meyer's tenure, Florida for the most part dominated the SEC (including Ole Miss). Winning this year's game happened, but it was not like Ole Miss dominated the game. In fact, it was a see-saw battle throughout the game. In addition, after Ole Miss scored to take the lead 31-24, Florida drove right back down the field and scored what should have been a game tying touchdown. Ole Miss had a player climb up on the back of another player to block the extra point (even the announcers discussed this and showed slow-motion replays proving this). That SHOULD have been a penalty and the kick should have been re-tried and the game could have been tied again. Hardly a dominant performance by Ole Miss NOR the Gators. It was a hard fought game and there were some bad calls. The game could have gone EITHER WAY!!!! Not to mention the fact that UF played uninspired (much as Alabama did against Utah) against Ole Miss...hence Tebow's "Call to Arms" that he and the team would work harder than ever and never let that happen again. I am actually pretty upset that we are playing Miss State next year instead of Ole Miss...because you can bet Tebow and company would LOVE to exact revenge on Ole Miss and pound them into the ground. Unfortunately, the next time UF and Ole Miss meet up (unless they end up playing in the SECCG) Tebow and many others (from both UF's 2008 squad and Ole Miss' 2008 squad will be gone. But if UF and Ole Miss are the representatives in the SECCG, WATCH OUT OLE MISS...you will get the full force of Tebow. 4091903

2009-01-23T12:25:21-05:00

Larry Bryan

Oklahoma City 682441

547 If Beanie Wells doesn't get hurt at halftime (with 97 yards) against Texas, the fabulous 4 in the Big 12 South go 0-for4 in bowl games. The Big 12, top to bottom was incredibly overrated last year, and you're keeping the fallacy going. 4087113

2009-01-23T13:08:06-05:00

1737

CharMit

Las Vegas 24671

If Beanie Wells doesn't get hurt at halftime (with 97 yards) against Texas, the fabulous 4 in the Big 12 South go 0-for4 in bowl games. The Big 12, top to bottom was incredibly overrated last year, and you're keeping the fallacy going.

548 I agree about Wells, but you have to play the hand you're dealt. Ohio St established itself, along with Penn St, as a team that could handle the best of the Big 12. Looking at the projected top 25 it does appear that the hype surrounding the Big 12 has been put in perspective. But we should not overlook the fact that OK played strong against Florida. In truth there may not have been a really dominant team this past season. 4087806

2009-01-23T12:25:21-05:00

Larry Bryan

Oklahoma City 682441

2009-01-23T09:32:11-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/681/481/thumb/270px-Vespasianus01_pushkin_edit.bmp 2 LA

Huntin

New Orleans 682121

545 OSU + LSU are too low. LSU is #7 OSU is #4. Texas crawled out of that Fiesta Bowl and LSU anihilated Georgia Tech!! 4083464

498

<div class="photo_container image_right" style="width: 300px;"> <div class="photo"><img title="Tim Tebow" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/12/06/florida.alabama/T1_1206_tebowawardcox.jpg" alt="Tim Tebow" width="298" height="312" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Shocker! Florida headlines Stewart Mandel's '09 Top 25.<br /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</div> </div> <p>It's never too early to look ahead. Certainly not for SI.com's <strong>Stewart Mandel</strong>, who got a jump start on next year's college football season with his <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/01/20/early-top-25/index.html" target="_blank">advance look at next year's Top 25</a>.</p> <p>The top four teams in Mandel's "initial, absurdly early stab" weren't too difficult to earmark. Pretty much everybody should have Florida, Texas, Oklahoma and USC atop their napkins.</p> <p>It's at the No. 5 spot where the fun really starts. Mandel's pick?</p> <blockquote> <p>Ole Miss. It probably seems laughable to many of you that Ole Miss -- Ole Miss -- could possibly field a top five team, but take a look at some of the other contenders, then consider the Rebels' résumé. They won six straight to end last season, including a Cotton Bowl victory over 11-1 Texas Tech, and they return 17 starters, including premier quarterback Jevan Snead.</p> </blockquote> <p>It might strike some observers as a curious selection. But it's never easy to predict these things so far in advance, and the Rebels seem as plausible a guess as anyone else.</p> <p>Here's a quick glance at Mandel's complete Top 25.</p> <blockquote> <p>1. Florida (13-1 in 2008)<br />2. Texas (12-1)<br />3. Oklahoma (12-2)<br />4. USC (12-1)<br />5. Ole Miss (9-4)<br />6. Oklahoma State (9-4)<br />7. Alabama (12-2)<br />8. Virginia Tech (10-4)<br />9. Oregon (10-3)<br />10. Boise State (12-1)<br />11. LSU (8-5)<br />12. Georgia Tech (9-4)<br />13. Georgia (10-3)<br />14. Utah (13-0)<br />15. Penn State (11-2)<br />16. Ohio State (10-3)<br />17. TCU (11-2)<br />18. Florida State (9-4)<br />19. Oregon State (9-4)<br />20. Cal (9-4)<br />21. Iowa (9-4)<br />22. Kansas (8-5)<br />23. North Carolina (8-5)<br />24. Texas Tech (11-2)<br />25. Pittsburgh (9-4)</p> </blockquote> <p>What do you think? Is any school ranked too high or too low? Any surprising inclusions or glaring omissions? Let us know below.</p> <p><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/01/20/early-top-25/index.html" target="_blank">Stewart Mandel: An early crack at an '09 top 25</a> [SI.com]</p>

The SI Staff

New York City 21244 42563 <div class="photo_container image_right" style="width: 300px;"> <div class="photo"><img title="Tim Tebow" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/12/06/florida.alabama/T1_1206_tebowawardcox.jpg" alt="Tim Tebow" width="298" height="312" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Shocker! Florida headlines Stewart Mandel's '09 Top 25.<br /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</div> </div> <p>It's never too early to look ahead. Certainly not for SI.com's <strong>Stewart Mandel</strong>, who got a jump start on next year's college football season with his <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/01/20/early-top-25/index.html" target="_blank">advance look at next year's Top 25</a>.</p> <p>The top four teams in Mandel's "initial, absurdly early stab" weren't too difficult to earmark. Pretty much everybody should have Florida, Texas, Oklahoma and USC atop their napkins.</p> <p>It's at the No. 5 spot where the fun really starts. Mandel's pick?</p> <blockquote> <p>Ole Miss. It probably seems laughable to many of you that Ole Miss -- Ole Miss -- could possibly field a top five team, but take a look at some of the other contenders, then consider the Rebels' résumé. They won six straight to end last season, including a Cotton Bowl victory over 11-1 Texas Tech, and they return 17 starters, including premier quarterback Jevan Snead.</p> </blockquote> <p>It might strike some observers as a curious selection. But it's never easy to predict these things so far in advance, and the Rebels seem as plausible a guess as anyone else.</p> <p>Here's a quick glance at Mandel's complete Top 25.</p>