JRLSports.com - James R LeCorchick Sports Report

By Jon Cacchione

There are two ways that writers rank teams in Division 1-A football. There are those that rank teams by whom they think are the best teams in the country. There are also those that rank according to whom they think are the most likely to be unbeaten at season’s end. The latter takes into consideration a team’s schedule, whereas the former does not For example, Texas has a brutal stretch of games in their schedule this season that includes consecutive games against the following: at Colorado, Oklahoma (in Dallas), Missouri, Oklahoma State, and at Texas Tech. Most pollsters agree that there is no way they can survive that stretch without dropping a couple of games. And by the way, that string of opponents doesn’t include their last two games at Kansas and home versus Texas A&M. Texas is a top ten team, or even higher, based on talent. However, because of this murderous schedule, you won’t find them in everyone’s top ten.

My approach in ranking teams on JRL Sports is based on who I believe will be the top two ranked teams at season’s end, all things considered. That of course would mean that my numbers 1 and 2 teams each week would be my predicted national championship game. With that background provided, please be gentle with me as I present my preseason top ten. Keep in mind that I most definitely am biased to old school football; that I despise teams that do not play defense; and that I have trouble elevating teams that have unproven coaches. I welcome responses to this poll, weekly, and by all means, feel free to share your selections, too.

Coach Talk Week #1 Top Ten

#1 Oklahoma Sooners
2007 record – 11-3; Head Coach – Bob Stoops (97-22 in 9 years); Opener – 8/30 vs. Tennessee Chattanooga

#2 USC Trojans
2007 record – 11-2; Head Coach – Pete Carroll (76-14 in 7 years); Opener – 8/30 @ Virginia

#3 Ohio State Buckeyes
2007 record – 11-2; Head Coach – Jim Tressel (73-16 in 7 years) Opener – 8/30 vs. Youngstown State

#4 Missouri Tigers
2007 record – 11-2; Head Coach – Gary Pinkel (49-37 in 7 years) Opener – 8/30 @ Illinois

#5 Georgia Bulldogs
2007 record – 11-2; Head Coach – Mark Richt (72-19 in 7 years) Opener – 8/30 vs. Georgia Southern

#6 Florida Gators
2007 record - 9-4; Head Coach – Urban Meyer (31-8 in 3 years) Opener – 8/30 vs. Hawaii

#7 LSU Tigers
2007 record – 12-2; Head Coach – Les Miles (34-6 in 3 years) Opener – 8/30 vs. Appalachian State

#8 Clemson Tigers
2007 record – 9-4; Head Coach – Tommy Bowden (69-42 in 9 years) Opener – 8/30 vs. Alabama (Atlanta, Ga.)

#9 Wisconsin Badgers
2007 record – 9-4; Head Coach – Bret Bielema (21-5 in 2 years) Opener – 8/30 vs. Akron

#10 West Virginia
2007 record – 11-2; Head Coach – Bill Stewart (1-0 first full year) Opener – 8/3 vs. Villanova

Best Chance to get upset week one: Clemson -4 1/2 vs. Alabama, in Atlanta, Ga.

Selected Game Predictions w/line: Week One

Oregon St. -3 @ Stanford (Thur.) {Take Stanford with the points}

Buffalo –3 vs. UTEP (Thur.) {Take UTEP with the points}

California –5 vs. Michigan St. {Take Sparty with the 5}

Oklahoma St. -7 @ Washington St. {Oklahoma St. is my pick of the day, giving 7}

Va. Tech –9 1/2 @ East Carolina (@ Charlotte, NC) {Take the Pirates with the points}

Missouri -8 1/2 vs. Illinois (@ St. Louis, MO) {I like Missouri to cover the 8 1/2}

Clemson –4 1/2 vs. Alabama (@ Atlanta, Ga.) {I think Clemson is for real, take the Tigers}

Michigan –3 1/2 vs. Utah {I like Michigan to cover}

Predicted Conference Champions

SEC - Georgia Big 12 - Oklahoma Big 10 – Ohio State ACC – Clemson

Big East – West Virginia MWC - Utah WAC – Fresno State Conf. USA – Tulsa

MAC – Central Michigan Sun Belt – Florida Atlantic

Notre Dame’s Predicted record – 6-6 (Losses: @ Michigan St.; Purdue; @ North Carolina; @ Washington;
@Boston College; and @ USC.)

Heisman Trophy winner: Chase Daniel, Missouri

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