AP Poll: Overrated/Underrated Teams!
The AP Poll was released over the weekend and today I can officially come up with Overrated and Underrated teams for the upcoming year.
First, here is the Preseason AP Top 25.
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1
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Oklahoma (36) |
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2
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Alabama (17) |
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3
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Oregon (4) |
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4
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LSU (1) |
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5
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Boise St (2) |
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6
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Florida St |
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7
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Stanford |
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8
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Texas A&M |
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9
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Oklahoma St |
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10
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Nebraska |
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11
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Wisconsin |
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12
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South Carolina |
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13
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Virginia Tech |
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14
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TCU |
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15
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Arkansas |
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16
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Notre Dame |
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17
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Michigan St |
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18
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Ohio St |
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19
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Georgia |
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20
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Mississippi St |
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21
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Missouri |
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22
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Florida |
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23
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Auburn |
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24
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West Virginia |
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25
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USC |
Overrated Teams
#23 Auburn-There are several signs pointing downward for last year’s defending champ. This year they lose the best offensive player in the NCAA in Heisman winner QB Cam Newton as well as arguably the best defensive player in DT Nick Fairley. Auburn also benefited from an amazing 7 net close wins and naturally the schedule gets tougher with road games vs Clemson, South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU and Georgia. They lose an incredible 31 lettermen and return just 6 starters (fewest in the country). Last year I had Texas as my #1 overrated team (preseason AP #5) and they went from the National Title game to 5-7 and Auburn will have to have some talented youngsters grow up quickly to avoid a similar fate
#22 Florida-After an 8-5 season (NR) former head coach Meyer stepped down due to health concerns and they bring a new HC in Muschamp who has no previous HC experience and just 10 returning starters. The Gators have just 3 SEC HG’s and play South Carolina and UGA away from home and pull the top two teams (Bama and LSU) out of the West. I think UF may have a tough time topping last year’s 8 wins and will not finish in the AP Top 25 at the end of the year.
#9 Oklahoma St-Last year I took a lot of flack for picking the Cowboys last in the Big 12 South but nearly every magazine picked them 5th or 6th as they were one of the more inexperienced teams in the country. Naturally they went on to a great season with their first 11-win season in school history. This year they return 2 of their 3 “triplets” in Weeden and Blackmon but OSU loses OC Holgorsen and RB Hunter from an off avg 44.2 ppg, which was their best since 1988. OSU was also +12 in TO’s, has five Big 12 away games (incl at Texas A&M, Texas, Missouri, and Texas Tech) and only had 2 starts lost to injury last year. They do get Oklahoma at home again this year but were outgained by 209 yds to the Sooners last year. There is no question that the Cowboys are very talented but because of having such a tough B12 schedule I do not have them in my Top 15. Read more…

