NCAA Football 2010 Week 1: Boise St vs VT tonight (discussion here)

[SkinsHokieFan]

Its that special time of year again.

08/29/10 edit: It is now officially game week. Games begin this Thursday!

http://espn.go.com/college-football/schedule

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/usatpoll.htm

1. Alabama (55) 14-0 1,469 1

2. Ohio State (4) 11-2 1,392 5

3. Florida 13-1 1,245 3

4. Texas 13-1 1,240 2

5. Boise State 14-0 1,215 4

6. Virginia Tech 10-3 1,052 10

7. TCU 12-1 1,051 6

8. Oklahoma 8-5 1,035 NR

9. Nebraska 10-4 1,001 14

10. Iowa 11-2 952 7

11. Oregon 10-3 940 11

12. Wisconsin 10-3 778 16

13. Miami (Fla.) 9-4 728 19

14. Penn State 11-2 508 8

15. Pittsburgh 10-3 492 15

16. LSU 9-4 476 17

17. Georgia Tech 11-3 455 13

18. North Carolina 8-5 445 NR

19. Arkansas 8-5 438 NR

20. Florida State 7-6 374 NR

21. Georgia 8-5 312 NR

22. Oregon State 8-5 263 NR

23. Auburn 8-5 260 NR

24 (tie). West Virginia 9-4 169 22

24 (tie). Utah 10-3 169 18

AP Top 25

RK TEAM RECORD PTS PVS

1 Alabama (54) 0-0 1491 1

2 Ohio State (3) 0-0 1400 5

3 Boise State (1) 0-0 1336 4

4 Florida 0-0 1237 3

5 Texas (1) 0-0 1223 2

6 TCU 0-0 1160 6

7 Oklahoma (1) 0-0 1104 NR

8 Nebraska 0-0 1033 14

9 Iowa 0-0 1007 7

10 Virginia Tech 0-0 973 10

11 Oregon 0-0 870 11

12 Wisconsin 0-0 822 16

13 Miami (FL) 0-0 785 19

14 USC 0-0 590 22

15 Pittsburgh 0-0 516 15

16 Georgia Tech 0-0 511 13

17 Arkansas 0-0 496 NR

18 North Carolina 0-0 397 NR

19 Penn State 0-0 382 9

20 Florida State 0-0 379 NR

21 LSU 0-0 300 17

22 Auburn 0-0 296 NR

23 Georgia 0-0 206 NR

24 Oregon State 0-0 198 NR

25 West Virginia 0-0 184 25

[SkinsHokieFan]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/sec/2010-08-06-alabama-poll-cover_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Alabama not resting on laurels as it starts title defense at No. 1

Shortly after the crystal trophy had been raised for all to see and the confetti stopped fluttering around the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7, Alabama coach Nick Saban had a message for his newly crowned national champion following the victory against Texas.

"Coach Saban came down on us immediately after the (title) game, because we didn't play well in the fourth quarter," senior quarterback Greg McElroy says. "And that's the great thing about coach. He never allows you to sit and relax."

Saban might always seem to be going about 100 miles an hour, but there's no doubt the man and his style get results. Three years after taking over a program that had slipped to mediocrity in the Southeastern Conference with the ascension of Florida and LSU, Saban guided Alabama to its first national title since 1992 with the 37-21 victory against the Longhorns.

Right after that, he wanted to remind his players that they still could have done better. Perhaps a seed was planted concerning 2010, when they'll likely need to do better, as they open the season atop the USA TODAY Coaches' Poll and as the biggest targets on every opponent's schedule. There will be no resting on laurels in Tuscaloosa, where fans expect nothing less than a national contender every year.

And while acknowledging that last year's team will have an exalted place in Alabama football lore, Saban believes the less said about 2009, the better it will be for the 2010 Tide.

"Last year is basically over," he says. "We're not really defending a championship. The championship's a part of history, and we're not going to defend anything. Everybody asked the Yankees when they were in training camp, is it going to be more difficult to repeat winning the World Series this year than last year? All 25 guys said, yes, absolutely, it would be. But nobody could really answer the question why. I think the why (is), it's more difficult to focus on the process of what it takes to be successful when you're coming off of success.

Click link for rest

[ixcuincle]

Meaningless this early but everything looks fine so far

[SkinsHokieFan]

Meaningless this early but everything looks fine so far

As we know, its not quite meaningless.

Boise has a legit shot at an MNC, or even VT, by starting out in the top 7 or 8.

To me, Alabama is right now head and shoulders above everyone else in the country

[McD5]

Ohio State #2.

Oh the laughs never stop.

[MattFancy]

Florida is overrated IMO. They won't be the same without Tebow. Tebow was the perftect QB for Myer's system so it will be interesting to see how they adjust to life without Tebow.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Ohio State #2.

Oh the laughs never stop.

Florida is overrated IMO. They won't be the same without Tebow. Tebow was the perftect QB for Myer's system so it will be interesting to see how they adjust to life without Tebow.

Ohio State and UF bring back quite a bit. The key question for both of them will obviously be consistent QB play.

The problem with preseason polls is trying to figure out who you would put above those 2 teams? Do I really think Ohio State is number 2? Well, in relation to everyone else at this time, yea they probably are.

[MattFancy]

Ohio State and UF bring back quite a bit. The key question for both of them will obviously be consistent QB play.

The problem with preseason polls is trying to figure out who you would put above those 2 teams? Do I really think Ohio State is number 2? Well, in relation to everyone else at this time, yea they probably are.

I guess that's a fair point. Maybe Boise could go ahead of Florida and be #3. But as of right now, I guess its hard to argue that. But by the end of the year, if Florida is out of the Top 10, it wouldn't surprise me.

[rebornempowered]

Ohio State #2.

Oh the laughs never stop.

Soon Bo Pelini will be exposing the Buckeyes! That will be fun.

[SkinsHokieFan]

I guess that's a fair point. Maybe Boise could go ahead of Florida and be #3. But as of right now, I guess its hard to argue that. But by the end of the year, if Florida is out of the Top 10, it wouldn't surprise me.

I agree with that. I think Boise is a top 3 team to start the season considering how many starters they bring back from an excellent team.

[MattFancy]

I agree with that. I think Boise is a top 3 team to start the season considering how many starters they bring back from an excellent team.

Should be a great game to open the season, Boise vs VaTech.

So who is everyone's surprise team this year?

[SkinsHokieFan]

Should be a great game to open the season, Boise vs VaTech.

So who is everyone's surprise team this year?

I think UNC and FSU end up higher then their preseason rankings.

I think LSU is out of the top 25 when the season is over

One more interesting note. There are 5 ACC teams in the top 20, compared to only 4 SEC teams.

The ACC is getting some serious respect in the preseason

[ixcuincle]

Probably going to be 3 ranked teams left as season plays out

UNC / VT / Miami

Don't believe in GT, have you ever seen Nesbitt play QB? ROFL

[SkinsHokieFan]

Only 3 good ACC teams

UNC / VT / Miami

Eos

You have to put FSU and GT in that category. I don't think there is too much difference between those 5 teams

[ixcuincle]

You have to put FSU and GT in that category. I don't think there is too much difference between those 5 teams

I'll believe GT when I see them perform well

Nesbitt is a horrible passing QB

[MattFancy]

I think UNC and FSU end up higher then their preseason rankings.

I think LSU is out of the top 25 when the season is over

One more interesting note. There are 5 ACC teams in the top 20, compared to only 4 SEC teams.

The ACC is getting some serious respect in the preseason

I do like FSU. I expect Ponder to have a very good season. But the ACC should be pretty good this year. VaTech, FSU, Miami, and UNC should be in the top 25 regularly this season.

[KDawg]

It's all about The U. SHF, looks like another season of smack talk between us

Although you've been on the winning end of it lately

[Elessar78]

edited for being a knee-jerk a-hole about college football.

[The Tris]

Full disclosure, Wahoo here....

I'll believe GT when I see them perform well

Nesbitt is a horrible passing QB

Along those lines, I'll believe UNC when I see them get even mediocre QB play. Awesome defense, suspect offense. I think LSU could smack them around in a couple weeks. Huge game for ACC legitamacy.

Who cares if Nesbitt is a horrible thrower, you only need mediorce passing to make that O go.

As far as 5 ACC and 4 SEC in top 20...I've heard that a lot today. It's a cute framing of the question to lop off the 25 to 20, as there are 6 SEC and 5 ACC in the top 25.

Boise St should be #2. Another HUGE game for the ACC on Labor Day. Even I am rooting for the Hokies.

My surprise team this year? BC. They return I think 19 or 20 starters and should have a lot more confidence in a soph QB in his 2nd year starting. I don't think they are winning the national championship, but they will beat out FSU in the Atlantic.

Another surprise team could be USCarolina. UGA, TENN both with major questions, and UF should be excellent, but I want to see Brantley in a real game not mop up. That being said, Garcia is certainly the most experienced QB in the SEC East, so a couple of bounces and could be in the mix for Atlanta. Or they could go 7-5 as always. But this is the most "down" (relatively speaking) the East has been since Spurrier has been there, so strike while the iron is hot.

PSU and ARK are overrated IMO.

[terrifNick21]

Nice to see OU in the top 10.

They're going to be very good this year.

[shuler74]

Can someone please post the top 300...so that Md gets some props.

[The Tris]

Florida is overrated IMO. They won't be the same without Tebow. Tebow was the perftect QB for Myer's system so it will be interesting to see how they adjust to life without Tebow.

I agree that Brantley is not the same, but from everything I am hearing down here, Brantley is head and shoulders a better passer than Tebow and the offense is being tweeked for his skill set, much like how the offense was tweeked from it original inception for Tebow.

Not to mention Brantley broke all of Tebow's records. While I am not sold yet, I highly doubt they will suffer much at all with Brantley.

[kiingspadee]

Hokies will be moving up in the top 5 after they go ahead and win against Boise State

[fullnelson9999]

I'll believe GT when I see them perform well

Nesbitt is a horrible passing QB

Without Demaryius Thomas, the offense is gonna tank. He bailed Nesbitt out so many times last year.

[The Tris]

Can someone please post the top 300...so that Md gets some props.

Others receiving votes

Cincinnati (12-1) 135;

Houston (10-4) 76;

Brigham Young (11-2) 66;

Arizona (8-5) 65;

Mississippi (9-4) 48;

Clemson (9-5) 44;

Stanford (8-5) 41;

Connecticut (8-5) 40;

Notre Dame (6-6) 38;

South Carolina (7-6) 38;

Washington (5-7) 26;

Missouri (8-5) 23;

Navy (10-4) 12;

Oklahoma State (9-4) 11;

Boston College (8-5) 10;

Michigan State (6-7) 10;

Arizona State (4-8) 6;

California (8-5) 6;

Texas Tech (9-4) 5;

South Florida (8-5) 4;

Texas A&M (6-7) 3;

Northwestern (8-5) 2;

Temple (9-4) 2;

Central Michigan (12-2) 1;

Mississippi State (5-7) 1;

Nevada (8-5) 1;

Northern Illinois (7-6) 1;

Southern Methodist (8-5) 1.