Way Too Early Top Ten College Football Rankings 2008

1. Georgia - Looking at next year, one day after LSU was the best team in the country, it's hard for me not to say UGA is the best team out there for 2008. However, it's hard to put UGA in this position because EVERY year UGA is supposed to be the class of the SEC and play for the title, they crap their pants. However, you can't deny what they did this year and who they have coming back. Psychologically, they're in a great position for next year because: 1. They felt they should've played for it all this year, and proved that they were a great team by season's end. 2. They beat Florida. They'll miss WR Sean Bailey more than anyone is going to realize, but with the majority of their stars back, they're worthy of #1. Watch out for...the schedule. Georgia's schedule next year is brutal, and would deny most normal teams. Four losses wouldn't be a terrible surprise.

2. West Virginia - It looks more and more like it will never be their year. However, this year looks a little more promising than the last. WVU knows what it's like to completely BLOW their shot at greatness, so maybe that will be motivation, though blowing it didn't exactly help Ohio State. Pat White is staying and Noel Devine will obviously be there, but I think a lot of people are putting too much weight on Slaton's decision. Did Slaton play in the Fiesta Bowl? No. Did it matter? No. WVU needs to worry about their severly underrated defense, which loses some key starters. The schedule is cake like always, so getting to the title should be easy with a veteran offense who's been there. Watch out for...the Auburn Tigers. Losing this game doesn't necessarily take them out of contention, considering it's so early in the season, but losing this game guarantees a 1 loss SEC team over a one loss WVU team.

3. Florida - 9-4. Yep, this team lost 4 games, including an embarrassment to Michigan. How they lost 4 games I'll never know, but next year should be completely different. Minus Bubba Caldwell, the offense returns everyone of significance, and we all know they'll put up points. While the offense will most likely be averaging 40 ppg, the defense needs to do a little better than games like this year against TROY, where they gave up 32. Derrick Harvey leaving is huge, but considering the majority of the defense was made up of freshmen/sophomores, the defense should improve. They have a decent OOC schedule, with Hawaii, Miami, and FSU, but their season will be made with how they perform against LSU and UGA. Watch out for...the letdown. Every team favored, which UF was up until their screw up against Michigan, has their lapses. UF can't go into games against FSU, Tenn, Ark, and SCAR expecting to roll. They won't.

4. Missouri - Surprise pick? I'd say so. The Tigers should be the class of a top heavy Big12 next year. They return two of their biggest playmakers in QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin to compliment what looks to be another solid defense. Mizzou proved this year that they're a legit football team, and looking at the schedule for next year, another run looks probable. If Mizzou takes care of Illinois in St. Louis early in the season, they're for real. Their road games are Nebraska, Texas, Baylor, and Iowa State. Three of those games look like gimmies, with Texas being a possible season killer. The big thing I see is, no Oklahoma. The only team to beat Mizzou last year isn't on the schedule. However, with the experience and momentum carrying over from the 31 point win over Arkansas, Mizzou could be the "sexy" pick for next year's title game. Watch out for...the loss of Tony Temple. Never overlook the importance of a balanced offense. If Mizzou can't run the ball, they won't win the Big12.

5. Ohio State - Gosh I feel stupid having them in the top 5 after they were embarrassed AGAIN. However, they are going to be loaded for next year. Gholston, Lauriniatis, and Jenkins could all declare early, but even if one of them stays it'll help. OSU returns basically their entire offense, including a heisman contender in RB Chris Wells and a massive offensive line (which was beat by LSU all night I might add.) The Big10 looks weaker than ever, so scheduling USC early might be their only credible game next year, assuming the win. If OSU wins that game, which I actually think they will, they may regain some credibility, albeit not much. Watch out for...2006/2007. Seriously, is this team ever going to recover from this? I know if this happened to LSU we'd crucify the team.

6. LSU - It hurts me to put LSU down this far, but the objective nature of me can't overlook the losses on defense. After watching, statistically, the best offense in LSU history this year, I can't help but think that next year's offense will be leaps and bounds better. RP has more NFL talent than Matt Flynn. Keiland/Scott/Murphy have more NFL talent than Jacob Hester. LaFell, Byrd, Toliver, etc all look like future NFL prospects. The offensive line is big and strong, the TEs are dangerous in this offense, and Gary Crowton knows how to call plays to suit his players strengths. I fully expect LSU to drop 500+ points next year too. The defense loses a ton, but after 2003's losses, the 2004 defense played extremely well. The OOC schedule is a complete joke, very Ohio State-esque, but the SEC schedule is tough. They have a chance to prove themselves as the best in the SEC against 3 of the 4 best teams in the SEC next year AU/UF/UGA. This year, like every even number year, will come down to one game and one game only; at Auburn. Win that game, and look out for LSU in Atlanta. That's easier said than done. Watch out for...Perry Riley, Kelvin Sheppard, Jai Eugene, Danny McCray, Chris Hawkins, Ron Brooks, Patrick Johnson, and Phelon Jones. Can these high profile Les Miles' recruits fill the void of some of LSU's best defenders ever? The defensive line will be great, it's the other 7 I worry about.

7. USC - USC SHOULD BE #1!!! WOOOOHOOOO THEY BEAT ILLINOIS AND ARIZONA STATE SO THEY'RE #1 BOOK IT! I believe I speak for the rest of coherent society when I say, "screw the media." How the hell can everyone already have USC at #1 when they lose, at the least 10 starters next year? I guess losing their starting QB and a lot of studs on defense means nothing since you're USC. They beat four ranked teams this year. That's right, the number directly after three. They played 13 football games, and less than 1/3 were against top 25 opponents. Next year look for a lot of the same. Ohio State is a great OOC game for the Trojans, but the Pac-10? C'mon. Oregon, ASU, and Cal, USC's biggest foes from last year, are all down. USC should roll through their schedule with ease, but after watching Oregon State, UCLA, and Stanford the past two years, USC has proved that rolling is anything but easy. The offense has a lot of firepower at the WR/RB positions, and the defense has All-American after All-American, but will it finally add up to a title game or just a Rose Bowl? I'm thinking Rose Bowl. Watch out for...Mitch Mustain/Mark Sanchez. Everyone is overlooking the fact that USC is throwing a relative unknown QB into the fire. It's tougher than it looks, and ultimately, will keep them just short of a title.

8. Chokelahoma - Oops, I meant Oklahoma. Sorry. The Sooners have #1 talent and the schedule reflects a possible title run, but 0-4 in BCS bowls since 2003 screams louder than Ohio State's back-to-back title losses. Oklahoma and Bob Stoops are HORRIBLE in bowl preparations now a days. They breeze through a weak Big12 and get embarrassed by whoever they meet in the title game. They've got Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Demarcus Granger and yada yada yada. I could go on and on about how good OU should be, but I know they'll blow it, so I'll stop. Watch out for...any bowl team with a pulse.

9. Texas Tech - Yep, Texas Tech. I can't remember exactly, but I believe they return 19-20 starters next year, including their starting QB/RB/WR tandem. They're all offense all the time, and everyone knows it, but they have a very underrated defense that improved throughout the season. Texas Tech has been a nice team year in and year out. They'll get you 9 or so wins, win an occasional bowl game, and upset a top team every now and then. Maybe this will be the year they prove to everyone that they're a legit team. I fully expect them to compete for the Big12 South with their returning experience and momentum from an exciting comeback over Virginia. If this season taught us anything, expect the unexpected. Watch out for...Texas Tech. Plain and simple, they shouldn't be here. They should start the season 6-0 before at Texas, at Kansas, and OU to round out the season.

10. Auburn - How will the spread work for the Tigers? If the Clemson game proved anything, it's that there are a lot of kinks to work out. However, after watching QB Cody Burns' speed and athleticism in the Clemson game, I'm officially nervous for LSU's matchup at Auburn next year. The Auburn defense is consistently among the best in the nation, and they proved as a young team that they're legit, after virtually shutting down the two Heisman frontrunners Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden. This team will return a lot of stud players next year, and could very well represent the West in Atlanta. Watch out for...vs LSU. Win that game, and Auburn is in. That's what it comes down to almost every year.