2007 preseason poll | |||||
| Rank | Team (first-place votes) | 2006 Record | Points | Final 2006 rank | |
| 1. | Southern California (45) | 11-2 | 1,481 | 4 | |
| 2. | LSU (4) | 11-2 | 1,372 | 3 | |
| 3. | Florida (9) | 13-1 | 1,278 | 1 | |
| 4. | Texas | 10-3 | 1,231 | 13 | |
| 5. | Michigan (2) | 11-2 | 1,218 | 9 | |
| 6. | West Virginia | 11-2 | 1,205 | 10 | |
| 7. | Wisconsin | 12-1 | 1,114 | 5 | |
| 8. | Oklahoma | 11-3 | 1,026 | 11 | |
| 9. | 10-3 | 1,005 | 18 | ||
| 10. | Ohio State | 12-1 | 919 | 2 | |
| 11. | Louisville | 12-1 | 836 | 7 | |
| 12. | California | 10-3 | 763 | 14 | |
| 13. | Georgia | 9-4 | 604 | NR | |
| 14. | 11-2 | 595 | 8 | ||
| 15. | Tennessee | 9-4 | 583 | 23 | |
| 16. | Rutgers | 11-2 | 466 | 12 | |
| 17. | UCLA | 7-6 | 454 | NR | |
| 18. | Penn State | 9-4 | 440 | 25 | |
| 19. | 9-5 | 388 | NR | ||
| 20. | 10-4 | 360 | 16 | ||
| 21. | Florida State | 7-6 | 301 | NR | |
| 22. | 11-2 | 233 | 21 | ||
| 23. | Boise State | 13-0 | 222 | 6 | |
| 24. | 11-3 | 214 | 24 | ||
| 25. | Texas A&M | 9-4 | 209 | NR | |
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| Others receiving votes (with 2006 records) | |||||
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I didn't generate this, USA Today gets the credit.
First, there are some interesting trends to note/power rankings to divine from this earliest poll. The Big Ten has 3 teams (Mich., Wisc., & Tosu) in the top ten compare that to 2 SEC teams(LSU & FL), 2 Big 12 (Okl. & Texas) teams, 1 Pac 10 (USC) 1 ACC (Va-Tech), and 1 Big East (W. Va). Seems like a good argument can be made that the Big Ten is the toughest conference in college football. Sorry SEC. Maybe you are saying, "JB, does this hold true throughout the top 25?" And you are partially correct.
Well, lets take a look. The Big Ten only has one more team in the Top 25 (PSU) giving them a total of 4 ranked teams. The average rank of these teams is 10.
The SEC jumps to having 6 teams rank in the top 25 adding (GA, Auburn, Tenn. & Ark.) The average rank of the SEC is 11.16.
The Big 12 puts 4 total teams into the top 25 adding Texas A&M and Nebraska. The average rank of the Big 12 is 14.
The PAC 10 fields 2 additional teams in the top 25 (UCLA & Cal) bringing their total to 3, the least thus far. The average rank of the PAC 10 is 10. This is mainly because everyone is regarding USC as an unbeatable super-power at #1.
The ACC only sneaks in one more team into the mix (FL ST) at #21. The average rank of these two powerhouses is 15. While some might like to make fun of the Big Least it is quite clear that the ACC is the worst conference in football.
The Big East adds Louisville and Rutgers to the land of the Ranked giving them 3 teams in the Top 25 and an average rank of 11.3
The Wac and The Mtn West round out the rest of the teams in the top 25.
Judging from these numbers the Big Ten and the SEC are clearly the best two conferences in college football. Not only does each
conference field several powerhouse squads in the top ten but also fill out the top 25 nicely. Nearly half of the top 25 play in the Big Ten or SEC! While the Big Ten holds an edge in average rank the SEC makes up for it in volume fielding an impressive 6 teams. I'm gonna go with the Big Ten as being the best conference in football, however, I'll say that the SEC is the deepest conference in football.An argument can certainly be made that the Big 12 belongs in this group too. However, Nebraska and TX AM are near the bottom of the Top 25 (19 & 25 respectively). Between these three conferences(Big 10, 12, & SEC), they have 14 teams in the top 25 and gives us more than enough reason to think that the big power conferences are where the best football is played.
Just a note to the billion Notre Dame blogs out there; how does it feel to be blogging about an unranked team? OUCH! "Oooh Jimmy Clausen is awesome!" give me a break.
I just pooped a helmet!
To be specific to Penn State, the Lions are ranked 18th in the poll. I am not frothing at the mouth over this. If i had to vote on a pre-season poll I would put the Lions at 15 (basically i'd just flip PSU and Tenn.) But this isn't a bad spot for the Lions. One must also consider that PSU has games against the #5, 7, and 10th ranked teams in the country this year. Certainly not a cake-walk.
Just to highlight some of the ridiculousness out there, Spurrier always votes for Duke as the 25
ranked team. No Shit. Every year. He also continues to vote them the 25th team until they lose! Even USA Today is concerned about this! An interesting note is that Spurriers current team (Gamecocks) are currently unranked also. Wild. Do you think he voted them #1 or #24?Click-Clack Bitches!
GO STATE! PRACTICE STARTS TODAY! REJOICE!
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