10-9: Florida & Oklahoma

Rivals say: TCU

I say.........

10. Florida Gators

Admit you probably think I have the Gators underated, the coaches put the SEC powerhouse program in their initial top five for the season, but they are wrong. The Gators are coming off a season that would be great for anyone else, but was actually considered a dissapointment in Gainesville. In what world is a 13-1 season and a Sugar Bowl trounching of an undefeated team considered a dissapointment? Maybe in a world where you are coming off a national championship, return almost all your key players, and had arguably the most sucessful QB in conference history playing his senior season. Well this season the Gators lost all those players. Hey are good, no doubt, Urban Meyer has outrecruited just about every program since coming to Florida. The holes will be filled, but a top 5 team has to have a shot at an undefeated season, and with so many new starters and a SEC schedule, this team is not that good.

On offense the Gators will be led by first year starter QB John Brantley. Brantley was the top recruited QB in the country back in 2007, and should have no problem being productive right away, but productive is not the same as Tebow. Tim Tebow will be impossible to replace and no first year starter in the country will be uder more scrutiny than Brantley. The offensive line returns only one true superstar, Maurice Pouncey, and he has to deal with the distraction that is the ongoing investigation to his brother who was drafted to the NFL this year. There is no shortage of talent everywhere on the field, but little experience, and the whole team will have to get used to playing a Tebowless offense, which means a complete conceptual change to a pro-style offense.

The defense got hit harder by the draft than the offense. 6 defenders were drafted by NFL teams, including stars Brandon Spikes and Joe Haden. The story is the same here as on offense, tons of talent, no experience. The Gators finished 4th in the nation in total defense last year, and they return enough talent to finish in at least the top 20 again.

The schedule is the same as usual for the Gators: no challenges out of conference and a brutal SEC schedule. The Gators will play Alabama in the regular season for the first time since both became powerhouses in what will likely be a matchup of top five teams and the regular season game of the year. That game as well as Florida State will be on the road, aside from that, the Gators won't be challenged outside of Gainesville. There is a rare appearance on the schedule by a team from an AQ conference outside the SEC, but South Florida is no match for the Gators. South Carolina and LSU both come to Gainesville as well and Arkansas and Auburn are off the schedule this year. The Georgia will be played on a neutral field as usual.

The pieces are in place for a BCS run again but I don't think there is enough to realistically be in the national title conversation. This team will likely drop one it shouldn't and lose the game at Alabama.

Prediction: SEC champion, Sugar Bowl.

Rivals says: Virginia Tech

I say.......

9. Oklahoma Sooners

Don't be fooled by last years underachievments, this team is good enough to challenge for a national title. Last year was a disaster as player after player went down with injuries and a team that started in the top 5 finished with five losses. That could potentially help them this year, most of the hurt guys are in the NFL now, and the backups now have a lot of experience.

QB Landry Jones played much, much more than any Sooner hoped last year, but that will help the Sonners immensely this season. Jones was baptized in fire last season, stepping in for an injured Heisman winnner, with the worst OU line in a decade in front of him, and it showed as he led the Big 12 South in interceptions. Jones is godd though, and with a a full year of starting experience as well as a training camp preparing him for it, he could be an all conference player. The line is still not up to OU standards, but will certainly be better than a season ago. The skill players are phenomonal, the RB's will be underused as usual. Wr Ryan Broyles is one of the three best at his position in the country, Landry will have no shortage of playmakers around him.

The defense is very balanced but not very deep. Starters have departed at every position but there some back everywhere as well, the toughest loss is all-american DT Gerald McCoy, the third overall pick in th NFL draft this year. The linebackers are great and the secondary, while not the countries best by any means, is better than most in the BIG 12 which usually sees pssing games dominate.

The schedule is right up there with the countries hardest, which is par for the course for the Sooners. Oklahoma starts light with Utah State, then get Air Force, Florida State, and Cincinnati before starting conference play. That stretch is immediately followed by the annual Texas game. If the Soooners survive that, the season could be special, Nebraska is not on the schedule and Missouri and Texas A&M are likely the only threats after that. A down year in the Big 12 makes the schedule a bit easier than usual.

Prediction: Winner Big 12 South.