TGS 2007 Football Preview Bonus: Preseason TOP 25!

1-SOUTHERN CAL...Are the Trojans about to return to “untouchable” territory as they were in the Matt Leinart-Reggie Bush days? Maybe not, but there’s still more reasons to rank SC on top of the pile than anyone else. Ten of them, in particular, that being the number of defensive starters HC Pete Carroll has returning from a voracious, talent-laden stop unit that found its sea legs late last season when Carroll mostly abandoned the 3-4 looks and went back to a more traditional 4-3. And, presto, the “D” suddenly began to terrorize enemy QBs again, and DL studs Lawrence Jackson & Sedrick Ellis, plus arguably the nation’s best LB corps, are back to wreak more havoc in the fall. Of course, the offense figures to be okay, too, with QB John David Booty (left) on a short list of serious Heisman contenders, and a plethora of high school A-A RBs itching for a chance to shine. Meanwhile, WRs Patrick Turner & Vidal Hazelton figure to be the next in the assembly line of NFL-bound Trojan wideouts. Expect to hear more late-season chatter about Carroll moving to the NFL, but as long as that doesn’t become a distraction (and it hasn’t the past few years), a third BCS title game in four years beckons.

2-WEST VIRGINIA...As long as the Big East champion still qualifies for the BCS (and the last time we checked, it still did), we’re going to pencil the Mountaineers into the title game at New Orleans. Not one, but two legit Heisman threats (QB Pat White & RB Steve Slaton, left) highlight what should be another prolific Rich Rodriguez attack, capable of outscoring anyone on this year’s schedule. Although potentially tricky road trips to South Florida (an upset winner at Morgantown last year), Maryland, and revitalized Rutgers await, the schedule is still built for a BCS run. Even slight improvement from a defense that returns seven starters should get the WVU into the thick of the national title discussion.

3-FLORIDA...SEC insiders tell us that HC Urban Meyer isn’t worried in the least about Tim Tebow taking over full-time at QB after Chris Leak’s graduation. If anything, Tebow might be a better fit for the Meyer”spread” that made Alex Smith the NFL’s number one draft choice a few years ago. There is, however, a bit more concern about filling in the gaps on a Gator defense that had an awful lot to do with last year’s national championship (just ask Troy Smith) and lost several members of that stop unit to the NFL. But, remember, the stockpile of talent runs deep in Gainesville these days, and the schedule breaks well, with Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida State all visiting The Swamp, and a visit to LSU the only daunting true road trip.

4-MICHIGAN...Are the Wolverines going to win the national title? Probably not, especially if they eventually have to run into USC as they did in last January’s Rose Bowl, or the sort of SEC powerhouse (such as Florida) that dominated last year’s Big Ten champ Ohio State in the 2006 title game. But the Big Ten might prove the easiest path to the title game of all the BCS conferences this season, and the schedule is tailor-made for the Wolverines to be at or near the top of the polls by the time season-ending showdowns vs. Wisconsin and the Buckeyes (this year at Ann Arbor) roll around. HC Lloyd Carr has as much seasoned offensive firepower as anyone in the country with QB Chad Henne, RB Mike Hart, & WR Mario Manningham (right) back for one more hurrah.

5-TEXAS A&M...Looking for a BCS sleeper? Try A&M, which, after briefly experiencing life as a basketball school during Billy Gillispie’s hoop tenure, should again become a football school this fall. That’s because excitement is cresting in College Station with the return of practically all of HC Dennis Franchione’s skill-position performers (including clutch QB Stephen McGee and the “thunder and lightning” backfield of Jorvorskie Lane & Mike Goodson) from an offense that learned how to win close games last season, plus another seven starters on Gary Darnell’s defense. The pain of last year’s Holiday Bowl blowout loss vs. Cal (when the Aggies were still on cloud nine after their regular-season ending win over Texas) provides plenty of motivation.

6-LSU...Life “A.J.” (After JaMarcus) begins this fall in Baton Rouge, but don’t feel bad for HC Les Miles and the stockpile of talent he has amassed for his Tigers. And the QBing shouldn’t be too bad in the wake of Russell’s early departure, either, with reliever Matt Flynn having waited more patiently for his chance than Bob Dole did for the ‘96 GOP nomination, and once-ballyhooed Ryan Perrilloux still clamoring for his own shot at glory. Meanwhile, the defense figures to be nasty once more, especially in a deep and potentially-overwhelming front 7, although graduated safeties LaRon Landry & Jesse Daniels have left a leadership void in the 2ndary. Still, the SEC remains a rough neighborhood, and LSU is also going to have to also deal with an unusually difficult non-league game when Virginia Tech visits Tiger Stadium September 8.

7-OKLAHOMA...They’re still shaking their heads in Norman after the Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State (did that stuff really happen in the final moments?). And HC Bob Stoops needs to find a new QB and a RB to replace Adrian Peterson, who will instead be wearing a Minnesota Vikings uniform instead this fall. But almost everything else is in place, with 17 starters back plus PK Garrett Hartley, one of the nation’s best. Watch the QB situation, and how quickly jr. Joey Halzle can get comfy running the attack; Sooner fans are hoping it’s in time for the annual Red River Shootout vs. you-know-who at the Cotton Bowl October 6.

8-GEORGIA...That might have been a preview of coming attractions we saw down the stretch last season from Georgia when the Bulldogs closed with a rush, then stunned Virginia Tech in the Peach Bowl. Moreover, it was a coming out party of sorts from then-frosh QB Matthew Stafford (left), who finally began to flash the sort of potential he promised as one of last year’s most highly-regarded recruits. True, HC Mark Richt has gone the unconventional route (JC transfers) to fill gaps on the offensive and defensive lines, but hey, whatever works. As usual, there are plenty of landmines to avoid in the SEC, and, like always, overcoming Florida in the “We can’t call it the world’s biggest cocktail party anymore” at Jacksonville will be the biggest hurdle.

9-VIRGINIA TECH...Suddenly, football doesn’t seem as important in Blacksburg, but we suspect Frank Beamer’s Hokie gridders will do their best to aid to the campus healing process this fall. The defense should be another “Bud Foster special” with 8 starters returning from the latest Tech big-play platoon, and Beamer’s renowned special teamers will again distort proceedings, but can the offense pull its weight? We have no doubts RB Brandon Ore can do his part, and the receivers are top notch, but neither Sean Glennon nor Ike Whitaker has yet to make anyone forget about Michael Vick at QB. Still, this looks like the team to beat in the ACC.

10-WISCONSIN...Has any rookie made a better debut since Fernando Valenzuela? We’re talking about Wisconsin HC Bret Bielema, whose first Badger team rolled to a 12-1 mark and number 5 ranking in the final USA Today Poll a year ago. Of course, a cupcake non-league schedule and soft Big Ten slate (which didn’t include Ohio State) helped a lot, but let’s not get picky. Bielema returns almost everybody (19 starters) from last season, including the latest star Badger RB, P.J. Hill (left). And even though efficient QB John Stocco has graduated, Kansas State transfer Allan Evridge might prove a more-exciting alternative. By the way, the Buckeyes are on this fall’s slate, hosting the Badgers November 3. Next week...the rest of the Top 25!

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