2016 NCAA Football preseason thread

[MJ5150]

The SEC will show everyone what's up this season. Back to the top we go.

-Mike

 

[Gaolee]

Two SEC teams in the playoff? BAH!

 

[GregC]

My take on the Gators: They're #25 in the preseason AP poll, which seems about right. I think their final ranking is probably +/- 15 spots from there, depending on the play of new QB Luke Del Rio, the presence or absence of suspended #1 WR Calloway, and the performance of sophomore tailbacks Jordan Cronkrite and Jordan Scarlett in featured roles as opposed to spot play. The defense lost some talent to the draft, but it's getting back a couple of injured guys and may end being nearly as good as last year's. Plus, we appear to have a good kicker this year instead of a terrible one! Best-case scenario is probably two regular season losses, another loss in the SEC title game, and a bowl win. I'd rather not think about the worst case at this point.

 

[Gaolee]

General consensus is that the Pac-12 will get left out again. That's entirely reasonable. USC plays a grinder of a schedule and could have three losses even if it's got a great team. They don't have a great team. Oregon might have defense. They might have a quarterback. We just don't know yet. Washington has a defense, but there's no telling what the offense will be like. Probably better than last year, but that may or may not be good enough. I could easily see both of them with two or three losses. Maybe more. Washington State is always such a wild card that you never know from week to week. They always upset somebody and always get upset. It must be something about too much wheat or isolation. UCLA and Stanford have holes and could get beaten a couple times if they hit the wrong team at the right time. Utah has a ferocious defensive line but who knows what's coming on offense. The rest could be good or awful, with the exception of Oregon State which will be awful. Even Cal could rise to mediocrity and knock off one or two of the big boys.

I hereby cede whatever chance the Pac-12 had of making it to the playoffs to whoever wants it.

I'm getting excited about the start of the season anyway. Washington will have a pretty good team, even if they lose a few games. ESPN gives them a better than 50% chance of winning in all of their games. If they are undefeated, I owe everyone here a virtual cookie, since I think that's about as likely as me flying to the moon on a pigeon.