Rather than bump College Football 2010 Preseason Thread which Oakminster started 07-28-2010, I’ll just get a new one going.
Not much new to say at the moment, but I just noticed that that old thread was close to the oldest one I can see in my 750 posts lookback.
There are some other ongoing 2011 College Football threads going, so linking to them might be useful.
Bombs away! 
Here are some updated links from the old thread:
Preseason Prediction Accuracy (2010)
2010 Overrated/Underrated Teams
2011 College Football Season Preview Preseason Rankings Comparison
http://www.mattsarzsports.com/2011/week1.aspx
http://www.mattsarzsports.com/football2011.aspx
2011 College Football TV Schedule
Well first thing to start off the new year some Michigan respect 
'grats to Desmond Howard. He took some flack for being a showboat in his time, but after all the shithead college players since him, I think we can all agree he was a very talented dude, who is a genuinely good guy who really likes attention.
As usual this early in the year, any speculation about which teams are worthy of being in a Top 10 or Top 25 group must be based on past performances by earlier versions of those same teams, the reliability of scouting reports, and the bias of the individual prognosticator or service. So until a few games have helped to establish the weak and the strong and the so-so, it’s all just a crap shoot. For me anyway.
Nevertheless, I do like to see what’s being said. Discounting those preseason rankings that were done in January or February, there are these sources I have found for later in the year versions of that sort of thing:
You can mouseover the headings here to see the dates of the individual sources’ numbers, and follow links to the actual source for more details (in most cases). For example:
http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25
One that’s “in progress” leading to a reveal nearer season start of the Top X-number is:
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1233107
And if Jeff Sagarin has made a recent preseason update to the one in January I haven’t seen it. Which leaves
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin.htm
http://www.usatoday.com//sports/sagarin/fbt10.htm
as his version.
Have you found a ranking list that you prefer to these?
I am very excited about this season; it’s my Cornhuskers’ debut in the Big Ten. I just got my Big Ten helmets t-shirt in the mail, we are in elite company! You could argue the Big XII is tougher than the Big Ten, but I don’t care. Just looking at our schedule: we’re playing in Madison, Happy Valley and the Big House. With all due respect to Austin and Lubbock, this is far more fun. And then Ohio State, Michigan State, and Iowa come to Lincoln, much more delicious than Missouri or Kansas State.
Get this: we win enough and we go the Granddaddy of them all! If we have a solid season, we still get a New Years Day game vs a marquee SEC team. No more Holiday or Insight bowls for a 2nd-place team. Man, this is so exciting!!
Football-wise, I think our defense will make us very competitive in the conference, and perhaps win our division. However, I concede our offense will give us some difficulties, especially on the road. We got a new offensive coordinator, so there’s some hope. Our debut game in Madison will tell us a lot. As will the next week’s game with Ohio State coming to Lincoln.
Big Ten cities, be ready for a Big Red invasion. We went to Notre Dame in 2000, and filled up 1/3 of their stadium.
This will be an interesting year for my 'Noles. I expect to lose to OU, but hope to keep it close. UM should be a cupcake (but won’t be, damn the rivalry) and UF should fall as well (but they’ve got Weiss now and he’ll have lots of time). That said, I really don’t expect us to contend for the title, but winning the ACC and going to a BCS bowl are very reasonable expectations - winning it will depend on who, but that’s not a crazy wish. Frankly anything more than 1 ACC loss (and even that’s giving Jimbo some room) will be a disappointment).
Now, NEXT year, we need to be a contender.
Damn, I had some unused ((())), so there you go.
Minnesota’s going to get revenge for 84-21!
Zakalwe, do you really think UM will be a cupcake? I’ve been fooled many a time in the past 10 years, but Al Golden sure seems to have an idea of what he’s doing. I always expect 14-0, but based on history, I’ll leave it at me think Miami should finally make an appearance in the ACC-CG. 6-2 in the ACC should do it. Bring on Labor Day!
OSU will win it all. Finally going to get over that damn Bedlam game. I can feel it!
(I hope)
Oklahoma 9/2
Alabama 5/1
Florida St 8/1
LSU 8/1
Wisconsin 10/1
Stanford 10/1
West Virginia 15/1
Boise St 15/1
Oregon 15/1
Virginia Tech 15/1
Nebraska 20/1
Georgia 20/1
Texas A&M 20/1
Notre Dame 20/1
Penn St 30/1
Arkansas 30/1
South Carolina 30/1
Florida 30/1
Texas 30/1
Oklahoma St 40/1
Arizona St 50/1
xz Field (Any Other Team) 50/1
Miami FL 50/1
TCU 60/1
Ohio St 75/1
Michigan St 75/1
Michigan 75/1
Missouri 75/1
Boston College 100/1
Pittsburgh 100/1
North Carolina St 100/1
UCLA 100/1
North Carolina 100/1
Oregon St 100/1
Texas Tech 100/1
Washington 100/1
Tennessee 100/1
California 100/1
BYU 100/1
Baylor 100/1
Iowa 100/1
Illinois 100/1
Georgia Tech 100/1
Central Florida 100/1
Clemson 100/1
Arizona 100/1
Maryland 100/1
Auburn 100/1
Utah 100/1
Mississippi St 100/1
Wow, 10-1 Wisconsin finally has the chance to be major disappointment rather than a minor one.
If I had to place a bet, I would go with Georgia. They have a relatively easy SEC schedule this year as they are not playing the top 3 from SEC West (Bama, LSU, Ark) this year (at least according to the posted odds).
Auburn 100/1 on repeating? What, they couldn’t afford another QB?
Welcome to the Big Ten! We’re happy to have you. Don’t count on being able to have a ton of fans at every stadium, most have limited seats available. In East Lansing (which you’ll visit in even years), you’ll be crammed in the northeast corner looking right at the sun the entire game. But get there early and set up your tailgates. Let me know where you are and I’ll bring you some beer.
Maybe you just didn’t pick the right odds folks:
There might be some fun to be had between now and mid-August when Rivals announces their Number One team for the upcoming year as a preseason pick.
Using the Sagarin January rankings as a basis and plugging in the Rivals numbers so far, we’re left with the “–” teams in this list, from which I stripped away all the lower ranking teams. Which one will be #29 on tomorrow’s list? And so on until #2 is listed.
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1233107
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt10.htm
FINAL College Football 2010 through games of 2011 January 10 Monday
Sagarin Rivals
January July-August
1 Auburn A 30
2 Stanford A --
3 Oregon A --
4 TCU A --
5 Alabama A --
6 Boise State A --
7 Ohio State A --
8 LSU A --
9 Arkansas A --
10 Oklahoma A --
11 Oklahoma State A --
12 Wisconsin A --
13 Virginia Tech A --
14 Florida State A --
15 Mississippi State A 31
16 Nevada A 72
17 Missouri A 34
18 NC State A 64
19 Notre Dame A --
20 Texas A&M A --
21 Iowa A 38
22 Southern California A --
23 Arizona State A --
24 Florida A --
25 South Carolina A --
26 Utah A --
27 Nebraska A --
28 Washington A 51
29 Oregon State A 52
30 Arizona A 42
31 Michigan State A --
32 Pittsburgh A 35
33 California A 60
34 San Diego State A 37
35 Tulsa A 47
36 West Virginia A --
37 Air Force A --
38 Maryland A 44
39 Illinois A 56
40 Miami-Florida A --
41 North Carolina A 33
42 Central Florida A 45
43 Texas Tech A 32
44 South Florida A 43
45 BYU A --
46 Northern Illinois A 57
47 Hawaii A 55
48 Syracuse A 59
49 Boston College A 41
50 Penn State A --
51 Louisville A 61
53 Clemson A 40
54 Georgia A --
55 Navy A 50
56 Connecticut A 81
59 Kansas State A 69
60 Michigan A 36
61 Baylor A 58
62 UCLA A 68
63 Tennessee A 49
64 Texas A --
Let me make it a little simpler. After Air Force got Rivals’ #29 yesterday, which of these teams will NOT make it to their Top 25?
(Sources:
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1233107
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt10.htm
FINAL College Football 2010 through games of 2011 January 10 Monday )
Sagarin Rivals
January July-August
2 Stanford --
3 Oregon --
4 TCU --
5 Alabama --
6 Boise State --
7 Ohio State --
8 LSU --
9 Arkansas --
10 Oklahoma --
11 Oklahoma State --
12 Wisconsin --
13 Virginia Tech --
14 Florida State --
19 Notre Dame --
20 Texas A&M --
22 Southern California --
23 Arizona State --
24 Florida --
25 South Carolina --
26 Utah --
27 Nebraska --
31 Michigan State --
36 West Virginia --
37 Air Force 29 +
40 Miami-Florida --
45 BYU --
50 Penn State --
54 Georgia --
64 Texas --
If somebody would like to make a poll from some portion of this list, please do so with my thanks.
Poll is up at Which teams will be in the Rivals Top Ten for 2011? - The Game Room - Straight Dope Message Board
Another potshot at Auburn. LOL. and still nothing sticks.
As of July 2010, How many people here (that are not SEC Football enthusiasts) ever heard of Cam Newton? I like and follow SEC Football closely, but as of one year ago, I have never heard of this young man. he was a 5-star rivals recruit to Florida. If he was showing any potential at Florida, does anyone think that Urban Meyer would have let this kid go anywhere? and in particular, to an SEC rival? IMO, HELL NO!!
Just as a point of amusement, here’s last year’s venture by Rivals:
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1094845
Rivals.com Preseason Top 120 Countdown for 2010
Regardless of how things actually turned out, and it might be fun to compare versions of that very thing, it should indicate the direction of the bias at Rivals, and might assist in your second-guessing of their Top X-Number by mid-August.
Anybody want to take a crack at the AP or Coaches polls preseason slates at this early date?
Where was Auburn in last seasons preseason poll? If Cam Newton was so good, and “worthy of the under-the-table payouts” why wasn’t Auburn on the RADAR SCREEN?