1. Southern California
The SEC has had one for the thumb and a six pack. But the streak can't go on forever, and the Trojans have the talent and coaching to end it.
2. LSU
The Tigers are loaded again. And they won't have to overcome the mishaps of former quarterback Jordan Jefferson.
3. Alabama
The Tide has two All-American candidates in its offensive line and another stable of promising running backs. But it's a Trent Richardson short of a third national championship in four seasons.
4. Oklahoma
The Sooners have enough offense to win the Big 12 but not enough defense to win it all.
5. Oregon
The players come and go but the yards and points keep piling up under coach Chip Kelly. The defense should be improved over last season when it gave up 30 or more points in five games.
6. Michigan
The Wolverines' defense is actually tackling people again. Tackling Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson is everybody else's problem.
7. South Carolina
Coach Steve Spurrier hasn't seemed this comfortable since he was embarrassing the rest of the SEC on a regular basis at Florida.
8. Georgia
The combination of talent and schedule is conducive to a national championship run. But those runs invariably come up short for the Bulldogs.
9. Ohio State
The Buckeyes can't compete for the Big Ten championship. They can build momentum for championships to come under Urban Meyer.
10. West Virginia
Wonder how many defensive coordinators this offense will get fired?
11. Arkansas
If offensive coordinator Paul Petrino can pick up where his wayward head-coaching brother left off, this ranking isn't high enough.
12.Florida State
If the Seminoles can't win the ACC with 16 starters returning from a nine-win team, their fans will start wondering why Jimbo Fisher was ever named coach-in-waiting to Bobby Bowden.
13. Wisconsin
The Badgers will rely on a power-running attack and a transfer quarterback. Sound familiar?
14. Texas
The Longhorns could have a formidable running game, but their quarterbacks won't remind anyone of Vince Young — or Chris Simms for that matter.
15. Clemson
The Tigers return 15 starters, including quarterback Tajh Boyd and wide receiver Sammy Watkins. But eight of those returnees started for a defense that gave up an average of 37.8 points over the last eight games.
16. Nebraska
The Cornhuskers could win at least nine games for a fifth consecutive season. That won't necessarily endear coach Bo Pelini to a fan base that can remember when Nebraska averaged better than 11 victories per season from 1993 through 2001.
17. Michigan State
The Spartans have posted back-to-back double-digit victory totals, which by Big Ten standards is almost as impressive as beating an SEC team in a bowl game (33-30 over Georgia last January).
18. Tennessee
A potent passing game should carry the Vols back into the top 25 for the first time since 2007.
19. Virginia Tech
Quarterback Logan Thomas will help the Hokies win 10 or more games for a ninth consecutive season.
20. Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets ran their way to eight victories last season even though quarterback Tevin Washington failed to throw a touchdown pass in the last seven games.
21. Louisville
Someone has to win the Big East.
22. Boise State
The 2013 Big East champion takes its Mountain West Conference farewell tour.
23. Oklahoma State
While the passing game must be rebuilt, running backs Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith combined for 1,862 yards rushing last season. And a defense that ranked 107th nationally last season should crack the top 100.
24. N.C. State
Defenses will try to avoid All-American cornerback David Amerson, who set an ACC record with 13 interceptions last season. And the Wolfpack will try to avoid being too pass dependent.
25. TCU
The Horned Frogs won't have any trouble blending in with the pass-happy Big 12 in their first season. Quarterback Casey Pachall and three of his top four receivers will return.
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Comments » 15
VOLinFL writes:
First??
Observer43 writes:
Since when has John Adams ever known anything about football?
BruisedOrange writes:
I think it's fair to assume that more than a passing acquaintance with SEC football is a reasonable prerequisite for defeating an SEC team for the national title.
The question is, does Kiffin's self-limited acquaintance qualify as passing...? ('cause I wouldn't say it was reasonable.)
TheVolSnake writes:
Correct me if I am wrong, but it appears JA has the Vol’s finishing in the top 25 at #18
On another article he has them 3rd in the east
I can’t believe JA has the Vol’s doing well this year and the Gator's nowhere in the top 25.
I think we will be higher because we will have a running game this year and a very good defense to go with our passing attack.
VOLFAN4LIFEgovols writes:
Why would you even post this on a vols site JA,cause you know we hate kiffon is that y?? Of coarse the SEC run cant last 4ever but I still dont believe USC can beat Alabama or LSU but they have a chance.
rockytop931 writes:
Usc vs. Tennessee for the natinal championship we are taking lame kiffin down
efjohnson writes:
heh, we'll find out for sure if there's such a thing as karma...
Vol_in_Mich writes:
ha, ha, ha, ha, ect. I thought Adams hated Kiff when he was at UT. No way USC can beat Bama or LSU for a few years if ever. They do have a better chance than the Vols being in any kind of championship game. Not for several years anyway. Get real fans!
Olddogsrule writes:
As galling as Kiffin's antics have been, the kid has built a formidable program, at the school that's his first love. Remember, he had SoCal highlight reels playing in the Volunteer's trophy room! aaaargh!!! He left a mess here and took over a much healthier program, even with the NCAA sanctions, and now he's got the assistants, skill players and depth to make an honest run at the NC. Kiffin has yet to show he's a consistent Top 5 coach anywhere, and we've been seeing the Ducks in the national spotlight year after year. Could SoCal beat the SEC champion? I think that's probably not in the cards this year. Success depends on lack of injuries to key players, as the Vol Nation well knows. Winning or loosing close games hangs on whether a long punt hits on it's nose and bounces back at the kicking team, or takes a long roll. It's what I LOVE about football, like ol' Johnny Majors said, "The ball ain't round"! The wheel turns, and we could see Oregon playing the Ol' Ball Coach in the NC.
Go Vols! Go Dooley! Go SEC!
Smokey Rules
Olddogsrule writes:
But I'd rather it wuz Alabama, I have lots of family there.:) I never want it to be Florida, I have lots of family in Ganesvul too! :(
smokeygrowl writes:
Heard dat before Adams Defense and running game SEC wins again
bbarrett11 writes:
Vol_In_Mich, USC is easily capable of beating LSU and Alabama. They have the better athletes, and will only get better. Have you even seen their recruiting classes? They are destroying Bama and LSU in recruiting. I'm all Vol but know great teams when I see them.
GeneralNeylandsReturn writes:
nah dude, SC is the real deal...both sides of the ball and on the sidelines...we had a good coach...he was brash, and not the style we are used to, and Mikey had no ability to handle his relative inexperience with the press, but that has matured and Pat Hayden is no Mikey Hammie, but he was a coach, and practices and play was physical...his play calling long range strategic and his knowledge beyond his years. and look what his o line did with two walk-ons..we competed every game except ole miss...we haven't done that since.
i know we hate the way he left us, but it is what it is...it isn't a measureof how good SC is or will be.
it will play out on the field and LSU/Bama/Oregon/Oklahoma no slouches...but SC has more talent with less players than anybody, more experience and are going to win every game on their schedule this year whether we like it or not.
GeneralNeylandsReturn writes:
well again..we are bitter, but truth be told...his acquaintances with, his mentoring with, proven championship coaches is twenty years ahead of any coach in college football, and while you may think SC recruits itself, they spent 15 years out of the top 10 going through what we are going through after losing Robinson...the kid can recruit too...better than Miles or Saban, both who also have schools that "recruit" themselves.
GeneralNeylandsReturn writes:
any coach in college footbal his age that is.
hey, i hate the debacle he facilitated but i don't blame him...if i could come home to knoxville and get paid handsomely for it...i'd be there in a heartbeat...he a southern cal kid...not a sc grad but a southern cal kid...it was home and face it...it is a bigger job than ours...not many are in the big scheme, but sc is.
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