2008 PreSeason Predictions

Sporting News Loves Georgia and the SEC .......

June 27, 2008 6:00 am EST

.... and like so many of the publications this year, they dread the thought that if Ohio State can beat USC, they will run the table an be back in the National Title game. However they do recognize OSU as the strong team they are and will give them the nod for the Big Ten title. Rounding out their top ten is USC(3), Oklahoma(4), LSU(5), Missouri(6), Clemson(7), West Virginia(8), Florida(9) and Illinois(10). Check the link above for their complete top 25.

A few other highlights this year for Sporting News:

They are the first publication or web site to have Michigan in their top 25 (18th)

James Laurinaitis, Chris Wells, and Malcolm Jenkins are among their 1st team All-Americans, Alex Boone is on 2nd team, Brian Robiskie is among the third team

Big Ten Rankings: 1) OSU 2) Illinois 3) Wisconsin 4) Michigan 5) Purdue 6) Michigan State 7) Penn State 8) Northwestern 9) Iowa 10) Indiana 11) Minnesota

Conference Rankings: 1) SEC 2) Big 12 3) Big 10 4) Pac 10 5) Big East 6) ACC

Tim Tebow is on the top of their Heisman watch, followed by Chase Daniel (Missouri) Pat White (WVU), San Bradford (Oklahoma), Jeremy Maclin (Missouri), Chris Wells, Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) and Knowshon Moreno (Georgia). They have James Laurinaitis on a 'Hidden Heisman Hopefuls' list.

Kirk Ferentz is on their 'Coaches on the Hot Seat' list. (does anyone else think Ferentz missed his chance to move to the NFL?)

They list Ohio State at USC as the 'Game of the Year'

EASports NCAA 2009 Has Ohio State #3 in their Annual Edition

June 18, 2008 2:00 pm EST

You can not play the game yet, you can only pre-order it at this time. When it comes out, Georgia will be ranked as the #1 team overall and the Buckeyes will be #3. James Laurinaitis is the only defensive player given their top player rating of '99'. Tim Tebow is the only offensive player to be rated that high. Their complete top 25 can be viewed on our master spreadsheet (link). Now with a total of 10 preseason polls available, OSU is still #1 overall but with the slimmest of margins ahead of Georgia.

Phil Steele Sees an OSU-Florida Rematch in Miami

June 3, 2008 3:30 pm EST

I picked up my Phil Steele 2008 magazine today. As a statistics freak, this is by far my favorite of all the preseason magazines. The reviews are solid and no other release has the massive amount of statistical data. Mr. Steele proclaims he has the 'most accurate magazine the last 9 years'. In addition, he provides one of the more objective opinions on the Buckeyes and the Big Ten year after year.

For his overall picks, he has some interesting ones. This is the first magazine to include teams like Cal (#20), Notre Dame (#19), and Utah (#14). He also has Penn State at #10 which is a lot higher than most of us can see them this year, but as Bobby Bowden would say "At this time of the season, we are all undefeated". Steele has Florida #1 and OSU #2. Because he has Georgia all the way down at #9, this actually puts Ohio State on top of the composite standings for the nine polls to date.

A few other highlights this year:

They have USC and Penn State in the Rose Bowl, I don't think JoePa or his boys are ready for that one.

Oklahoma vs South Florida in the Fiesta Bowl. Can the Sooners lose to an underdog in Glendale three years in a row?

Michigan vs Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl. Another wild finish in the Dome?

James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman, and Malcolm Jenkins are among their 1st team All-Americans

As a team, Ohio State is rated #1 for Running Backs and Linebackers, #2 for Offensive Line (behind Oklahoma) and Defensive Backs (behind Oregon)

Big Ten Rankings: 1) OSU 2) Penn State 3) Wisconsin 4) Iowa - Michigan - Illinois 7) Michigan State - Northwestern - Purdue 10) Minnesota 11) Indiana

Conference Rankings: 1) SEC 2) Big 12 3) Big 10 4) Pac 10 5) ACC 6) Big East

Beanie is their second favorite candidate for the Heisman, behind Tebow

Phil Steele believes Ohio State has the 31st toughest schedule

The Buckeyes are rated with the #2 recruiting class behind Notre Dame

OSU-Florida Rematch Projected by Athlon

May 24, 2008 3:00 pm EST

Athlon Sports is also now available on newsstands but we can provide you some of the highlights. I decided to get the Big Ten addition over the National magazine because the cover picture Beanie was so much more appealing. Here are a few of the highlights:

Preseason Top Ten: 1) Florida 2) Ohio State 3) Oklahoma 4) USC 5) Georgia 6) Missouri 7) West Virginia 8) Auburn 9) LSU 10) Clemson

On their list of "Coaches on the Hot Seat" includes Kirk Ferentz of Iowa

They ranked last year's 'new' coaches and Mark Dantonio was rate 6th best. Tim Brewster of Minnesota was rated 28th out of 28.

Conference rankings: 1) SEC 2) Big 12 3) Big Ten 4) Pac-10 5) ACC 6) Big East

Heisman Favorites: Chase Daniel, Pat White, Knowshon Moreno, Sam Bradford and Chris Wells

Todd Boeckman is listed Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List

Chris Wells and James Laurinaitis are listed with their 1st Team All-Americans, Malcolm Jenkins 2nd team, Alex Boone 3rd team

They listed the top 20 recruits in each conference, for the Big Ten Ohio State had 10 of their top 13, including the top 5 (Michigan had the other 3)

Big Ten projected finish: 1) Ohio State 2) Wisconsin 3) Illinois 4) Penn State 5) Michigan 6) Iowa 7) Michigan State 8) Northwestern 9) Purdue 10) Indiana 11) Minnesota

Lindy's Has OSU #1 in the Big Ten but #3 in the Country

May 23, 2008 11:15 am EST

Lindy's 2008 Preview magazine has hit the news stands and Brent has done a review of some of the key highlights:

8 of the 24 All-Big Ten members were Buckeyes. Boeckman, Beanie, Boon, Robiskie, Trapasso, 'Lil Animal, Freeman and Jenkins. Coleman, Heyward, Rehring 2nd team.

Preseason poll: 1) Georgia 2) USC 3) OSU 4) Oklahoma 5) Missouri 6) Florida

Big Ten projected order of finish: 1) OSU 2) Wisconsin 3) Illinois 4) Penn State 5) Michigan 6) Michigan State 7) Iowa 8) Purdue 9) Indiana 10) Minnesota 11) Northwestern

Lil' Animal, Jenkins and Beanie 1st team AA's. Boone 2nd team.

Rankings by position Top 10: Backfield - OSU 4th; WR's - OSU 4th (huh?), OL - OSU 3rd; DL - OSU not ranked; LB's - OSU 2nd (behind USC); DB's - OSU 2nd (again behind USC)

Big Ten ratings: Strongest Arm - Curtis Painter; Most Accurate - Curtis Painter (huh?); Toughest to bring down - Beanie; Coolest under pressure - Boeckman (huh?); Best deep threat - Robiskie (huh?)

Top 10 incoming freshman in the Big Ten - OSU had 7 of the 10, Michigan had the other 3

Best out of conference matchup this year - OSU vs USC (no brainer)

#1 pick in 2009 NFL draft - 'Lil Animal

Rose Bowl projected matchup - OSU vs. ASU (with Georgia and So Cal playing for the NC)

Conference rankings - SEC 1st, Big Ten 3rd

Mark Schlabach Changes His Mind, Puts OSU on Top

May 9, 2008 2:00 pm EST

Shortly after the Championship game in January, Mark Schlabach put together his 2008 Top 25. He placed Ohio State at sixth. After their recruiting class, their spring drills and the fact that only one junior defected, Schlabach has now moved them up to the top spot on the list. Of course he still puts in the same dig as a lot of analysts do in that no one wants to see OSU in this for the third straight time. Maybe someday someone can explain that to me, but don't you want the best teams playing in the championship? Mark's Top 25

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Picks Georgia (Surprise)

May 7, 2008 8:45 pm EST

Tony Barnhart is respected in the football community but he can not hide is local loyalty and picks Georgia to win it all in 2008. Sure they have a lot of talent coming back, but can they navigate their tough SEC schedule. He has OSU all they way down at 5th, the lowest ranking so far this year. Tony's Top 25

Ohio State is #1, According to Dennis Dodd

May 5, 2008 6:30 pm EST

Dennis Dodd is the first one this season to put the Buckeyes as his #1 team. As he mentions in his article "Against the tide of an emerging preseason consensus ... against the wishes Fox, which frowns on televising re-runs in January ... against my better judgment... Ohio State is #1". He even points out that because of the national perception that the Big Ten will be weak again this season, the Buckeyes can lose to USC and still work their way into the National Championship game. Dennis' Top 25

Mandell Says the Bulldogs are the Team to Beat

May 1, 2008 9:00 pm EST

Stewart Mandell is he first one out of the gate with his 2008 preseason predictions for the college football scene. It appears that he has been drinking the SEC Kool-Aid and has put Georgia on top. But he must be right because as he started his article "I've been writing these end-of-spring power rankings for several years now, and for once, I actually feel confident that I know what I'm talking about". I guess the should be proud they beat up on Hawaii in their bowl game and gave everyone the impression they should be the team to beat this year.

Ohio State comes in #2 on the strength of the returners and the fact that he believes the Buckeyes have worthy replacements for those that are gone. I am sure that most people will be pointing to the USC game as the one that determines just how strong nationally we will be this season. Stewart's Top 25

Preseason Predictions

2008

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5/11/08

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