Phil Steele predicts the opening 2014 AP Top Ten. Over the years he's been good at this:

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Auburn
5. Oklahoma
6. Ohio State
7. UCLA
8. Michigan State
9. Baylor
10. South Carolina

Surprised there's no LSU.

if this was the final ratings- except swap out Oklahoma and Auburn...
Sugar Florida St vs Oklahoma
Rose Alabama vs Oregon
Orange 16 Clemson vs 5 Auburn

access bowls would have:
6 Ohio St(automatic)
7 UCLA
8 Michigan St
9 Baylor
10 South Carolina
24 UCF(automatic)

I'd guess Ohio St/UCLA in the Fiesta, Michigan St/UCF in the Peach, and Baylor/South Carolina in the Cotton

teams just left out:
Georgia, Stanford LSU, USC, Notre Dame

not bad. I really think UCLA and Oklahoma can surprise some people this year. I just hope Mizzou can replace SC in the top 10 :)

(04-09-2014 02:01 PM)stever20 Wrote:  if this was the final ratings- except swap out Oklahoma and Auburn...
Sugar Florida St vs Oklahoma
Rose Alabama vs Oregon
Orange 16 Clemson vs 5 Auburn

access bowls would have:
6 Ohio St(automatic)
7 UCLA
8 Michigan St
9 Baylor
10 South Carolina
24 UCF(automatic)

I'd guess Ohio St/UCLA in the Fiesta, Michigan St/UCF in the Peach, and Baylor/South Carolina in the Cotton

teams just left out:
Georgia, Stanford LSU, USC, Notre Dame

Phil Steele has ND at #15:

"15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

After their best season in two decades, the Fighting Irish fell back to 9-4 and a No. 20 finish in 2013. This year they return just 11 starters (fewest since 2007), but do see the return of quarterback Everett Golson, who led them to the BCS Championship as a redshirt freshman before being suspended last year. His mobility gives the Irish offense an added dimension that they didn't have last year, while sophomore linebacker Jaylon Smith leads a defense that dealt with major injuries among the front seven a year ago. The schedule, as always, is difficult, with 10 bowl teams from last year dotting the path. While the Fighting Irish only play three true road games, they are against Florida State, Arizona State and USC."


He has ND's strength of schedule as #4 in the country for 2014.


http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2014/MAR14/DBMar15.html

(04-09-2014 09:54 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(04-09-2014 02:01 PM)stever20 Wrote:  if this was the final ratings- except swap out Oklahoma and Auburn...
Sugar Florida St vs Oklahoma
Rose Alabama vs Oregon
Orange 16 Clemson vs 5 Auburn

access bowls would have:
6 Ohio St(automatic)
7 UCLA
8 Michigan St
9 Baylor
10 South Carolina
24 UCF(automatic)

I'd guess Ohio St/UCLA in the Fiesta, Michigan St/UCF in the Peach, and Baylor/South Carolina in the Cotton

teams just left out:
Georgia, Stanford LSU, USC, Notre Dame

Phil Steele has ND at #15:

"15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

After their best season in two decades, the Fighting Irish fell back to 9-4 and a No. 20 finish in 2013. This year they return just 11 starters (fewest since 2007), but do see the return of quarterback Everett Golson, who led them to the BCS Championship as a redshirt freshman before being suspended last year. His mobility gives the Irish offense an added dimension that they didn't have last year, while sophomore linebacker Jaylon Smith leads a defense that dealt with major injuries among the front seven a year ago. The schedule, as always, is difficult, with 10 bowl teams from last year dotting the path. While the Fighting Irish only play three true road games, they are against Florida State, Arizona State and USC."


He has ND's strength of schedule as #4 in the country for 2014.


http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2014/MAR14/DBMar15.html

We have so many questions unanswered on defense that this sounds a tad optimistic to me.

(04-09-2014 01:54 PM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  Phil Steele predicts the opening 2014 AP Top Ten. Over the years he's been good at this:

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Auburn
5. Oklahoma
6. Ohio State
7. UCLA
8. Michigan State
9. Baylor
10. South Carolina

Surprised there's no LSU.

LSU will be replacing their starting QB, their top running back and their top two wide receivers. Hard to imagine a top 10 finish when having to replace their best four offensive playmakers, especially when they play in the SEC West with Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Mississippi State.

(04-09-2014 11:58 PM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  

(04-09-2014 01:54 PM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  Phil Steele predicts the opening 2014 AP Top Ten. Over the years he's been good at this:

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Auburn
5. Oklahoma
6. Ohio State
7. UCLA
8. Michigan State
9. Baylor
10. South Carolina

Surprised there's no LSU.

LSU will be replacing their starting QB, their top running back and their top two wide receivers. Hard to imagine a top 10 finish when having to replace their best four offensive playmakers, especially when they play in the SEC West with Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Mississippi State.

Except, they are being replaced by serious talent.

(04-09-2014 09:54 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(04-09-2014 02:01 PM)stever20 Wrote:  if this was the final ratings- except swap out Oklahoma and Auburn...
Sugar Florida St vs Oklahoma
Rose Alabama vs Oregon
Orange 16 Clemson vs 5 Auburn

access bowls would have:
6 Ohio St(automatic)
7 UCLA
8 Michigan St
9 Baylor
10 South Carolina
24 UCF(automatic)

I'd guess Ohio St/UCLA in the Fiesta, Michigan St/UCF in the Peach, and Baylor/South Carolina in the Cotton

teams just left out:
Georgia, Stanford LSU, USC, Notre Dame

Phil Steele has ND at #15:

"15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

After their best season in two decades, the Fighting Irish fell back to 9-4 and a No. 20 finish in 2013. This year they return just 11 starters (fewest since 2007), but do see the return of quarterback Everett Golson, who led them to the BCS Championship as a redshirt freshman before being suspended last year. His mobility gives the Irish offense an added dimension that they didn't have last year, while sophomore linebacker Jaylon Smith leads a defense that dealt with major injuries among the front seven a year ago. The schedule, as always, is difficult, with 10 bowl teams from last year dotting the path. While the Fighting Irish only play three true road games, they are against Florida State, Arizona State and USC."


He has ND's strength of schedule as #4 in the country for 2014.


http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2014/MAR14/DBMar15.html

Gonna be a tough year for the Irish when they start off with a loss.