This season, we're pleased to be participating in the BlogPoll, a creation of Brian Cook of mgoblog. We think he's on to something with his idea and appreciate the fact that in only a few seasons, the BlogPoll is starting to get used in the same sentence as the AP Poll.
It's completely transparent and the voters all really know their teams and the sport. You can make a case for homerism, but because of the transparency, every ballot is on display for the world to see. Another neat feature is that the BlogPoll is people powered in the sense that a given blog's community helps shape the ballot. The goal is to have our ballot posted on this site early Mondays throughout the season. Then after a round of comments, the ballot is updated if needed, and then sent off to the big show.
So without anymore delay, here's our 1st preseason ballot. Be sure to chime in as you see fit, but a quick note that we're not the biggest fans of preseason rankings:
| 1 | The machine is so well-oiled, that we half expect to see Pete guest-starring on Entourage while his team reels off 7 straight. | |
| 2 | Stacked with veteran skill players, but who will blow it first - Lloyd or the defense? | |
| 3 | Stout defense will help break in a new quarterback and a favorable schedule could give Miles his put-up or shut-up moment with USC. | |
| 4 | Wooderson's boys have a young Colt on offense, but concerns about the secondary may come back to bite them. | |
| 5 | Herban's team speed continues to light up the scoreboard and police blotter. #5 out of respect and repeating is tough, but don't count out Meyer. | |
| 6 | Loaded backfield and a great young coach, but the team hasn't proven capable of winning every single weekend of the season. | |
| 7 | Under the radar, as usual. Fact is, if they run the table in the Big Ten, they'll be a NC candidate. | |
| 8 | Another team loaded with talent, but Big Game Bobby is on a skid of sorts. Texas is also over the hump mentally. | |
| 9 | Never been a huge Beamer fan, but there's no way you can't root for these guys this season. Still, you gotta wonder how a team gathering in Michael Vick Hall will do. | |
| 10 | We're cautious, but there's too much talent on this squad to keep it out of the top ten. | |
| 11 | Brohm's a stud, but you never know how things will go when a veteran QB gets a brand new coach. | |
| 12 | Cal - that team you root for to beat USC each season, so your squad can rise in the rankings. | |
| 13 | Little known fact: Phil Fulmer's blood type is Gravy+. Despite that, Ainge could have a monster year. The Coker situation hurts, though. | |
| 14 | Only 11 returning starters, but friendly schedule could help the cause. Is this the season that it all comes together for Stafford? | |
| 15 | Click-Clack. Tubberville knows how to win in the tough SEC. | |
| 16 | Schiano is building something special out east and will own NJ shortly (ouch, Joe Pa). Rice will get about 1800 and the Scarlet Knights could easily be staring at a BCS bid when the dust settles. | |
| 17 | Joe Poo's boys get OSU and Wisconsin at home, but until they can prove that they're capable of beating the Wolverines, we gotta keep them down. | |
| 18 | The talent is most definitely there. How many other schools could Felix Jones start for right now? The real question is to the (mental) state of the program. | |
| 19 | The Ian Johnson feel-good fest is alive and well for year 2. A tough season-ending ame at Hawaii may prevent them from repeating last season's heroics. | |
| 20 | We still have grave doubts about Callahan's abilities as a coach, but the program is back on the up and the addition of Keller helps. | |
| 21 | Jones is an underrated coach and Brennan should pass for .. oh.. about 75,000 yards and 200 TDs this season. A very favorable schedule could have them becoming the Boise State of 2007. | |
| 22 | Big win over USC last season is wonderful for the program's confidence, but your WR coach getting busted for robbery - not so much. | |
| 23 | New coaches, new ideas, and the venerable Bobby Bowden. The program is a little down, but don't be surprised to see a slight resurgance heading into the Alabama game on 9/29. | |
| 24 | It just wouldn't feel right leaving the Ol' Ball Coach out of the rankings, would it? | |
| 25 | Steele likes Bama as a darkhorse national title contender, but Saban's karma may check those plans. |