After reading countless preseason magazines (still have one to go) here are some of my preseason superlatives:

Team most likely to remind you of Clemson '08: Ole Miss

Every year there is a team in the preseason top 10 that does not belong. Last year it was obviously Clemson. The prognosticators chose to overlook the fact that Clemson had a poor OL in '07 and had to completely replace it in '08. I think that Jevan Snead is a heck of a QB and will be a better pro than Colt McCoy. However, I cannot ignore the fact that Houston Nutt teams tend to be up and down. Also, you do not lose first round picks like Michael Oher and Peria Jerry and not feel it. I expect Ole Miss to win 8, maybe 9 games. That does not make them top 10 though.

Player who tv announcers will make me sick of hearing about: Colt McCoy QB tu

Let's all say it together, "Colt McCoy is roommates with Jordan Shipley. In college, their fathers were roommates too." We get it. We realize McCoy is a heck of a player and has done big things at tu. However, I do not need to hear again about what a great leader he is, how he saves lives etc. I am willing to bet money much will be made of how McCoy has done religious mission trips in the summer. texas has other good players with good stories. They have mothers too. I am sure that their families would like for them to get a little air time also.

Most overrated player: Jordan Lake S Baylor

I understand, the guy is a good hitter. Last I checked though, DBs were supposed to be able to cover someone. Lake could not cover my grandmother. Just because you are an undersized LB does not mean you are a great safety. If you want to see the best safeties in the Big 12, go watch tu play and concentrate on Blake Gideon. Watch an A&M game and observe Trent Hunter. Those are the top two safeties in the conference.

Most overrated team: USC

SC did not have a difference maker on the field last year other than Joe McKnight. They still do not have a bigtime WR who can stretch defenses. The dominant SC teams had two or three. Aaron Corps may end up proving me wrong and be a great QB, but I think this is the year to beat USC. I see Ohio State, Cal, and Oregon taking down the Trojans. UF gets honorable mention because I still think a lot of people are overlooking how disjointed their offense was last year.

Most underrated team: OU

Everyone and their dog is picking tu to beat the Sooners. Maybe they forget that OU was up by double digits in that game when Ryan Reynolds got injured and their defense became a sieve. I know they have to replace 4 of their OL. It is not like they have been recruiting stiffs over there though. Travis Lewis is the best LB they have had since The Boz. Their DL is as stacked as I have seen in a long time. OU's front 7 is as good or better than anyone's in the country. So maybe their offense will not be quite as good as last year. Maybe they will only score 40 per game. Still should be good enough to take down tu and win another conference title.

Most overlooked glaring weakness by the pundits: tu running game

Everyone just glosses over the fact that even though no one in the Big 12 played defense last year, tu could not generate a consistent running game. The sips are hoping that their 250 pound power back from last year can carry them. A lot of people are hyping Adam Utaloski and Chris Hall for post season honors. That is a lot of hype for a line that could not run the ball when it had to last year (safety vs. Tech anyone?). tu may have the best collection of WR talent in the nation (Jordan Shipley, Dan Buckner, Malcolm Williams, Desean Hales), but if you cannot run the ball and stop the run, you are not going to run the table, even with their friendly schedule.  

Glad he is getting the attention he deserves: Joe Pawelek LB Baylor

I think it is funny how everyone tries to claim he was too small and too slow to play in D1 when he was in high school. He was a man among boys in the state title game against SLC. I assumed he had already committed to some out of state power. That said, Pawelek is a bigtime player and it is nice to see the media recognize it with all the pre-season hype he is getting.

Future Star that no one is talking about: Jacory Harris QB Miami

The guy oozes poise. After getting his feet wet last year as a true freshman, I expect Harris to have a breakout year as a sophomore. I expect Miami to look more like the Miami of old this season. Nine wins should be the expectation. Anything less, and you have to wonder if maybe Shannon was not the right hire.

Sleeper to finish in the top 10: North Carolina

Butch Davis has had two years to put the pieces into place. He was been recruiting as well as anyone in the country. Now we will see the fruit of his labors. I expect the Tar Heels to win the ACC. There is no way they can suffer as many injuries as they did last season. Marvin Austin should have a monster year on the way to the NFL.

Do not be surprised if they play for the MNC: Alabama

Nick Saban can flat out coach. His defense will again be one of the best in the nation. His offense should be better than last year because Greg McElroy is a better QB than John Parker Wilson. Bama may have the best DT in the nation in Terrence Cody. As long as he stays healthy, everyone will struggle to run on Bama. If you can run the ball and stop the run.....

Most interesting team to watch:  Tennessee

We will either watch a train wreck, or a return to greatness for a former SEC power. I for one cannot wait to see what will happen when Lane Kiffin and his Vols take the field in the fall. If Bryce Brown lives up to the hype and the Vols can block for him, they might have something. I just have a hard time seeing the Tennessee defense picking up Monte Kiffin's scheme in a year and applying it on the field. Like I said, should be fun to watch.