This is one of my favorite times of the year. When the preseason football mags hit the newstand, it is a signal that football is near. More importantly, it gives us something to discuss besides rehashing our performance during the spring. I picked up a copy of the Athlon and Lindy's national editions yesterday and I will be referencing them in the coming weeks. For now, let us take a look at Athlon's preseason top ten (with my comments interspersed):

1. Florida

Everyone feels that with 20 starters returning including Tim Tebow, that the Gators should repeat. I personally thought OU was the better team on the field last year but turnovers did them in. UF does have a manageable schedule, but this is the SEC we are talking about. When I saw Chris Rainey play St. Thomas Aquinas as a junior in HS, I predicted that whichever Florida college landed him would win the national title. Last season proved me clairvoyant. If the Gators want another national title, Rainey is going to have to step up and become the player I thought he could be five years ago.

2. OU

The general thought is that OU will be down from last year because they need to replace 4 OL and their starting WRs. I have yet to see an OU team under Stoops without a servicable OL. I expect him to be able to build a good unit around Trent Williams. Ryan Broyles was the most explosive WR OU had last year and he returns. Keep him away from gas stations and the Sooners should be alright. If Demarco Murray can make it through an entire season healthy, OU should make a run for it all. Most forget that Murray missed the past two BCS games that were losses for the Okies. The front 7 should be as good as at any time under Stoops.

3. tu

The sips are still whining about how they should have been in the MNC game. Get over it! Your team overachieved bigtime last year, and has ridden that finish to a top 5 ranking this year. Quan Cosby made TD catches while laying on his back in the endzone last year. I think that is going to be missed a little. tu won last year because of their chemistry and their senior leadership. I think they will miss those departed senior leaders this season. The lack of a running game and porous secondary is concerning. Their DL does not impress on paper but my feeling is that Coach Boom MFer will get them to play at a high level. tu alwas finds a way to win 10 games so I expect them to win 10 this year. I expect them to be a top 10 team but not a top 5 team. On the other hand, Malcolm Williams could finally realize he is a freak of nature and the sips rule the land.

4. USC

Aaron Corp is going to start at QB for the Trojans this fall. I do not know who he is either. I believe he is the reason that Pete Carroll was so upset that Mark Sanchez left early for the NFL. The elephant in the room, is that USC has not had an elite WR on the field in the past two years. They have to play Cal, Oregon, and Ohio State on the road. I expect Ohio State to take SC in Columbus, and the Trojans to split with Cal and Oregon. I would not be surprised to see USC go 9-3 this year in the regular season. I just do not see the gamebreakers.  This could be the worst SC team we have see since Carroll arrived.

5. The Ohio State University

This is my pick for the preseason #1 team. I will tell you why in two words: Terrelle Pryor. Jim Tressel always manages to assemble an elite defense. As Pryor continues to grow as a QB, Tressel will give him more and more leeway in the offense and open it up. Similar to what he did with Troy Smith. Pryor is a better passer than Vince Young was at the same stage in their careers, and he does not have to face a Big 12 schedule. Just as Miami feasted on the Big East in tuneups for their national title runs, Ohio State will do the same on a suspect Big 10 this year. Pryor may make a run at being the 3rd sophomore hypesman winner in a row. I think the Buckeyes beat USC and finally win a BCS game this year.  

6. Alabama

I thought Nick Saban would have Bama in the top 10 last year. I did not expect him to run the table in the regular season. The bad news for the rest of the SEC is that Greg McElroy is a better QB than John Parker Wilson. Saban's recruiting classes have restocked the Tide with talent for years to come. Terrence Cody is the best DT in the SEC. If he can keep his weight under control, he should be an elite NG in the NFL for some lucky 3-4 defense for years to come. Julio Jones will put up a 1000 yard season and increase his TD totals from last year. Bama and UF should play for a shot at the BCS game in Atlanta.

7. Penn State

I am a little worried about the fighting Joepa's this year. I know Sea Lee is back and that should be a boost for their defense. I know the Big 10 is soft. Paterno tends to do well when he has a good QB under center (amazing how that goes hand in hand). Darryl Clark returns, but I just do not see greatness from this team. I think the Nittany Lions will be a top 15 team, but not top 10. They lost a great trio of WRs to the NFL, and I just do not see any replacements that will keep defenses off of Evan Royster.

8. Virginia Tech

I have seen some predicting the Hokies to win the ACC by default. They won it last year and no one else jumps out at the media in the ACC. While I love Beamerball as much as anyone, I think the Hokies are not a top 10 team. I think UNC is the best team in the ACC. Tyrod Taylor is a nice player and VTech will have their usual tough running game led by Darren Evans. I just see too many losses from a schedule that includes Bama, Miami, UNC, and Georgia Tech. The September 19 game against Nebraska should tell us a lot about where both of these programs are at. Have to give Kudos to Beamer for playing a tough non-conference schedule.

9. Oklahoma State

You know Boone Pickens was smiling from ear to ear when he picked up the preseason mags this year. His team is picked by many to compete for the Big 12 South and conference title. OSU has the most dominating WR in the league in Dez Bryant. They have a very good college QB in Zac Robinson. They have a great RB in Kendall Hunter. Unfortunately, they had all of that last year and still could not beat OU or tu. I do think this is the year they take down the sips in Stillwater. I think OU in Norman will be too tough. I have to wonder about an offense that last year threw exclusively to Bryant and Brandon Pettigrew in big games. How much will the loss of Pettigrew affect it? Bill Young returns to Stillwater to try to make some kind of semblence of a defense. After watching him make the "ahem" talent in Lawrence look great for the past few years, I have no doubt he will be successful in Stillwater. I see Okie State as a 9-4 or 10-3 type team. The opening game against UGA will tell us all we need to know.

10. Ole Miss

Jevan Snead is a better NFL prospect than Colt McCoy. Dexter McCluster is the best college football player in the nation under 180 pounds. I am too used to seeing Houston Nutt teams be inconsistent to expect another miracle run like last year. Losing Michael Oher and Peria Jerry on the lines will hurt. Ole Miss should be a 7-8 win bowl team, but I do no expect them to end the season in the top 10. Nutt taught the team to have confidence and play with effort last year. We will see how they respond to success this season.