College football predictions and picks

The Rocky

Published August 28, 2008 at 9:20 p.m.

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Rocky preseason All-America team

OFFENSE

QB Chase Daniel, Missouri: In a year of very good QBs, he's the one.

RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia: Averaged 102.4 yards as freshman.

RB Chris Wells, Ohio State: "Beanie" is a super-fast 237-pounder.

WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech: Freshman season hard to top, but he can.

WR Percy Harvin, Florida: Offseason foot surgery won't slow him.

TE Travis Beckum, Wisconsin: H-back type caught 75 passes in 2007.

OL Duke Robinson, Oklahoma: "The Duke" anchors formidable O-line.

OL Michael Oher, Mississippi: Even Houston Nutt could run behind Oher

OL Andre Smith, Alabama: This Andre is a giant (6-5, 340) talent.

OL Ryan Stanchek, West Virginia: CU fans see for themselves on Sept. 18.

C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas: Boss Hog needs another star to block for.

K Thomas Weber, Arizona State: 2007 Groza Award winner hit 24 of 25 FGs.

KR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri: Says he's bigger, stronger, faster . . . gulp.

DEFENSE

DL Tyson Jackson, Louisiana State: One of two highly talented Tigers DEs.

DL Fili Moala, Southern California: 295-pounder can play DT or NT - and well.

DL George Selvie, South Florida: Led nation in tackles for loss (31.5) in '07.

DL Greg Middleton, Indiana: Hoosiers lost loads of talent, but not at DE.

LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State: Won '07 Butkus Award, still returned.

LB Rey Maualuga, USC: Team leader, top returning tackler (79).

LB Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh: Led nation in tackles per game (12.9).

CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State: With Laurinaitis, a superb back seven.

CB Victor Harris, Virginia Tech: Makes switch to boundary side in '08.

FS William Moore, Missouri: Led team with eight INTs last season.

SS Patrick Chung, Oregon: Considered NFL but elected to return.

P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati: 46.9-yard gross average topped nation.

Rocky preseason Top 25

1. Georgia: It's a good year to be the new UGA.

2. Southern California: Young talent must mature quickly.

3. Oklahoma: Sooners' O-line sets a strong, nasty tempo.

4. Ohio State: Buckeyes establishing a Big Ten dynasty.

5. Missouri: The Chase (Daniel) is on for a Big 12 title.

6. Florida: Gators came out of '07 gnashing their teeth.

7. Louisiana State: Can a (former) Harvard man really be the QB?

8. Clemson: Tigers are loaded, but the doubters are many.

9. West Virginia: Coach Bill Stewart makes seamless transition.

10. Wisconsin: Say "Cheese" - and another 10-win season.

11. Illinois: Beating Missouri would give Illini huge boost.

12. Virginia Tech: Beamer's boys need consistent QB play.

13. Oregon: Gang Green could be Pac-10's top "D."

14. Kansas: Fighting Manginos face tougher road in '08.

15. Texas: A load-bearing tailback needs to step up.

16. South Florida: Who in the Big East can run with the Bulls?

17. Brigham Young: Straight through Mountain West into the BCS.

18. Auburn: Slathering on the high-priced spread (offense).

19. Arizona State: Who's cockier, the coach or his quarterback?

20. Texas Tech: Red Raiders reportedly discovered defense.

21. Wake Forest: Deacons won 20 games in past two seasons.

22. Fresno State: It's the Bulldogs' turn to be atop the WAC.

23. Tennessee: Vols haven't won the SEC in nearly a decade.

24. Alabama: Six losses won't happen again to St. Nick.

25. Michigan: Wolverines adjust to Rich Rodriguez - in time.

Best (and worst) of the rest

26. South Carolina

27. Pittsburgh

28. Florida State

29. Penn State

30. Boise State

31. Rutgers

32. California

33. Tulsa

34. Colorado

35. Utah

36. Oklahoma State

37. UCLA

38. North Carolina

39. Boston College

40. Miami

41. Maryland

42. Purdue

43. Michigan State

44. Nebraska

45. Texas A&M

46. Iowa

47. Oregon State

48. Louisville

49. Texas Christian

50. Connecticut

51. Mississippi State

52. Memphis

53. Houston

54. Mississippi

55. Notre Dame

56. Arkansas

57. Georgia Tech

58. Kansas State

59. Central Florida

60. Arizona

61. North Carolina State

62. Cincinnati

63. Indiana

64. Washington

65. Kentucky

66. Stanford

67. East Carolina

68. Virginia

69. Navy

70. Central Michigan

71. Miami (Ohio)

72. Ball State

73. Minnesota

74. Nevada

75. Southern Mississippi

76. New Mexico

77. Air Force

78. Hawaii

79. Washington State

80. Vanderbilt

81. Northwestern

82. Baylor

83. Iowa State

84. Wyoming

85. New Mexico State

86. Troy

87. Florida Atlantic

88. Marshal

89. Texas-El Paso

90. Colorado State

91. San Diego State

92. Duke

93. Louisiana Tech

94. Northern Illinois

95. San Jose State

96. Southern Methodist

97. Akron

98. Bowling Green

99. Kent State

100. Louisiana-Monroe

101. Tulane

102. Toledo

103. Syracuse

104. Western Michigan

105. Ohio

106. Rice

107. Nevada-Las Vegas

108. Army

109. Temple

110. Alabama-Birmingham

111. Louisiana-Lafayette

112. Middle Tennessee

113. Eastern Michigan

114. Buffalo

115. Idaho

116. Utah State

117. Arkansas State

118. Florida International

119. North Texas

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