College football predictions and picks
The Rocky
Published August 28, 2008 at 9:20 p.m.
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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