Where is Cal, scott?

Interesting. No Cal in the top 25? I'm not sold that they can challenge SC for the Pac-10, but I thought Wolf would have them ranked somewhere.

Eliminate West Virginia and you have a very respectable list.

So, Florida, with a second year coach still finding his way around the Swamp and SEC, no offensive line, a quarterback who has not yet adjusted to the spread offense, and weak talent at RB, starts out ranked higher than SC?

Makes sense, I guess. Couldn't dare be viewed as an SC homer, right Scott?

Good start.
West Virginia has without question the easiest schedule of a major power and they return significant quality and depth from last year's superb team.
And, yes, Nebraska will be a very interesting team to watch - beware SC fans in that 2nd game after having to also beware of that first game.
Where's Cal, other than MIA?

C'Mon Scott. Do you honestly think West Virginia is the best team in the country? Or is it just that you think they will make it unscathed and want to look good at the end by picking a team with a clear path to the championship game? I expect WV to make it to a top-tiered bowl, but get exposed badly by whomver they play.

I love that Cal is no where to be seen on your list... why does everyone think there going to be so freaking good this year?? I don't see it.

Things a little slow on the old blog, Scott? You serve up a screwball list like that just to get a reaction? Nice.

West Virginia isn't even the best team in their own conference! Hilarious...You are one kooky kat, Scott.

If you are going to give votes for the 8 SEC teams in your top 25, you might as well exclude Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, and USC from your list. This will make room for the 4 remaining SEC schools, Kentucky, Mississippi, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State to be listed on your roll of toilet paper.

Scott, please buy Football for dummies at the book store. It will help you with your career!

I like your list. I'm not sure I weould have gone with West Virginia first, but their schedule sure helps them. I love where you put Texas, that seems about right even though the ESPN boys like them up at the top. And I'm not completely sold on Ohio State with all those linebackers gone, but, I guess you have them close to where the rest of the world does. Watch out for Auburn -- this team could surprise. Favorable home schedule doesn't hurt. You're also pretty on the money with were SC should be at the start of the season.

Let's see what happens!

If West Virginia is #1 by virtue of easy scheduling/patsy conference then why is Florida top 10? They have hands down the toughest schedule in the country.

you forgot the pac10 champs...cal bears!

amazing that a left coaster has ECMB (east coast media bias)

Like Ron above, I'm curious as to why you rank WV #1. I agree that they may have the best chance to be #1 based on schedule. But do you really think they are the best team in country???

Would you still rank them #1 if they were in the Pac 10, Big 10, or SEC???

Cal is left out because they are overrated. How do you give up 47 points to UCLA, 38 to Wassu and then claim to be one of the best defenses in the nation.

Cal has a good RB but without a QB they are going to get shut down.

Kal is a freaking Joke! Good job on not ranking them. Though #8 for USC is too low. USC will be #1 or #2 ranked in both polls by the 3rd week..!!

First glaring Omission : Cal follow the pattern Scott Tedford 7-5 in 2002 8-6 rebuilding in 2003 10-2 in 2004 8-4 rebuilding in 2005 gee let guess 10-2 to 12-0 in 2006

Second Glaring Omission: Arizona St. they don't do well when they hyped as the next best thing since sliced bread but when they're not they're a top 25 team.

Michigan at 6??!?! You do know they are coached by Lloyd Carr right?

Alabumble at 18?!?? They lost their top WR QB and quite a bit from their O. They me be lucky to break .500 this season.

Two Pac-10 teams in the top 25 from a Pac-10 writer? You don't have too much faith in your own conference, do you? This year's PAC is nowhere near as top-heavy as last years. I have a feeling that Cal and Oregon will surprise a few people.

Your AP list has some serious issues, but I suppossed that is to be expected considering the source. Anyways, I am probably the only one on this posting that has Michigan season tix (in addition to USC season tix), but come on Michigan No. 6 ...AND ahead of USC, give me a break. No Cal, and Texas No. 13. And you put West Virginia all the way at No. 1, but Louisville at No. 20. At least you are entertaining. Keep up the good postings!

Like everyone else, I've got my objections -- West Virginia, Michigan too high, Texas, Louisville too low -- but your Top 25 looks as good as anybody's, Scott.

What I'd like to know though is if you rank teams based on how you perceive their strengths, or if it's your projection of how their seasons will go?

Putting West Virginia at # 1 says everything about your football knowledge.
Go find another career you total LOOSER.

If you had HALF a clue about this year's team, you would have USC's SECOND STRING ranked in the TOP 5.

Wow what a Horrible list, I could throw 40 schools in a hat and pick 25 better teams than those.

Top 10 Wolf predicted that wont finish in the Top 10
1. West Virginia
2. LSU
3. Michigan
4. Florida
5. Iowa

Polls are so biased, does ANYONE think Wolf scouted LSU? If he had he would see they have just as many questions as USC does but with slightly less talented players.

Florida will lose 4-6 games this year. That is not Top 10 that is Average. Florida has No OLine or Running Backs. But they do have Hype.

Its good to see writers like coachs dont know the first thing about teams.

Teams that will finish ranked
Oregon State
North Carolina
Houston
Navy
Arizona State
Cal
Michigan State

Now we know why the media poles are so screwed up. It would be nice if your ballot reflected reallity just a little, or maybe you are more interested in getting a reaction than being a journalist. Guess that's true for all news media these days.

Tyler -
That Florida schedule you refer to includes So. Miss, Univ. of Central Fla, Kentucky, Alabumble(quote from another!), Vanderbilt, So. Carolina and Western Carolina.
Yes, some very good teams on it, but SC's is no walk in the park with Arkansas, Nebraska as the two openers, and then the last 4 include Oregon, Cal, ND and UCLA, and of course ASU is in the middle.

Scott,

You have 8 SEC teams on that list, you are aware they play each other...right?

If this list was posted by any other columnist in the country, most pac-10 fans would be screaming "east coast bias!". But since this is Wolf, I think "west coast cynicysm" would be more appropriate =)

Unlike most people who overrate teams they are familiar with and underrate teams that they do not closely follow, Wolf seems to do the opposite. Go figure.

How is Michigan in at #6?! Have you seen their schedule this year? They are going to lose at least 2, and possibly three games. And where the hell is California? They should be top 10, easily... amazing that you decided not to include them. What a hack.

Talk all you want about how overrated Cal is, guys, just like you do every year. It's the record that's going to stand the test of time, not your gleefully moronic prestidigitations. Seriously Wolf, I'm not saying Cal is going to win it all or anything, but to not have them in the top 25 when every other respectable poll does make one wonder how objective you really are. I only hope that when the dust settles your prediction is shown to be false and it's your career, and not Cal's season, that's in ruins.

Poll sucks. Who cares though. It's just a pre-season poll.

Let's hope the guy wises up and pick teams more truthfully as the season goes on.

Louisville will blow WVa out and that conference is a weak dog. The omission of Cal and the WVa ranking alone makes your poll about as irrellevant as the ones that come out of the mainstream media err democrat party..
Also, what's your logic regarding the Domers? Pretty fair passer, one pretty fair receiver, a good special teams guy and one of the sloooooooowest defenses in the nation. They will have 4 losses by the time they get to Los Angeles this season.

Scott,

With all due respect (I know you were just trying to kick up some dust n' create some fuss)I gotta' say, my Top 10 is more realistic. I'm not looking at who has the easiest path to #1 but who has the talent and coaching to get there through thick n' thin:

1. Auburn
2. Ohio State
3. USC
4. Notre Dame
5. Texas
6. Florida
7. Louisville
8. LSU
9. Cal
10.Miami

Scott has 8 SEC teams in his Top 25, including 4 in the top 11.
Big 10 has 4 in Top 25, including 3 in Top 10.
ACC has 4 teams in Top 25.
The Big Xll also has 4 teams in Top 25, but the highest is Texas at 13.
Big East and PAC-10 have 2 each in Top 25.

Pre-season polls are fun to do and it's great to throw in a few surprise teams at the end, but what's up with South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas A&M? If you're just going to pick wild cards, try some team with some momentum from the previous season, or teams headed by Coaches with a fire in the belly rather than a foot out the door.

Throw in Boise State or Fresno State. Check out TCU or Utah. Or I dunno, maybe Arizona State or Cal (like nobody else mentioned them) or even UCLA. There are seven teams right there for you Scott from Conferences which you basically ignored in your Top 25.

I'll bet the team Scott has at #26 right now is Rutgers. Followed closely by Kentucky, Miss. State and Vanderbilt. Gawd, 8 teams from the SEC. Maybe Scott can't afford cable or satellite and just tapes CBS Sports programming.

What no Cal on the list? All I have to say to you Scott, is "Go see Cal , go see Cal , go see Cal", and then your list will change.

You are supposed to pick the best team number one not the team most likely to finish undefeated. If two people are competing to see who is tallest, would you say the guy who is six three is taller than the guy who is six five because the guy who is six three is being measured against people who are under six feet but the guy who is six five is going up against other guys who are six five? With your logic the guy who is six three is taller than the guy who is six five.

funny how Scott puts his Top 25 up for all to see yet most of you don't put up your Top 25...

shocker

Cal unranked, USC's first opponent #25. Yeah, this is REALLY unbiased. Way to go pal.

Funny how CH is a complete retard.

Shocker

25. Arkansas

get real.... You have them ranked because they play USC....

I'am sure you would have Temple ranked if they play USC in it's first game.

you don't get my respect with this poll...

Yep...Cal IS definitely overrated...and when they beat TN in their first game, well...they just got lucky. And when they go 12-0...well, so what? After all, they ARE on the West Coast and their name isn't USC so they CAN'T be any good, right?

No nothings!

Personaly, I blame the Republicans for the sad state of education in this country.

Wow! Forty comments! You would think the Tings had quit the team and been caught cheating to get their 180 pound frame.

Yeah, let's see how long Arkansas holds down that #25 spot with a high school offensive coordinator (Mitch Mustain's old coach).

That's right... West Virginia will get exposed. Just like the Sugar Bowl last year? WVU's legit.

Funny how Funny contributed nothing to this posting

Shocker

Absurdity!! BlueBear! It's not the Repubs that constantly fight against voucher programs, constantly fight against requiring teacher proficiency qualification exams, constantly fight against "head start and no child left behind" oversight that would prevent waste and incompetence to fester! It's also not the Repubs who fight for continuously outrageous additional so called educational bills that just create higher taxes for more wasteful beaurocratic spending. These outrageous teacher unions, are not a product of the Repubs either pal. So, enjoy your life in the Peoples Republic of Berzerkeley Komrade! Fight On!

My top 25, as someone mentioned no one has put one up. Based on how I think they finish.

1. Ohio State - Big 10 Champ
2. Auburn - SEC Champ
3. Notre Dame
4. USC - Pac 10 Champ
5. Texas - Big 12 Champ
6. cal
7. Louisville - Big East Champ
8. Florida State - ACC Champ
9. South Carolina
10. Nebraska
11. Houston - Surprise
12. LSU
13. Virginia Tech
14. Oregon
15. Michigan
16. Michigan State
17. North Carolina
18. Arizona State
19. Miami
20. Georgia
21. Navy
22. Oregon State
23. Penn State
24. Florida
25. Oklahoma

Sheesh, ok WV if it has the easy schedule, but then take the effin SEC teams out, they'll knock each other off and by your methodology they shouldn't be in the top 25. or if its good teams in tough conferences, take the couch burners out or are you some back woods couch burning redneck in your prior life