A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Before I self-flagellate, a little crow about my parlay of the year: Oregon, to beat USC, and NOT to rank in the final poll. At #2 in the BCS just weeks ago, it looked like another foolish pick. Alas, not so fast my friend...

The exercise: a preseason poll and how it measured up...

BOLD: indicates a sincere tip of the hat.

1. Louisiana State (5)

Analysis: O, how I loved thee all through the campaign, yet you lost my heart against the Hogs and didn't get it back. Both losses were not good.

Judgment: Slightly overrated, -4 performance

2. Michigan (17)

Analysis: Actually, given their 6-1 Big Ten start, not so bad. Riiight. The 7-39 stinkbomb against Oregon and the half-hearted effort in Madison will still not likely prove as memorable as a loss to Appalachian State.

Judgment: Significantly overrated, -15 performance

3. Texas (NR)

Analysis: I'm officially off the Mack Brown bandwagon, the program ran on fumes for a time without Vince Young but the parade of Big 12 losses to mediocre teams has become quite disturbing.

Judgment: Awful, < -23 performance

4. Florida (7)

Analysis: Knew Tebow would be good, knew the Gators had one of the best coaches, didn't think Auburn would get them again. Had them losing to LSU though, but not to Georgia.

Judgment: Slightly overrated, -3 performance

5. Southern California (4)

Analysis: My 10-2 forecast (nailed ORE game, as for that NEB game, err...) proved remarkably prescient. I never bought the hype. Rose Bowl? Yes, but nothing more.

Judgment: Dead on, +1 performance

6. Wisconsin (14)

Analysis: They figured to lose one to either Michigan or Ohio State, but getting housed by PSU even at Beaver Stadium was terrible. P. J. Hill didn't become a Heisman threat and the defense got gouged by Beanie and the Bucks.

Judgment: Overrated, -8 performance

7. West Virginia (16)

Analysis: Goodbye to all that, part deux. The worst home loss in school history, still, got the Big East champion part right.

Judgment: Overrated, -9 performance

8. Florida State (NR)

Analysis: They upset then-#2 BC, and, let's just move right along...

Judgment: Awful, < -18 performance

9. Georgia (1)

Analysis: Had the 10-2 record, didn't quite foresee just how formidable a two-loss team would prove this year. Missed the Florida game, too.

Judgment: Underrated, +8 performance

10. UCLA (NR)
11. Nebraska (NR)
12. Louisville (NR)

Analysis: Twenty returning starters didn't work out too well, Sam Keller never became a Heisman threat, and Brian Brohm was let down by everyone, coaches included.

Judgment: Awful, awful, and awful. < -15, < -14, < -13, respectively

13. Oklahoma (3)

Analysis: Didn't buy Bradford, do now. Didn't think much of a team that failed to conquer Boise State, thought Texas was better (oops)

Judgment: Significantly underrated, +10 performance

14. Rutgers (NR)

Analysis: Just never played with consistency, wiped out South Florida and then got dropped by Maryland. Ray Rice didn't capitalize on his team's 2006 season.

Judgment: Significantly overrated, < -11 performance

15. Penn State (25)

Analysis: Allowed OSU to run them off the field, failed to score a TD at Michigan, and closed with an ugly collapse against Sparty. More mediocrity for JoePa.

Judgment: Significantly overrated, -10 performance

16. Tennessee (13)

Analysis: Didn't see them winning the SEC East, but pretty much nailed their performance against Florida. Looked awful in Tuscaloosa, though.

Judgment: Slightly underrated, +3 performance

17. Virginia Tech (6)

Analysis: Knew LSU game was an "L," but like UGA, didn't see a two-loss team this impressive, also didn't see a conference title, oops.

Judgment: Significantly underrated, +11 performance

18. Ohio State (2)

Analysis: Well, forecast 3-4 losses. They dropped one. Third straight "odd year" with a BCS Bowl appearance. Rebuilding? Ha!

Judgment: Significantly underrated, +16 performance

19. Boise State (NR)

Analysis: Thought they would only lose once, dropped two games. Disappointing loss to Hawaii, too. Still, a good year.

Judgment: Overrated, < -6 performance

20. South Carolina (NR)

Analysis: Missed the early rise, didn't think their collapse would prove as bad. Nailed the LSU loss and UK win, expected more though from the Old Ball Coach.

Judgment: Overrated, < -5 performance

21. California (NR)

Analysis: Curiously low for August, yet a lot better than most. This team stood one score away from #1 at one time, won at Autzen, but completely fell apart down the stretch, my goodness, they lost to STANFORD!!!

Judgment: Slightly overrated, < -4 performance

22. Auburn (13)

Analysis: Didn't see win in Gainesville coming, yet believed second in SEC firmly possible.

Judgment: Underrated, +9 performance

23. Oregon State (NR)

Analysis: Hell, the pollsters have them about here. I bought early but a few eye-opening losses caused my exodus from the bandwagon, team failed to capitalize on ten-win momentum from 2006.

Judgment: Dead on, -2 performance

24. Arkansas (15)

Analysis: Never saw a win at Baton Rouge, but thought D-Mac could keep them in the race for #2 in the West. The defeat at the hands of UK, mind you, was not a good one.

Judgment: Underrated, -9 performance

25. Miami (FL) (NR)

Analysis: Drank too much Randy Shannon Kool-Aid, 0-48 drubbing by Virginia.

Judgment: Awful, < -1 performance (awful because team isn't in Top 40)

BIGGEST HITS:

LSU, FLORIDA, USC, TENNESSEE, PENN STATE, and OREGON STATE

COLOSSAL MISFIRES:

MICHIGAN, TEXAS, FLORIDA STATE, UCLA, NEBRASKA, LOUISVILLE, and MIAMI (FL)

Finally...

HIGHEST FINAL POLL TEAMS NOT RANKED IN AUGUST

8. Illinois - Bandwagoneer for '08, Iowa loss notwithstanding
9. Arizona State - Great season for Denny-E
10. Kansas - Reesing, but didn't play anyone
12. Missouri - Finally played to expectations
18. Virginia - won more than fair share of close ones

BEST CALL: USC, specified two losses (1-2 on those games)

MOST SERENDIPITOUS CALL: OREGON, and it's not close

WORST CALL: TEXAS, and yes, it takes a lot to beat out FSU, UCLA, NEB...