First AP Poll is out, with the ususal suspects at the top and some getting no respect

The first of what promises to be a year full of controversial AP Polls hi the presses with the consensus number one pick, Florida taking the top spot. The following five were also predictable yet debatable, as they have only shuffled the deck from the final poll from last year. Texas, OK, SC, Bama and Ohio St, with Utah getting typical WAC respect as they finished the year at #2 yet start this year at #19. There’s not much soap box activity with the pre-season poll because as long as your within the top 12-15 you gotta’ shot at making the NCG. If you’re not on the board right now chances are you should start considering reservations to San Diego and the Holiday Bowl as that’s about as high as you’re gonna’ get with the non-conference schedule some have lined up, and you’ll need some upsets to climb the ladder. Ohio State is there again at number 6, and come September when they host USC, will either vindicate that respect or be shipped to Siberia. Some welcome ‘newcomers’ to the exclusive top-10 club are Ol’ Miss and Ok State (their highest pre-season ranking ever, even when they had Barry), and an old face in Penn St. The second 10 is all pretty much guessing at this point and that’s where we’ll see the most movement once they kick things off. Who is getting too much respect and who is not getting enough? Let us know your thoughts here or any of the quick links.
NCAA Home Page
AP Poll

RANK TEAM RECORD PTS PVS
1. Florida (58) 0-0 1498 1
2. Texas (2) 0-0 1424 4
3. Oklahoma 0-0 1370 5
4. USC 0-0 1313 3
5. Alabama 0-0 1156 6
6. Ohio State 0-0 1113 9
7. Virginia Tech 0-0 1054 15
8. Mississippi 0-0 1047 14
9. Oklahoma State 0-0 989 16
9. Penn State 0-0 989 8
11. LSU 0-0 914 NR
12. California 0-0 746 NR
13. Georgia 0-0 714 13
14. Boise State 0-0 659 11
15. Georgia Tech 0-0 593 22
16. Oregon 0-0 587 10
17. TCU 0-0 521 7
18. Florida State 0-0 307 21
19. Utah 0-0 289 2
20. Brigham Young 0-0 267 25
21. North Carolina 0-0 261 NR
22. Iowa 0-0 229 20
23. Notre Dame 0-0 225 NR
24. Nebraska 0-0 207 NR
25. Kansas 0-0 134 NR

SEC building a resume to back up the hype

As the most useless two weeks of the college football season came to a close with the final ‘media day’, where everyone states their case why things are going to be different his year, as the alumni, students, and residents of the area, all drink the cool-aid and feel like they’ll be one of the lucky teams playing in late January. At least until they lose in week one. Among those is the “purgatory conference” that is somewhere between the NCAA and NFL, the SEC. Rest assured they let you know how good they think they are every year and every year the rest of the nation screams about the bias. True, no one markets themselves better than the SEC, as the rest of the nation battle for TV time and therefore advertising dollars. Well, bias or not, they’re starting to build a list of qualifications that is worthy of such praise, and this year stacks up to be no different. In fact since 2003 the SEC has won 4 of the 6 championships played. Grant it, only two teams have won(LSU,FLA) but as a percentage that’s still a feather in their cap. Now before we get all of the angry post from around the nation, look to see what your conference has done to see if a retort is necessary (in alphabetical order so don’t take it personal)

ACC – Record in nonconference games 170-71 (70%)
Record in BCS Bowls: 1-4 Record in Bowl Games 18-22 (45%)
National Titles: 0. 1st round draft selections 35

Big-12 – Record in nonconference games 191-68 (73%)
Record in BCS bowls 3-2 Record in Bowl Games 21-17 (55%)
National Titles: 1. 1st round draft selections 20

Big East – Record in nonconference games 146-68 (68%)
Record in BCS Bowls 1-2, Record in Bowl Games 15-10 (60%)
National Titles: 0. 1st round draft selections 8

Big 10 - Record in nonconference games 178-70 (72%)
Record in BCS Bowls 2-7, Record in Bowl Games 12-23 (48%)
National Titles: 0. 1st round draft selections 26

Pac 10 – Record in nonconference games 116-64 (64%)
Record in BCS Bowls 4-1, Record in Bowl Games 18-9 (67%)
National Titles: 1. 1st round draft selections 18

SEC – Record in nonconference games 200-64 (75%)
Record in BCS Bowls 6-2, Record in Bowl Games 25-15 (63%)
National Titles: 3. 1st round draft selections 39

Who do you think is the best most consistent conference ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, strength of schedule, non-conference schedule, top to bottom competition, overall talent? Let us know here and in the NCAA chat rooms and team rooms.