Preseason college football polls in lockstep

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

ESPN’s preseason choices for the top teams in America

Ohio State is No. 1 in this poll and the USA Today Coaches poll.

TCU is No. 2 in both.

Baylor is No. 4 in both.

Oklahoma is 19th with coaches, 21 with ESPN

Arizona is 22nd with coaches, 18th with ESPN (Rich Rodriguez apparently has recovered from the Michigan meltdown, but Michigan has not despite a string of coaches after Rich, so maybe it was Michigan and not Rich at fault for that debacle).

No one is going out on a limb and picking a team that was in the middle of the pack to move up significantly. No courage among the selectors. Or just going with the safe thing, the usual suspects.

No mention of WVU, of course, which usually is 5th at best in Big 12 preseason predictions. If WVU is 7-0 – a humungous IF – then suddenly the “experts” will revise their assessment and pretend they knew it all along. Like Jeanne Dixon, they only trumpet their hits, which are sparse, and ignore their misses, which are many.

To get to 7-0, all WVU needs to do is beat Georgia Southern, Liberty and Maryland, which is highly doable with the Terps’ list of problems, and then, in order, beat Oklahoma in Soonerland, Oklahoma State in Mountaineer Field, Baylor in Waco and TCU in Fort Worth. Piece of cake, huh?

I call the first 4 WVU games the October Octopus Onslaught. Take that any way you want.

Let the games begin!

 

[Woody in Helvetia]

I am not buying TCU at #2. We had them beat last year and the defense gave up a huge play to blow it just like they did in 2012. The thumping that they put on Ole Miss was in a Bowl Game. Remember that Oklahoma looked like a house of fire in their 2013 bowl vs Alabama - and what did Oklahoma do in 2014 - they laid a huge egg.

 

[torontoeers]

I'll go with TCU at 2...a healthy and more matured Boykin, along with quite a few returning starters, Patterson at the helm...we had an ability to show up in quite a few big games last year imo, although on the short end of the stick in a few of them. Perhaps playing TCU so close last year says something about the potential in this year's Mountaineer squad? Minimize the special teams gaffes , Howard experiences some growth at QB and we may be pleasantly surprised with this team...just sayin...

 

[eers-to-ya]

I'll be elated if WV is 5 and 2 to start the season.

 

[mtneerjim]

The first seven teams are going to say, who made those guys mad, with snot hanging out their noses

 

[eers-to-ya]

I know it's off topic, but Woody, I just came back from 8 wonderful days at Holly River. First time I'd been to my favorite place in the world in 31 yrs.. Took a ride to Pickens, but wasn't able to hit Helvetia. Wanted to go to the Hutte but my wife's mom in Clarksburg is very ill so she spent a few days there and we just couldn't find the time.

 

[Chris from WV]

What impresses me are the ascensions of TCU's and Baylor's programs. As a fan, I'm more concerned with those two games than with Texas and Oklahoma.

 

[WVex-pat in GA]

We have had some success playing Oklahoma on their turf, so I am optimistic on that one. TCU is a concern as is Baylor, but I like WVU at home vs. OK St. Maybe 5-2?

Please folks pay attention to Ga. Southern. They are not the bottom feeder that many of you may think they are.

You can't win them all if you don't win the first one.

 

[GoWVU]

We have had some success playing Oklahoma on their turf, so I am optimistic on that one.

Aside from the lone win at Norman in 1982, I don't see any other success on their turf.

 

[doctom4]

WVU wins one road conference game. And that's if they stay healthy. With limited experience at QB having to replace linemen and WRs, they should consider 6-6 a decent season. I just don't see where the points are coming from.

 

[WVex-pat in GA]

Lions never played, and add the Titans, Bengals, Eagles, Cards to the never wons

Aside from the lone win at Norman in 1982, I don't see any other success on their turf.

Kick me for being an optimist! OK was the home team for the 2008 Fiesta Bowl, alright. We have played well against them and a road win is not out of the question.

 

[studed]

Arizona is 22nd with coaches, 18th with ESPN (Rich Rodriguez apparently has recovered from the Michigan meltdown, but Michigan has not despite a string of coaches after Rich, so maybe it was Michigan and not Rich at fault for that debacle).

no it was his fault at michigan. 3 years and the 3 worst defenses in the history of the school. michigan hired and fired one coach after rr and yes he was very bad but the have that problem solved now

 

[GoWVU]

Kick me for being an optimist! OK was the home team for the 2008 Fiesta Bowl, alright. We have played well against them and a road win is not out of the question.

Nobody is kicking you for being an optimist. We've played competitive games against them since joining the league, and thinking we might break through this year is understandably hopeful.

However, to say we've had success "on their turf" other than the 1982 game is not true--particularly when you cite a bowl game over 1000 miles from their campus as your "evidence."

The designation of a "home" team for such games is a bookkeeping technicality tied to uniform choices and coin flips. It has no practical real-world similarity to a game on their actual turf in Norman.

 

[saltydog8159]

I know it's off topic, but Woody, I just came back from 8 wonderful days at Holly River. First time I'd been to my favorite place in the world in 31 yrs.. Took a ride to Pickens, but wasn't able to hit Helvetia. Wanted to go to the Hutte but my wife's mom in Clarksburg is very ill so she spent a few days there and we just couldn't find the time.

Holly River is also one of my favorite places.
Grew up camping there as a kid so naturally my family spent lots of nights there in a pop up as we raised our 4 kiddos. I need to get back there also now that I am retired. By the Hutte do you mean Shuppes Shute? That is a pretty strenuous hike but well worth it.
Thanks for the inspiration. I have been thinking of a good first trip as a retiree.

 

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

no it was his fault at michigan. 3 years and the 3 worst defenses in the history of the school. michigan hired and fired one coach after rr and yes he was very bad but the have that problem solved now

That remains to be seen. You don't know and I don't know if Michigan "has that problem solved now." Let's revisit this in December.

 

[eers-to-ya]

Saltydog, glad I inspired you. Holly River has everything I like. Mountains, streams, and a whole lot of nothin'. I was referring to the Hutte restaurant in Helvetia. Great food. I took the hike to Shupes chute with my wife, our dogs and my cane. Was a bit trying at my age. Since I was there last they've built a really nice boardwalk to the upper falls. Congratulations on your retirement.