It depends on whom we play in the Sugar Bowl, but I think a 5-7 finish would be a reasonable expectation. As for preseason - who knows? Maybe a top ten team, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Vols projected to finish second or third in the SEC east, behind Florida and perhaps Georgia.
Obviously a top ten finish is likely if you win the SECCG and a BCS bowl game. But, there's no point in speculating on exactly where you would end up. For one thing, it depends a lot on how about 15 other teams do.
As to next year, and assuming that nothing major changes for UF, I can say without hesitation that they ought to be, and will be, preseason concensus #1. USC will be #2. After that, its a scrum.
UT next year, without Ainge, probably looking at around 15th.
Obviously a top ten finish is likely if you win the SECCG and a BCS bowl game. But, there's no point in speculating on exactly where you would end up. For one thing, it depends a lot on how about 15 other teams do.
As to next year, and assuming that nothing major changes for UF, I can say without hesitation that they ought to be, and will be, preseason concensus #1. USC will be #2. After that, its a scrum.
UT next year, without Ainge, probably looking at around 15th.
Obviously a top ten finish is likely if you win the SECCG and a BCS bowl game. But, there's no point in speculating on exactly where you would end up. For one thing, it depends a lot on how about 15 other teams do.
As to next year, and assuming that nothing major changes for UF, I can say without hesitation that they ought to be, and will be, preseason concensus #1. USC will be #2. After that, its a scrum.
UT next year, without Ainge, probably looking at around 15th.
Why would a 3 loss Florida team (heck, maybe 4 loss Florida team) be concensus #1? Thats crazy, unless Lundquist and Danielson are voting.
15th ? Wow..Is that if we win vs LSU and our bowl game LG?
Florida lost its three games by a total of 19 points. With everyone back and yes the love affair the media have with Tebow, easily #1. It doesn't matter if its fair. It doesn't matter at all, really. Florida next year will be aiming for one thing only, and that's the #1 spot at the end of the year, not the beginning.
Well, think about it. Let's say you do win out and end up somewhere around 7 or 8, which seems to be the concensus of those on here. You lose your senior QB and you would be projected to lose to UF so with the QB gone most would figure you for 3 losses at least. Not saying its fair or accurate, just putting myself in shoes of a voter.
If UT wins out, and a big IF they win in Pasadena next season and go into the UF game at Knoxville lets say somewhere around a 8 or 10 ranking and UF a 1-2 ranking can you imagine the hype that the media will build around that? A 39 point thrashing the year before will have the Vols looking for revenge, even IF UF is picked to win at Knoxville next year it won't be by much. But, lets talk about that in June-August of 08....We got a Championship game to get pumped up for now!Florida lost its three games by a total of 19 points. With everyone back and yes the love affair the media have with Tebow, easily #1. It doesn't matter if its fair. It doesn't matter at all, really. Florida next year will be aiming for one thing only, and that's the #1 spot at the end of the year, not the beginning.
Well, think about it. Let's say you do win out and end up somewhere around 7 or 8, which seems to be the concensus of those on here. You lose your senior QB and you would be projected to lose to UF so with the QB gone most would figure you for 3 losses at least. Not saying its fair or accurate, just putting myself in shoes of a voter.
Why would a 3 loss Florida team (heck, maybe 4 loss Florida team) be concensus #1? Thats crazy, unless Lundquist and Danielson are voting.
Awesome post, General Jack! Wear them out with that one.:rock::rock:
That's 2 out of 3 seasons the Urban legend has laid the same egg. The only thing keeping them from 4 SEC losses this year is that they'll get the chance to whip up on some over-rated non-conference team in their bowl game.
I'm not ready to concede that Florida will easily be concensus #1. Yes, Florida has a strong team returning, but they also have a tough schedule to play.
The media loves to slurp on Tebone, but they also love the Trojans and the Buckeyes, who have a much better chance of running the table than Florida. And given how everyone in the media wants to be right, not sure they would merrily drop florida into the top spot.
True. Florida's tough SEC schedule will be viewed by many as a hurdle, especially relative to some others'. But if this season has taught us anything, its that every team has games that they are expected to win but either don't or just scrape by in.
After this year, I have a new-found respect for a team that can win out or just lose one.
Quite frankly, I think there should be no polls until after the first weekend in October, when you can really gauge where a team is, but that doesn't sell magazines or newspapers in the summer, and what will we have to argue about in August if they stopped doing them?
The SEC East should have 3 teams in the Top 10 next year, UF, UGA and TN.
If we win out we should be around 7th but that is nothing that hasn't been said already.
As for the Pre-season #1 I would almost say OU will be the Preseason #1 pick. I could see the Following for next year.
#1 - Oklahoma
#2 - USC
#3 - Florida
#5 - Ohio State
#6 - Georgia
#7 - Tennessee
#8 - Who Cares
#9 - Ditto