True confession: I've spent a personal-record amount of time tracking Spartan football in the past twelve months, leading to impressions in which my Spartan fanaticism is embedded. This means 2009 presents a unique opportunity to opine till the season kicks off in a few weeks and we start to see the reality of the season.
Versus today's USA Today/Coaches Poll -- recapped below -- I've got the Green & White ahead of #s 20 through 25, which, of course, would put MSU at #20. The poll has us at #27. My basic rationale is that QBs, receivers, and running backs, though not tested in the eyes of those who don't follow the Spartans closely, actually reflect extraordinary talent. The defense will be the best we've seen in a long time. Dantonio's staff will do its wizardry and get the offensive line ready. I recall that ESPN's early season estimates were a little more Spartan-friendly and seemingly not so heavily weighted as USA Today toward the inexperience question. But, USA Today is a Southern publication and to me reflects those sensibilities both in football regionalism and at a literary level.
In the Big Ten I'd have Iowa right behind us, with Minnesota and Illinois just a hair outside the top 25. Elsewhere, I remain faithful that ND and Nebraska (and AA) will bomb this year, so they're out of my top 25. The poll's top 19 should be authentic, even if somewhat interchangeable, and we all know someone unexpected will fall apart and some others will surprise us with their success.
In the Big Ten I think we and, again, maybe Minnesota and Illinois, will find room to climb nicely from an OK footnote acknowledgment -- though not yet in the top 25 -- in today's poll. My 2009 dream is for MSU and the Big Ten (minus one boring and obvious exception, with apologies to Big Ten purists) to kick tail and take back our place in college football.
How do you see us, our Big Ten brethren, or other personal favorites fitting in by mid-season versus the USA Today list below?
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Alabama (barf!)
6. OSU
7. Virginia Tech
8. PSU
9. LSU
10. Ole Miss
11. Oklahoma State
12. Cal
13. Georgia
14. Oregon
15. Georgia Tech
16. Boise State
17. TCU
18. Utah
19. Florida State
20. North Carolina
21. Iowa
22. Nebraska
23. ND
24. BYU
25. Oregon State
