There's
one very important distinction in the CFN preseason rankings: these
are based on how good the teams are going into the season and NOT
how they're going to finish. Some teams have easier
schedules than others, some get tougher road games and some will
need a little bit of time to jell meaning they might be better than
their final record might indicate. Going into the year, these are
how good the teams appear to be from No. 1 through 119.
The predicted finishes don't take into account possible bowl games
or conference championships.
No. 1 to No. 10
| No. 11 to
20 |
No. 21 to 29 |
No. 30 to
39 |
No. 40 to 49
No. 50 to
59 |
No. 60 to 69 |
No. 70 to
79 |
No. 80 to 89 |
No. 90 to
99
No. 100 to
109 |
No. 110 to 119
99.
Bowling Green
Predicted Finish:
7-5 2005
Predicted Finish: 8-3 2005 Record: 6-5
This might be a rebuilding year after a disappointing 2005, but the
Falcons play in the easier of the two MAC divisions and could find its
way into the MAC title mix. The most scrutiny will be at quarterback,
where Anthony Turner is the next in line after Omar Jacobs and the
ultra-productive Josh Harris. A sophomore, he'll have to play like a
veteran with a nearly-new receiving corps to throw to and a brand,
spanking new backfield to work with.
Relative Strengths: wide receivers, offensive line Relative
Weaknesses: linebackers, running backs
98.
Tulane
Predicted Finish:
3-9 2005 Predicted Finish: 7-4 2005 Record: 2-9
As bad as last season was on the field with an average of only 321 yards
per game and allowing 31.6 points per outing, there's hope for a big
turnaround. Quarterback Lester Ricard has next-level talent and an
experienced receiving corps to work with, Matt Forte is a great back who
should be productive with more touches, and the defensive line has the
potential to be night-and-day better with good size and plenty of
experience. After dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last
year, there will be a true home field advantage again with games
scheduled to be played in the Superdome starting September 30th.
Relative Strengths: quarterbacks, wide receivers Relative
Weaknesses: linebackers, secondary
97.
Western Michigan
Predicted Finish:
5-7 2005 Predicted Finish: 2-9 2005 Record: 7-4
18 starters return to a team that saw its starting quarterbacks go down
with injuries like Spinal Tap went through drummers, and struggled with
a pass defense that was just this close to being the worst in
America despite having the MAC's best pass rush to help out generating
pressure. Last year's problems should turn into this season's positives
with a stronger, more experienced secondary and a healthy Ryan Cubit at
quarterback.
Relative Strengths: quarterbacks, special teams Relative
Weaknesses: secondary, running backs
96.
Air Force
Predicted Finish:
4-8 2005 Predicted Finish: 6-5 2005 Record: 4-7
The defense has to stop giving up so many game-changing big plays, the
turnover margin (Air Force finished 95th in the nation) has to become a
positive, and the offense has to be much sharper. Quarterback Shaun
Carney is well on his way to being the greatest passer in the Fisher
DeBerry era, but he has to get the ground game back to the point where
it can hang 300 yards a game on anyone. It only hit the 300-yard mark
once last year. Talent-wise, this isn't DeBerry's best team, but there
aren't any problems he hasn't dealt with before. If Carney can take the
next step up in his ability to run the attack, and if some reliable
receivers and game-breaking running backs can emerge, and if Bobby
Giannini and the veteran secondary can slow down the better passing
teams just a little bit, then a winning season is more than possible.
Relative Strengths: quarterbacks, running backs Relative
Weaknesses: wide receivers, defensive line
95. Central
Michigan
Predicted Finish:
5-7 2005 Predicted Finish: 2-9 2005 Record: 6-5
It's all there for the Chippewas to have a fantastic season and even
hope for their first bowl bid since 1994 while shooting for back-to-back
winning seasons for the first time since 1990 and 1991. However, there's
reason to worry about a porous secondary that isn't going to be any
better, and the loss of steady QB Kent Smith isn't going to help the
offense, but everything else is in place from four returning starters on
a rock of an offensive line to an improved receiving corps to one of the
MAC's best linebacking corps.
Relative Strengths: running backs, wide receivers Relative
Weaknesses: secondary, quarterbacks
94.
UNLV
Predicted Finish:
3-9 2005 Predicted Finish: 5-6 2005 Record: 2-9
Head coach Mike Sanford's Rebel Shotgun Spread offense never took flight
last year because the pieces weren't in place. Now the offensive line is
experienced, the receiving corps is deep, there are several good running
back options to push Erick Jackson, and the quarterbacks are a strength
with Rocky Hinds and Shane Steichen each good enough to put up big
numbers. The defense has to hold up its end of the bargain after
allowing 30 points or more in eight games. Things are pointed in the
right direction for UNLV, but is the program ready to rock this season,
or will it take another year for everything to jell? Watch out for this
to be a dangerous, exciting team all year long.
Relative Strengths: quarterbacks, running backs Relative
Weaknesses: defensive line, linebackers
93.
Louisiana Tech
Predicted Finish:
7-6 2005 Predicted Finish: 5-6 2005 Record: 7-4
Only two starters return on defense, there's a woeful lack of experience
at quarterback, and there could stand to be far more explosion
considering all the speed in the receiving corps and at running back.
Even with the problems, this should still be an upper-division WAC team
that needs to come up with more big wins.
Relative Strengths: wide receivers, special teams Relative
Weaknesses: defensive line, quarterbacks
92. Miami
University
Predicted Finish:
6-6 2005 Predicted Finish: 9-2 2005 Record: 7-4
Only five starters return, but it's not like the cupboard is completely
bare with good prospects returning to fill most of the holes with the
biggest question at quarterback, where Mike Kokal, Jared Elliott and
Daniel Raudabaugh will try to be next in line after Josh Betts and Ben
Roethlisberger. Yes, the talent level will be there to be competitive,
but can Miami get the momentum back after tremendous seasons in 2003 and
2004? Absolutely.
Relative Strengths: running backs, special teams Relative
Weaknesses: linebackers, offensive line
91.
SMU
Predicted Finish:
5-7 2005 Predicted Finish: 1-10 2005 Record: 5-6
There will be an interesting mix of fast, talented young players, a
lot of inexperience, and good building blocks. Bobby Chase leads a
deep and experienced receiving corps, DeMyron Martin is one of the
league's best backs heading a very fast, very good backfield, and
the starting five up front should be fine. However, there's no
experience whatsoever at quarterback and absolutely no developed
depth on the line. The offense might have been bad throughout last
year, but the defense saved the day time and again keeping the team
in several games. There are lots and lots of speed in the back
seven, but little experience outside of safety Joe Studivant and
linebacker Wilton McCray. The line will be fantastic with Adrian
Haywood and Justin Rogers among the best in the conference.
Relative Strengths: running backs, defensive line
Relative Weaknesses: secondary, offensive line
90. Akron
Predicted Finish:
7-5 2005 Predicted Finish: 5-6 2005 Record: 7-6
After winning the MAC title, J.D. Brookhart's crew wants to do even
more, and it has the talent to do it with 16 returning starters led
by what should be one of the MAC's best defenses. To get back to the
championship game and earn another bowl bid, the Zips have to be far
more consistent and get steadier play out of both sides of the ball.
Considering where the defense was a few seasons ago, to even be
considered among the best in the MAC shows how quickly Brookhart and
his staff have turned things around. The offense could be another
story, at least early on, needing to replace the top receivers along
with 1,000-yard back Brett Biggs. However, quarterback Luke Getsy
should be able to build on a great end to 2005 and be one of the
MAC's best passers, while all five starters return to what should be
a top offensive line.
Relative Strengths: quarterbacks, offensive line
Relative Weaknesses: special teams, running backs
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