Here we go with the first of several ASK CFN - Preview Style editions with your specific questions about the can't-get-here-soon-enough 2004 season.
Who are the top five "TCU"s going to be this year? I mean the teams that'll be in the top 10-20 all year with a gaudy record and a cheesy schedule, but not actually be all that great. Essentially, what are the five most overrated teams going to be? - R.H., Boston
A: Ah, the eternal argument: Is a team ranked where its ranked because it's that good, or is it ranked that high because of its schedule and mindless voters that simply look at won-loss records? I'm not saying these five teams aren't going to be good, but I'm saying they'll probably not be as talented as their ranking will be thanks to their average slates of games.
1) West Virginia - My choice for the deepest Orange Bowl sleeper, the Mountaineers, considering their Big East success over the last few years, are playing what amounts to a two game schedule hosting Maryland and going to Virginia Tech. The Terps are notoriously slow starters, and they'll still have kinks to work out in mid-September. Tech won't be very good.
2) California - Call me skeptical. Cal still doesn't have a defense and will have to deal with something it hasn't had over the last few years; expectations. The Bears will be everyone's hot preseason pick (remember Arizona State last year?), but will fall at least once early with road games at Southern Miss, Oregon State and USC.
3) Oregon - I tried to tell everyone last year that TCU was average, and no one listened. This year, Oregon is going to be my constant battle as the Ducks will be ranked in several top 20s and have a gaudy record, and won't be anywhere near that good. They'll get blasted at Oklahoma early, and then go on a good run not playing USC and getting Arizona State and Washington at home.
4) Toledo - The media will be looking for the next Miami University and will think Toledo is it after what's sure to be a 7-1 start (6-2 at worst). This is a good team, but it's not last year's RedHawks. Marshall is going to be the best team in the league.
5) Virginia Tech - I'll be fascinated to see where the Hokies will be ranked in the preseason. I already know of a few preseason publications that'll have them in the top 25, but talent-wise, this team is a shadow of its former self and really not all that good (at least not going into the season). After getting destroyed by USC, they have a good schedule not playing a brutal road game until December 4th at Miami.
Your nominations?
