FWIW: Early Bird 2013 Pre-Season Top 25

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

NationalChamps(dawt)net just released their early bird 2013 Pre-Season Poll for College Football. Of course, there is a lot to be decided between now and next August, as they indicate in the "Do Not Miss The Point" section. However, they are surprisingly good at predicting the AP Pre-Season Top 10. Coming into next season, they expect seven SEC teams to be ranked in this order:

1. Alabama
3. LSU
6. UGA
7. Florida
8. A&M
10. South Carolina
25. Ole Miss

The also expect Tennessee to receive consideration. You'll notice that, not surprisingly, we are absent. There's a lot of sentiment on this board that we are a Top 30 program, but until we start threatening the big boys and not getting our doors blown off, it's obvious that we are not there yet. Not that this is the final say by any means, but I thought it was worth posting...

 

[redbird4state]

I agree for the most part. We did make strides this season but in my opinion we have yet to beat a truly "GOOD" team.

 

[121Josey]

So, it's based on returning players, although recruiting, declaring for the draft, and bowl games are still in process. I think I'll stick to the AP poll.

"The Early Bird Preview has predicted almost the same Top 10 the official AP Poll puts out eight months later in August. "

 

[QuaoarsKing]

There must be some mistake! Perennial top ten team Oklahoma State was accidentally left off!**

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

Only once in nine tries have they gotten less than 8 of the top ten. And they do this BEFORE all the things you listed (i.e. in December). That's pretty good in my book.

 

[121Josey]

Not too hard to hit 8 out of 10. Here's last year (small sample size I know).
Week 15 (Final) BCS standings - published early December 2011.
No USC (probation - would knock Wisconsin out), no Oklahoma, no Georgia
They take out Boise State and KState, the two most volatile programs and put in Georgia (SEC East champs) and Oklahama (perennial power).

RK	TEAM	RECORD
1	LSU	13-0
2	Alabama	11-1
3	Oklahoma State	11-1
4	Stanford	11-1
5	Oregon	11-2
6	Arkansas	10-2
7	Boise State	11-1
8	Kansas State	10-2
9	South Carolina	10-2
10	Wisconsin	11-2
11	Virginia Tech	11-2
12	Baylor	9-3
13	Michigan	10-2
14	Oklahoma	9-3
15	Clemson	10-3
16	Georgia	10-3

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2012(8 out of 10)
2012 Early Bird Preview
Released in December
1. Louisiana State
2. Alabama
3. Southern California
4. Oregon
5. Oklahoma
6. Georgia
7. Stanford
8. Arkansas
9. South Carolina
10. Oklahoma State

Official 2012 AP Poll
Released in August
[SIZE=-2]1. Southern California
2. Alabama
3. Louisiana State
4. Oklahoma
5. Oregon
6. Georgia
7. Florida State
8. Michigan
9. South Carolina
10. Arkansas[/SIZE]