BlogPoll Calling: Preseason Top 25 - #15-#25

We'll (or, rather, I'll) be doing that whole BlogPoll thing again this year, so for the next few days I'll be breaking down my Preseason Top 25.  The first BlogPoll comes out on Monday (8/24), so that will give us plenty of time to bicker over discuss who's too high, who's too low, who should have been included, and who I'm completely insane for including.  So, without further ado, here are #s 15 thru 25.

15. Boise St. Broncos - The WAC is theirs this year, and with an offense that should outscore anyone (except possibly Oregon) they face, only five starters back on defense isn't as bad as it sounds.

16. Oregon Ducks - The Ducks return only 10 starters total, but Chip Kelly will keep them humming on offense with Jeremiah Masoli finally settled at QB.

17. Michigan St. Spartans - Kind of a reach on this one, but I like the way Dantonio focuses on the defense (8 starters back) and if they can at least stay efficient on offense they have a good shot at a warm weather bowl and possibly 10 wins.

18. North Carolina Tar Heels - Butch Davis got the Tar Heels to their first Bowl since 2004 (and only their second this century) on the strength of their defense, which brings back nine starters.  If T.J. Yates can stay healthy and they can find someone to step in and fill the sizable shoes of Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate, the offense should also be respectable.

19. BYU Cougars - The offensive line needs to be rebuilt and someone is going to have to step up at WR, but Max Hall is back at QB and RB Harvey Unga is back for a shot at third straight 1000 yard season, while 7 starters are back on defense, including 6 of 7 members of the front seven.  Taking on Oklahoma and Florida State early in the season isn't favorable for them, but a MWC championship isn't out of the question if they can get it together before hosting TCU in late October.

20. UCLA Bruins - Another reach pick here after a 4-8 season last year, but it's Neuheisel's (and Chow's) second season with the Bruins and all the upgrade in talent they've brought in, plus more familiarity with the offense from the veterans, means the offense should be more than a liability this season.  The defense should be improved as well, but there is a lot of inexperience on this team.

21. Texas Tech Red Raiders - It's surprising to me that the Red Raiders have fallen off the map so quickly.  Yes, Harrell to Crabtree is no longer in their favor, but when hasn't the Red Raider offense put up ridiculous numbers with relative unknowns at QB and split wide?  Losses on the offensive line and on the defense (which, while not spectacular, was at least servicable for most of the season, a far cry from the porous sieve that Tech fans were used to seeing) hurt, certainly, but this will still likely be a unit that puts up ridiculous numbers and has a pretty good chance to get to double digit wins again.

Plus, Brandon Carter's new skull tattoo has to count for something, right?

22. Iowa Hawkeyes - Without Shonn Greene I'm a little nervous on including the Hawkeyes, but 8 of 11 starters are back on defense, Ricky Stanzi should be mature enough to cut down on the turnovers, and Jewell Hampton should fill in nicely at RB after a solid freshman season toiling in Greene's sizable shadow.

23. Arkansas Razorbacks - The defense can't help but improve, Michael Smith is the best running back you haven't heard of (1000 yard rusher and led the SEC in all-purpose yardage), and Ryan Mallett is the pocket passer that Petrino needs. They're going to rain on someone's parade this year (please be LSU's, please be LSU's...) and should be back to a bowl.

24. Georgia Bulldogs - Probably too low on the Dawgs, but without Moreno, Massaquoi, and Stafford, and not a lot of pass rush from the defense, it's just difficult to tell what they are going to be capable of.

25. UAB Blazers - If Spurrier can give Duke a token vote in the coaches poll and Kyle can give Southern Miss, despite having no other connection to the Golden Eagles than respect for one of their alumni, a token vote in the BlogPoll then I can certainly throw my alma mater a sideways wink on my ballot.  Besides, just about everyone is back on an offense that should be fairly potent and the defense just got a much needed infusion of JUCO talent before the spring.  Division and conference titles aren't necessarily within reach, but reaching bowl eligibility is.

Also considering: West Virginia Mountaineers, Clemson Tigers, Florida St. Seminoles, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Kansas Jayhawks.