College Football "Pre-Season Top 15"

WWL's Deke Bellavia has compiled his top 15 teams in college football. Here is the list followed by his reasons for the rankings.

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. Va. Tech
6. Ohio State
7. Ole Miss
8. Oklahoma State
9. Alabama
10. Penn State
11. LSU
12. Cal
13. Georgia Tech
14. BYU
15. Georgia

1. Florida � The Gators are loaded and they have the best player in the nation on their side. Tebow could go down as the greatest CFB player ever, if he leads the Gators to another national title.

2. Texas � The Longhorns have the majority of their O-Line back and QB Colt McCoy. This group should be the cream of the crop in the Big XII this season. With 16 starters back, Texas should make it to the title game.

3. USC � Yes they have a boat load of talent and a soft schedule. So look for another Pac-10 Title and a possible trip to the BCS Title Game.

4. Oklahoma � Sam Bradford is back, but the Sooners have some gaps to fill on the O-Line. Do these teams play defense in the Big XII? OU has nine back on D, so this could be their year to stop the competition.

5. Va. Tech � The Hokies are an experienced bunch that can dominate, if they gel. QB Tyrod Taylor can be a Heisman candidate, if he can pass the ball better. Also, expect RB Darren Evans to have a huge season. It won't take this group long to see if they're ready for the big time--they open with Alabama on September 5th in the ATL.

6. Ohio State � The Buckeyes did lose a lot, but they have the most athletic QB in the Big Ten - and Jim Tressel can coach--at least against Big Ten teams that is. USC comes to town in week two, then Illinois and Juice Williams are at the horse shoe two weeks later. Like it or not, if the Buckeyes win those games, they may run the table.

7. Ole Miss � The Rebels are for real and they should win the SEC West. They have size and speed on both sides of the ball, and the passing QB in the SEC in Jevan Sneed. Houston Nutt has a defense that can dominate. And, look for DE Greg Hardy and Patrick Trahan to be All-American candidates. Hotty Toddy they're Ole Miss by damn!

8. Oklahoma State � The Cowboys will score and score a lot. QB Zac Robinson is back and his primary targets are back in the fold as well--Dez Bryant and Demarcus Conner. RB Kendall Hunter averaged 6.5 yards per carry last season and he could rush for 2,000-yards in 2009. The Cowboys do have six back on defense, but who cares!

9. Alabama � Alabama could be better than last season for two reasons - their defense and Julio Jones. Bama has nine back on defense and they have the best front seven in the nation. RB Mark Ingram is back, and so is Jones, so the Tide have playmakers on both sides of the ball and the best defensive dude in the game in ole St. Nick. Watch out for incoming freshman RB Trent Richardson.  He is going to be a great one! Alabama should be 5-0, when they head to Oxford to take on Ole Miss. A win over the Rebels could have the Tide back in ATL again in 2009!

10. Penn State � The Lions were so close last season, but thanks goodness Iowa beat them, because they would have gotten crushed in the title game. RB Evan Royster is the best returning back in the Big Ten and QB Daryll Clark can beat you with his arm and legs. The key will be how well the Lions D-Line adapts. Only four starters are back this season on defense, and if they gel, the Lions could win the Big Ten.

11. LSU � The Tigers are in a close race in the SEC West with Ole Miss and Alabama. LSU matches talent with those teams, but they'll have to win both of those games on the road. The addition of Defensive Coordinator John Chavis is the biggest move in the conference. Chavis has some serious talent to work with, and if the defense plays well, the Tigers could be 6-0, when the defending national champs come to town for what is sure to be another exciting Saturday Night in Death Valley!

12. California � The Bears could win the Pac-10 this season. Coach Jeff Tedford is one of the nation's best, and the Bears will be able to run the ball, and they have eight starters back in defense. RB Jahvid Best had an amazing season last year with an average of 8.1-yards per carry. The Bears season will come down to a four week stretch that features a road game at Oregon; home date with USC; followed by an off week; and a trip to UCLA.

13. Georgia Tech � Coach Paul Johnson had his team in national title contention talks going into the bowl season, before LSU thumped the Yellow Jackets. But even with a poor outing against the Tigers, Ga. Tech is going to be hard to beat. They have to get healthy, but with ten back in offense and eight on defense, the Rambling Wreck could be BCS bound. They will be the nation's best rushing team this season and it won't be close.

14. BYU � You know there's going to be a BCS Buster out there again, and this year I like BYU. The Cougars have won ten or more games in each of the last three seasons, and they can make it to the BCS Title Game with no questions, if they win all their games. The Cougars have added some teeth to their schedule with Oklahoma and Florida State on the schedule.

15. Georgia � Whenever the Bulldogs are not in the conversation, their coach gets everyone talking. The Dogs have seven back on offense and eight on defense, but their schedule is a tough one. UGA opens the season at Oklahoma State; then back home for South Carolina--before Arkansas, Arizona State and LSU show up on the schedule. WR AJ Green should ease the pressure off QB Joe Cox, and RB Caleb King could be ready to breakout. A nine or ten win season would not surprise me at all with a major upset or two along the way.

Join "Big Chief" Deke Bellavia and "the Cajun Cannon" Bobby Hebert for SportsTalk weekdays 4 til 8pm on WWL-AM-FM-and WWL.com THE News, Talk & Sports LEADER!