2018 Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll & Rankings Prediction

[Smart]

And will be again this year as usual. Look amazing against scrub after scrub and their fans will be shocked when they finally play someone with a pulse and aren't prepared for it at all.

I love how you want to act like we aren't good, but then when we lose by six versus top-five 12-2 Ohio State, it's because we "aren't prepared for it."

If a team is barely losing to a top five team when they are unprepared, it's probably a sign that they are pretty good.

 

[Across The Field]

does it though? Ohio State 2001-2002. Big 10 finished 4 ranked teams 3 in double digit wins 2 BCS bowls.

Fair point. However you're talking about an historical blue blood who recruited at a high level. Cooper was a blunder of a coach by the end of his tenure, Tressel had 1 year to get acclimated and then Maurice Clarett happened. If Utah ends up fielding one of the best defenses of this era and bringing in a freakshow true freshman RB, then I guess it could happen.

 

[Across The Field]

Stats from teams in one league do not compare with teams from another. They have basically no commonality.

I'm not saying Utah is a world beater, but they always play solid defense and play top teams well. They beat WV last year, USC the year before, Michigan the year before, etc.

Their issue for a few years has been lack of depth which could hurt them again. They can't sustain the same injuries top recruiting programs can.

Well, I'd argue for obvious reasons that the B1G was much better than the Pac12 last year, so you could say Purdue's 7-6 was even more impressive then.

It's a moot point. Fact is, if a team like Utah wins the Pac 12, something has gone wrong. There's no reason they should be beating USC or Washington.

 

[ericd7633]

Well, I'd argue for obvious reasons that the B1G was much better than the Pac12 last year, so you could say Purdue's 7-6 was even more impressive then.

It's a moot point. Fact is, if a team like Utah wins the Pac 12, something has gone wrong. There's no reason they should be beating USC or Washington.

Utah's been a much better program over the last 4 years then Purdue has though. They've finished ranked 3 out of the last 4 seasons.

 

[Across The Field]

Utah's been a much better program over the last 4 years then Purdue has though. They've finished ranked 3 out of the last 4 seasons.

I'm aware.

 

[ericd7633]

I'm aware.

Then the comparison to Purdue is a dumb one then.

 

[Across The Field]

The the comparison to Purdue is a dumb one then.

Not really.

 

[ericd7633]

Not really.

It is considering Utah has shown to be good the last 4 years and Purdue has not.

 

[Across The Field]

It is considering Utah has shown to be good the last 4 years and Purdue has not.

Cool. Two years ago Western Michigan was a top 15 team. Things change. It's obvious that's happened at Purdue if you follow college football.

 

[7Samurai13]

Cool. Two years ago Western Michigan was a top 15 team. Things change. It's obvious that's happened at Purdue if you follow college football.

I think Northwestern winning the BigTen is a better comparison.

 

[ericd7633]

Cool. Two years ago Western Michigan was a top 15 team. Things change. It's obvious that's happened at Purdue if you follow college football.

I get that. But nonetheless it was still a ridiculous comparison.

 

[Across The Field]

I think Northwestern winning the BigTen is a better comparison.

They were way better than Utah last year though. At any rate, though, Northwestern winning the Big Ten would be a pretty big catastrophe this season.

 

[Across The Field]

I get that. But nonetheless it was still a ridiculous comparison.

Not if we're talking about last year going into this year.

 

[socaljim242]

God

Not if we're talking about last year going into this year.

I see Utah on some pre season top 25 polls and I don't see Purdue.

 

[ericd7633]

Not if we're talking about last year going into this year.

Utah has proven they can be competitive in the Pac 12. Purdue hasn't since the early 2000's. And Purdue loses a ton from last year. It shouldn't be a surprise if a team like Utah finishes in the top 20, it would be for Purdue.

 

[Across The Field]

God


I see Utah on some pre season top 25 polls and I don't see Purdue.

And we all know that preseason projections of the initial top 25 rankings are really all that matters for how good a team will be that season.

 

[Across The Field]

Utah has proven they can be competitive in the Pac 12. Purdue hasn't since the early 2000's. And Purdue loses a ton from last year. It shouldn't be a surprise if a team like Utah finishes in the top 20, it would be for Purdue.

I wouldn't be shocked, but not because they're a top 20 team. If you put flipped both team's schedules, I could see Purdue doing just as well as Utah, probably around 9-3/8-4 in the Pac South.

 

[ericd7633]

I wouldn't be shocked, but not because they're a top 20 team. If you put flipped both team's schedules, I could see Purdue doing just as well as Utah, probably around 9-3/8-4 in the Pac South.

Dude. Purdue lost to Rutgers and Nebraska last season. And both of them have difficult schedules IMO. Purdue's is slightly harder. It's not like It's has Oregon's schedule.

 

[socaljim242]

And we all know that preseason projections of the initial top 25 rankings are really all that matters for how good a team will be that season.

Well We know Utah has finished ranked more times than Purdue in the past 4-5 years and probably will again this season.

 

[Across The Field]

Dude. Purdue lost to Rutgers and Nebraska last season. And both of them have difficult schedules IMO. Purdue's is slightly harder. It's not like It's has Oregon's schedule.

Purdue is slated to have an SOS somewhere near the top 5 in the nation and have 3 likely top 10 teams on their schedule with 2-3 other possible ranked teams. Utah doesn't compare.