In 2009, the PowerPoll Joins the BlogPoll

Back in 2007, I was asked to join the ranks of college football bloggers who vote in the "BlogPoll" but I declined at the time. Part of the problem is that rankings start too early and perceptions start becoming reality and end up affecting the final rankings. But I've realized that by not being part of the conversation, I'm not helping change those perceptions. So this year, I'm expanding the PowerPoll to 25 and submitting it into the CBS Sports BlogPoll.

That, in turn, creates a new dilemma. The whole idea of the PowerPoll is to rank teams based on what they've done without the influence of expectations. But what do you do for a preseason poll? Well, I'm going to have to submit my expectations, since I have nothing else to work with. But by that same manner, this all gets thrown out in September when the games actually kick off.

Rank	Team
1	Florida
2	Texas
3	Oklahoma
4	Southern Cal
5	LSU
6	California
7	Alabama
8	Boise State
9	Virginia Tech
10	Ohio State
11	Penn State
12	Oklahoma State
13	Georgia
14	Brigham Young
15	TCU
16	Mississippi
17	Oregon
18	Utah
19	Kansas
20	Nebraska
21	Georgia Tech
22	Florida State
23	Oregon State
24	Miami (Florida)
25	Texas Tech

So here's my initial submission. I don't see anyway to vote anybody other than Florida at the top for now. Texas edges out Oklahoma for now, but that'll probably change after week 1. I'll have to give Oklahoma much more credit for playing BYU than I give Texas for playing Louisiana-Monroe.

My bias against Big Ten teams shows here as well. They're going to have to prove themselves. I really wanted to rank Virginia Tech higher, but I had to drop them due to the injury to Darren Evans. (Again...this poll has to be based on perception, so sadly, they get dropped down here.)

This is a draft ballot, so I'm looking for feedback. I've got to admit, I'm really guessing on some of these teams so let me know what I've done wrong. Unless of course, you try to convince me that Notre Dame is worthy of a vote. They're not quite as dreadful as they were in 2007...but "less dreadful" doesn't equate to Top 25.