Counting down College Football Resource's preseason top 25 teams.

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(10) - California

Briefly:  It's almost torture to put the Bears here, as they'll probably flub up the opener, go on some big tear, lose to somebody like Arizona, play USC close and then get redemption in a bowl like last year.  Sometimes you just gotta wait this team out.  The offense could be spectacular and there's better experience on the defense than the "returning starters" stat tells you.  All three linebackers and two defensive backs are above-average defenders but there are clearly doubts with the most important position group: defensive line.  This could be trouble on an otherwise solid team.  The Bears are well-coached and have figured out how to be consistent winners in the Pac-10.

Phil Steele Says:  When USC lost to UCLA, Cal won a share of the Pac-10 Title, their first Conf Title since 1975.  Despite the loss of RB Lynch, the offense figures to be explosive with a veteran QB and their top 3 WR's back.  Last year they averaged 32.8 ppg which was the 5th highest scoring average since 1946, but just the 4th best in Tedford's 5 years.  The defense has just 5 starters back and loses its top 3 tacklers but had just 3 starters back in 2005 and still allowed just 21.2 ppg.  Despite their 7-2 conf record Cal only outgained Pac-10 foes by 32.2 ypg, 4th best.  If the young D-line comes together quickly, Cal has a shot at defending their Pac-10 title, despite a killer schedule.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 13 (tie) nationally, No. 3 Pac-10

(9) - Boise State

Briefly:  Wha?  Huh?  The Broncos have a winning system, they play defense, with Ian Johnson they've finally found a way to consistently run the ball and now they've got that winner's swagger.  I think they're a better team than Hawaii (time will tell).  This ranking is about the upper limit of their ability, but it's not like they're prime candidates to be outside the top 25 either.  The WAC is increasingly competitive and a rising tide lifts all --- Boise should be about as good or better than last year's team even without the redeemed Jared Zabransky.

Phil Steele Says:  They are 45-3 in WAC play.  After having 17 returning starters last year, Boise returns just 11, losing their top four receivers and QB.  Ironically the last time thy returned so few starters on offense while having to replace a QB was in 2004 when they averaged 48.9 ppg, their best mark in IA football.  They do return RB Johnson but will have a tough time topping last year's 39.7 ppg.  The defense loses 3 of their top 7 tacklers.  They have the fewest amount of returning starters on D since 2001 when they allowed 23.2 ppg.  Despite those factors, Boise is once again one of the top teams in the country.

Preseason Consensus:  Unranked nationally (No. 27), No. 2 WAC

(8) - Louisville

Briefly:  New coach, same system, same quarterback, some fancy new defensive transfers and a burning desire to atone for last year's missed opportunity.  Beat Rutgers and this team might have been in the BCS title game.  Instead, they missed out on the BCS altogether.  Brian Brohm could have been a top 10 quarterback in April's draft, so he's clearly back to lead this team someplace it didn't get last year.  I think they'll get close, but West Virginia's the class of the league until someone beats them.  There were some pains, but this team found a way to run the ball and play physical without Michael Bush last year so the transition this year should be effortless.  There's a lot to like about Louisville on both sides of the ball and they carry themselves like winners.

Phil Steele Says:  The Cardinals have 8 starters back on offense and Brian Brohm turned down a shot at the NFL, so they once again should have one of the most potent offenses in the country.  Last year they "only" averaged 37.8 ppg after achieving 43.4 and 49.8 the previous two years.  They should top that total in '07.  The defense yielded just 16.3 ppg, their best mark since 1995.  They have six starters back but must replace 4 of their top 5 tacklers and six of the top nine.  Even though the Cards must play WV and USF on the road, 4 of my 8 sets of power rankings call for them to have an unbeaten season making them a legitimate National Title contender.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 9 nationally, No. 2 Big East

(7) - LSU

Briefly:  There's a lot of great things to say about this Tiger team.  Their defensive line is scary.  The numbers put up last year were fantastic and they don't appear to have taken much of a hit even after losing four players to the first round of the NFL Draft.  They play physical and run the ball well enough.  But ... I don't know, they're still led by this man.  He has but four losses in his LSU career yet almost every one has been inexplicable.  Like everyone inside the top 10, LSU has a fantastic team, but teams separate themselves with coaching and intangibles.  I'm not too worried about Matt Flynn at quarterback but I do think their defense is way above average but also a lot more vulnerable than people are willing to believe.  That Sugar Bowl performance against Notre Dame gets a lot of talk but it was basically a mirror-image of Irish losses to USC and Michigan in the same year.  I'm shocked how much mileage that game has given this team.

Phil Steele Says:  They year they return 6 starters on offense and must replace #1 DC JaMarcus Russell and their top 2 receivers, so it will be tough to top last year's 33.7 ppg.  The D has 8 starters back and allowed just 12.6 ppg with 5 starters back last season.  While LSU did not appear in the SEC Title game, they outgained conf foes by 132.2 ypg, which was 77 ypg more than the #2 team!!  The schedule is much more conducive to a big year as just 1 of their 5 road foes finished with a winning record in '06.  Seven of my 8 sets of power ratings call for LSU to have an undefeated year, so they are one of the top National Title contenders.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 2 nationally, No. 1 SEC West

(6) - Oklahoma

Briefly:  Last season's surprising Big 12 title restored some shine to Oklahoma and the coaching ability of Bob Stoops.  They proved they can play without Adrian Peterson and return a loaded defense.  The new name at quarterback would be a worry, but Oklahoma has proven over and over again that they can win games and make superstars out of anonymous passers.  There are some potential superstars on defense plus the much ballyhooed DeMarco Murray waiting in the wings on offense.  Looks good, right?  Now they just have to prove they can beat Texas.

Phil Steele Says:  This year OU has 8 returning starters on offense but lose their QB and star RB Peterson.  The defense must replace 4 starters.  The Sooners have one of the top D's in the country and lose just 10 lettermen (fewest in Big 12).  Provided they have a better summer than last year and better fortune during the season, they have a shot at an undefeated year.

Preseason Consensus:  No. 10 nationally, No. 2 Big 12 South
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Previously at College Football Resource:

CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 11-15
CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 16-20
CFR's 2007 Top 25 Countdown: 21-25