Review the Preview: Phil Steele

The final day of the college football preview magazines comes with news that Nick Saban will be on the front of Sports Illustrated's first SEC Preview. He will grace the cover of his own issue, as will Urban Meyer, Houston Nutt, and Lane Kiffin.

I will tackle the SEC previews closer to the season, but with SEC Media Days in just five days, I will finish the national previews with the best out of the bunch: Phil Steele.

No other preview mag has as much information and goes as in depth as Phil Steele, and it is traditionally the most accurate in the country.

As with the rest of the preview magazines, I will look at what's to like, what's not to like, and the always fun "what are they smoking?!?"

What's to like

• The in-depth nature of the magazine. There is so much cramped into the over 300 pages of this preview. It is insanely accurate for each team and truly is, as it says on the cover, "The book the experts cannot do without."


• Mid-Major QBs. Everyone knows who the QB cover boys are this year, but there are plenty of great QBs at the lower ranks this year to grab your attention. Case Keenum at Houston, Dan LeFevour at Central Michigan and Max Hall at BYU are all quarterbacks for teams who are in good contention for their respective conference championships.


• SEC as toughest conference. Phil Steele does have the Big XII at #2, but he is not buying into the hype just yet that the Big XII has caught the SEC.


• Illinois as his most improved team prediction. Senior quarterback. Favorable schedule. The Ilini have a good chance to be bowl eligible this year as the Fighting Zookers will look to follow Juice Williams and a slate of easy road game (@Indiana, @Purdue).

What's not to like

• Georgia Tech at #10 on surprise team. The Yellow Jackets have, arguably, the best RB in the country with Jonathan Dwyer and beat Georgia last season. What is exactly surprising about all of that?


• Clemson to win the ACC Atlantic over FSU. The Tigers are replacing their QB and top WRs, but have their entire OL coming back, which has proven to be a key. However, I think the NCAA investigation is going to get Bobby Bowden to start coaching for the first time in ten years and the Seminoles will make a run.

What are they smoking?!?

• Rutgers winning the Big East?! Sure, the Big East is now a wild card with Cincinnati having to completely regroup, but West Virginia and Pitt are both formidable this season. The Scarlet Knights have a lot of wood to chop this year to win the Big East, but every difficult game is at home.
• Notre Dame at #7?! Ok, they may have an easy schedule and one that lines up against horrifically weak teams and tough games at home, but I can tell you one reason why the Fighting Irish won't be in the top ten: Jimmy Clausen.

Top Ten

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. Penn St.
6. Ole Miss
7. Notre Dame
8. Alabama
9. Cal
10. Ohio St.