It's that time again. The college football magazines are taking up rack space at a supermarket near you. This year I bought the Sporting News College Football Preview, which I do without fail, and also ESPN's College Football 2016. (I passed on Lindy's and Athlon. So many mags, so little time.)
Sporting News picks Georgia No. 19 in the nation and No. 2 in the SEC East, behind Tennessee; it picks Georgia Tech No. 4 in the ACC Coastal, behind North Carolina, Miami and Virginia Tech.
ESPN's Mark Schlabach (esteemed former colleague) picks Georgia No. 13 in the nation, although ESPN's Football Power Index has the same Bulldogs at No. 9. (FPI also has LSU No. 1, with Alabama No. 6.) The Worldwide Leader slots Georgia No. 2, likewise behind the Big Orange, in the SEC East. Tech is ranked 46th nationally by FPI and fifth -- Pittsburgh is also placed ahead of the Yellow Jackets -- in the ACC Coastal.
Here's the thing I like about ESPN's magazine: For $7.99 plus tax, you get three different national champs. FPI has the aforementioned LSU. Schlabach has Alabama. Brad Edwards has Clemson. Edwards also has Washington(!!!!) in the College Football Playoff.
But enough, at least for the moment. As we speak, I'm in the process of compiling the wildly unpopular annual Pigskin Pickin', in which I give you my long-range thoughts, such as they are, on the season ahead. (It will be available soon on myAJC.) Spoiler alert: Last year I picked Tech and Georgia to lose seven games between them ; this year I pick them to lose seven games between them. Slightly different distribution, though.
Super fun reading:
About the Author
