Okay, today’s preview is “Phil Steele’s College Football Preview 2005.” This is part of the Cleveland-based North Coast Sports company. We are talking handicapping, so arguably these people have a better idea of what’s going on. They have money riding on being accurate.
Before I get into the actual review, this developing database on games and teams looks very interesting and promising. Moving further astray, another useful site for those who have a gambling jones or are curious about the claims of handicappers that you hear on advertising on sports talk all the time. Check out Sports-Watch to see how the claims match up with reality.
Actually, this is a rather good preview. Lots of information, details and rankings. Still there are some big question marks in some parts.
He puts Pitt at #27. Aside from the Sporting News preview, this is the lowest pre-season ranking Pitt has received. Pitt is still picked 2nd in the BE, which should tell you what he thinks of the overall strength of the conference. That would also explain why he ranks Pitt’s schedule strength at 82nd.
At the same time, he hedges on their potential because he includes Pitt as one of the potential “surprise teams” (page 22). Interestingly, he repeatedly mentions in his preview that Walt Harris didn’t really want to leave Pitt and that there is a lot of talent on the squad. He even states that a 10-1 record could be very probable (losing to Louisville).
In ranking individual positions he went to varying lengths. There was no set number:
QB — Palko, #9
WR — Lee, #16
TE — Eric Gill, #25
Offensive Guards — John Simonitis, #27
Offensive Tackles — Charles Spencer, #60
Defensive Tackles — Thomas Smith, #59
OLB — Blades, #14
CB — Josh Lay, #19; Darrelle Revis, #34
I was very surprised that Josh Cummings and Adam Graessle didn’t make his lists for kicker and punter, respectively.
In ranking the teams key units he puts the QB position at #12; the WR Corps come in at #17; Defensive Backs are #21; and in a stunner, puts the Special Teams at #27 (Did he not see our kickoff returns, punt returns and coverage last year?).
On the All-Big East teams, he goes 4 squads deep. In a stunner he puts QB Brian Brohm from Louisville on the 1st team and Palko on the 2nd. Most publications have it the other way. Here’s where Pitt players showed up:
1st Team — Lee, WR; Spencer, OT; Smith, DL; Blades, LB; Lay, CB; Cummings, K
2nd Team — Palko, QB; Gill, TE; Simonitis, OG; Revis, CB
3rd Team — Tez Morris, FS; Graessle, P; Furman, KR
4th Team — Corey Davis and Azzie Beagnyam, DL
Obviously, Beagnyam is no longer with the team. I’m still puzzling over having Furman even at 3rd team for Kick Returner.
In the Big East, he considers Pitt to have the second best offense in the BE (Louisville is 1st) and the best defense.
