Phil Steele is one of the best when it comes to predicting outcomes for the college football season including conference winners, division winners and even the national title winners. However, this year's prediction for the AP Top 10 from Steele is downright bizarre. Here's what it reads like:
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Florida State
4. USC
5. Oklahoma
6. Clemson
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Wisconsin
10. Florida
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The first four or five on that list are pretty fine and make sense, but where is Michigan? Where's Louisville? Last I checked, Lamar Jackson is still the reigning Heisman winner and the Cardinals have a bunch of returning starters for 2017. Michigan's defense is going to be excellent again and they have their quarterback in Wilton Speight so the offense should be solid as well.
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Those two were obvious omissions and could easily take the place of Florida. While the Gators had a strong finish to the season with a trouncing of Iowa in their bowl game, the QB situation is not settled and there were some serious losses on defense thanks to the NFL Draft. Even if quarterback Luke Del Rio recovers from yet another shoulder surgery will he be enough to make the offense click or will one of the redshirt freshmen have to step in and be the starter?
Regardless of how good Florida's defense might be, that should not have put them in the top ten. Not only are Michigan and Louisville clear cut choices above the Gators, but you could make the case that Auburn and LSU are also better teams. LSU also has to find a QB, but that defense has less question marks on it as of now. Auburn just landed QB Jarrett Stidham so they are now set at the position and should have a better defense this year with most guys returning and a solid freshman class coming in.
