2012 CFN Post-Spring Rankings - Top Ten

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1. LSU
(2011 Record: 13-1, 2012 Roughly Projected Record: 12-0)

If you liked the 2011 version of the Tigers, there’s a chance you’ll love the sequel even more with a killer of an offensive line paving the way for what should be the nation’s most dominant running game. It might not put up the numbers of a Wisconsin or Navy, but the LSU front line is loaded with NFL talent and all the running backs return to bring wave after wave of big, strong pounders to wear down a defense.

The problem, though, is that the 2011 Tigers seemed to feed off the really big game-changing play to get energized, and when that didn’t happen in the BCS championship, everything broke down. This year, the offense will generate more big plays down the field with QB Zach Mettenberger pushing the deep play down the field a bit more after the defenses are softened up by the killer ground attack. On the other side of the ball, Tyrann Mathieu and the defense should be dominant again even without DT Michael Brockers and CB Morris Claiborne. DE Sam Montgomery should be in the NFL right now, Barkevious Mingo will dominate on the other side, and the defensive tackle combination of Anthony “Freak” Johnson and Bennie Logan will be special.

The 2012 Tigers will be great, but they might not be quite as good across the board as they were last year. Fortunately the schedule will be far easier with Alabama coming to Death Valley and with no brutal Oregon-like non-conference games. Going to Arkansas could screw up the dream year in the regular-season finale, and going to Florida, Auburn, and Texas A&M will be challenging, but if everything goes according to plan the worst-case scenario could be 10-2.

2. Oklahoma
3. Oregon
4. Alabama
5. Texas
6. USC
7. South Carolina
8. Georgia
9. Florida State
10. Wisconsin