ESPN just recently released their preseason Football Power Index (FPI) Poll — and let me tell you — it’s almost as ugly as it can get. ESPN has always done preseason polls that have been bad and time and, again, they are beyond wrong. I am not saying I am an expert in any way, shape, or form but in the top-25 there are some teams that I am extremely suspicious about. With good reason as these five teams never truly live up to the “Preseason Hype” yet time and time again they are ranked in the preseason Top 25.
#9 Pitt
I will undeniably say Pitt had a solid year last year. Kenny Pickett lead that team to success it hasn’t seen success in a while. To put it in this perspective, they have only four 9+ win seasons since 1985 and their first 10+ win season since 2009. The ACC looked extremely bad and in trouble last year when Clemson took a nosedive at the beginning of the year. Pitt saved the conference’s reputation but looking at their schedule missed a beyond-perfect opportunity to make the College Football Playoffs.
Now that their Heisman candidate QB is off to the pros, do people really believe this team is going to win nine or more games this year? This is the same team that couldn’t beat Western Michigan last season. Their first three games include West Virginia, Tennessee, and Western Michigan. They could very well go 0-3 if their QB situation goes back to how it normally has been.
Their defense will anchor this team as they are returning talent on that side of the ball. But draw me skeptical, as they should have had a good defense last year but gave up 44 to Western Michigan, 38 to Miami, and 38 to Virginia. This team is a tough read as they are either extremely hot or extremely cold.