EA Sports has released their “Preliminary” Top 25 for NCAA Football 11. In this blog we will break down 5 of those teams that are overrated, underrated, or snubbed from the Top 25 completely. Keep in mind EA has called this its “Preliminary” list, so slight changes could be made to the final poll that will appear in the game.

OVERRATED – Oregon: #4
With Jeremiah Masoli at QB, this ranking would have been pretty accurate. However, Masoli has been kicked off the team and so the quarterback position is somewhat unsettled. The Ducks offense will still be solid under the winner of the QB battle between Nate Costa and Darron Thomas, but it will no doubt take a step back from what it could have been with Masoli. The rest of the offense is still potent and the defense will be stout, so the Ducks are still a top 25 team, but without Masoli they are not top-5 worthy. Our Pick: 10-15

UNDERRATED – Oklahoma: #15
The Sooners stumbled to an 8-5 record last year and with no Sam Bradford some might think that 15th is too high for Oklahoma. We think it is too LOW for the Sooners. Four of their five losses last season were by a TD or less, and four of them were tough road games as well. This season QB Landry Jones will have a deadly offense around him, and the defense should again be among the best in the conference. We actually think Oklahoma will win the Big 12 South this year, and the schedule is favorable if they can get past Texas undefeated. Our Pick: 5-10

OVERRATED – Texas: #3
For the Longhorns to finish #3, they will have to roll to another 11 or 12 win season with a Big 12 Title. We don’t see it. Garrett Gilbert will be expected to replace Colt McCoy, which is no small task. The ‘Horns running game hasn’t put fear into opponents for years, which makes Gilbert’s job tougher. The defense will be among the top 10 in the nation, but it is tough to see Texas finishing with less than two losses. Our Pick: 10thish

SNUBBED – West Virginia
The Mountaineers return a ton of talent on both sides of the ball from a 9 win team and should be in the fight for a conference championship all season long. Sound like a team not worthy of the top 25? Didn’t think so. A tough game @ LSU early in the year and several tough conference games will mean West Virginia will have multiple losses, but we think they are a potential 9 win team (or more) and will end up in the top 25. Our Pick: 15-20

SNUBBED – Georgia
The Bulldogs surprisingly were nowhere to be found on EA’s top 25 list. They will be breaking in a new starting QB, but the rest of the offense is loaded with talent and the defense will be above average in the SEC. We think they will take 2nd in the SEC East behind the Gators, and that alone is good enough to sniff the top 25. Some publications even have the Bulldogs inside the top 15. Our Pick: 20-25