Let's take a vote | by Pat

The first USA Today Coaches poll is out. And for only the second time in Charlie Weis's tenure at ND, the Irish are unranked. (The other time being the 2005 pre-season poll). ND checks in with 90 votes, which is good enough to be tied for "29th" place with South Carolina.

The rest of the 2007 Irish opponents:

1. USC
5. Michigan
17. UCLA
18. Penn State
26. Boston College
27. Georgia Tech

Duke also got a single vote, but that's just Spurrier's little nod to the school that got him started and his commentary on how serious people should treat pre-season polls. USC got 45 of the 60 possible first place votes, which isn't too much of a surprise. Michigan picked up two first place votes of their own; the lowest ranked team to do so.

Last year Jay broke down the biggest gainers and losers from the final 2005 poll to the pre-season 2006 version. It's interesting to look at which teams got the biggest poll bump based not on game results, but on fuzzy, offseason speculation.

Last year's final Coaches Poll is here. Comparing the preseason to last year's final, there are some heavy gainers and losers. Boise State took it on the chin, while UCLA rocketed from zero to 454. The Irish are right in the middle of the biggest loser column -- which isn't a surprise, given all of the uncertainty surrounding this year's team.

biggest gainers team 07 06 final diff 9 Virginia Tech 1,005 494 +511 13 Georgia 604 133 +471 17 UCLA 454 0 +454 4 Texas 1231 791 +440 15 Tennessee 583 202 +381 19 Nebraska 388 43 +345 21 Florida State 301 0 +301 18 Penn State 440 142 +298 6 West Virginia 1,205 1,012 +177 25 Texas A&M 209 29 +180

biggest losers team 07 06 final diff 23 Boise St. 222 1,275 -1,053 BYU 47 615 -568 14 Auburn 595 1,119 -524 10 Ohio State 919 1,435 -516 Wake Forest 70 535 -464 11 Louisville 836 1,270 -434 Notre Dame 90 485 -395 16 Rutgers 466 841 -375 3 Florida 1,278 1,575 -297 Boston College 150 388 -238

So what's your take on the overrated and underrated?