4. Who is, technically, underrated in the Coaches Poll?
Pitt
Last year we put Minnesota here after it received one vote. Pitt got a grand total of one vote this year – Louisiana and SMU got 3, Tulane got 5.
There’s a good chance this is the second-best team in the ACC, or at least right there with Notre Dame in this strangest of years. The Panthers either have the most dangerous defensive front in college football, or they’re at least in the top five. The offensive line is strong, and there’s enough across the board to be flirting with the top 15 overall in the rankings.
– Pitt Preview
South Carolina
You received as many votes in the 2020 Coaches Poll as South Carolina did.
For what seems to be the 19th straight season, the Gamecocks are here in our Underrated category. The talent is there, even if the results haven’t been. Going into this season they have guys on defense to hang with anyone on the slate – especially since there’s no Clemson this year – and overall, the parts are in place to be a whole lot closer to the top 25 than this.
– South Carolina Preview
No. 15 Michigan
It’s hardly an egregious error putting the Wolverines outside of the top ten, but perception is hard to shake. Their biggest problem? Voters remember what’s the freshest, but there’s no sin in losing to Ohio State and Alabama last year. This year’s team is loaded at running back and should have among the nation’s best statistical defenses. Don’t punish the program because it’s not Ohio State
– Michigan Preview
No. 24 Virginia Tech
The Hokies are in the bucket of Could Have The ACC’s Second Best Team bucket. The ranking isn’t all that bad, but with the LOADED defense returning, a dynamic star QB in Hendon Hooker, and with attention a bit off this year, watch out – this is probably a top 15 team not getting its due.
– Virginia Tech Preview
No. 29 Kentucky
How many years does Kentucky have to win games in a We Figure It Out way before you give it any respect? This is a better team coming into the season than Iowa State (25), Cincinnati (22), UCF (21), Utah (20) with the defense and coaching to have slid into the 20s.
– Kentucky Preview