Top 25 Poll proves FSU schedule is top heavy, but is it tough?

There's nothing that should surprise FSU fans about the preseason AP Top 25 Poll.

FSU wasn't ranked. Not a shock there. FSU got a couple votes. Not really a shock there, even after a 2-10 season. The top four opponents the Seminoles face this season are all ranked in the top 15. Not a shock there. No one can seriously say they didn't expect Miami and Florida to start the season a little overrated.

As for the rest of the schedule. There's not much there, which is why 8-4 is the number that everyone that is bullish on FSU is clinging to. Anything less than eight feels like underachievement. 

Where will the top four opponents be when they face FSU?

​The top four opponents are ranked in the Top 15. But who's overrated? Who might be better than their ranking? And where they might finish up.

We know Alabama will be No. 8 when they enter Tallahassee and I could see them remaining in the top 8-12 for the season. I am actually a big fan of Kalen DeBoer and was hoping he would coach FSU if Norvell was offered and decided to take the Bama job. The Crmison Tide feel like a bounce-back story.

Clemson is ranked third and that also sounds about right. They are one of the best rosters in the country and feel like the team that will carry the flag for the ACC. The Tigers might lose one. Heck, they could lose their opener to LSU, but they feel like a 10-11 win team and the ACC champion.

Miami starts the season ranked 10th and who knows how this thing is going to go other than the Hurricanes will lose to at least one team they aren't supposed to, likely two, and that will keep them out of the Playoff. Truthfully, the Hurricanes could start the season 2-4. Would you really be shocked if they lost to Notre Dame, Florida, FSU and Louisville? I wouldn't. I don't think it will happen, but I wouldn't be shocked if it did. And if it does happens Miami will wish it had left the state of Florida before November.

Florida is ranked high because of DJ Lagway. The rule is, if you have a top quarterback, your team gets an extra 10 spots in the rankings. The schedule is brutal, and you can easily see 3-4 losses there. So I predict the Gators will be 7-4 and unranked going into the Sunshine Showdown.

The best of the rest - Who might be underrated?

​The good news is FSU misses out on SMU, ranked 17th, Louisville and Georgia Tech, both of whom are receiving a lot of votes. That leaves Pittsburgh, N.C. State and Virginia Tech as the programs that I think could sneak into the top 25 at various points in the season.

​Since all three of those opponents come after Week 5, they will have earned a spot in the rankings if they are there by the time the FSU game comes around. 

Since all three of those opponents come after Week 5, they will have earned a spot in the rankings if they are there by the time the FSU game comes around. But N.C. State sticks out because they have shown the ability to punch above their weight class.

N.C. State might have the toughest schedule in the conference. The first four games (East Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest and Duke) are tricky. The Wolfpack also play Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech and Miami before FSU, so if they can get to that game with a 6-3 record, it's worth respecting.