I hate preseason polls. Granted, I hope Alabama is truly the best team in the country. I hope they go 15-0. But let's be real here. As of this week, Alabama still has not named a starting QB. Whoever does start will come in with precious little experience (if any). All three RB's expected to have significant carries this year have little or no college experience. Granted, the defense should be good and the OL should be solid. The receiving corps is good as is the kicking game. But, seriously: can you really say a team with almost zero experience in the backfield coming in is still "the best" team in the country? Maybe in the end, the voters will be proven correct. But I would have voted Clemson and Oklahoma #1 and #2.
As for Louisville, is #19 right? Hell, who knows. After you get past the first 5 or 6, you can pretty much throw 30 teams into a hopper and pick them out at random. I could see UL in the top 10, at about 19, or out of the mix altogether. But to say they are the 19th best team in the country today? Sure. Whatever. Pick a number - any number.