Who are the best 2010 Surprise Teams in College Football?

The Sporting News has announced five teams, with the University of Iowa at the top of the list of Surprise Teams for 2010.

Iowa leads list of five teams that could land surprise spot in college football title game - Sporting News

• Iowa (11-2)
• Pittsburgh (10-3)
• Oregon State (8-5)
• Florida State (7-6)
• Auburn (8-5)

Phil Steele' 2010 College Football Preview likes the following 12 teams as 2010 Surprise Teams (page 22):

1. Oklahoma (8-5)
2. USC (9-4)
3. Georgia (8-5)
4. Notre Dame (6-6)
5. Auburn (8-5)
6. Miami-FL (9-4)
7. West Virginia (9-4)
8. North Carolina (8-5)
9. Arkansas (8-5)
10. Wisconsin (10-3)

Two Long Shots per Phil Steele ...

11. South Carolina (7-6)

12. Michigan (5-7)

Phil Steele's Top Non-BCS teams for 2010 (page 22):

1. TCU (12-1)
2. Boise State (14-0)
3. Houston (10-4)
4. Utah (10-3)
5. Nevada (8-5)

No Brigham Young Phil? The BYU Cougars (11-2) have won at least 10 games the past four seasons under coach Bronco Mendenhall. This will be a younger BYU team than recent teams, but can we count the Cougars out?

The 2010 College Football season will kickoff on Thursday, September 2Nd. Some of the top opening games on Thursday, September 2nd (times are Central Time):

• Marshall at Ohio State, 6:30 p.m., BTN (HD)
• Minnesota at Middle Tennessee, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD)
• Northern Illinois at Iowa State, 6:30 p.m., (CSNC / FSMW / FSSW) (HD)
• Southern Miss at South Carolina, 6:30 p.m., ESPN (HD)
• Towson at Indiana, 6:30 p.m., BTN (HD)
• Pittsburgh at Utah, 7:30 p.m., Versus (HD)
• USC at Hawaii, 10:00 p.m., ESPN (HD)

peace