Once again, Ohio State was thumped by an SEC team in the Title game for the second straight year. Look, I think this conference needs to change the way they do things, and I noticed an open date in the schedule (Good, but add another one). So, what will it be like this year?
1. Ohio State Buckeyes-With 18 starters back, a trip to Miami is not out of the question. Circle Sept 13 on your calendar, the USC game could be a deal breaker for OSU making it to Miami.
2. Wisconsin Badgers-Like OSU, loaded back with talent, but they have a tendency to fold. If injuries are kept to a minimum, this could be their year.
3. Illinois Fighting Illini-Despite losing Reshard Mendenhall, the Illini may be better than they were last year. This team is young, and Ron Zook admitted this team did not live up to its potential last year. If they get their act together this year, they will be SCARY.
4. Penn St Nittany Lions-Coach Joe Pa still keeps going, but if the Fighting Paterno's want to contend in the Big 10, they need a QB.
5. Iowa Hawkeyes-Kirk Ferentz needs a good year, possibly to save his job. Will another 7-5 year cut it? Nope
6. Michigan State Spartans-Sparty might be the sleeping giant here. The Spartans lost no game by more than 7 points last year, showing the heart this team has. But with only 11 starters back, and the best WR now in the NFL, they can still surprise, so watch out.
7. Northwestern Wildcats-Pat Fitgerald may have his best team in Evanston this year. But the top light bottom heavy schedule could do them in as far as a bowl game goes.
8. Michigan Wolverines-Sorry, but Rich Rodriguez lacks the talent to run his offense. But the good news is the defense is well loaded. But without the playmakers on offense, you can see why Lloyd Carr stepped down. The Wolverines are too young to make anything happen this year. I'll be shocked if they win more than 5 games this year.
9. Indiana Hoosiers-Last year was magical, but it was last year. Overcoming the tragic death of Terry Hoepnner, the Hoosiers led by head coach Bill Lynch played well. The departure of James Hardy is going to be hard on the offense, but they can still make plays. If luck falls their way, they can finish in the top half of the conference, but luck can only take you so far.
10. Purdue Boilermakers-Fans ought to be drinking plenty of those before the games start. While Curtis Painter is the lone bright spot, this team is very inconsistent. Joe Tiller though does his best when his job is on the line.
11. Minnesota Golden Gophers-I think Duke is better than this team. Seriously.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
2008 College Football Preview ACC
A new look this year to the previews, I'll give the predicted order of finish, and highlight a couple of teams.
ACC
The ACC had a bad year last year. While having a lot of good athletes (2nd only to the SEC in NFL starters by the way), the post season was bland at best. Va. Tech was the top dog last year, but who is the one to knock them off this year? can they be knocked off?
Coastal
1. Virginia Tech Hokies-The good news is the Hokies have a lot of starters returning on offense, but are still unsure about who the starting QB is; Sean Glennon is efficient, but Tyrod Taylor is the better athlete and gives defenses new problems. The defense is the tougher job, finding 7 new starters. At least this is a weak division, so Tech should go to Jacksonville again this year.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels-The Tar Heels are back, well close anyway. Butch Davis has 10 starters back on offense, but only 5 on defense. 7 wins are a possibility, as is a bowl game.
3. Virginia Cavaliers-A surprise that won't surprise this year. If they win, it will be boring, and the defense may not have enough in the tank to bail them out.
4. Miami Hurricanes-Randy Shannon's 1st season was disappointing, but there is optimism in Miami. The Orange Bowl is gone, now they share Pro Player Stadium w/ the Dolphins. This team is real young, so 5 or 6 wins could be the norm for a couple of years anyway.
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets-Paul Johnson brings the Flexbone offense to the Yellow Jackets, but will it work here? I don't think it will in 2008, but 2009 will be a break out year.
6. Duke Blue Devils-David Cutcliffe had only 1 losing season at Ole Miss, his last. The bad news is no new QB named Manning is waiting in the wings, but 3 wins is reason enough to celebrate.
Atlantic
1. Clemson Tigers-If Tommy Bowden can get people off of his back, this is the year to do it. From top to bottom, Clemson has the best talent in this conference. The only ?'s are on the O-Line, and LB on defense. But they should get the O-line resolved quicker than LB, and be a force.
2. Florida State Seminoles-What is it about FSU that has me higher on them than everyone else? Jimbo Fisher. In his 2nd year (Auburn, LSU) he really had great offenses. Legal troubles for players aside, the Noles Defense is impressive, and that should help the offense out quite a bit.
3. Wake Forest Demon Deacons-Good enough to win the division, but despite a favorable schedule, the Sept 20 game at FSU could determine the season for the Deacons.
4. Boston College Eagles-Life without Matt Ryan begins here, the defense is missing 7 starters from last year, and on offense WR Brandon Robinson returns. This is a rebuilding year.
5. Maryland Terrepins-The Terps haven't lived up to the reputation of Ralph Freidgen's reputation, but they might do it this year. But the Terps will be done in by an inexperienced defense once again.
6. NC State Wolfpack-The good news? Let me get back to you. With 9 starters back, that may be a good or bad thing. 2010 can't come soon enough for the Pack, by then they'll be in ACC fray.
ACC
The ACC had a bad year last year. While having a lot of good athletes (2nd only to the SEC in NFL starters by the way), the post season was bland at best. Va. Tech was the top dog last year, but who is the one to knock them off this year? can they be knocked off?
Coastal
1. Virginia Tech Hokies-The good news is the Hokies have a lot of starters returning on offense, but are still unsure about who the starting QB is; Sean Glennon is efficient, but Tyrod Taylor is the better athlete and gives defenses new problems. The defense is the tougher job, finding 7 new starters. At least this is a weak division, so Tech should go to Jacksonville again this year.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels-The Tar Heels are back, well close anyway. Butch Davis has 10 starters back on offense, but only 5 on defense. 7 wins are a possibility, as is a bowl game.
3. Virginia Cavaliers-A surprise that won't surprise this year. If they win, it will be boring, and the defense may not have enough in the tank to bail them out.
4. Miami Hurricanes-Randy Shannon's 1st season was disappointing, but there is optimism in Miami. The Orange Bowl is gone, now they share Pro Player Stadium w/ the Dolphins. This team is real young, so 5 or 6 wins could be the norm for a couple of years anyway.
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets-Paul Johnson brings the Flexbone offense to the Yellow Jackets, but will it work here? I don't think it will in 2008, but 2009 will be a break out year.
6. Duke Blue Devils-David Cutcliffe had only 1 losing season at Ole Miss, his last. The bad news is no new QB named Manning is waiting in the wings, but 3 wins is reason enough to celebrate.
Atlantic
1. Clemson Tigers-If Tommy Bowden can get people off of his back, this is the year to do it. From top to bottom, Clemson has the best talent in this conference. The only ?'s are on the O-Line, and LB on defense. But they should get the O-line resolved quicker than LB, and be a force.
2. Florida State Seminoles-What is it about FSU that has me higher on them than everyone else? Jimbo Fisher. In his 2nd year (Auburn, LSU) he really had great offenses. Legal troubles for players aside, the Noles Defense is impressive, and that should help the offense out quite a bit.
3. Wake Forest Demon Deacons-Good enough to win the division, but despite a favorable schedule, the Sept 20 game at FSU could determine the season for the Deacons.
4. Boston College Eagles-Life without Matt Ryan begins here, the defense is missing 7 starters from last year, and on offense WR Brandon Robinson returns. This is a rebuilding year.
5. Maryland Terrepins-The Terps haven't lived up to the reputation of Ralph Freidgen's reputation, but they might do it this year. But the Terps will be done in by an inexperienced defense once again.
6. NC State Wolfpack-The good news? Let me get back to you. With 9 starters back, that may be a good or bad thing. 2010 can't come soon enough for the Pack, by then they'll be in ACC fray.
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