Pre-Season Top 25

With the release of the AP top 25 poll over the weekend, I feel it is only right I show those so called "writers" up by producing the "real" top 25 poll. All 6 of my readers from last year know that I used to rank every single team in 1-a football on a weekly basis. That's 120 teams! Every week! That takes some serious balls, and one angry girlfriend.

Well, I was getting sick of being chewed out by said girlfriend, so this year I will keep it simple and do a weekly top 25. With the season around the corner, here's poll #1. The all powerful preseason poll....

1. Florida Gators - The defending BCS champions are returning damn near everybody. And everybody wearing the Orange and Blue is extremely gifted and fast. There's rumors going around Gainesville that the Gators' equipment manager can run a 4.45. That would make him about the 27th fastest player on the team. Key Players - Tim Tebow QB, Brandon Spikes LB, Carlos Dunlap DE, Aaron Hernandez TE, Brandon James RS.



2. Oklahoma Sooners - Last year's runner up is also returning a boat load of talent. The only uncertainty about this Sooners team is the offensive line. I don't think that will be a problem for long. They should get their act together in time for the Red River Shootout. Having the defending Heisman Trophy winner back to take snaps doesn't hurt either. Key Players - Sam Bradford QB, Gerald McCoy DT, Jermaine Gresham TE, Trent Williams OT, DeMarco Murray RB.


3. Texas Longhorns - Everyone else has Texas ranked ahead of Oklahoma. Those people don't seem to realize that Mack Brown is due for a bad coaching year. Luckily for him, and Horns fans, Texas has enough talent to compensate for any bone headed moves made by the head coach. It doesn't help Texas that they have to travel to Oklahoma St. this year. Key Players - Colt McCoy QB, Jordan Shipley WR, Sergio Kindle DE, Earl Thomas S, Adam Ulatoski OT.



4. Ohio St. Buckeyes - The Buckeyes should re-gain control of the Big Eleven again this year. Terrelle Pryor loos like he's destined to be better than advertised, and running backs Dan Herron and Brandon Saine give the Buckeyes one of the better rushing attacks in the nation. If Ohio St. can take down USC early in the year, they have a real good chance of running the table. That is, until they get demolished by a SEC or Big XII team in the title game. Key Players - Terrelle Pryor QB, Dan Herron RB, Brandon Saine RB, Kurt Coleman S, Chimdi Chekwa CB.



5. LSU Tigers - The Tigers would be ranked even higher if they QB situation was a little more stable. LSU is easily one of the most talented teams in the nation. If Jordan Jefferson can put together a decent season, the Tigers will be in the hunt all season long. I expect Oct. 10 to be a huge game for the title picture. Key Players - Brandon LaFell WR, Charles Scott RB, Richard Murphy RB, Patrick Peterson CB, Ciron Black OT.



6. USC Trojans - The Trojans are in the exact same situation was LSU. They have all the talent in the world at every position except QB. No matter who USC goes with, either Aaron Corp or Matt Barkley, there is going to be a huge drop-off at that position. One good thing for the Trojans is the relative instability of the rest of the PAC 10. Key Players - Taylor Mays S, Damian Williams WR, Stafon Johnson RB, Everson Griffen DE, Joe McKnight RB.



7. Oklahoma St. Cowboys - Oklahoma St. has the best trio of Cowboys since Aikman, Smith and Irvin roamed the field for Dallas. QB Zac Robinson, WR Dez Bryant and RB Kendall Hunter will make sure the Cowboys will put up plenty of points this season. It will be up to their defense to help make sure OSU takes the proverbial next step. Key Players - Dez Bryant WR, Zac Robinson QB, Kendall Hunter RB, Russell Okung OT, Perrish Cox CB.



8. Ole Miss Rebels - Ole Miss turned out to be a really good football team last season. That makes Florida's lost to them last year in the Swamp a little less vomit inducing, just a little. The Rebels return about half of their starters on both sides of the ball this year. The biggest area of concern seems to be the WR position. If Jevan Snead can keep Ole Miss around the top 10 all season long, he could be a dark horse Heisman candidate. Key Players - Jevan Snead QB, Greg Hardy DE, Dexter McCluster WR, Kentrell Lockett DE, Marshay Green CB.



9. Penn St. Nittany Lions - I have gone on the record as saying that I don't think Penn St. will be as good this year as they were a year ago. I know they return a lot of starters and Darryl Clark is back at QB. But I just don't think last year was the start of a trend for PSU. I could be wrong, I mean I had to put them at #9 for a reason. Key Players - Darryl Clark QB, Evan Royster RB, Stefan Wisniewski C, Sean Lee LB, Navorro Bowman LB.



10. Virginia Tech Hokies - The Hokies are another team that I'm not too sure about this season. My confidence in them was shaken even more when RB Darren Evans went down with a season ending injury. But, Frank Beamer can flat out coach, and Freshman Ryan Williams may be even better than Evans. His injury may be a blessing in disguise for the Hokies. Key Players - Tyrod Taylor QB, Ryan Williams RB, Kam Chancellor S, Stephen Virgil CB, Ed Wang OT.



11. Boise St. Broncos - Can you imagine if Boise St. started out this high and ran the table? If Oregon turns out to be good and the Broncos blow them out, we could be looking at a BCS title game featuring the Blue Turfers! We all know that will never happen, but it's nice to dream. Key Players - Kellen Moore QB, Austin Pettis WR, Jeremy Avery RB, Kyle Wilson CB, Jeron Johnson S.



12. Alabama Crimson Tide - I know this seems pretty low for 'Bama, but they have no QB at all. Greg McElroy or Starr Jackson will be taking snaps for the Tide this season. That's not good news for team that ended the season on an ugly two game losing streak. Also, this team is still only two years removed from losing to Louisiana-Monroe at home. Key Players - Mark Ingram RB, Julio Jones WR, Rolando McClain LB, Terrence Cody DT, Javier Arenas RS.



13. California Golden Bears - One again Cal looks poised to compete with USC for the PAC-10 crown. Of course, we all know that means the Bears will stumble all over themselves on the way to the Emerald Bowl. I'm hoping this year will be different, and with Jahvid Best it could be. One good thing for the Bears is that they get USC at home. That hasn't helped too much in the past. Key Players - Jahvid Best RB, Nyan Boateng WR, Syd'Quan Thompson CB, Kevin Riley QB, Cameron Jordan DE.



14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - I actually think I might have Georgia Tech ranked a little low here. I think Tech will be really good this season. Their rushing attack is second to none in the ACC, and they may have one of the best receivers in the conference too! If Josh Nesbitt can avoid injuries, there's no reason why the Jackets can't play for the ACC championship at season's end. Oct. 17 vs. Virginia Tech will be a HUGE game. Key Players - Josh Nebitt QB, Jonathan Dwyer RB, Demaryius Thomas WR, Dan Voss C, Morgan Burnett S.



15. Oregon Ducks - Chip Kelly inherits a very good Duck team in his first season as head coach. Even with all of the Ducks talent, and relative experience, perhaps nothing works more in their favor than the schedule. If Oregon can pull out a victory at Boise St. this season they have a somehwhat manageable schedule the rest of the way. California, USC and Oregon St. all come to Eugene this season. Key Players - LeGarrette Blount RB, Jeremiah Masoli QB, Ed Dickson TE, Walter Thurmond III CB, T.J. Ward S.



16. West Virginia Mountaineers - I still don't know how other preseason polls can have Notre Dame ranked in the top 25 and not West Virginia. Are you really telling me that Notre Dame cold be West Virginia right now? Not only would the Mountaineers win, but it would be a rout. I don't think West Virginia will miss Pat White as much as everyone thinks they will. Plus, Noel Devine is still in Morgantown. Key Players - Noel Devine RB, Jarrett Brown QB, Scooter Berry DT, Reed Williams LB, Selvish Capers OT.



17. Georgia Bulldogs - The Dawgs are definitely poised for a down year this season. The deaparture of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno really hurts them. However, it's not like the cupboard's bare in Athens. The defense is stacked this season and should keep the Bulldogs in every game they play season. Except 1. Key Players - A.J. Green WR, Geno Atkins DT, Clint Boling OT, Rennie Curran LB, Reshad Jones S.



18. Kansas Jayhawks - I like the Jayhawks to represent the Big XII North in the conference championship game this season. All that means is that they will be little more than sacrificial lambs to a powerful Big XII South team. Outside of Oklahoma St., Kansas probably has the best big 3 in the conference. QB Todd Reesing, RB Jake Sharp and WR Dezmon Briscoe are all big time performers. Key Players - Todd Reesing QB, Jake Sharp RB, Dezmon Briscoe WR, Darrell Stuckey S, Kerry Meier WR.



19. TCU Horned Frogs - I'm not completely buying into the TCU preseason hype just yet. Their offense isn't really anything special and their defense lost a bunch of starters from a year ago. Also, the Frogs still have BYU and Utah to compete with this season. Both teams are capable of defeating the Horned Frogs. Key Players - Jerry Hughes DE, Nick Sanders CB, Rafael Priest CB, Andy Dalton QB, Jimmy Young WR.



20. North Carolina Tar Heels - It didn't take too long for Butch Davis to return the Tar Heels back to relevancy. UNC returns a lot of players on the defensive side of the ball. That could be good or bad news. On offense, the Heels will have to replace WR Hakeem Nicks. This won't be easy, but there are several young receivers ready to make a break out. The schedule is a tough one though. Carolina has to travel to Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and NC State. Key Players - Shaun Draughn RB, Greg Little WR, Marvin Austin DT, Kendric Burney CB, Quan Sturdivant LB.



21. Utah Utes - Utah is coming off yet another remarkable season. The Utes were the only team left undefeated after last season. That earned them a number 2 ranking in the final polls. Unfortunately for the Utes, they lose a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. This is especially true on the offense as only 4 starters return. (3 linemen and 1 TE.) You know the Utes will be solid and well coached, but they may not have enough talent to keep up with TCU and BYU in the Mountain West. Kep Players - Koa Misi DE, Matt Asiata RB, Stevenson Sylvester LB, Robert Johnson S, David Reed WR.



22. BYU Cougars - Even though my preseason ranking don't show it, I think the Cougars may be the team to beat in the Mountain West this season. They have a front 7 that would be one of the best in any BCS conference. Also, QB Max Hall and RB Harvey Unga could start almost anywhere in the country. Key Players - Max Hall QB, Harvey Unga RB, Jan Jorgensen DE, Dennis Pitta TE, Matt Bauman LB.



23. Nebraska Cornhuskers - Nebraska is really the only team in the North capable of challenging Kansas for the crown. Unfortunately for Nebraska, they travel to Lawrence this season. The rest of the schedule does seem pretty manageable for the Cornhuskers. They avoid both Texas and Oklahoma St. Outside of a trip to Virginia Tech and a visit by Oklahoma, there isn't a game on the schedule that the Huskers can't win. Key Players - Roy Helu, Jr. RB, Zac Lee QB, Ndamukong Suh DT, Larry Asante S, Mike McNeil TE.



24. Michigan St. Spartans - I think a lot people will be surprised that I have the Spartans ranked in my preseason top 25. I just think they are a solid football team. Mark Dantonio is one of the more underrated coaches in the nation, and if the trend ccontinues of win increases, Michigan St. is posied for a 10 win season. The defense might be the best in the Big Eleven, sorry Ohio St. and Penn St. The only concerns for MSU, and they'r major, are QB and RB. Replacing Javon Ringer will be the biggest goal for the coahing staff. Key Players - Mark Dell WR, Joel Foreman G, Greg Jones LB, Brett Swenson K, Trevor Anderson DE.



25. Texas Tech Red Raiders - The Red Raiders definitely won't be repeating last season's success. But don't think they will slide to mediocrity just because they lost Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. Mike Leach has made a career out of replacing record breeaking quarterbacks and wide receivers with new record breaking quarterbacks and wide receivers. Key Players - Taylor Potts QB, Baron Batch RB, Detron Lewis WR, Brandon Carter OT, Jamar Wall CB.

Random Thoughts for the Upcoming Week

There are a handful of teams looking to remain undefeated this week. Some are almost guaranteed to win, while others are dacing more difficult opponents.

Here's what the unblemished squads will be facing:

Boise St. will travel to Northern Mexico to play the San Jose St. Spartans. This might just be the last chance for the Broncos to lose. That's bad news for some teams on the BCS bubble. If it came down to an undefeated Boise St. team and a perfect Utah team, I'd have to think the nod would go to the Broncos. Maybe...

Mike Leach takes his Texas Tech squad to Lawrence to take on the Fighting Manginos. I think this game will be extremely close. Kansas hung tough with Oklahoma last week until Sam Bradford lost his freaking mind. Kansas will have to avoid letting Graham Harrell do the same thing if they want to pull off the upset.

Ball St. will host Eastern Michigan this week. Ball St. will win. That's all I got.

Oklahoma St. and Texas will battle it out in the only game featuring two unbeatens. If the Longhorns play lik they did against Missouri last week, there's no chance for the Cowboys. If Dez Bryant continues to produce like he's the best receiver in the nation outside of Jarrett Dillard, Mike Gundy's men could be walking out of Austin with a win. I've already picked Texas to win this one.

Alabama takes on Tennessee in the god awful city of Knoxville. If Bama can get past all the hillbillies shouting the dreadful lyrics to Rocky Top every 10 seconds, they should do just fine. God I wish someone would line up all the Vols fans so I can kick them in the nuts.

In what the World Wide Leader has deemed the game of the week, Penn St. traves to the Shoe to take on the Terrelle Pryors. I have actually picked OSU to win this one. As much as I should be rooting for Penn St. to lose, I just don't know if I can cheer for the Buckeyes.

On Sunday, Tulsa plays UCF. David Johnson should have another huge game for the Golden Hurricane. It's unfortunate how bad the formely Golden Knights have become.
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On the other end of the spectrum, Washington and North Texas will both be looking for their first wins. I picked Washington to upset Notre Dame at home this weekend. Mostly due to my hatred for the Irish, the team and the people. North Texas is gonna lose in a game that no one will even know about. As bad as the Mean Green are this year, I wouldn't expect them to stay down for too long. They have a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the ball. It's just too bad Hayden Fry isn't available to coach.
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5 Stories to follow:

1. How many coaches will Syracuse contact this weekend about their coaching job? Randy Edsall down. Next up, Al Golden.
2. How many dumb ass new segments will CFB Live do? How about trying to see who can mention Hitler's name more often when talking about bad coaches?
3. Will USC choke against another inferior PAC-10 team?
4. How many more Florida St. violations will the NCAA uncover?
5. Will Jim Grobe slip in the puddle of tears from Randy Shannon's constant crying?

Weekly Picks

Last Week - 39-13

Overall - 360-85

I bounced back rather nicely last week. Finally a few of my upset picks payed off. Some other ones, not so much. I am now officially a believer in the Texas Longhorns. We'll see how long that lasts.

Baseball and beer pong provided a nice distraction from some of the shitty games this past week. Hopefully this week's slate will provide some better match-ups.

Here are my ever so powerful picks:

Ohio @ Temple
Auburn @ West Virginia
New Mexico @ Air Force
Boise St. @ San Jose St.
Texas Tech @ Kansas
Eastern Michigan @ Ball St.
Northwestern @ Indiana
Minnesota @ Purdue
Cincinnati @ Connecticut
Boston College @ North Carolina
Illinois @ Wisconsin
Wake Forest @ Miami (FL)
Central Michigan @ Toledo
Oklahoma @ Kansas St.
Kentucky @ Florida
Baylor @ Nebraska
Louisiana Tech @ Army
UNLV @ BYU
Duke @ Vanderbilt
Fresno St. @ Utah St.
Rice @ Tulane
Oklahoma St. @ Texas
Georgia @ LSU
South Florida @ Louisville
Rutgers @ Pittsburgh
Virginia @ Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech @ Florida St.
UCLA @ California
NC State @ Maryland
Michigan St. @ Michigan
Kent St. @ Miami (OH)
SMU @ Navy
Bowling Green @ Northern Illinois
New Mexico St. @ Idaho
Wyoming @ TCU
Colorado @ Missouri
Ole Miss @ Arkansas
Texas A&M @ Iowa St.
Troy @ North Texas
Middle Tennessee @ Mississippi St.
Florida Atlantic @ UL-Monroe
Alabama @ Tennessee
Penn St. @ Ohio St.
Southern Miss @ Memphis
Notre Dame @ Washington
Colorado St. @ San Diego St.
Oregon @ Arizona St.
USC @ Arizona
Nevada @ Hawaii
UCF @ Tulsa

Upset Picks:

Purdue over Minnesota - I like what the Gophers are doing this season. I just can't see the Boilermakers letting Joe Tiller go out with a losing season.

North Carolina over Boston College - I ranked BC in my top 25 for the first time this season. I follow that up by picking them to lose to the Tar Heels. The worst thing that could have happened to the Eagles was UNC losing to UVA last week.

Rutgers over Pittsburgh - Picking Rutgers last week payed off for me. I'm going for it again! I still have faith that Rutgers can pull it around and that Dave Wannstedt can still find a way to totally screw this season.

Ohio St. over Penn St. - Not sure how much of an upset this really is. I like for the Buckeyes to defend home turf and knock off Penn St. Also, with PSU's remaining schedule it would greatly benefit my Gators if they lost on Saturday.

Washington over Notre Dame - Wouldn't it be sweet if this was the only game Washington won all year? What a way to send coach Ty out!

Weekly Picks

Last Week- 42 - 11

Overall - 285-72


Just like my Gators, I bounced back rather strong this week. A few of my highlight picks were Vanderbilt, Temple, North Carolina and South Carolina to name a few.

Due to yet another Tuesday night game, I have to make my picks a little early this week. Here is the truth:



Troy @ Florida Atlantic
Clemson @ Wake Forest
UAB @ Houston
Louisville @ Memphis
Texas @ Oklahoma
Iowa @ Indiana
Toledo @ Michigan
East Carolina @ Virginia
Syracuse @ West Virginia
Minnesota @ Illinois
Rutgers @ Cincinnati
Colorado @ Kansas
South Carolina @ Kentucky
Eastern Michigan @ Army
Utah @ Wyoming
Kansas St. @ Texas A&M
Vanderbilt @ Mississippi St.
Ohio @ Kent St.
Nebraska @ Texas Tech
Arizona St. @ USC
Tennessee @ Georgia
Purdue @ Ohio St.
Notre Dame @ North Carolina
Michigan St. @ Northwestern
TCU @ Colorado St.
Gardner-Webb @ Georgia Tech
Western Michigan @ Buffalo
UCF @ Miami(FL)
Temple @ Central Michigan
Miami(OH) @ Northern Illinois
New Mexico St. @ Nevada
Arkansas @ Auburn
Arizona @ Stanford
New Mexico @ BYU
Bowling Green @ Akron
Washington St. @ Oregon St.
Ball St. @ Western Kentucky
Iowa St. @ Baylor
UL-Lafayette @ North Texas
UL-Monroe @ Arkansas St.
Middle Tennessee @ Florida International
Utah St. @ San Jose St.
Oklahoma St. @ Missouri
LSU @ Florida
Penn St. @ Wisconsin
Boise St. @ Southern Miss
Tulsa @ SMU
Tulane @ UTEP
Air Force @ San Diego St.
Idaho @ Fresno St.
UCLA @ Oregon
Louisiana Tech @ Hawaii


Upset Alert: Here's a few upset picks I made for this week:

Colorado over Kansas. I like Colorado's running game. If they can play slightly better than Iowa St. did last week, which isn't impossible, they should knock off the Jayhawks.

Kentucky over South Carolina. This might not be too big of an upset pick. I like the Cats to win a defensive battle.

Buffalo over Western Michigan. I know what you're thinking. "There's no upsets in the MAC! All teams are equally bad!" Well you're wrong and you're an ass. This would be an upset. Besides, nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bulls.

Wisconsin over Penn St. This might be a long shot. But I just don't see the Badgers losing three straight games. Especially back-to-back home games.

Weekly Picks

Last Week - 46-11

Overall- 207-44


Time for another weekly rendition of me showing just how awesome I am.

It's a shame how incredibly gifted I really am. I honestly can't get enough of myself.

By the way, damn North Carolina for giving away that lead to Va Tech. Here are my picks for this week:

SMU @ Tulane
USC @ Oregon St. (USC will dominate leading to an instant erection by Mark May.)
Connecticut @ Louisville
Minnesota @ Ohio St. (Closer than people think.)
Maryland @ Clemson (See above.)
Michigan St. @ Indiana
Virginia @ Duke (Duke proves they are no longer the worst team in the ACC.)
Pittsburgh @ Syracuse
Kent St. @ Ball St.
Northern Illinois @ Eastern Michigan
Northwestern @ Iowa
North Carolina @ Miami(FL) (The Heels win the Butch Davis bowl.)
Ole Miss @ Florida
Army @ Texas A&M
Rhode Island @ Boston College
VMI @ Ohio
Western Michigan @ Temple
Arkansas St. @ Memphis
Arkansas @ Texas (No hurricane to save the Hogs this week.)
Wisconsin @ Michigan
Tennessee @ Auburn
Houston @ East Carolina
Fresno St. @ UCLA
Colorado @ Florida St.
Purdue @ Notre Dame ( Notre Dame's dream perfect season is over.)
Morgan St. @ Rutgers (Finally.)
Marshall @ West Virginia
Cincinnati @ Akron
UL-Lafayette @ Kansas St.
Navy @ Wake Forest
Buffalo @ Central Michigan
Bowling Green @ Wyoming
North Texas @ Rice
Colorado St. @ California
Oregon @ Washington St. (Cougs might be the worst BCS team.)
TCU @ Oklahoma
Western Kentucky @ Kentucky
Central Arkansas @ Tulsa
UAB @ South Carolina
Florida International @ Toledo
Troy @ Oklahoma St. (This will be a very close game.)
Mississippi St. @ LSU (This will not be a very close game.)
South Florida @ North Carolina St.
Alabama @ Georgia (The game of the week.)
Illinois @ Penn St.
Weber St. @ Utah
Idaho @ San Diego St.
Virginia Tech @ Nebraska
New Mexico @ New Mexico St.
UCF @ UTEP
Stanford @ Washington
Nevada @ UNLV
San Jose St. @ Hawaii

Upset Alert - I came really close to picking Illinois over Penn St. The fact that the game is in Happy Valley is what made me choose the Nittany Lions.

All Suspended/Dismissed team

If you're a college athlete these days, it seems to be all the rage to go out and make a complete jackass out of yourself. Unfortunately for these morons, a suspension, or in severe cases, a dismissal from the team is a result.

These instances of tomfoolery seem to be more prevalent this year than in the past.

In honor of these grade A dumbasses, I've decided to make a team compiled completely of players that have been suspended or dismissed from their respective teams this upcoming season.


Offense

QB - Ryan Perrilloux - LSU - Dismissed
HB - Lance Smith - Wisconsin - Dismissed
HB - Leon Patton - Kansas St. - Susp. Indefinitely
WR - Josh Jarboe - Oklahoma - Dismissed
WR - JaJaun Spillman - Louisville - Dismissed
WR - Jeremy Childs - Boise St. - Susp. 1 Game
WR - Marques Wade - Arkansas - Susp. 2 Games
OL- Clint Boling - Georgia Tech - Susp. 1 Game
OL - Andy Christensen - Nebraska - Susp. Indefinitely
OL- Tyler Gray - UCLA - Susp. 4 Games
OL - Brandon Davis - Florida St. - Susp. 3 Games


Defense

DL - Brady Smith - Boston College - Dismissed
DL - John Gill - Northwestern - Susp. 1 Game
DL - Kevin Dixon - Nebraska - Dismissed
DL - Phillip Taylor- Penn St. -Dismissed
LB - Darius Dewberry - Georgia - Susp. 2 Games
LB - Jimmy Johns - Alabama - Dismissed
LB - Daniel Brooks - Tennessee - Dismissed
LB - Freddy Burton - Arkansas - Susp. 2 Games
DB - Jamar Hornsby - Florida - Dismissed
DB - Donovan Baldwin - Georgia - Susp. 1 Game
DB - Antonio Wardlow - Tennessee - Dismissed

Special Teams

P - Britton Colquitt - Tennessee - Susp. 5 Games
K - John Barker - Syracuse - Susp. Indefinitely
RS - Preston Parker - Florida St. - Susp. 2 Games

If you give me the guys on the list I guarantee you I will win some games. Of course, my program will be in the shits for letting a bunch of douche bags run wild, but isn't that what football's all about anyway?

JoePa's Successor?

A lot of talk has been going down lately about who should be next in line at Penn State once Paterno steps down. I guess this has been a hot topic as of late because everyone figures Joe will retire after this season.

Wrong.

JoePa is going to coach forever. He will never retire. You know what else? Penn St. will be better for it. No one wants to go to Penn St. just because it's Penn St. People want to wear the PSU uniform so that they can have the opportunity to play for Paterno.

However, since everyone and their momma is making a JoePa successor list, I figured why the hell not.

Here are my top candidates to replace the un-replaceable one.

1. Greg Schiano - The current Rutgers head coach is the most likely choice as of now. In a recent poll on this most awesome of sites, you people voted Schiano as the leading candidate as well. The only problem is from Schiano's end. He repeatedly has turned down job opportunities to remain at Rutgers. I don't see that happening here. I believe Schiano would jump at a chance to coach the Nittany Lions. Like it or not, he would have a better chance of winning in the Big Eleven as opposed to the Big East.

2. Galen Hall - Hall is currently an assistant coach under Joe Paterno. If PSU were to give JoePa the power to pick his own replacement, I'm sure Hall would be his choice. Unfortunately, it seems Penn St. will not afford him that opportunity. One negative on Hall is his age. The Nittany Lions would effectively be moving from one old guy to the next. Usually you see a program go considerably younger when a long term coach is stepping down.

3. Bret Bielema - I've seen the current Wisconsin head coach named as the favorite to replace JoePa on several sites. I don't see what Bielema's motivation would be in making this move. He seems to be set up for better success at Wisconsin. Also, making a lateral move within the Big Eleven doesn't seem to make much sense. Then again, I thought Tom O' Brien was crazy when he did the same thing in the ACC.

4. Al Golden - I can't believe a Temple head coach is being named in job searches now. Granted, Golden is a long shot, but just the fact that he's being mentioned is a testament to his coaching ability. If Golden can improve the Owls consistently his name could be mentioned for several other positions. You never know, if Paterno sticks around for a few more years, Golden may be the hottest coach on the market.

The top 25 players: Big 10

OK all you Big Eleven fans. I'm listing the top 25 players from your beloved conference now.

Of course, all of these players would be bench warmers in the almighty SEC.

So here are the top players from the Midwestern Athletic League, aka the Big 10.

1. Chris Wells - Ohio St. RB - Beanie should be a Heisman Award finalist this season. Usually, being a RB at Ohio St. comes with a lot of pressure. The same is true for Wells this season. I don't remember a talent like his at the tailback position for the Buckeyes since Eddie George.

2. Arrelious Benn - Illinois WR - I've taken a lot of heat for rating Benn so high previously. Well, I'm doing it again. Benn is one of the more talented players in America, and if he plays up to his capabilities, he could be a dark horse Heisman candidate.

3. James Laurinaitis - Ohio St. LB - Laurinaitis is one of the better defensive players in the nation. He will be looking to start in his third straight national title game for the Buckeyes this season.

4. P.J. Hill - Wisconsin RB - Hill didn't really live up to his expectations last season. This year, the Badgers have a loaded backfield. I think that will motivate Hill and get him playing the way he should be.

5. Greg Middleton - Indiana DL - Not too many people know about Middleton's talents. It's not his fault he plays in Bloomington. The Hoosiers, and Middleton, will be looking to garner more recognition this season.

6. Malcolm Jenkins - Ohio St. DB - Jenkins is one of the better cover corners in the country. His play will determine how successful the Buckeyes defense will be. There was a giant sigh of relief in Columbus when Jenkins decided to return to school.

7. Juice Williams - Illinois QB - Juice is in charge of getting the ball to all-world talent Arrelious Benn. Williams to Benn could develop into the best pass/catch duo in the nation.

8. Vontae Davis - Illinois DB - If not for Jenkins at Ohio St., Davis would be the best NFL ready prospect in any defensive backfield.

9. Alex Boone - Ohio St. OL - Boone is expected to really emerge along OSU's offensive line this season. He gets to run block for Beanie as well as pass protect for QB Todd Boeckman.

10. Maurice Evans - Penn St. DL - If Penn St. wishes to have a successful season this year, they will need to rely on their defense.

11. Will Davis - Illinois DL - You know you are on a good team when you're not even the best player with your last name on your unit.

12. Kellen Lewis - Indiana QB - I may be rating Lewis a little too high on this list. Especially if his academic issues aren't worked out and he doesn't play for the Hoosiers this season.

13. Todd Boeckman - Ohio St. QB - Boeckman will have to repeat last season's successes if he wants to quarterback the Buckeyes back to the NC.

14. Mitch King - Iowa DL this season. I am really glad Kirk - King is one of the few things that look to be good for the HawkeyesFerentz wasn't hired by the Gators when they went looking for a HC.

15. Javon Ringer - Michigan St. RB - If Ringer and the Spartans can cut down on their turnovers, they should greatly improve as a team this season. Mark Dantonio will have Michigan St. fans expecting the best.

16. Jonathan Casillas - Wisconsin LB - Casillas is easily the best Big Eleven linebacker not on the Buckeyes' roster.

17. Terrance Taylor - Michigan DL - I can't believe it took this long to list a Wolverine player. RR is in for a challenge this season.

18. Curtis Painter - Purdue QB - The venerable QB will play out of his mind this season to send HC Joe Tiller out on a high note. Painter is just the latest in a long line of successful Purdue QB's.

19. Brian Robiskie - Ohio St. WR - There is nothing real flashy about Robiskie's game. He is a very solid possession receiver. QB T odd Boeckman will consistently look to Brian when a play has to be made.

20. Kraig Urbik - Wisconsin OL - Urbik will have to battle off injuries to play up to his capabilities. If he can, the Badgers running games is that much more dangerous.

21. Matt Shaughnessy - Wisconsin DL - Shaughnessy is in the same position as Urbik is. When healthy, Matt is one of the best defensive linemen in the country.

22. Derrick Williams - Penn St. WR - I am really hoping Williams finally has his break out season this year. If not, I will look like a total jackass. I've been touting Williams all off season.

23. Marcus Thigpen - Indiana RB - If QB Kellen Lewis doesn't start the season for the Hoosiers, Thigpen will be a major factor in the offense. Good thing for the Hoosiers that Thigpen is durable.

24. Marcus Freeman - Ohio St. LB - Freeman might be the fastest linebacker in the conference. I know that's kind of like my friend Cletus saying he has more teeth than any other Alabama fan.

25. Kory Sheets - Purdue RB - Sheets will have a say in how Tiller goes out as HC at Purdue. Boilermaker running backs are always overlooked and Sheets is no exception.

Why I love JoePa

Outside of Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier, Joe Paterno has got to be my favorite coach in college football. The man always speaks his mind. I also liked the fact that JoePa continued to walk the sideline after breaking his leg last season. Despite being 81 years old, JoePa has got to be the biggest bad ass in all of coaching. I bet JoePa still gets more tail than these young hot shot coaches. One time I was at a club in Tampa when the Penn St. football team walked in. JoePa non-chalantly followed and walked straight to the bar and ordered a drink called "liquid cocaine." When the bartender informed Paterno they didn't make that drink, Paterno immediately grabbed him by the throat and proceeded to give him the ass-kicking of his life. Lesson Learned:Don't EVER tell Paterno he can't have something. The bartender is in stable condition now so everything should be fine.

Anyway, JoePa added to his legacy while speaking in Pittsburgh recently. It seems JoePa is against his Big Eleven brethren, because he believes a playoff system is the correct way to go. Paterno called all the lame ass excuses that were being thrown out "completely bullshit."

The argument against playoffs because it ruins the sanctity of the regular season and causes the athletes to miss too much school was brought to Paterno's attention. His response, "That's total bullshit! Tell those crap bags to go to Home Depot, buy a nice sand blaster on sale, and get all of the sand out of their vaginas."

Paterno would go on to joke that he plans on coaching for 10-15 more years and he doesn't believe that a playoff system will occur in that time span.

I really hope Paterno's contract gets extended at Penn State, because college football NEEDS more JoePa!

Showing some love to the stadiums.

One thing that sets college football apart from it's pro counterparts is the atmosphere during a game. The band playing, the student sections standing and yelling and the Alumni cheering their Alma mater on all make college football special. The stadiums of college football are very diverse and contribute greatly to the atmosphere at these game. While there are little or no luxury boxes or state of the art sound systems, I'll take a college stadium over an NFL stadium any day of the week.



I want to provide a list of my personal 10 favorite stadiums. Of course there is biased involved as I have been to some of the stadiums, so I have better first-hand knowledge of them. If I leave your favorite stadium out, then you should probably pick a new team to root for.




1. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, University of Florida.- Of course the Swamp would be my favorite stadium. This is a homer pick and I'm proud of it. The intensity during a Gators game is unmatched anywhere else in the nation. That's why Florida Field is consistently ranked as the toughest place to play in the nation. Also, if you sit high enough, you get an awesome view of the most beautiful campus in the history of the universe.

2. Michigan Stadium, University of Michigan.- I'm not a big fan of Wolverine football, but I love the Big House. Michigan Stadium is an awe-aspiring site. While I've never been there on game day, I can just imagine seeing all that maze and blue filling the stadium up. Of course knowing Michigan fans, I would probably get sick to my stomach and start dishing out groin kicks to everyone in sight.

3. Franklin Field, Penn University.- Franklin Field is home to the Quakers of Penn University. This is one of the most historic stadiums in all the nation. The stadium is also well known as the site of Bruce Willis' security detail in the ultimate blockbuster Unbreakable. The exterior of Franklin Field is what makes the stadium so grand. The brick-laden structure is a must on any Philly tour.

4.Williams Brice Stadium, University of South Carolina.- Williams Brice Stadium does not get the recognition that it deserves. This is probably caused by the lack of high performance from the football team. Despite the recent ineptness of the Gamecoks, their faithful still show up in droves and make Williams Brice a great place to watch a football game.

5. Beaver Stadium, Penn State University.- Happy Valley isn't such a happy place for visiting teams and their fans. The student section decked out in all white turns Beaver Stadium into an intimidating atmosphere even for the best players. The stadium design is also top-notch, considering the boring Nittany Lions uniforms.

6. Autzen Stadium, University of Oregon.- Autzen Stadium may be the best designed stadium in the nation. The fact that the football team disgraces such a beautiful stadium like this with those hideous uniforms is a travesty to mankind and should not be allowed.

7. Camp Randall Stadium, University of Wisconsin.- Wisconsin-Madison is known as a big-time party university. This partying atmosphere is carried well into Camp Randall for every home game. I've never been to a Wisconsin game personally, but just watching the game from home, I can get a sense of the exciting atmosphere. It's no wonder why it's so difficult to knock off the Badgers at home.

8. Neyland Stadium ,University of Tennessee.- I hate Tennessee. I hate the football team, I hate the state, I hate Rocky Top, I hate their stupid dog and I hate Phil Fulmer. One thing I don't hate about Tennessee is Neyland Stadium. This stadium is a monster, and some of the greatest games I've ever witnessed have taken place here.

9. Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida St. University.- Growing up with a strong hatred for everything FSU, I always pictured Doak Campbell Stadium as being the epicenter of a white trash trailer park with garbage piling up everywhere. I was surprised when I went to Doak in person by how nice the stadium actually is. A nice bronze statue welcomes visitors on all sides of the field. Except for the extremely gay Teamwork statue, they are all nicely done. By the way, I still think the campus is a big garbage hole.

10. Husky Stadium, University of Washington.- While the atmosphere in Seattle leaves something to be desired, the stadium itself is a thing of beauty. The scenery with the open-ended structure just might be the best in all of college football. It's no wonder the Huskies used to draw the top talent to the Great Northwest.

Spring Conference Breakdowns - Big Ten

Big Ten football has taken an image hit over recent years due to their champion Ohio St. Buckeyes getting demolished in back-to-back national championship games. While the Big Ten may be a little over-hyped at times, this year we may see a resurgence in the conference.

I will be breaking down every team from the Big Ten. I have them listed below in the order that I predict them to finish.




1. Ohio St. Buckeyes


2007 Recap - 11-2(7-1) Lost to LSU 38-24 in the BCS National Championship Game.

2008 Preview - The Buckeyes return almost their entire roster from a year ago. That means extremely high expectations in Columbus. Todd Boeckman returns at QB for Ohio St. If Boeckman can put up similar numbers to the ones he put up last year, the Buckeyes should have no trouble breezing through the Big Ten. Super recruit Terrelle Pryor also allows the Buckeyes to install a few gadget plays on offense. Boeckman will have reliable receivers in Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie to throw the ball to. Chris Wells is also back to stake the claim of being the best running back named Wells in Ohio St. history (and there's been plenty). Ohio St. also returns plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Linebackers James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman and Curtis Terry all return. Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington also return to patrol the defensive backfield.

Ohio St. warms up for the Big Ten season by traveling to Los Angeles to take on USC in a HUGE non-conference match-up. In Big Ten play, the Buckeyes travel to Wisconsin, Michigan St. and Illinois. They do host Michigan this year to close out the season.

Difference Maker- Chris Wells RB. The Buckeyes are almost unstoppable when they have a solid ground game. Wells gives them a game breaker in the backfield necessary to make it to a third straight title game.

Biggest Game - Sept. 13 @ USC. This game will go a long in way in silencing the critics(including me) that say Ohio St. can dominate the Big Ten but just aren't capable of defeating top tier SEC and PAC-10 teams.

Intangible- As much as I hate the sweater vest, Jim Tressel is one of the best coaches in college football. Tressel may have pulled off his best job last year with an unproven group. With an experienced team returning for Tressel, the ceiling is extremely high.



2. Illinois Fighting Illini


2007 Recap 9-4(6-2) Lost to USC 49-17 in the Rose Bowl

2008 Preview - The Illini return two of the more exciting players in the Big Ten with QB Juice Williams and WR Arrelious Benn. The two hooked up early and often last season and look to continue that trend this season as well. Benn will not be the only target for Williams to throw to as Kyle Hudson is also back in Champaigne. The Illini lost a lot with the departure of all-everything Rashard Mendenhall. Daniel Dufrene will step into the feature back position. Dufrene performed admirably in stints last year as he was providing much-deserved breathers for Mendenhall. On defense, Illinois returns 3 potential all-Big Ten performers in DL Will Davis and DB's Vontae Davis & Dere Hicks.

The Illini open the season with their annual rivalry game vs. Missouri in Kansas City. In Big Ten play, Illinois plays at Penn St., Michigan and Wisconsin, and hosts Ohio St.

Difference Maker- Juice Williams QB. Williams has a tremendous knack for making something out of nothing. A play is never truly broken when Williams is in the game.

Biggest Game- Nov. 15 vs. Ohio St. If the Illini can pull off the upset for the second year in a row, this could be the 2008 Big Ten champs.

Intangible- Arrelious Benn is much like Randy Moss in the sense that, if there is good coverage down field, the QB just has to loft the ball up and Benn will go get it. Having that ability is what makes this offense so dangerous, especially in the Big Ten.



3. Wisconsin Badgers


2007 Recap - 9-4(5-3) Lost to Tennessee 21-17 in the Outback Bowl.


2008 Preview- The bad news for the Badgers is that they must replace starting QB Tyler Donovan. The good news is that whenever a new QB takes over for Wisconsin, he seems to improve upon the previous year's starter. This task falls upon Kansas St. transfer Allan Evridge this year. Evridge is a more gifted athlete than Donovan, howver he will need to show that he is capable of showing maturity and leading this team. One thing that Evridge has going for him is the fact that Wisconsin has 3 running backs that could all be all-conference if they were a feature back on another team. P.J. Hill, Zach Brown and Lance Smith will all carry the ball effectively this season. All Big-Ten TE Travis Beckum returns to help out in the passing game, which would otherwise lack a go-to receiver. Defensively, the Badgers return Mike Newkirk and Matt Shaughnessy to the D-line as well as all Big-Ten linebacker Elijah Hodge.

The Badgers face a rather light non-conference schedule before they open up Big Ten play. With conference games at Michigan and Michigan St. and vs Ohio St., Penn St. and Illinois, they will need the early season break.

Difference Maker- P.J. Hill RB. Of all 3 of Wisconsin's backs, Hill may be the most valuable to his team. Hill plays a major role in both the rushing and passing game for the Badgers.

Biggest Game - Oct 4. vs. Ohio St. See Illinois.

Intangible - Other than at QB, Wisconsin may have the most experienced team in the Big Ten. Look for this to help out the Badgers in tough situation throughout the season.



4. Michigan St. Spartans


2007 Recap - 7-6(3-5) Lost to Boston College 24-21 in the Citrus Bowl

2008 Preview - Michigan St. returns a ton of offensive talent from last year's team. QB Brian Hoyer is back to lead the team in what is hopefully a program changing season. Javon Ringer returns at RB to pose a dangerous receiving threat coming out of the backfield. Hoyer will also Mark Dell and Deon Curry as dependable receiving targets. The Spartans were miserable on defense last season. Coach Mark Dantonio is hoping for better results this season. Look for the MSU secondary to lead the way with CB Kendrell Davis-Clark and SS Otis Wiley.

Michigan St. plays a somewhat difficult non-conference schedule with a game at California and a home date with Notre Dame. The Spartans Big Ten slate includes games at Michigan and Penn St. as well as home contests vs. Ohio St. and Wisconsin.

Difference Maker- Javon Ringer RB. As I have stated earlier, Ringer is just as important in the passing game as he is in the running game. He makes this offense go.

Biggest Game- Oct. 25 @ Michigan. With Michigan re-building and the Spartans hopefully on an up-swing. This year could lead to a few years of MSU supremacy over the Wolverines.

Intangible- Mark Dantonio has brought an intensity to this program that has been lacking in recent years. I look for this football team to feed off of their head coach and improve tremendously on the field.

5. Penn St. Nittany Lions

2007 Recap - 9-4(4-4) Defeated Texas A&M 24-17 in the Alamo Bowl.

2008 Preview- The Nittany Lions must replace QB Anthony Morelli from last year's squad. This could be seen as both a positive and a negative by Penn St. fans. Daryll Clark is the leading candidate to replace Morelli. Although Clark is more athletic, he may not have some of the intangibles that Morelli possessed. Clark will have plenty of help as Penn St. returns a trio of receivers that are as good as any other team's in the conference. Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler are all back in Happy Valley. Bruising back Evan Royster also returns to help provide a running game that was missing at times last season. Sean Lee hopes to continue the Linebacker U tradition alive after the departure of Dan Connor. Lee will get help in the secondary from CB Lydell Sargeant and S Anthony Scirrotto. DE Maurice Evans also returns to make the Nittany Lions one of the better defensive units in the Big Ten.

Penn St. host Oregon St. early before opening up conference play. In the Big Ten, Penn St. will play at Wisconsin and Ohio St. as well as Illinois, Michigan and Michigan St. at home.

Difference Maker- Derrick Williams. I say this every year, but THIS will be the year that Derrick Williams breaks lose and shows everyone his talent.

Biggest Game - Sept. 27 vs. Illinois. Penn St. needs to open up Big Ten play in a big way if they want to have a successful season.

Intangible- Penn St.'s receiving corps is extremely deep and experienced. Norwood, Williams and Butler should help ease the transition from Morelli to Clark this season.

6. Michigan Wolverines

2007 Recap - 9-4(6-2) Defeated Florida 41-35 in the Capital One Bowl

2008 Preview - 2008 is a total re-building year for the Wolverines. A new coach, new offense and almost entirely new defense means big changes are ahead for this Michigan program. Chad Henne and Ryan Mallett's departure have left a huge void at the QB position. Steven Threet and David Cone will be battling this Spring to see who becomes the starter. Although neither are exceptionally gifted at running the spread, they should be able to provide adequate play for Rich Rodriguez. Mike Hart's departure left a huge void in the running game as well as the team leadership role. While Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown should be adequate replacements for Hart, it remains to be seen if they can become team leaders. Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, last year's top receivers, are gone. This makes way for Greg Mathews and Junior Hemingway to fill the void. Carson Butler does return at TE to help the new QB. The Wolverines were not very good defensively last year. They hope to better this year with the return of some key starters. S Brandon Harrison, CB Morgan Trent and DE's Tim North and Tim Jamison all return for Big Blue.

The new starters will have time to adjust as the Wolverines do not face a tough opponent until Big Ten play starts. In conference, Michigan plays at Penn St. and Ohio St., and they host Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan St.

Difference Maker- Greg Mathews WR. Michigan has a great tradition at the wideout position. I can't remember a year in which the Wolverines did not have a top-notch guy in the receiving corps. This year, Mathews will have to be the man to step in and live up to the role.

Biggest Game - Nov. 22 @ Ohio St. This series has been all OSU in recent memory. With a re-building year this year, a huge upset over the Buckeyes would mean a great deal for the Rich Rodriguez era in Ann Arbor.

Intangible- Rich Rodriguez will look to install his spread offense at Michigan. If recent history proves anything, it's that the spread offense works very, very well against Big Ten competition. If Rodriguez is able to have any kind of success with his offense this year, the Wolverines may stay in the Big Ten race until season's end.

7. Indiana Hoosiers

2007 Recap - 7-6(3-5) Lost to Oklahoma St. 49-33 in the Insight.Com Bowl

2008 Preview - The Hoosiers are looking to build upon last season in which they were the feel good story of the year. Indiana will have a lot of the pieces necessary to repeat their success. Kellen Lewis is back to handle the duties at QB. Marcus Thigpen returns at RB. Thigpen also plays a pivotal role in IU's passing game. Indiana does need to fill a void at the WR position. Bill Lynch is banking on Ray Fisher, Andrew Means and Brandon Walker-Roby to increase their production. The Hoosiers look to once again be solid on defense. They are anchored by S Austin Thomas.

Indiana plays a favorable non-conference schedule before entering conference play. Within the Big Ten, the Hoosiers will travel to Illinois and Penn St., and will play host to Michigan St. and Wisconsin.

Difference Maker- Kellen Lewis QB. Like Juice Williams of Illinois, Lewis has the ability to make something out of nothing. Lewis also has a strong arm that allows him to get the ball down field while on the run.

Biggest Game- Oct. 18 @Illinois. This could be a battle of the two up and coming teams of the Big Ten.

Intangible- Indiana has struggled for several years to get over the hump and make a bowl game. Now that they have accomplished that, the Hoosiers can set their sights much higher and play with a little more confidence.

8. Purdue Boilermakers

2007 Recap - 8-5(3-5) Defeated Central Michigan 51-48 in the Motor City Bowl.

2008 Preview - Purdue is returning a rather experienced team this season. Curtis Painter will once again be the Boilermakers' QB. Painter will have two reliable backs lining up behind him in Kory Sheets and Jaycen Taylor. Sheets will get most of the work, while Taylor will provide a nice change of pace. WR's Desmond Tardy and Greg Orton will look to add balance to the offense with a steady passing game. Purdue will be solid on defense once again as several key members of last year's squad returns. Up front, DT Alex Magee will help with run support, along with LB Anthony Heygood. In the secondary, S Brandon King and CB David Pender will help defend the passing game.

Unlike a lot of the teams in the Big Ten this season, Purdue will face a tough non-conference schedule. The Boilermakers will host Oregon and play at Notre Dame before beginning Big Ten play. Within the conference, Purdue will play at Ohio St. as well as Michigan St., and will host Penn St. and Michigan.

Difference Maker - Curtis Painter QB. It will Painter's job to make this offense work this season. When he is playing at his best, the Boilermakers are hard to beat.

Biggest Game - Oct. 11 @ Ohio St. Just like everyone else in the Big Ten, a win at Ohio St. could lead to very big things this season.

Intangible - Purdue just may have the hardest hitting defense in the Big Ten this year. If their defense comes out early and starts laying the wood, they can really wear on opponents and affect the outcome of the game.

9. Northwestern Wildcats

2007 Recap - 6-6(3-5)

2008 Recap - Northwestern is returning a ton of talent offensively from last year. QB C.J. Bacher is back to try to lead the Wildcats to a bowl game. Tyrell Sutton is back at RB. Sutton may be the most underrated RB in the Big Ten. He has the ability to break a game open if he receives enough blocking up front. The receiving corps is alos deep with returning wideouts. Ross Lane, Eric Peterman and Andrew Brewer are all back to provide the Wildcats with steady play at the position. Defensively, Northwestern is lead by a trio of hard-hitting players. S Brad Phillips and LB's Malcolm Arrington and Prince Kwateng can play both the run and pass extremely well.

Northwestern will have a chance to ease into Big Ten play with a rather easy non-conference scheduel. In the Big Ten, Northwestern plays at Michigan and hosts Michigan St., Ohio St. and Illinois.

Difference Maker - Tyrell Sutton RB. Sutton has game-breaking ablity, and he'll have to use it to help Northwestern reach a bowl game this season.

Biggest Game - Oct. 18 vs. Purdue. This will be Northwestern's homecoming game this season. A big win over a bowl team can help rejuvenate the Wildcats.

Intangible- This season the Wildcats do not face any real tough opponents on the road. Their toughest away opponent will be at Michigan. With the Wolverines expecting a down year, the Wildcats might be able to pull that one off. Northwestern needs to use this schedule to their advantage and make a bowl game.

10. Iowa Hawkeyes

2007 Recap - 6-6(4-4)

2008 Preview- The Hawkeyes offense seemed to be stagnant at times last season, especially down the stretch. Kirk Ferentz is hoping to reverse that trend this season. He will have to do it with the same QB from last season as Jake Christensen is back to lead the offense. Christensen will have WR's Trey Stross and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos to throw to. At RB, Jevon Pugh will be handling the rushing duties. While Iowa's offense was sputtering late down the stretchm their defense was performing admirably. The Hawkeyes do return several key players from last year's defense. S Brett Greenwood is back in the secondary as DT's Mitch King and Matt Kroul will help stop the run.

Iowa plays a tough non-conference game at Pittsburgh. In the big Ten, Iowa will play at Michigan St. and Illinois. They will host Wisconsin and Penn St. in conference as well.

Difference Maker - Mitch King DT. On a team with a struggling offense, the defense will have to carry the whole team, and defense starts up front.

Biggest Game - Sept. 13 vs. Iowa St. Last year the Hawkeyes were embarassed by their in-state rival. Iowa will need to win to prove that game was just a fluke.

Intangible - On a team in which the defensive front is propably the most important factor in the season's success, it's a good thing the Hawkeyes have an outstanding front four. These guys will need to play superb consitently if they want to improve upon last year's record.

11. Minnesota Golden Gophers

2007 Recap - 1-11(0-8)

2008 Preview - Needless to say, last year was a disappointment for Minnesota. The Golden Gophers were considered by most to be the worst team in the nation last year. Although Tim Brewster did a great job of recruiting this year, the Gophers may still be a year or two away from becoming mildly successful. Adam Weber returns at QB. Weber did show some promise in certain situations last year. His main target will be WR Eric Decker. Minnesota has been known for their running game in the past. This year, Duane Bennett will be in charge of putting together a successful season at the running back position.The only bright spot for Minnesota's defense heading into Spring is their linebacking corps, highlighted by Steve Moore and Steve Davis.

Thankfully, Minnesota does not face any top-tier teams outside of conference play. With the Big Ten, Minnesota plays at Ohio St., Illinois and Wisconsin. They also host Michigan.

Difference Maker - MarQuis Gray QB. Gray is one of the impact players that Brewster recruited this offseason to Minneapolis. Although Gray will not start the season at QB, look for him to add some much needed excitement to this program.

Biggest Game - Nov. 22 vs. Iowa. Minnesota did not win a Big Ten game last year. This might be their best opportunity to do so this year.

Intangible - Youth could be bad for some programs. That is not the case for these Gophers. Their youthful exuberance will help them stay in a few more games this year.