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.

Weekly Picks

Well, last week was a hard one for my picks. I did correctly pick the epic Texas Tech/Texas match-up. Other than that, there were no real highlights. But who cares? The Gators won and all is right with the world.

On to my ever so important weekly prognostications.

Miami(OH) @ Buffalo
Northern Illinois @ Ball St.
Toledo @ Akron
Maryland @ Virginia Tech
TCU @ Utah
Nevada @ Fresno St.
Baylor @ Texas
Ohio St. @ Northwestern
Purdue @ Michigan St.
Georgia Tech @ North Carolina
Wisconsin @ Indiana
Michigan @ Minnesota
Syracuse @ Rutgers
Louisville @ Pittsburgh
Illinois @ Western Michigan
Georgia @ Kentucky
Arkansas @ South Carolina
Wyoming @ Tennessee
Iowa St. @ Colorado
Utah St. @ Boise St.
San Diego St. @ BYU
Bowling Green @ Ohio
Kansas @ Nebraska
UT-Martin @ Auburn
Army @ Rice
Memphis@SMU
Alabama @ LSU
Penn St. @ Iowa
Oklahoma @ Texas A&M
Clemson @ Florida St.
Virginia @ Wake Forest
NC State @ Duke
Marshall @ East Carolina
Southern Miss @ UCF
UL-Monroe @ Middle Tennessee
Stanford @ Oregon
Western Kentucky @ Troy
Hawaii @ New Mexico St.
North Texas @ Florida Atlantic
Arizona @ Washington St.
Tulane @ Houston
Oregon St. @ UCLA
Colorado St. @ Air Force
Kansas St. @ Missouri
Cincinnati @ West Virginia
Arizona St. @ Washington
UTEP @ UL-Lafayette
Arkansas St. @ Florida International
Oklahoma St. @ Texas Tech
Florida @ Vanderbilt
California @ USC
Louisiana Tech @ San Jose St.
Notre Dame @ Boston College
New Mexico @ UNLV

Upset Alert:

Ohio over Bowling Green - It's the MAC. Who cares? Bowling Green is the classic definition of a schizo team. Their bad side shows up this week.

LSU over Alabama - As much as I want Bama to win so my Gators can beat an undefeated team in the SEC title game, I think the Tigers have too much motivation going into the Saban bowl.

Texas A&M over Oklahoma - I have no idea why I'm picking the Aggies........

Washington over Arizona St. - The Huskies have to win one. Don't they?

Weekly Picks

Last Week - 36-14

Overall - 396-99


A pretty respectable week I must say. You can call me the Bill Fitch of picks. I'm racking up the wins, but the losses are creeping up on me....

Last week I correctly picked Rutgers for the second straight week. I believe I might be the only person in America that didn't give up on the Scarlet Knights. I also had the Tar Heels over BC, which was ol' Herbie's upset pick as well. We won't discuss my pick of Washington over Notre Dame right now.

Here's this weeks gems.



Buffalo @ Ohio
Houston @ Marshall
South Florida @ Cincinnati
Northwestern @ Minnesota
Wisconsin @ Michigan St.
West Virginia @ Connecticut
Central Michigan @ Indiana
Miami (FL) @ Virginia
Air Force @ Army
Michigan @ Purdue
Auburn @ Ole Miss
Kansas St. @ Kansas
Tulsa @ Arkansas
Kent St. @ Bowling Green
Colorado @ Texas A&M
Eastern Michigan @ Western Michigan
San Diego St. @ Wyoming
Pittsburgh @ Notre Dame
Kentucky @ Mississippi St.
Fresno St. @ Louisiana Tech
Arkansas St. @ Alabama
Missouri @ Baylor
Hawaii @ Utah St.
Florida @ Georgia
Iowa St. @ Oklahoma St.
Florida St. @ Georgia Tech
Oregon @ California
Clemson @ Boston College
Duke @ Wake Forest
Iowa @ Illinois
Temple @ Navy
North Texas @ Western Kentucky
Washington St. @ Stanford
San Jose St. @ Idaho
Florida International @ UL-Lafayette
BYU @ Colorado St.
Washington @ USC
Boise St. @ New Mexico St.
Louisville @ Syracuse
Troy @ UL-Monroe
Tennessee @ South Carolina
Texas @ Texas Tech
Nebraska @ Oklahoma
TCU @ UNLV
Tulane @ LSU
UAB @ Southern Miss
Rice @ UTEP
Utah @ New Mexico
Arizona St. @ Oregon St.
East Carolina @ UCF

Upset Alert:

West Virginia over Connecticut - The Mountaineers are still perfect in conference play, and last I checked they still had Pat White and Noel Devine in the backfield. I like Bill Stewart to get his first signature Big East win in this one.

Virginia over Miami(FL) - Is there any team in America that has improved as much as the Cavs since the season started? Virginia was making an argument to be the worst BCS team, now they're on a crazy winning streak. I like Al Groh's bunch to knock off the Hurricanes, who have yet to look that impressive.

Texas Tech over Texas - I'm mainly picking this one, because I subscribe to the theory that no BCS team will go undefeated this season. Texas Tech absolutely dismantled Kansas in the second half last Saturday. I think the Red Raiders defense will surprise everyone and get after Colt McCoy.

Arizona St. over Oregon St. - The Sun Devils need this game in the worse way. I know it's incredibly tough to win at Oregon St., but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Arizona St. takes this one.

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?

Week 6 Preview

Last week finally brought the major upsets that we've been waiting for. USC lost to Oregon St. to open the week. That was then followed up by Florida, Wisconsin, East Carolina and Clemson all losing to unranked teams.

This week, there are a few games that could offer more upsets. Here are a few dandies:


Oregon St. vs. Utah

The Beavers are riding high after their victory over USC last Thursday. They are looking to knock off their second straight top 25 team. The Utes most likely will not overlook OSU, since the Beavers are a "bigger" program. However, it will be interesting how Utah plans on defending scatterback Jacquizz Rodgers. If Utah does win, then that will just continue the tradition of the Mountain West handing the PAC-10's it's own ass.


Kansas vs. Iowa St.

For some strange, ungodly reason, I like this Cyclone football team. For some even stranger and ungodlier reason, I really don't like this Jayhawk team. Kansas should roll in this one, but I wouldn't be surprised if ISU stayed in it until the end. If I'm right, we all know anything can happen at the end of a Big XII game.


Kentucky vs. Alabama

The Tide are America's sweethearts right now. ESPN has withdrew USC's cock from it's mouth long enough to start a slobber job on Nick Saban's bunch. Will this fellatio pleasure go straight to the Alabama players' heads? Probably not. But Kentucky is a solid team, and they will be fired up to knock off the Elephants.


Texas Tech vs. Kansas St.

The Red Raiders have faced nothing but JV high school teams to date this season. While the Wildcats don't present that much of a stiffer challenge, it's still conference play. The game is in Manhattan, where Kansas St. always seems to play much better. It will be up to Tech's defense to stop the Wildcats enough to allow Graham Harrell and Co. to outscore them.


Auburn vs. Vanderbilt

Statistically speaking, if the Commodores win, this wouldn't be an Earth altering upset. However, if the 'Dores pull out a win against Auburn, the entire college football universe will be turned on it's head. This is the only upset that I've actually picked to happen, so I think it's more than possible for the Tigers to leave Nashville with a loss.


Connecticut vs. North Carolina

I know I am seriously hating on Connecticut, but they can't keep winning. They've already proved me wrong by starting off white hot. However, once again, I'll be picking against them this week. Even with a dinged up QB, I like the Tar Heels to knock the Huskies out of the top 25.


Ohio St. vs. Wisconsin

I really don't think it would be an upset if the Badgers defeated Ohio St. in Madison this week. However, everyone else in America just about is picking the Buckeyes to win this one. So by popular opinion, I guess it would be an upset. I picked the Badgers in this one.

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Possible Lane Kiffin CFB destinations

Tennessee - The Vols are finally fed up with Fulmer. Kiffin would bring a Bruce Pearl type energy to the football program.


Washington - Let's face it, Willingham is done in Seattle. Jim Mora Jr. is no longer available, so Kiffin would be a good choice.


Syracuse - There's SC connections here. Also, the Orange have grabbed from the NFL before.


East Carolina - Somebody's gotta replace Skip Holtz after he takes the Clemson job.


Florida St. - The 'Nole re-nig on their offer to Jimbo Fisher after another god-awful offensive season.

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1-AA teams that would be competitive in 1-A RIGHT NOW.

Appalachian St.
James Madison
McNeese St.
Richmond
Wofford
The Citadel
Delaware

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What the hell's going on with:

Tim Tebow

Tebow has not performed like last year. Blame it on less plays, more of a running attack, or defensive schemes against him. Tebow has not been Tebow-like. He badly overthrew receivers last week, including a wide open Louis Murphy on the final drive. Also, when was the last time you saw Tebow denied on a fourth and short? Never.

What has gotten into:

Colt McCoy

Unlike Tebow, Colt McCoy is playing very Tebow-like. He is getting it done through the air and on the ground. McCoy has his Longhorns looking very good. If they continue to play like this, they should head into Dallas undefeated for their epic clash against the Sooners.

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5 Games to Watch

1. Auburn @ Vanderbilt
2. Ohio St. @ Wisconsin
3. Oregon @ USC
4. Rice @ Tulsa
5. Florida St. @ Miami(FL)

5 Stories to Follow

1. How will Ole Miss, Oregon St., Michigan & Maryland respond after huge wins?
2. Will Tim Tebow live up to his promise of being bad-ass?
3. Will Mark May be able to juggle both USC and Alabama's cock?
4. Will USC lose to Oregon AND remain in the top 10?
5. Will Randy Shannon drown in a pool of his own tears because he refuses to stop crying?
   

The top 25 players: Big XII

This looks like it could be a VERY big year for the Big XII. Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech all have realistic shots of winning the South. While Kansas, Colorado and Missouri are all looking to win the North.


The Big XII has closed the gap on the SEC for the best conference argument. They are just a Nebraska and Kansas St. surprise season away from being mentioned in the same breath.


Here are my top 25 players from the Big XII conference:


1. Michael Crabtree - Texas Tech WR- Crabtree won the Biletnikoff award last season as a Freshman. Expectations are high for the super soph and his Red Raiders. We'll see if he can repeat last season's successes.

2. Chase Daniel - Missouri QB - Daniel was a Heisman trophy finalist last season. He should be competing with Tebow and others to once again make the trip to New York at the end of the season.

3. Sam Bradford - Oklahoma QB - I have said all along that I felt like Bradford had the best argument against Tebow last season for the Heisman. If he plays like he did last year, Bradford should be a finalist for the award this season.

4. Graham Harrell - Texas Tech QB - Harrell will once again put up some pretty impressive numbers in Lubbock. Once again, however, no one will give him any respect.

5. Auston English - Oklahoma DL - There is always a great Sooner defensive linemen. It's English's turn to take that role.

6. George Hypolite - Colorado DL - I think Hypolite might be my favorite defensive player in the Big XII. The guy has a non-stop motor and he plays with all heart. Like Rod Tidwell said, "Heart? I'm all heart mother f***er!"

7. Duke Robinson - Oklahoma OL - Robinson might be the biggest player in the Big XII. Imagine the battles he must have with Auston English during Sooner practices.

8. DeMarco Murray - Oklahoma RB - Another Sooner makes my top 10. No wonder why I have them in the BCS title game this year......

9. Sean Weatherspoon - Missouri LB - It's not all about the offense at Missouri. The Tigers boast a pretty good defense too, led by Weatherspoon.

10. Joaquin Iglesias - Oklahoma WR - Another Sooner............

11. Jeremy Maclin - Missouri WR - Maclin might be the fastest player in the Big XII. He will be the main target for QB Chase Daniel this season.

12. Cedrick Dockery - Texas OL - It's hard to believe the Longhorns first entry onto this list is at 12 and it's a linemen.

13. Mike Goodson - Texas A&M RB - If Maclin is the fastest player in the conference, Goodson is not very far behind him. He is the lightning to Javorskie Lane's thunder.

14. Nic Harris - Oklahoma DB - It's a shame Bob Stoops can't win a bowl game anymore. He has a ton of talent to work with in Norman.

15. Colt McCoy - Texas QB - I would rank McCoy a little higher on this list but he is just so damn inconsistent.

16. Marlon Lucky - Nebraska RB - Lucky will be the main focal point for the Cornhuskers offense this season. That should mean more carries and more yards for this very talented back.

17. Joe Pawelek - Baylor LB - How about Baylor making a surprise appearance on the list? Art Briles should have the Bears competing in the Big XII. Just not this year.

18. William Moore - Missouri DB - Once again, I'm telling you that the Missouri defense will be very good this season.

19. Todd Reesing - Kansas QB - Reesing was the feel good story last season in CFB. I'm not completely sold on Reesing, but he had too good of a season to not include him.

20. Quan Cosby - Texas WR - Texas may not have as much talent on the offensive side of the ball as they're used to, but Cosby is a gem at wide out.

21. Joe Mortensen - Kansas LB - Mortensen is the heart and soul of a very underrated, but tough Jayhawk defense.

22. Zac Robinson - Oklahoma St. QB - Robinson broke all kinds of Cowboy records last season. He just needs to learn how to win on a consistent basis.

23. Brian Orakpo - Texas DL - A lot of people in Austin are clamoring over Orakpo's performance. He clearly has not lived up to his expectations at Texas, but talent alone gets him on this list.

24. Phil Loadholt - Oklahoma OL - I had to squeeze one more Sooner onto the list before it was all said and done. Loadholt doesn't get the pub he deserves, mainly because he shares the line with Duke Robinson.

25. Dez Bryant - Oklahoma St. WR - Bryant was one of the reasons why QB Zac Robinson was able to have such a tremendous season last year. Oklahoma St. will once again feature a very prolific offense, and Bryant will be a big part of it.

10 Things that won't change in '08

Every preseason magazine of website focuses on what to expect in 2008. Usually these pages are filled with predictions of changes for the upcoming year. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how the '08 season will unfold.

I thought I should take a look at some things that will stay the same boring course with no changes at all.



1. Notre Dame will still suck. I don't see why so many people thing the Irish will do any better. They still have the most overrated coach in the history of sports, their offense is horrible, and their defense has too many holes for new DC John Tenuta to fix. Plus, Notre Dame's schedule is not to their advantage. Here is their schedule for 2008:

1.San Diego St.- Win
2.Michigan- Win
3.at Michigan St.- Loss
4.Purdue- Loss
5.Stanford- Win
6.at North Carolina- Loss
7.at Washington- Loss
8.Pittsburgh-Loss
9.at Boston College- Loss
10.at Navy- Loss
11.Syracuse- Win
12.at USC- Loss

That's a 4-8 record. I might be giving the Irish too much credit.




2. Ohio St. will win the Big Eleven. Again. No one in the Big Eleven has the tools necessary to unseat the defending champs. Now I'm not ready to put the Buckeyes back in the BCS title game, but I think they should be able to win yet another conference crown. The only conference games that should worry the Buckeyes are at Wisconsin and at Illinois, which defeated Ohio St. at home last season. Also, the Buckeyes should keep an eye out for Purdue. I'm sure the Boilermakers would like nothing more than to send out Joe Tiller with a stunning upset.













3. The SEC will be the best conference. This argument will be closer than recent years. The Big XII has closed the gap some on the boys down South for the right to call themselves the best conference. Sometimes, it seems like the SEC should just break off from the rest of college football. Last year 10 of the 12 teams were bowl eligible. Vanderbilt and Ole Miss were the only two to not make the 6-6 mark. This year, Ole Miss should be much improved with Houston Nutt at head coach and Jevan Snead stepping into QB. Vanderbilt probably still has no shot at a bowl, although they should be more competitive.












4.There will be a non-BCS school in a BCS game. The previous two years has seen two teams from the WAC crash the BCS party. Two years ago the Boise St. Broncos defeated heavily favored Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in what was one of the greatest college football games ever. Last year, the Hawaii Warriors were demolished by the superior Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl. This year there are a few teams that have a shot to crack the BCS. In the WAC, Boise St. and Fresno St. are dark horses to make it in, while in the Mountain West BYU is the overwhelming favorite to get a berth. I like the Cougars of BYU to go undefeated and make a BCS bowl.






5. The national champion will come from the SEC. I've already touched on the SEC being the greatest thing to hit college football since female cheerleaders. What I didn't mention is that the SEC has produced the previous two national champions. I look for that to remain the same this season. The favorites to win it all are Georgia and Florida. Of course I like Florida to win it all. I would keep an eye on Auburn as a sleeper NC contender from the SEC West.










6. The Miami Hurricanes will not make a bowl game. Last year marked the first time in ages that the Miami Hurricanes did not get a bowl berth. I do expect the Hurricanes to be better this season, especially on defense. However, I just don't see Miami getting 6 wins from their schedule. One thing working against the Hurricanes is that they will be starting a freshman QB in Robert Marve.









7. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman. This might be my most controversial prediction for this season. Only one player has ever won the Heisman Trophy twice, and that was of course Archie Griffin of Ohio St. I expect Tebow to have better passing numbers than last season, and I expect his rushing numbers to be about the same. So if a Heisman winner improves upon his Heisman winning season, then he should be a lock to win the trophy once again. Also, the Gators will be in national title contention all season, further boosting Tebow's chances.













8. Oklahoma will lose their bowl game. This has become a yearly tradition. When you think of Oklahoma football, you think of Boomer Sooner, the Red River Shootout, Bedlam, and now bowl game losses. It's a staple of the Bob Stoops era lately in Norman. I have Oklahoma making the BCS title game. Since that means the Sooners will be facing an almighty SEC team, of course they're going to lose.















9.Graham Harrell will get no respect despite gaudy numbers. Texas Tech quarterbacks are always overlooked on the national level. Harrell continues the trend of Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie and others before him. Harrell will lead the NCAA in passing , partly because of Mike Leech's system, partly because of receiver Michael Crabtree, and party because he is that good.














10. West Virginia will lose a national title shot on the last game of the season. Last year, the Mountaineers had a national championship game bid all locked up heading into the final game of the season. All they had to do was beat the lowly Pittsburgh Panthers. Of course, Pittsburgh came out and pull off a shocking upset of West Virginia. I look for West Virginia to navigate a tough schedule this season and continue to fight for a NC bid all season long. The Mountaineers are talented enough to do just that. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if West Virginia made it to the last week of the season undefeated. However, I can easily see the Mountaineers losing to the visiting South Florida Bulls and once again falling one game short of the NC.

On the come up

I am a pretty big optimists. I usually feel that every team has a good chance to improve upon the previous year's performance. Of course this is total bullshit. We all know there will be teams that will blow like they always do.



To stop myself from giving you a huge list of teams I feel will be improving this year, I figured I would break it down by conference.



So here are the teams that will improve the most by conference.



ACC



North Carolina- The Tar Heels already showed signs of improving last season. With a full season at the helm, Butch Davis will have a much better grasp on his team than he did going into last year. Hakeem Nicks is one of the best wideouts in the nation and he will have a talented T.J. Yates to get the ball to him. Anthony Elzy and Greg Little form a powerful duo in the backfield as well.





Big XII



Texas Tech- I know Tech had a great year last season, but I expect them to have an even better one this year. Graham Harrell is already a record holder for a school that does nothing but produce record breaking QB's, and he will once again be throwing to receiver of the year Michael Crabtree. Ruffin McNeil already has the defense headed in the right direction. If the D improves, the Red Raiders could be in the hunt for a conference crown.





Big East



Pittsburgh- The Panthers ended last season on a high note by defeating rival West Virginia and knocking them out of the NC picture. Dave Wannstedt is returning his best team sine he's been at the helm. LeSean McCoy is one of the best running backs in the nation. Derek Kinder and Oderick Turner are back at WR, and Pat Bostick and Bill Stull are both capable QB's that are available to start.





Big Ten



Michigan St.- The Spartans will definitely be the best team in their state this season. They will also have a shot at being one of the better teams in the Big Eleven. Javon Ringer is one of the better players in the conference at any position. What could make or break this season for MSU will be their defense. I expect them to field one of the better defenses in the Big Eleven, which should help them rise through the ranks.





C-USA



Memphis- Memphis started off very slow last year. Couple that with low expectations and you can see why fans started to turn on Tommy West and his team. However, the Tigers turned it around and improved drastically as the season went on. Earning a New Orleans Bowl berth. Unfortunately Memphis was throttled by Sun Belt champ Florida Atlantic. Memphis returns Duke Calhoun at the receiver position as well as a stout defense. I bowl better than the New Orleans Bowl should be in store for the Tigers.





MAC



Ball St.- Nate Davis and Dante Love form one of the better aerial duos in the nation. This alone makes them one of the favorites to win the pass-happy MAC. Unfortunately the Cardinals are stuck in the MAC West with Central Michigan. It should come down to those two, and with Davis running the show, I wouldn't count Ball St. out.





Mountain West



Utah- BYU should breeze through the Mountain West this season up until the Holy War against the Utes. I would not be surprised if Utah would pull that one out. You never know what will happen in rivalry games. Brian Johnson is back at QB to lead the offense with his arm and his feet. The Utes defense will be tough once again with defensive-minded Kyle Wittingham at head coach.





PAC-10



Washington- The Huskies have been inching toward respectability since Tyrone Willigham took over. The Huskies were in the game against both Ohio St. and USC last season until they folded down the stretch. This figures to be a make or break year for the coach so the Huskies will have extra incentive. If QB Jake Locker can remain healthy, Washington's chances at a bowl are vastly improved.




SEC

Ole Miss- The Rebels were horrible under Ed Orgeron. Fortunately for new coach Houston Nutt, Orgeron was an excellent recruiter. There is ample talent in Oxford(and for once I'm not talking about the ladies.) Nutt is a great coach, and he will get this thing turned around quicker than most people think. Texas transfer Jevan Snead is the new QB and he will have some talented receiver to throw to, including Mike Wallace and Marshay Green.


Sun Belt

Louisiana-Monroe- Florida Atlantic is still too tough for anyone to unseat them as kings of the conference no one cares about, but the War Hawks have a shot to unseat Troy as number two in the Sun Belt. Monroe was a totally different team at the end of last year compared to the beginning. They ended the season with tremendous momentum thanks to the stunning win at Alabama. Veteran coach Charlie Weatherbie called the win the biggest of his career. The War Hawks do lose starting tailback Calvin Dawson, but they also return All-WAC caliber Kinsmon Lancaster at QB. Lancaster is a playmaker with bot his arm and legs.


WAC

Louisiana Tech- All the focus in the WAC this year is on Fresno St. and Boise St., as it should be. Watch out for these Bulldogs though. Derek Dooley is a tough-minded coach that has finally gotten his players to buy into his approach. Georgia Tech transfer Taylor Bennett is immediately available to start the season. That should help the pain of losing Zac Champion at QB. I expect Louisiana Tech to make a bowl game this season. That is a big turnaround from previous seasons.

Spring Conference Breakdowns - Big XII South

For the first time in recent memory, the Big XII South took a back seat last year to it's counterparts in the Big XII North. Missouri and Kansas were the stories for much of the season, while the failures of Oklahoma and Texas garnered attention. This year lookf to return to form as the South is once again ready to assert it's dominance over the North.

I have listed the teams below in the order in which I think they will finish.

1. Oklahoma Sooners

2007 Recap - 11-3(6-2) Lost to West Virginia 48-28 in the Fiesta Bowl.

2008 Preview- Back-to-back Fiesta Bowl losses have left the fan base in Norman extremely anxious this year. Lucky for them these Sooners are one of the early favorites to make a run at the national title. Heisman hopeful Sam Bradford is back, and he is looking to build upon last year's successes when he exploded onto the national scene. Bradfor will have steady receivers to throw to that include Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson. The Sooners alos look to add speedster Ryan Broyles to the receiving mix this season. Oklahoma may have the deepest running back rotation in the nation. DeMarco Murray is back to handle starting duties for the Sooners. Superb quality back-up Chris Brown and incoming Freshman Jermie Calhoun will provide Murray with breathers.Defensively, the Sooners will be outstanding once again. Linebackers Jeremy Beal and Ryan Reynolds are back to lead a defense that also includes DB Lendy Holmes and DT DeMarcus Granger.

The Sooners play two decent non-conference games vs. Cincinnati and at Washington. In Big XII play, the Sooners toughest game on the road may be a trip to Texas A&M. Kansas and Texas Tech both make the trip to Norman this season, and of course, there's the annual match-up with Texas in Dallas as well.

Difference Maker - Sam Bradford QB. With the depth at the running back position, the Sooners can still compete if DeMarco Murray or Chris Brown were to go down. This is not the case with Bradford. Oklahoma would be in for a long season if Bradford is injured or somehow fails to produce.

Biggest Game - Oct. 11 vs. Texas in Dallas. Once again this game will more than likely determine the Big XII South winner. This game may also have national title game implications.

Intangible - The depth at the running back position is truly amazing. Bob Stoops is able to plug in a running back whenever necessary and their seems to never be any drop-off.





2. Texas Longhorns


2007 Recap - 10-3(5-3) Defeated Arizona St. 52-34 in the Holiday Bowl.

2008 Preview - This season the Longhorns will have to perform to the best of their abilities if they want to keep pace with Oklahoma. Texas does return Colt McCoy at QB. McCoy is an early Heisman candidate once again. He will have returning receivers Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley to throw the ball to, as well as incoming freshman Dan Buckner. Vondrell McGee will be replacing Jamaal Charles at the running back position after Charles declared for the NFL Draft. Defensively, the Longhorns are lead up front by DE's Brian Orakpo and Sam Acho. They will be backed up by LB Rashad Babino. CB Curtis Brown will have to step up and be the leader of the young secondary.

Texas renews it's long time rivalry with Arkansas this season by hosting the Razorbacks. In Big XII play, Texas will travel to Texas Tech and Kansas. They will also host Missouri and Texas A&M, as well as the annual game with Oklahoma in Dallas.

Difference Maker - Colt McCoy. McCoy will have to have a Heisman type season that has been expected of him in order for the Longhorns to dream of a national title.

Biggest Game - Oct. 11 vs. Oklahoma in Dallas. Texas will have to take this series back in order to turn the tide in the Big XII.

Intangible - New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will bring an extreme intensity to this defensive unit. The impact that Muschamp will have on players like Babino and Orakpo could turn Texas into one of the elite defenses in the nation.




3. Texas Tech Red Raiders


2007 Recap - 9-4(4-4) Defeated Virginia 31-28 in the Gator Bowl.

2008 Preview- There is a ton of optimism in Lubbock for this Texas Tech football season, and rightfully so. Most of the main components from last year's squad are back to help improve upon last year's record. It's not so far-fetched to consider Texas Tech as a contender for the Big XII South title. QB Graham Harrell is back to lead the explosive Red Raider offense. Last year's breakout star, Michael Crabtree is back to lead the receiving corps, along with Eric Morris and Detron Lewis. Perhaps the most over-looked player on this team is running back Shannon Woods. Woods is a terrific receiver out of the backfield, and he can come through when the Red Raiders need a few yards on the ground. Everyone knows about Texas Tech's offense. However, it's their defense that will be the key to their success this season. On several occasions last season, Texas Tech was just unable to stop opponents. Texas Tech's secondary looks to be improved with DB's Darcel McBath and Jamar Wall returning. Also, converted receiver L.A. Reed will try his skill at the safety position this season.

This year's Big XII slate will be a difficult one for Texas Tech. With away games against Texas A&M, Kansas and Oklahoma, as well as a home date with the Texas Longhorns.

Difference Maker - Michael Crabtree. Last year's Biletnikoff winner is easily the favorite to win once again.

Biggest Game - Nov. 1 vs. Texas. The Red Raiders will need to capitalize on home-field advantage when Texas comes to town. If they are able to, they put themselves right in the thick of the divisional race.

Intangible - As I have said, this Texas Tech team will only go as far as their defense will take them. The defense did show signs of improvement late in the year under interim coordinator Ruffin McNeill. McNeill's interim tag has been removed, and it will be interesting to see what this defense can do with a full year under his tutelage.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

2007 Recap - 7-6(4-4) Lost to Penn St. 24-17 in the Alamo Bowl.

2008 Preview - It seems like a black cloud has been lifted over College Station with the departure of Dennis Franchione. New coach Mike Sherman may not have been the hot prospect coach that some Aggie fans wanted. However, Sherman will bring a steadying calm that was often missing during the Franchione regime. Tough - nosed QB Stephen McGee is back to run the offense. With departure of TE Martellus Bennett and the absense of a true deep-threat receiver, except for Pierre Brown, look for the Aggies to once again run the ball down their opponent's throats. Two big reasons the Aggies will be able to do this are the one-two combo of running backs they possess. Bruiser Jorvorskie Lane will get the bulk of the carries, while speedster Mike Goodson will provide a much needed change of pace. The Aggies may have one of the deepest secondaries in the Big XII. Jordan Pugh, Alton Dixon, Devin Gregg and Arkeith Brown all return to the defensive backfield.

The Aggies will host a much-improved Miami Hurricanes team in the non-conference portion of their schedule. Within the Big XII, Texas A&M plays at Texas while hosting Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

Difference Maker - Mike Goodson. The Aggies are a bruising, pound it out type football team. Goodson brings a necessary change of pace to their offensive system. He has the ability to take it the distance every time he touches the ball.

Biggest Game - Oct. 18 vs. Texas Tech. The Aggies always seem to have trouble with Tech. This will be a huge revenge game for A&M, and could go a long way in deciding how their season will turn out.

Intangible - In a year in which Texas A&M needs all the help they can get in order to prevent a slide, they receive some help from their own schedule. A&M avoids all the top teams of the Big XII North this season. Also, with the exception of the Texas game, all of their "tough" games will be played in College Station.

5. Oklahoma St. Cowboys


2007 Recap - 7-6(4-4) Defeated Indiana 49-33 in the Insight.Com Bowl

2008 Preview - Oklahoma St.'s 2007 season may best be known for Mike Gundy's rant rather than his team's play. On the field, the Cowboys were one of the most prolific offensive teams in the conference. Dual threat QB Zac Robinson is back to run Gundy's offense. Last year's leading rusher, Dantrell Savage, must be replaced. That task goes to Kendall Hunter. Robinson will have a plethora of receivers to throw to. Dez Bryant , Jeremy Broadway and Artrell Woods all provide great speed and skill at the receiver position. The best receiver on the team, however, may be TE Brandon Pettigrew. The Cowboys need to improve defensively this season if they wish to better their record from last season. In the secondary, DB's Perrish Cox and Jacob Lacey return. They are joined by fellow retuning starters Derek Burton at DE and Patrick Lavine at LB.

Oklahoma St. plays a rather difficult non-conference schedule with a game in Seattle vs. Washington St., as well as home games vs. top non-BCS schools Houston and Troy. In Big XII play, the Cowboys play at Missouri and Texas Tech. Home dates vs. Texas A&M and Oklahoma also are on the schedule.

Difference Maker - Zac Robinson. Robinson makes this offense go. If he can improve upon last year's impressive season, Oklahoma St. can go pretty far.

Biggest Game - Oct. 4 vs. Texas A&M. Oklahoma St. opens Big XII play against the Aggies in Stillwater. Oklahoma St. would love to open the season in a big way.

Intangible - Mike Gundy's fire and passion for this program is readily evident. This year should be the year that the Cowboys make a move up the Big XII ranks. With Gundy at the helm it's not impossible to think that Oklahoma St. could do just that.





6. Baylor Bears


2007 Recap - 3-9((0-8)

2008 Preview - Baylor does not return too many weapons from last year's squad. Art Briles will have to make due with what was left him in his first year in Waco. The Bears return QB Blake Szymanski from last year's squad. The starting running back for the 2008 season will be Jay Finley. The returning receivers for Baylor will be Thomas White, Justin Akers and David Gettis. If Baylor wishes to improve upon last year's disappointing season, they will have to do so with their defense. Up front, the Bears are lead by DE Jason Lamb and DT Vincent Rhodes. LB Joe Pawelek is back to lead the entire defense along with S Jeremy Williams.

Baylor's non-conference slate features 3 pretty tough games in home dates with Wake Forest and Washington St. and an away contest against Connecticut. The Big XII schedule doesn't get any easier for the Bears as they play at Texas and Texas Tech as well as host Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas A&M.

Difference Maker - Joe Pawelek LB. Pawelek is the key to the defense and the entire team. If the offense can follow his lead on the other side of the ball, the Bears may be able to surprise a few people.

Biggest Game - Oct 1.. vs. Iowa St. This game may provide Baylor with their best chance to win a Big XII game.

Intangible - Art Briles brings an energy to this program that has been lacking for far too many years in Waco. It may not be this year, but the Bears may be able to turn the corner under Briles very soon.