2009 SEC Football preview

(Each of my conference previews are determined in part by using a simple formula using certain nine variables to determine a teams ability to win games. These nine categories are as follows: Quarterback, RB/WR/TE, Offensive Line, DE/LB, Secondary, Coaching, Schedule Difficulty, Home Field Advantage, and Player Experience. Each team is ranked in descending order according to their strength in these areas. For example, the team in a conference with the best QB will be given a one, the second best rated team by QB will be given a 2, and on down through the remaining teams in that conference. This formula goes on for all categories. After all categories and teams are ranked, those rankings are added up to give the team’s a total score. The lower the score, the more likely a team will be successful this year and win more games than teams with higher overall scores. By no means is it an exact science, just my personal predictions for the upcoming season.)

 

 

The best conference in the nation brings back a mix of veteran stars and hard-nosed coaches. Combined with drama filled story lines, and the SEC is once again the most exciting conference to watch.

 

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS

 

1. Tim Tebow will be Tim Tebow and lead Florida to another SEC title.

    

   Not like it’s a big shocker, but the Florida Gators will once again enter a football season as the favorite to win the SEC. Bringing back the best QB in the league as well as the best coach makes them the obvious choice. Not to mention a schedule that is fairly easy given the regular opponents the Gators must face (i.e. Georgia and LSU). 

   

   Don't worry, Tebow haters. You've only got one more year left to hear about the Superman-esque QB. (Photo courtesy of thewholegardenwillbow.com)

    

2. Lane Kiffin will become the most hated coach in the SEC (you’re welcome Nick Saban) but still lead the Vols to at least 8 wins. When UT decided to hire Kiffin, many fans were just glad to see someone other than Phil Fulmer listed beside the “Head coach” title. Kiffin has already made himself known to the SEC, tossing barbs at Florida in the way Spurrier used to do to UT back when he was coaching the Gators. Topped with a phenomenal staff (including his dad Monte and recruiting master Ed Orgeron) Kiffin has risen new hope in Knoxville that could lead UT back into SEC title contention in 3 years. Just imagine what he could do if he had a quarterback.

3. The SEC West will feature three 10 win teams. You expect a great season from LSU, and Alabama is bound to continue what they began last year. But Ole Miss, who came out of nowhere last year beating Florida and Texas Tech in a bowl game could easily finish with 10-plus wins with their rather pedestrian schedule. The Rebels don’t have to play Florida this season, and they get Alabama and LSU both at home.

 

THREE GUYS READY FOR DRAFT DAY

 

1. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee- As if the Heisman promotions from his own school aren’t telling enough, perhaps a NCAA leading 7 picks last year and a plaque proclaiming him SEC Defensive POY will convince you. Berry is an absolute freak on the field, and is practically a shoe-in as a top 10 pick, if not higher.

   

   Eric Berry hits hard, plays hard, and will most likely be the first DB taken in the 2010 draft. (Photo courtesy of media.scout.com)

2. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida- The 6′3, 258 pound linebacker is a ball hawk and a physical specimen. He was a key to the Gators title run last year, helping them finish in the top ten nationally in defense.

3. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama- If you want to talk about size, talk about Cody. Standing at 6′5 and weighing in at a hefty 365 pounds, he wreaks havoc on offensive linemen. He may not get a ton of sacks, but helps defenses by forcing double and even triple coverage.

 

THREE “CAN’T MISS GAMES”

 

1. Virginia Tech vs. Alabama, September 5- Could be the best non-conference game nationally this year. More to prove for the Hokies, but another dismantling of a quality ACC team for Bama could set precedent for another huge year.

2. Florida at LSU, October 10- If Florida is to lose a game this year, this would be the most likely one for a collapse. Most likely a night game on the Bayou, expect more of a defensive battle this year than last year’s 51-21 thrashing by Florida provided.

3. Alabama at Ole Miss, October 10- Huge West battle with big implications. Should LSU lose to Florida, winner of this game may have clear path to West division title.

 

 

THREE THINGS WE WON’T SEE THIS YEAR

 

1. Nick Saban wearing a hounds tooth hat. Even after an incredible season, folks in Tuscaloosa aren’t quite ready to proclaim Saban as the next Bear Bryant. One thing’s for sure though, he’s well on his way to earning that prestigious comparison. Saban coached the Tide to a phenomenal 12-2 record last year, falling short of the SEC Title to Florida. This year, according to rivals.com, Saban has pulled in the top recruiting class in the SEC. Until there’s national titles won, Saban won’t be “the Bear” quite yet. Will he stick around long enough to make that happen?

   

   Saban is quickly turning Alabama into one of the nation's best programs. Will he stay long enough to lead the Tide to a title? (Photo courtesy of nydailytimes.com)

2. Urban Meyer sending Lane Kiffin SEC championship game tickets. The Florida/UT rivalry took a big hit in recent years with the Gators’ complete domination over the Vols, winning 4 straight. Then came the ax of Phil Fulmer, and young Lane Kiffin took the reigns, immediately rekindling the trash-talking relationship with Florida. Now he’s even putting UT billboards in Florida, in an impressive attempt to steal recruits. If UT’s talent can match up to the boldness of it’s coach, the Vols may make that late September matchup with Florida a rivalry again.

3. A top-tier SEC school play USC. Despite all the great bowl matchups we’ve seen in recent years, we’ve yet to see one we really want: an upper-crust SEC team face off against Southern Cal. With USC expected to have a down year (and by down, I mean maybe 2 or 3 losses instead of just one), the chances aren’t great we’ll see that this year. The best chance we’ve got to see it is a playoff system, but that just wouldn’t make any sense, would it?

 

THREE REASONS TO WATCH THE SEC

 

1. New Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen. Mullen comes over from Florida where he served as the offensive coordinator. He’ll bring that spread offense over to MSU that helped Florida rack up nearly 44 points a game last year. The Bulldogs may not be great this season, but given time, Mullen could turn Miss. St. into a contender in the next few years in the SEC West.

2. Tennessee’s revival of relevance. Don’t look for big upsets this year, but Kiffiin is a young dynamo that has already pulled in an impressive recruiting class. UT has largely been an afterthought in the SEC in recent years, even in 2007 when they backed their way into the SEC title game. Now the Vols seem to have landed a coach to help them compete with the other stalwarts in the league. Will the Vols of the 2010’s match the Vols of the 1990’s?

3. Because it’s the best football conference in the nation. There’s a reason ESPN was clamoring to sign a multi-year television deal with the SEC. The conference features the best teams with the best players on any given Saturday. I’m as much of an ACC homer as they come, but you won’t find a Duke or Virginia or Maryland game featured on Saturday prime-time. Virtually every SEC team has been featured during a Saturday night game over the past 2 years. Yes, even Vanderbilt.

 

BOWL QUALIFIERS

Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, Auburn

 

 

2009 Big 10 Football Preview

 

Each of my conference previews are determined in part by using a simple formula using certain nine variables to determine a teams ability to win games. These nine categories are as follows: Quarterback, RB/WR/TE, Offensive Line, DE/LB, Secondary, Coaching, Schedule Difficulty, Home Field Advantage, and Player Experience. Each team is ranked in descending order according to their strength in these areas. For example, the team in a conference with the best QB will be given a one, the second best rated team by QB will be given a 2, and on down through the remaining teams in that conference. This formula goes on for all categories. After all categories and teams are ranked, those rankings are added up to give the team’s a total score. The lower the score, the more likely a team will be successful this year and win more games than teams with higher overall scores. By no means is it an exact science, just my personal predictions for the upcoming season.)

 

 

 

 

 

The conference that has more often than not been a national punchline the past few years is desperate to reclaim respect. But can they do it without winning a BCS title?

 

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS

 

1. Ohio State will go undefeated, but miss the BCS title game. The Buckeyes are still sitting at the top of the Big Ten, but that’s more an indictment on the other 10 team’s mediocrity than it is the greatness of OSU. A victory over USC will be sweet, but beating up on lesser opponents such as Minnesota and Northwestern won’t impress pollsters. Ohio State’s recent BCS failures have done serious damage to their reputation, and it goes beyond just one team. It’s conference-wide.

2. For the second straight year, the best team in Michigan will be wearing green and white. Fans of the maize and blue of Michigan won’t maintain much patience is Rich Rodriguez fails to get the Wolverines to a bowl game this season. Everyone anticipated struggles last year, but I doubt very many foresaw one of the most inept offensive seasons in school history. Michigan finished the year 109^th nationally in total offense. If that wasn’t bad enough, when they did have the ball, they couldn’t hold onto it. They ranked 104^h nationally in turnover margin. Meanwhile, the Michigan State Spartans continue to rise in prominence, playing a tough Georgia team very well in the Capital One Bowl last season. The Wolverines will be better, but the Spartans will own the state for another year.

3. Joe Paterno will coach his final year, losing only once during the regular season.

   The time has come for Joe Pa, perhaps the most beloved coach in Big 10 history, to hang up his loafers. Going into the year with 383 wins, he should go out with just under 400, as his squad has a schedule so weak it might as well be playing JV teams. With his health slowly deteriorating, Joe Pa will surely see the need to step away from the game gracefully. His done all a coach can do, and it’s time for the Nittany Lions to make a transition. A lone loss to Ohio State means PSU could sneak into a BCS game in Paterno’s final season, which would be a great way to go out.  

   

   We love Joe Pa, but it's time for him to hang it up. He's had a great ride. (Photo courtesy of live.psu.edu)

 

THREE GUYS READY FOR DRAFT DAY

 

1. Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan- Despite his team’s struggles last year, Graham still managed 10 sacks as a junior. His size won’t impress scouts, but has the intellect to attack in certain schemes.

2. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois- One of the biggest wide receiver recruits ever landed at Illinois, Benn brings up many comparisons to Michael Crabtree. He’s got size and great hands as he helped the Illini as the top passing team in the Big 10. Look for him to have an even better season as a junior.

   

   When you think of playmakers, think Arrelious Benn. (Photo courtesy of assets.espn.go.com)

3. Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa- The Hawkeyes boast another impressive group of offensive lineman, but the one most scouts are talking about is Bryan Bulaga. He’s got tremendous size (6-6, 312) but athletic enough to pass block effectively and run block.

 

THREE “CAN’T MISS GAMES”

 

1. USC at Ohio State, September 12- Stating the obvious, but two of the top programs nationally from this decade square off. Should OSU win, they’d be in prime position to run the table.

2. Penn State at Illinois, October 3

   - One of the top offenses in the Big 10 (Illinois) matches up with one of the top defenses (Penn State). PSU topped the Illini last year 38-24. 

    

3. Ohio State at Penn State, November 7- Nothing like conference title deciding games being played in November. These two are the clear favorites in the Big 10. Winner gets a trip to Pasadena.

 

 

THREE THINGS WE WON’T SEE THIS YEAR

 

1. Big 10 presidents realizing a need for a 12^th team. It’s already lame enough the conference has 11 teams, yet is still called the Big 10. Now with other BCS conferences stepping up to 12 teams, it’s only reasonable that the Big 10 follow suit. Why does it make so much sense to everyone else to add Notre Dame to the league, but the presidents (and the Irish) don’t get that?

2. Wisconsin make a bowl game. Sure, the Badgers wound up winning 7 games and got into a bowl last year. The problem is that it took a one point overtime win against Cal Poly to get there. The Badgers have only 13 starters returning to a team that finished 7-6 last year. The defense will be the biggest concern, with limited depth among the front 7. Should the Badgers struggle at the end of the year again, they may be home for the holidays, and Bret Bielema’s seat will start to warm.

3. A BCS win from a Big 10 team. The first 4 BCS games played by the Big 10, they won all 4. Since then, they’ve gone 4-10 in BCS games, losing the last 6 they’ve played in. Last year’s post-season was one for the conference to forget. Big 10 teams went 1-6 in bowls last year, their lone win coming from Iowa. There’s a real chance for 2 Big 10 teams to make BCS bowls again this year, but when compared to the upper crust of other conferences, the Big 10 doesn’t stack up.

 

THREE REASONS TO WATCH THE BIG 12

 

1. Terrelle Pryor.

   The explosive dual-threat QB from Ohio State is sure to make every offensive possession for the Buckeyes exciting. Now the main man behind center, Pryor is certainly someone to keep an eye on as a sleeper Hesiman candidate.   

   

   Pryor alone makes Ohio State games worth watching. (Photo courtesy of sportsillustrated.com)

2. Michigan’s latest recruiting class. With little to lose and not wanting to waste young talent, expect Rich Rod to throw some of his new kinds into the fray early. Most notably Tate Forcier, who is expected to start at QB. Also keep an eye on William Campbell, who should be a force on the defensive line.

3. Because you need something to watch at the 12:00 hour on Saturday. The fact is, most of the Big 10 games aren’t very watchable. Sluggish offenses mixed with paltry defensive play makes for bad football. But since most SEC and Big 12 games aren’t on until late afternoon or evening, feel free to enjoy that noon kickoff on ESPN2 featuring Northwestern vs. Minnesota. Should be a real barn-burner.

 

BOWL QUALIFIERS

Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Michigan State, Michigan

 

 

The Remedy for Gamecock Football

Since 1992, the South Carolina Gamecocks have consistently brought mediocrity to an otherwise strong football conference in the SEC. The scary reality is that the potential is there for the Cocks to find relevance. As a die-hard Clemson Tiger fan, nothing satisfies me more than to swim in the vastness that is Gamecock football failures. However, I’m here (for this one time at least) to offer a helping hand. A bit of advice that may seem strange to fans who flock to Williams-Brice six Saturdays a year to root on the garnet and black. A decision so confusing and unreasonable that it may just make perfect sense.

 

It’s time to fire Steve Spurrier.

 

Okay, so maybe right this second isn’t the time to relieve him of his visor tossing sideline antics, but let’s look at the bigger picture. When Carolina lured Spurrier away from a lush life of golf and leisure, the college football world couldn’t have been more shocked. Sure, the Lou Holtz hiring was pretty impressive, and he did deliver decent recruiting classes and back-to-back bowl wins over Ohio State. But when the big fish of Steve Spurrier was reeled back into the SEC East boat, Gamecock fans couldn’t help but think this was the start of something special. Or was it?

 

After 4 seasons at the helm, Spurrier is a paltry 28-22. In his entire college coaching career, he has 62 losses. In other words, over a third of his losses have come at South Carolina. That’s not necessarily an indictment on the football program. After all, Spurrier is known as a world class recruiter (ranking at an average of 21^st nationally from 2005-09) and certainly has coaching abilities that few others can claim. However, the hopes of escaping the bleak doldrums of football mediocrity with the hiring of Spurrier have all but vanished, and now the mere satisfaction of having a nationally recognized coach in spite of his lackluster efforts has appeased most fans.

 

That’s not to say Spurrier’s tenure in Columbia has been all bad. He does have an 8 win season under his belt, as well as a bowl victory over…Houston. He has beaten SEC rivals Florida, Georgia and Tennessee (twice). In 2007 they climbed into the AP top ten for only the second time since 1988. Things were going well for the Gamecocks. Then the wheels fell off, as the Cocks lost 5 straight games, dropping them to 6-6 and short of a bowl game.

 

How long should Gamecock fan shave to wait for the Spurrier magic to kick in? (Photo courtesy of nytimes.com)

The 2007 is just one alarming example that perhaps the Genius in the Visor may just be past his prime. Consecutive losses to SEC doormat Vanderbilt, less-than-stellar performances against cupcake teams like Wofford and UAB, and multiple disciplinary issues have cast a shadow over the man who owned SEC football in the nineties.

 

Another glaring fact that further drives home this point is the anemic offense. Last year, Carolina ranked 97^th nationally in total offense, 96^th in scoring. Sure, the defense was great, but is that why Spurrier was brought in? To build a great defense?

 

Maybe the Ol’ Ball Coach deserves one last shot. After all, this is the year where the entire team are his recruits, and highly touted ones at that. For example, quarterback Stephen Garcia, wideout Jason Barnes, defensive end Cliff Matthews, and free safety Chris Culliver should all be shoe-ins as starters at their respective positions. No question these kids had talent in high school and no one doubted Spurrier’s ability to draw in big talent. The bigger question to ponder here is this: has the game pass Spurrier by? Can he still coach the kids like he did back when SEC titles were the norm, and New Year’s Bowl games were expected?

 

If the answer is no, Gamecock football best direct it’s attention to it’s basketball program’s idea of starting fresh. Darrin Horn, a young unheralded coach from Western Kentucky, was hired to lead the men’s basketball squad, and all he did was lead the team to a SEC East co-championship. When former coach Dave Odom stepped down, the athletic department didn’t chase Bob Knight. They didn’t dredge up talks with Bobby Cremins. They went with a young guy with talent.

 

SEC football has never been more difficult. Between the recruiting wars and constant rearranging of offensive concepts, teams are fighting to keep up with the Joneses. Or in this case, the Sabans, Meyers, and Les Miles of the league.

 

Give him a season. See if Spurrier can reclaim so swamp magic with Garcia at QB and get the offense on track. 8 wins are definitely a possibility, but if the team settles in at it’s usual 6-7 win rate in a league that gets more competitive by the hour, maybe it’s time Gamecock fans start thinking to the future instead of breathing off the fumes of a coaching legend’s past.

2009 Big 12 Football Preview

BIG 12 PREVIEW

 

(Each of my conference previews are determined in part by using a simple formula using certain nine variables to determine a teams ability to win games. These nine categories are as follows: Quarterback, RB/WR/TE, Offensive Line, DE/LB, Secondary, Coaching, Schedule Difficulty, Home Field Advantage, and Player Experience. Each team is ranked in descending order according to their strength in these areas. For example, the team in a conference with the best QB will be given a one, the second best rated team by QB will be given a 2, and on down through the remaining teams in that conference. This formula goes on for all categories. After all categories and teams are ranked, those rankings are added up to give the team’s a total score. The lower the score, the more likely a team will be successful this year and win more games than teams with higher overall scores. By no means is it an exact science, just my personal predictions for the upcoming season.)

 

 

Last year we saw a Top 25 dominance by the Big 12 not seen in years. 7 Big 12 teams were Top 25 mainstays during various times of the season. However, the parity in the league was limited to the South division for the most part. Who will emerge as the big dog from the Big 12 this year?

 

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS

 

1. Baylor will end the longest “bowl-less” streak in the nation. The Bears of Baylor, long known for football futility, seem to have finally righted the ship under the leadership of Art Briles. Now entering his 7^th season, Briles has all the pieces in place to make a run for a bowl. It’s been 14 years since that’s happened at Baylor, a streak that ties Duke for the longest without making a bowl game. 18 returning starters and perhaps the best sophomore QB in the nation (Robert Griffin) will lead Baylor back to a bowl.

2. Texas QB Colt McCoy will be drafted higher than Sam Bradford.  Numbers may not prove it, but of these 2 quartebacks, McCoy is the best. Overall stats won’t show it, but to really determine it, look at the numbers of the QBs amongst their toughest competition. Against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Ohio State, McCoy averaged 361 yards passing and a 78.2 completion percentage per game. He also threw for 5 touchdowns and only 2 picks during those 3 games. Give me the QB that plays better against tough competition. 
   

   McCoy has all the abilities to be a start at the next level. (Photo courtesy of austinchronicle.com)

     

3. Oklahoma State, not Oklahoma, will be the bigger test for Texas. The Cowboys proved their manhood last year, finishing the year with 9 wins and ranked 6^th nationally in total offense. They return the core of their offense, including QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, and Heisman dark horse WR Dez Bryant. This ‘Boys will have plenty of steam to throw up big points on the board, and have what it takes to knock out their rival Sooners.

 

THREE GUYS READY FOR DRAFT DAY

 

1. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State- Phenomenal talent. Bryant caught 87 passes last year for 1,480 yards. 19 of those 87 were for touchdowns. If he can remain healthy (he suffered a knee injury in the Holiday Bowl) then there’s no reason he can’t finish with over 100 catches, 20 touchdowns, and be the first WR taken in the draft.

2. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas- As I mentioned earlier, when it comes to big games, McCoy is a master. His scrambling ability is also key. His 76.7% completion percentage from 2008 is a NCAA record. Can be a first-year starter for a NFL team.

3. Ndamukong Suh, DE, Nebraska- The only thing tougher than pronouncing his name is his defensive ability. This guy is a ball hawk, and can rip through any offensive line. He had 7.4 sacks last year, as well as 19 tackles-for-loss. He’s improved each year, so expect his senior season to be a true breakout year for this nose tackle.

    

    

   

   Suh will give Big 12 quaterbacks nightmares this season. (Photo courtesy of daylife.com)

    

THREE “CAN’T MISS GAMES”

 

1. Georgia at Oklahoma State, September 5- First game for Cowboys is a big test. If they can win this one, it will open eyes across the nation. The Boys are for real.

2. Texas vs. Oklahoma, October 17-

   The Red River Shootout at the Texas State Fair is always a barn burner. This year, look for Texas to walk away winners again. If they don’t, there’s a big shakeup in the Big 12 South. 

   

   Screw the petting zoo and ferris wheel at the state fair, give me football! (Photo courtesy of sbnation.com)

    

3. Texas at Oklahoma State, October 31- Should both teams make it here undefeated, this could be a BCS Title play-in game.

 

THREE THINGS WE WON’T SEE THIS YEAR

1. Missouri win the Big 12 North. Losing stud QB Chase Daniel was bad enough, but returning only 10 starters from last year’s Big 12 North title team is even worse. The Tigers have a manageable schedule, but with the other Big 12 North teams improving, look for a season to forget for Mizzou.

2. Texas Tech’s offense to slow down. A lot of people think losing Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree would doom the Red Raiders to failure in 2009, but I see quite the opposite. The system Mike Leach put in place is one to assure lots of passing and lots of points. New QB Taylor Potts will have some struggles, but will still put up huge numbers for Tech. There is a bit of a drop off at wide receiver, but not enough to where the Raiders can’t win 8 or 9 games.

3. Patience from Aggie fans (if there’s no bowl this year). There were some (okay…a lot) of Texas A&M fans who questioned the hire of Mike Sherman, one that seemed more like “settling” than anything else. In his first season, he did little to satisfy his detractors. 7 of the team’s 8 losses were by 14 or more points, and the one loss that was close was to (gulp) Arkansas State. Ouch. Still, returning 17 players has fans feeling some good things about this year’s team. Competing in the Southern division of the Big 12, however, won’t make things easy for Sherman to avoid the hot seat.

 

THREE REASONS TO WATCH THE BIG 12

 

1. The Race for the South. If things pan out the way many experts are predicting, we could see the best 3-team race for a division in years. Texas is the slight favorite, with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State not far behind. The wealth of offensive talent from these three teams alone make the Big 12 worth tuning in to this season.

2. The future of NFL quarterbacks. Sure, the numbers are a bit inflated in a league that seemingly plays no defense. But you can’t ignore what Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford have done the past few years. Add on to those guys lesser-known QB potential “studs” like Kansas’ Todd Reesing, Oklahoma State’s Zac Robinson, and Baylor’s Robert Griffin, and the field generals of the Big 12 look like future Sunday regulars.

3. Bill Snyder’s return to Kansas State. Anyone who has followed college football knows just how good Kansas State used to be. In his 17 years of coaching at Kansas State, Snyder won 136 games, including 3 Big 12 North titles and a Big 12 conference title. Now with Snyder back at the helm, hopes are reignited among Wildcat faithful. If Snyder manages 6 wins this year, K-State fans should be pleased.

 

BOWL QUALIFIERS

Texas, Oklahoma St., Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas, Colorado, Kansas St., Nebraska

 

 

2009 ACC Football Preview

ACC PREVIEW

 

Each of my conference previews are determined in part by using a simple formula using certain nine variables to determine a teams ability to win games. These nine categories are as follows: Quarterback, RB/WR/TE, Offensive Line, DE/LB, Secondary, Coaching, Schedule Difficulty, Home Field Advantage, and Player Experience. Each team is ranked in descending order according to their strength in these areas. For example, the team in a conference with the best QB will be given a one, the second best rated team by QB will be given a 2, and on down through the remaining teams in that conference. This formula goes on for all categories. After all categories and teams are ranked, those rankings are added up to give the team’s a total score. The lower the score, the more likely a team will be successful this year and win more games than teams with higher overall scores. By no means is it an exact science, just my personal predictions for the upcoming season.)

 

 

The expansion of the ACC just a few years ago was supposed to bring a mediocre football conference into the realm of superiority. However, the opposite has happened. Florida State has fallen off from being a feared dynasty, Miami has embarrassed themselves on the field, and Clemson has yet to live up to lofty expectations. Can anyone in the ACC lay claim to national respect this year?

 

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS

 

1. Half the league will finish with 8 or more wins. The league isn’t quite the caliber of the SEC, but it is turning out some programs who’s football prestige is growing. Most notably schools like Boston College, NC State, and North Carolina.

2. Another losing season will finally cost Al Groh his job. Can you remember a year where Groh wasn’t on the hot seat at Virginia? Last year, the Cavs finished 5-7, a year which included a few nice wins but more notably some really bad losses. Uva managed to lose to Connecticut and Duke by a combined 63 points. In this, Groh’s 9^th season, a winning record is more important than ever.

   

   Groh needs wins to avoid the axe. (Photo courtesy of weblogs.newsday.com)

3. Virginia Tech will finish ACC play undefeated. It’s certainly no surprise that the Hokies are ranked top of the conference, but they’ve got to end the ACC season with a clean slate. That could very easily happen this year, with the only real test coming on the road against Georgia Tech. If they do finish undefeated in conference play, it will be the fourth time in the five years of the ACC title game in which the Hokies have participated in the championship tilt.

 

THREE GUYS READY FOR DRAFT DAY

 

1. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson- With James Davis gone, Spiller is the Tigers’ featured back. His play making ability has led many college football talking heads to refer to him as the “Reggie Bush of the East Coast.” AS long as Spiller keeps things north-south and doesn’t try to dance too much (as has been his tendency), he’ll be a stud in the NFL.

   

   Is Spiller the most dynamic back in ACC history? (Photo courtesy of daylife.com)

2. Kam Chancellor, S, Va. Tech- The best defensive secondary in the ACC is led by the best DB in the league, Kam Chancellor. The senior DB has skills that set him apart, even though this is his first full season playing free safety. He’s got great range and can cover big spaces, which is exactly what you was a FS to do.

3. Dekoda Watson, LB, Florida St.- He’s got rushing abilities beyond most other Lbs in the league, and NFL scouts love him. He considered leaving early each of the last 2 seasons, and now as a senior, has a chance to fully polish his skills and look for a 1^st or 2^nd round draft spot.

 

THREE “CAN’T MISS GAMES”

 

1. Clemson at Georgia Tech, Sept. 10- Early season test between rivals. Can Dabo Swinney make his mark early in his first full season as the Tiger’s coach?

2. Va. Tech vs. Alabama, Sept. 3- Hokies fight for ACC respectability against tough Bama squad, who embarrassed Clemson in same game last year 34-10.

3. North Carolina at NC State, Nov. 28- Won’t be a decider in the ACC title hunt, but should be a great game to watch between two up and comers in the league. The Heels got trounced by the Pack last year 41-10.

 

 

THREE THINGS WE WON’T SEE THIS YEAR

 

1. Clemson in the ACC Title Game. Frustrations over Tommy Bowden’s ineptitude came to a head last season, and Bowden was politely asked to not let the door hit him on the backside on his way out of town. Dabo Swinney, a young Alabama kid takes over at the helm and did a decent enough job last season, guiding Clemson to wins in 5 of their last 7 games. However, they’re not at the level yet to be a title contender, at least not this season. Florida State will just edge them out for the Atlantic spot.

2. Duke making a bowl game. No question Dave Cutcliffe is making the Blue Devils into a recognizable program. It’s tough to climb out of the cellar after being there for years and years. Recruiting is improving, and students are starting to see that there is another sport other than basketball on campus. However, the Dukies aren’t quite there yet. Only 12 starters return, and a tough ACC slate won’t help break a 14 year bowl-less streak.

3. National respect for ACC football. It still is viewed as a basketball league, and nothing that takes place this year will change that. Even if VT stops Alabama in that season kickoff in Atlanta, most NCAA fans will refer to it as nothing more than an “old Big East team” knocking off a SEC team. For the ACC to climb back into national title discussions, teams like Clemson, Florida State, and Georgia Tech have to return to the programs they once were.

 

THREE REASONS TO WATCH THE BIG EAST

 

1. Tobacco Road: All 4 NC schools have shot at a bowl. Never in the history of college football have all 4 of the ACC schools from North Carolina been in bowl games in the same season. There’s a chance that could change this year. North Carolina and Wake Forest seem almost a lock in the pre-season to make bowls, and sleeper NC State has all the makings of a team destined for the post season as well. Duke, while unlikely to make a bowl, isn’t a definite lock to NOT make one. Could be interesting to see if all 4 can sneak into bowls in the same year.

2. Virginia Tech’s BCS Title run. If the schedule was completely flipped upside down, the big SEC/ACC clash between the Hokies and Crimson Tide would possibly be a de facto play-in game for a spot in the BCS title game. As it were, if VT can beat Saban’s Bama boys, Frank Beamer controls his own destiny.

   

   With 17 returning starters, the Hokies are looking BCS bound. (Photo courtesy of myspace.com/kennyowens)

3. To determine if Paul Johnson and his crazy run-the-ball-every-play system is for real. Georgia Tech was one of the strongest teams in the ACC last year, and it was all due to the fact that they dominated the running game. The Ramblin’ Wreck finished 4^th in the nation in rushing, thanks to Paul Johnson’s system and a young man named Jonathan Dwyer, picked by many as a Heisman dark horse this season. As good as the Jackets were as rushing, their passing game was equally as bad. Johnson will have to mix things up more, as he was exposed in an ugly Chik-fil-A Bowl loss to LSU 38-3.

 

BOWL QUALIFIERS

Clemson, Florida State, Boston College, NC State, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Miami

 

 

4 Ways to Make the MLB All-Star Game Better

1) Less players.  The fact that the rosters were actually EXPANDED this year was absurd.  There are still plenty of guys who didn’t play or pitch.  Further more, let’s end the requirement that every team is represented.  Maybe just have home team representation mandatory.  Really, no one from the Pirates, Nationals, or A’s should’ve been on a roster.  25 player max on a roster is the way it is, and should be for this game as well.

2) Have the game on the weekend.  I understand the fact that it’s summer makes it less pertinent to have a gala of this magnitude on a Saturday, but really, it would make it better.  Maybe late afternoon on a Saturday, allowing players and their families to have a weekend off.  If for no other reason than the fact that 7 year old boys dying to see their favorite player bat in the 8th inning won’t have to stay up until 11:00 p.m. to do so.

3) End fan voting.  It’s pointless to have nonchalant  fans who don’t pay attention to baseball actually have a say in who the best players in the game are for the first half of the year.  The fact that Manny Ramirez was as high as he was in the voting was an absolute sham.  Also, to have fans vote batters but NOT pitchers is a tad hypocritical.  Have managers and players and a select few sportswriters vote players in.  That way you get a true feel as to who are the best players in the first half of the year.

4) Stop the homefield advantage nonsense.  Can you really put something that important on the line in an exhibition game?  No, you can’t.  That the Phillies chances of getting the home field advantage in the WS relies upon Heath Bell from the lowly Padres working a strong 8th inning is ridiculous.  Change it to the team that has the better record gets to claim stake to homefield.  It just makes sense.

5 “Under the Radar” Studs To Draft

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers

 

Favre (left) has passed to torch to Rodgers, and he's done well with it thus far. (Photo courtesy of The Cheese Heads @ blogspot)

Rodgers is quickly proving to be the medicine for Packers’ fan’s going through Favre withdrawal. Many expected Rodgers to be decent, but he was much more than that in his first full season as a starter in 2008. Throwing for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, Rodgers also threw only 13 picks, a number that matched Favre’s career LOW in interceptions. Rodgers has great targets in Greg Jennings (the next superstar WR), Donald Driver (reliable No. 2), and Ryan Grant in the backfield. Rodgers may not have the need to pass as often this year with an improved Green Bay defense, but he’ll still be just as efficient (if not more so) and will put up similar TD numbers.

 

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons

 

Gonzo will be the same beast he was in KC, but with a better QB. (Photo courtesy of nflgoddess.com)

No off-season acquisition, not even Housh to Seattle or Haynesworth to Washington, will have the impact that Tony Gonzalez to the Falcons will have. In 2008, Gonzo managed over 1,000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns and had nearly 100 receptions. Did I mention that was all while playing for a team that used a combination of Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle at quarterback? Now Gonzalez is with the Falcons, a team chock full of play makers and a young dynamo at QB. If you’re in a keeper league, Gonzalez’s age may be a bit of a concern (he’s 33). But in one year leagues, you can’t do much better at the tight end position than this guy. He’s always been a top 5 TE, and his move to the ATL only increases his stock.

 

Steve Slaton, RB, Texans

 

Slaton could be a top 5 RB by year's end, or higher. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

Take a look back at the 2008 draft, and tell me which rookie RB led the league in rushing. Forte? Nope. McFadden? Not even close. Chris Johnson? Good guess, but you’d be wrong. It was Steve Slaton, the kid from West Virginia who, in the early summer of ‘08, was looking like he’d be third on the depth chart behind Ahman Green and Chris Brown. However, an early season injury to Green opened the door for Slaton, and all he did was rush for nearly 1,300 yards and 9 touchdowns. The stat line doesn’t end there for Slaton. He’s also a receiving threat, catching 50 balls for 377 yards. Now as the featured back going into the season, Slaton is sure to be a key part of an offense featuring Andre Johnson at WR. Look for Slaton to close in on 1,700 yards and possibly 14-16 touchdowns. Don’t be scared to grab him in the first round.

 

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs

 

Bowe will benefit from a new QB and the departure of Tony Gonzalez. (Photo courtesy of fanhouse.com)

It’s not often I say that Matt Cassel improves someone’s fantasy projections (in fact, this will probably be the only time). However, such is the case with Chiefs’ WR Dwayne Bowe. Last year, catching from the same QB carousel that Tony Gonzalez dealt with, Bowe managed 86 catches and over 1,000 yards receiving. Todd Haley comes to KC as the new coach, and we all know what he did running the Cardinal’s offense last year. Bowe has enough capable receivers around him to where he’s not forced to carry the workload, but he can expect to be the main target. Combine that with Cassel’s impressive stint as a starter for the Patriots last year, and you have perhaps the perfect storm. Bowe is worthy of being the first WR you take in the draft.

 

Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys

 

Sign him up: Witten is ready to be your dynasty TE superstar. (Photo courtesy of tristarproductions.com)

If the team chemistry in Dallas doesn’t improve with the departure of Terrell Owens, one thing’s for sure: Witten’s production is bound to increase big time. Last year, Antonio Gates was the only TE in the league targeted more times than Witten. Now with the largely disappointing Roy Williams as the only other recognizable receiving threat, expect the man crush Tony Romo has on his tight end to grow. Witten’s got great hands and is just as reliable in the red zone as anyone else in the league. It wouldn’t hurt to snatch him up even as early as late 3^rd round.

5 Players To Avoid On Draft Day

LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers

 

Is LT's career as a fantasy must-have over?

Okay, don’t get me wrong. I like LT. He’s been as dominant a fantasy RB as we’ve ever seen. But looking at the numbers across the board (we tend to do that), LT is just SOOOO 2006. In fact, Tomlinson had more rushing touchdowns in ‘06 than he has the past two seasons combined. Now 30 years old, injuries not withstanding, LT has more to prove this year than ever before, at least in terms of fantasy. A younger (and speedier) Darren Sproles saw an increase in his workload last season with injuries to LT, and we expect to see Sproles play an even bigger role in this year’s offense. Combine that with the strong passing game of Rivers and talented receivers, LT will have even fewer opportunities to make an impact. If he’s still dangling in the late second- early third rounds, don’t hesitate to grab him. But he’s not a first round talent anymore. Let someone else in your league deal with the week-to-week frustrations of wondering if LT will play or not that Sunday.

 

Eli Manning, QB, NY Giants

 

Eli- the wrong Manning to have. (picture courtesy of Silent Archimedes)

Nobody in the Giants organization needed Plaxico Burress to remain on the team more than his QB Eli Manning. He was Eli’s crutch for a big stretch of last season (and all of seasons before), and without that big target, Manning flounders. Once Burress was gone last season (Nov. 30 was his last game), Manning failed to throw 200 yards in their last 4 games, and only threw 2 touchdowns during that time. He’ll go into the 2009 season with Steve Smith as his #1 wideout (no, not THAT Steve Smith). There are some talented rookie receivers on the squad, but the bulk of offense for the Giants will come from running back Brandon Jacobs. Passing will be an after thought for Manning this year. He should be a first-string QB in only the deepest of leagues. More so, he’s a serviceable bye week fill-in.

 

Joseph Addai, RB, Colts

 

Addai is no longer the lead Colt. (Photo courtesy of Sporting News)

Owners of Addai last year were sorely disappointed in their high expectations of the Colts feature back. Nagging injuries killed production, and Addai ended with only 5 touchdowns and 544 yards. His yards per carry average trended down for the second straight year, causing further concern for fantasy owners. Then, if the stats in injuries weren’t enough, the decision to draft U of Connecticut RB Donald Brown in the first round helped to hammer the nail in the “Addai as the main guy” coffin. Addai may still get some goal line carries, but this team is destined for a dual RB backfield, with the new guy getting the bigger chunk of work. Leave Addai on the board for someone else to be disappointed by.

 

Torry Holt, WR, Jaguars

 

Torry Holt's best days are behind him. (photo courtesy of Rock The Wrist Band @ blogspot)

Remember the glory days of “the greatest show on turf”? Well, that was back when Holt was young and played on carpet with a gunslinger for a QB. Those days are long gone, as Holt now finds himself in sunny Jacksonville, running routes for David Garrard. A quick glance at Garrard’s numbers would cause you to think that the Jags are now running a pass-happy offense. Reality is, however, that with an offensive line that is completely healthy and Maurice Jones-Drew finally being relied on as the featured back, the passing game won’t resonate as it did (or had to) last year. Holt is still likely the featured receiver for the Jags, simply because there’s not much else to choose from. But questions about his durability and how many opportunities he gets will surround him. Don’t grab him earlier than the 6^th round, and when you do, don’t expect too much.

 

__________, RB, Patriots

 

It's no coincidence Maroney rhymes with phony. (Photo courtesy of projo.com)

If you’ve owned a RB from the New England Patriots at any point in the past 3 years, let’s now take a moment of silence for all the wasted roster spots…..

 

Feel better? Good. Now heed this advice: the only Patriots NOT worth drafting are those in the backfield. Sure, you can get Laurence Maroney at a bargain, b ut why risk it? Obviously the Pats don’t have faith in him since they brought in Fred Taylor to help out. Throw Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk in the mix, and it’s a true fantasy football roulette: you can take a gamble on any of the guys, but chances are you’ll lose. Why risk it?