| 04 August 2010
As the new kids on the Bloguin block we were a little surprised when our fellow college bloggers were already interested in what we think. But when an organizer of the super South Carolina blog, Leftover Hot Dog, said "Really, we'd love to have Eye And Eer join us," we couldn't pass up the sweet offer.
There are a number of others who came before us, but we're going to give it our best shot. So what's the goal? Here's what LOHD requested everyone to cover during the College Football Roundtable: Preseason Predictions ...
Conference Champs
Heisman Trophy winner
BCS Champion
Write about it? Hell, it's what we talk about almost every day. So here we go:
CONFERENCE CHAMPS
ACC -- Virginia Tech (11-1, 7-1)
The Hokies will win a three-way tie with North Carolina and Miami and then take down Florida State in the ACC Championship Game. The defense needs some time to develop under DC Bud Foster, but an offense buoyed by QB Tyrod Taylor and RBs Ryan Williams and Darren Evans will carry the Hokies early. If Frank Beamer's team can avoid the one loss I'm predicting (at North Carolina on Nov. 13), Tech could be in Arizona playing for a BCS title.
Big East -- Pittsburgh (10-2, 6-1)
Dave Wannstedt's strong recruiting should finally pay off in 2010. Pitt has the most talent in the league -- led by RB Dion Lewis and WR Jonathan Baldwin, who are both All-American candidates. QB is a bit of a question mark as Tino Sunseri takes over for the departed and sometimes maligned Bill Stull. Pitt's schedule is rough with trips to Utah and Notre Dame, not to mention a weeknight game with Miami, Fla. There's also conference road trips to Connecticut and Cincinnati. The championship will be decided on Nov. 26 at Heinz Field against West Virginia.
Big Ten -- Ohio State (11-1, 7-1)Love him or hate him, QB Terrelle Pryor is officially the man in Columbus (something he proved in last year's Rose Bowl). Jim Tressel's squad should be in the Top 5 most of the season and a legitimate contender to win it all. The Buckeyes will slip up once this season, and that will more than likely come on the road at Iowa (Nov. 20). Ohio State's defense shouldn't be overlooked as the unit should be a Top 3 unit in the conference, and a Top 15 group nationally.
Big 12 -- Oklahoma (12-0, 8-0)
The Sooners were humbled last year, but a lot of that had to do with a rash of injuries that were out of Bob Stoops' control. Did anyone notice that half that OU team was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft? So there's some talent in Norman and I've read and heard a lot of positives about Sam Bradford's replaced at QB (Landry Jones). It's also the Sooners turn to win the South and fend off Nebraska in the conference title game.
Pac-10 -- Oregon State (10-2, 8-1)
Calm down Oregon fans. I know this prediction is an afront to your sensibilities, but this is the Beavers year to win the the league and knock off the Ducks at home in Corvallis. The toughest part for OSU is going to be that brutal schedule. The Beavers open with TCU (a game they'll probably lose on Sept. 4) and they also travel to Boise State (Sept. 26) ... and yes I have them knocking off Boise. OSU returns the Rodgers' brothers (James and Jacquizz), but it will turn to an untested QB in Ryan Katz.
SEC -- Alabama (11-1, 7-1)
How can anyone pick against Nick Saban and the Tide right now? Until someone shows they can be as consistent or talented as Bama it's just prudent to keep riding them.I am picking Alabama to stumble during the regular season at South Carolina (Oct. 9), but the Tide will win the West and face the Gators again and take care of business. Why? This should be enough of an explanation: RB Mark Ingram, RB Trent Richardson, QB Greg McElroy, WR Julio Jones and possibly DE Marcel Dareus. Do need more?
CUSA -- Houston (9-3, 7-1)
QB Case Keenum is a darkhorse Heisman candidate and his throwing ability reminds the folks in Houston of the Gamblers from the defunct USFL. Keenum has a lot of weapons, including WRs Patrick Edwards, James Cleveland and Tyron Carrier. The defensive line is rebuilding, but the Cougars should continue the trend of scoring tons of points and outscoring opponents. Houston will have to fight off a scrappy Southern Miss to win the title.
MAC -- Temple (9-3, 7-1)
The Owls could have made the MAC Championship Game last year if RB Bernard Pierce hadn't gotten hurt late in the season. The workhorse is a big part of Al Golden's run-first and run-often offensive approach. Temple will sneak past Ohio to win the East and avenge an earlier loss to Central Michigan in the title game. Golden is another MAC coach who'll be getting offers from bigger and richer programs in December in January.
Mountain West -- TCU (11-1, 8-0)
The Horned Frogs must rebuild the defense, but that's usually TCU's strength. So if Gary Patterson gets that group playing up to its normal levels TCU could be a BCS Bowl team again. QB Andy Dalton, another Heisman candidate, is close to owning every school passing record and he'll have eight other starters back from a team that went 12-0 before playing lackluster against Boise in the Fiesta Bowl last year. TCU's lone loss will come against Baylor (Sept. 18).
Sun Belt -- Middle Tennessee State (10-2, 8-0)
Did you see QB Dwight Dasher in the New Orleans Bowl last season? Damn, this guy can play some football. Need a little proof? How about 1,154 rushing yards to go with 2,789 passing yards. He also accounted for 36 touchdowns for the Blue Raiders. If comes even close to this in 2010 Middle Tennessee will supplant Troy atop the Sun Belt. Don't be surprised when Coach Rick Stockstill is one of the hot names for open jobs around the nation.
WAC -- Boise State (10-2, 8-0)
The biggest challenge the Broncos have in the WAC is Nevada, and that could be closer than most realize. But QB Kellen Moore is one of the nation's most consistent passers and he runs Chris Petersen's system to near perfection. It also helps that he has two talented receivers in Austin Pettis and Titus Young. Call me a Boise hater if you must, but the Broncos will lose its two key non-conference games against Virginia Tech (Sept. 6) and Oregon State (Sept. 25).
HEISMAN TROPHY
Ever since Florida State's Chris Weinke won this award in 2000 at the age of 43 the most coveted college football honor has lost a little luster. But win the thing and you can make a living signing autographs around the nation year round (just ask Eric Crouch).
But the Heisman remains the Holy Grail of personal achievement so it's important to make a preseason prediction that has almost no chance of ever coming to fruition.
So the 2010 Heisman Trophy will go to Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd. He would be the eighth Irish player to win the honor and first since Tim Brown in 1987. If Dayne Crist can get him the ball in Brian Kelly's new offense, Floyd could have a monster season. The junior is a catching machine and if he stays healthy his numbers and the chance for voters to give it to someone for ND will be enough.
His most serious competition will come from Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams and Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray.
BCS CHAMPION
Oklahoma gives Bob Stoops his second championship and silences the "Choke-lahoma" chants by edging Alabama 27-21 in a classic championship game. Ohio State and Virginia Tech fans will be equally peeved about the slight, but with the lone undefeated team winning it all the argument falls on deaf ears.
Landry Jones avoids making any big mistakes against the fast and aggressive Alabama defense, and RB DeMarco Murray will balance out the attack enough to keep the Tide's defense on its heels.
Alabama scores late to pull within six, but Oklahoma's offense converts a few first downs and runs out the clock in Glendale, Ariz.
OK, that's our take on the first Bloguin Roundtable of 2010. To read what other Bloguin bloggers had to say about this go to:
Subway Domer (Notre Dame)
Leftover Hot Dog (South Carolina)
Blatant Homerism (Oklahoma)
Bama Sports Report (Alabama)
The North End Zone (Virginia Tech)
All Things Maroon (Mississippi State)
Saturday Night Slant (LSU)
SOX & Dawgs
Randall Simon's Sausages
