Patriots @ Steelers, 4:15PM ET
This is an intriguing matchup not only because of the two teams but also due to the individual matches within the game. The Patriots arguably have the most efficient passing attack in the league, but they’ve struggled defending the pass for much of the season. Thanks to Ben Roethlisberger and the big-play ability of Pittsburgh’s receivers, the Steelers could strike for a long score at any point. I think this one will live up to the hype and with a whole slew of garbage matchups on the Week 8 schedule, I hope it does.

Cowboys @ Eagles, 8:20PM ET
It’s time to see how many of the Eagles’ problems Andy Reid was able to iron out over the bye week. Philadelphia looked great against Washington the week before its bye, but Dallas will provide a more difficult challenge than the Redskins did. DeMarco Murray is coming off a breakout game and the Eagles haven’t been able to stop the run all season. If Murray can get going again, the Cowboys have a chance to potentially put the nail in the coffin of their bitter rivals.

Lions @ Broncos, 4:05PM ET
The Lions have more pressing issues to worry about than whether or not Ndamukong Suh is a dirty player. Matthew Stafford (ankle) is hobbled, Jahvid Best (concussion) is out for another week and the defense can’t stop the run. The Broncos might not be the better overall team in this matchup but Tim Tebow has breathed new life into Denver and will be fired up to play at home. This will not be an easy road trip this weekend for the Lions.

Vikings @ Panthers, 1:00PM ET
Rookie quarterbacks will be on display this Sunday in Carolina when the Panthers host the Vikings. Outside of the two interceptions he threw to Charles Woodson in the third quarter last week, the Vikings had to be pleased with Christian Ponder’s first professional start. If Minnesota wants to give Ponder an opportunity to notch his first win, then the Vikes better get Adrian Peterson revved up. Carolina’s run defense has been bad all year and it would be wise to keep Cam Newton on the bench considering how bad Minnesota’s pass defense is.

Chargers @ Chiefs, 8:30PM ET Monday
This matchup certainly got more interesting over the past few weeks. After starting the year 0-3 the Chiefs have rattled off three-straight and who can forget the beating they gave the Chargers on Monday night last season? Of course, they won’t have Jamaal Charles this time around but Jackie Battle is starting to come on as KC’s leading rusher. The Chargers’ offense was blanked in the second half last Sunday against the Jets, leading to speculation about whether or not Philip Rivers may be hurt. If he’s not, then it’s time for him to step up on Monday night in what has turned out to be a pretty big divisional game.

Jaguars @ Texans, 1:00PM ET
Blaine Gabbert has received most of the attention this year in Jacksonville, but it’s been the Jaguar defense that has stolen the show. They absolutely dominated the Ravens on Monday night and thanks to strong play out of linebackers Daryl Smith and Paul Posluszny, Jacksonville ranks sixth in yards allowed this season. The Jags’ defense will certainly be tested this weekend, especially if Andre Johnson returns from the hamstring injury that has held him out for nearly a month.

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Every Sunday evening throughout the 2011 NFL season I’ll compile quick-hit reactions from the day that was in football. I vow to always overreact, side with sensationalism over rationalism, and draw conclusions based on small sample sizes instead of cold, hard facts. It’s the only way I know how to write…

DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING…

- Earlier this week the Broncos said that they’re not going to change their offense with Tim Tebow taking over at quarterback. Then on Sunday, they kept their game plan ultra-conservative and hardly called any screen passes or high-percentage throws to help build his confidence while being dominated for 56 minutes by a winless Miami team. Do they want the kid to fail? Are they trying to prove that they were right by not starting him over Kyle Orton? Are they trying to stick it to all of the fans that have basically begged the organization to play Tebow? Either way, I absolutely love what the former Gator did today. Despite his coaching staff’s unwillingness to put him in position to succeed, he found a way to pull off a miraculous victory with some help from his defense and kicker Matt Prater. It wasn’t hard to figure that he would score a couple of touchdowns and compile over 200 total yards. But the way he did it was marvelous. The Broncos did nothing until four minutes left in the fourth, when he basically willed them to victory. He’s too nice of a guy to say it, but that had to feel good to stick it up his critics’ asses for just one week.

- While Denver refused to change its offense in efforts to help Tebow, Minnesota did a nice job of using designed roll-outs and plays that maximized rookie Christian Ponder’s strengths at quarterback. The rookie will be seeing Charles Woodson (2 INTs) in his nightmares for a while, but he showed a lot of grit bouncing back in the fourth quarter to nearly lead the Vikings to an upset over the still-undefeated Packers. Ponder is clearly an upgrade over Donovan McNabb and his performance today was definitely something to build on. Green Bay’s defense has struggled all year but for Ponder to have Minnesota in position to win in the fourth quarter was something not a lot of people expected.

- Anyone who watched DeMarco Murray play at Oklahoma knew he was a versatile player with a bright future. He did everything for the Sooners in his time at OU and the Cowboys really got a steal last April when they selected him with the 71st overall pick in the third-round. Nobody envisioned him rushing for 253 yards (a Dallas single-game record) in one game, but it was only a matter of time before Murray turned heads. Granted, 91 of those yards came on one play and he did face a pathetic St. Louis run defense. But given all the issues the Cowboys have had at running back over the years, his feat today had to be refreshing for Jerry Jones and Co. Here’s hoping the 23-year-old back can avoid injuries and build off of this incredible performance.

- I made it clear in my predictions this week that I liked the Chiefs to at least cover the 3.5-point spread in Oakland. But 28-0 with two 50-yard pick-sixes? Yeah, no – didn’t see that coming. Suddenly Kansas City is only a game back of San Diego and Oakland in the win column. That’s quite a contrast to where the Chiefs were a month ago, when head coach Todd Haley was nearly fired for the team’s ugly 0-3 start.

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2011 BCS Bowl Previews: BCS National Championship | Fiesta Bowl | Rose Bowl | Orange Bowl | Sugar Bowl

Date: Saturday, January 1 2011
Time: 8:30PM ET
TV: ESPN

Why Watch: Because it’s Bob Stoops and Oklahoma – anything could happen. This is definitely the biggest mismatch of the five BCS bowl games, but Stoops has a five-game losing streak in BCS bowl games, which includes the Sooners’ shocking loss to Boise State in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. The Huskies are also sixth in the nation in kickoff returns and Oklahoma has allowed three kickoff returns for touchdowns this season, including one in each of their losses. UCONN running back Jordan Todman finished second in the nation in rushing, averaging 143 yards per game. Considering Oklahoma allowed 151 rushing yards per contest in the regular season, maybe the Huskies can play keep away from Landry Jones and the Sooner offense. Just when everyone thinks a blowout is inevitable, the opposite happens so don’t give up on this one.

Game Facts: This will be the Huskies’ fourth-straight bowl appearance under head coach Randy Edsall. They pulled off an upset against South Carolina in last season’s PapaJohns.com Bowl in which they held the Gamecocks to only a touchdown in a 20-7 win. That victory improved UCONN’s all-time bowl record to 3-1. The Sooners are 25-17-1 all-time in bowls, but have lost in their last three appearances in the Fiesta Bowl. They’re also 5-6 overall in bowls under Stoops, who has his team playing in a BCS Bowl for the eighth time in 12 seasons.

Key Player: Zach Frazer, Connecticut
If Connecticut has any chance at pulling off an upset, Frazer better play at another level. None of this “playing within himselfâ€� or “not making mistakesâ€� nonsense – he’s going to have to play the best game of his life. Oklahoma is going to stack the box to take away Jordan Todman, which is exactly what a defense should do against a starting quarterback who has a 102.1 rating and has thrown for only five touchdowns all season. He needs to prove that Oklahoma even needs to use defensive backs in this game. Otherwise, we’re in for the snoozer that we all expect.

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No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 19 South Carolina, 4:00PM ET
About midway through the second quarter of last week’s Auburn-Alabama game, every college football fan around the nation was wondering how things would play out in the BCS once the Tigers lost. Then Cam Newton found his Superman cape and promptly led Auburn to its greatest comeback of the season. But it was nothing new for the Tigers, who have trailed many times before in big games throughout the year, only to rally and put the clamps on their opponents in the fourth quarter. One of those rallies came against South Carolina earlier this season when they trailed 20-7 midway through the second. The Tigers went on to score two touchdowns and blanked the Gamecocks in the fourth to win, 35-27. Now the two schools meet in the SEC Championship and Auburn will once again put its national title hopes on the line. It’s pretty simple: Win and play for a national championship or lose and hope that TCU still disgusts voters.
CURRENT ODDS: AUBURN -5

No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Nebraska, 8:00PM ET
Nebraska hasn’t won a Big 12 title since 1999 and with its move to the Big Ten next year, this will be the Huskers’ final chance to win one. They’ve have an opportunity on Saturday to avenge their 13-12 loss to Texas in last year’s Big 12 title game, a heartbreaking defeat that still is on Bo Pelini’s mind. Oklahoma earned a meeting with Nebraska thanks to its wild 47-41 victory over Oklahoma State last Saturday. The win created a three-way tie atop the South Division along with OK State and Texas A&M, but the Sooners go the nod because they were the highest ranked BCS team of the trio. Will Nebraska’s defense be able to contain Landry Jones and DeMarco Murray? Furthermore, will Taylor Martinez be healthy enough to play? He’s day-to-day with an ankle injury and even if he’s healthy enough to go, sophomore Cody Green could see some playing time.
CURRENT ODDS: OKLAHOMA -4.5

No. 21 Florida State vs. No. 15 Virginia Tech, 7:45PM ET
What a wild ride the Hokies have been on this year. They lost to Boise State 33-30 in the opener and then followed up that performance by losing to James Madison 21-16 the next week. But then Frank Beamer’s squad got it together and rattled off 10 straight to get to where they are now, which is a date with Florida State in the ACC title game. The Seminoles and Hokies have combined to win three of the five ACC championship games throughout the year. FSU has its own hot streak going, as they’ve won three in a row following a two-game skid. VA Tech’s Tyrod Taylor has gotten more accurate as a passer throughout the season, while FSU’s Christian Ponder has battled through nagging injuries and now wants a crack at the Orange Bowl. If Ponder and the Seminoles are to be victorious, they better figure out a way to score in the fourth quarter because VA Tech’s defense (which has allowed just six fourth-quarter touchdowns this season) has been outstanding in crunch time this year.
CURRENT ODDS: VIRGINIA TECH -4

No. 2 Oregon vs. Oregon State, 3:30PM ET
Oh, to be Oregon State. Not only do the Beavers have to figure out a way to slow Oregon’s explosive offense, but they’re also facing a Ducks team that can’t be too pleased that Auburn replaced them as the No. 1 team in the BCS standings last week. The plan is simple for Oregon: Beat Oregon State in the 114th edition of the Civil War and play for a national title. Lose, and then hope that TCU doesn’t leapfrog them in the rankings. But Oregon State won’t be a pushover, as a win would make the Beavers bowl eligible. Jacquizz Rodgers and company have been pesky this year against top ranked teams, so don’t assume that it’s going to be a blowout in Corvallis this weekend.
CURRENT ODDS: OREGON -16.5

2010 Championship Week Odds & Point Spreads

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Conference winners, sleepers, power rankings and one big, fat national championship prediction.

Enjoy.

Big Ten

Champion: Ohio State
Yes, it’s true – the Buckeyes need Terrelle Pryor to be more consistent in the passing game this year if they expect to win a national championship. But stop acting like that’s the difference between OSU winning the Big Ten and them turning into Vanderbilt. Choke on this for a second: The Buckeyes return all three leading rushers from 2009 in Pryor, Brandon Saine and Dan Herron, the secondary features three senior NFL prospects, and they own the best defensive end in the nation in Cameron Heyward. Pryor is also coming off a dominating performance against Oregon in the Rose Bowl and reports state that he has committed himself this offseason to being a better teammate. Sorry Buckeye-haters, but the gap between them and Alabama is closer than you think.

Conference Champion Sleeper: Michigan Slate
My biggest concern with the Spartans is that despite pulling off an upset nearly every year, they also manage to lose a game they shouldn’t. But they have a slew of playmakers and plenty of depth on both sides of the ball, plus feature a ton of offensive firepower in Larry Caper, Edwin Baker, Keith Nicol and Mark Dell. Oh, and linebacker Greg Jones is the best defender in the nation. If this team can avoid being tripped up by an inferior opponent, they could easily surprise this season.

Conference Power Ranking: #1 Ohio State, #2 Iowa, #3 Wisconsin, # 4 Penn State, #5 Michigan State, #6 Northwestern, #7 Michigan, #8 Purdue, #9 Illinois, #10 Indiana, #11 Minnesota.

I admit that I had Michigan rated too high when I did my Big Ten preview last week. Having any sort of trust in Rich Rodriguez right now is a dangerous proposition for obvious reasons. Just when you think he’s going to figure things out in Ann Arbor, he makes a decision to muck everything up. Penn State might be ranked a little high given their quarterback concerns. Wisconsin is going to give teams trouble this year and Northwestern is going to be a tough opponent every week as well.

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Here’s a quick and dirty look at how I see things playing out in the Big 12 this season:

#1 Oklahoma
In Sam Bradford, Gerald McCoy, Trent Williams, Jermaine Gresham, Keenan Clayton, Brody Eldridge and Dominique Franks, there’s no doubt that the Sooners lost a ton of talent from last year. However, this season is all about two names: Landry Jones and DeMarco Murray. Jones filled in admirably when Bradford went down last season, throwing 26 touchdown passes and gaining valuable experience throughout the year. Murray’s health history is a major concern, but if he can stay upright he’s scary good. He’s more versatile than Adrian Peterson was in that he can catch the ball out of the backfield or beat teams as a rusher. He’s big, he’s fast and he can get north and south in a hurry. He’s also going to get a ton of opportunities to shine this year as both a runner and a pass-catcher and again, if he can stay healthy he has the ability to be one of the best backs in college football. Defensively, Bob Stoops’ team has good depth and while the loss of McCoy hurts, don’t forget that Jeremy Beal was fifth on the team in tackles last season and first in sacks with 11. The linebacker corps has a chance to be special thanks to redshirt freshman Tom Wort and sophomore Ronnell Lewis. I know many pundits still like Texas in the South, but with Landry, Murray and nine starters returning on offense, I think Oklahoma reclaims the conference this season.

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Check out our other 2009 college football previews.

Preseason Ranking: No. 3 in AP Top 25; No. 3 in USA Today Poll.

Key Returning Players: Sam Bradford (QB); Chris Brown (RB); DeMarco Murray (RB); Jermaine Gresham (TE); Ryan Broyes (WR); Trent Williams (OT); Travis Lewis (LB); Keenan Clayton (LB); Ryan Reynolds (LB); Jeremy Beal (DE); Auston English (DE); Gerald McCoy (DT); Adrian Taylor (DT); Dominique Franks (LB); Brian Jackson (CB).

Key Losses: Phil Loadholt (OT); Duke Robinson (G); Brandon Walker (G); Jon Cooper (C); Nic Harris (S); Lendy Holmes (S); Juaquin Iglesias (WR); Manuel Johnson (WR).

Player to Watch: Sam Bradford, QB.
While defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and tight end Jermaine Gresham certainly deserve mention, listing any other Sooner besides Bradford in this section would be a crime to the college football world. He’s the key to whether or not Oklahoma will make a repeat appearance in the title game and whether or not the Sooners will inevitably be crowned champions. Many, including his head coach Bob Stoops, believe that the 2008 Heisman winner will be even better this year than he was last season. Considering Bradford threw for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns last season, that’s a scary thought for the Big 12.

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The 2009 BCS Bowl Season is quickly approaching – not that anyone should care.

I’m not trying to sound bitter, but if the BCS doesn’t care about any of its five bowl games outside of the national championship game, then why should we? All the BCS essentially cares about is figuring out who the top team teams are in college football – and they can’t even do that right.

But I digress. I’m not going to burn another 1,200 words on why college football needs a playoff because it’ll just fall upon deaf ears. Instead, I’ll get into the bowl season spirit and break down the five BCS bowls, as well as hand out predictions for each game.

Predictions are essentially meaningless, but they’re fun so make sure you throw out your picks in the comment section below.

Rose Bowl: Penn State vs. USC
The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, January 1, 4:30PM ET ABC
Some college football pundits believe that this one will be over with by halftime, but if Penn State uses Oregon State’s victory over USC as a blueprint for success, the Nittany Lions could make this a tighter game than most expect. PSU tailback Evan Royster has been a playmaker this year and if the Lions can employ him the same way the Beavers’ used Jacquizz Rodgers to beat the Trojans earlier this season, then maybe they can exploit USC’s quick defense. Then again, the Trojans’ D is one of the fastest and most talented units in the country and it won’t be easy for PSU to spread the field on them like they did against Big Ten opponents this season. USC has the most talented linebacker corps in the country and their secondary features two safeties in Taylor Mays and Kevin Ellison that blanket the field in both coverage and run support. In order for the Lions to claim victory, quarterback Daryll Clark will have to play mistake free and not try to force action in the passing game. Offensively for USC, quarterback Mark Sanchez has been outstanding, but he will make mistakes. He threw at least one interception in seven games this year and if PSU’s defense can generate some pressure, they could force Sanchez into some turnovers and capitalize on some prime field position. But outside of getting pressure on Sanchez, Penn State needs to tackle well and limit the yards-after-catch opportunities that USC’s receivers thrive upon. Sounds basic enough, but the Trojans have one of the fastest offenses in the league and Sanchez has excelled at taking what defenses give him and in getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers. The Lions would be wise to get 11 defenders around the ball at all times, especially when USC tailback Stafon Johnson gets the opportunity to make plays.
Rose Bowl Prediction: USC 30, Penn State 17.

Oklahoma Sooners’ running back DeMarco Murray will have surgery to repair a partial rupture of his left hamstring and will miss the BCS title game against Florida.

Murray, the Sooners’ second-leading rusher, was injured on the opening kickoff of the Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 6. The Sooners initially thought Murray had sustained a bruise, but an MRI revealed the injury to be more serious. Surgery has been scheduled for Dec. 22., the university said.

The school said that according to head trainer Scott Anderson, it will be about five months before Murray is cleared to resume training.

Murray gained 1,002 yards rushing this season, just eight fewer than team rushing leader Chris Brown. He led the Sooners in all-purpose yards with 2,171, with 395 receiving yards and another 774 yards in kickoff returns, scoring 18 touchdowns.

Oklahoma has so many weapons, but Murray was a big part of the Sooners’ offense so he’ll definitely be missed. Hopefully Percy Harvin will be healthy enough to play for Florida. It would suck to have two dynamic play makers miss the game.

I’ll just say what most college football fans are already thinking: Preseason polls and predictions are useless. But damn it, they’re fun to discuss.

With the amount of turnover most college football programs face from year to year, it doesn’t make much sense to try and figure out which program is better than the next. So what college football preseason polls essentially convey is that one team is better than the other because they have more returning starters.

If pollsters were smart (oxymoronic statement, I know), they’d wait until about week four of the season to release their first polls, because each team would have already played two cupcakes and two conference games. Then the college football world would have a better idea of which teams are the best because they would have proved so on the gridiron. (Or at the very least, they would have proved that they were the best teams in the nation over the first four weeks of the season.)

But I digress. I’ll be the first to admit that I get a little giddy when the new college football polls are released every year. I like seeing who the so-called experts think will be the top programs in the country and I join in all of the debates. I realize that the preseason polls don’t mean much, but they’re a big part of what makes college football fun for fans.

Below is our 2008 College Football Preview and much like last year, we won’t do our own rankings. Instead, we’ll use the USA Today Top 25 Preseason Poll and break down the chances of the top 15 teams making it to the 2009 BCS National Championship.

For each of the top 15, we’ll list the team’s NFL prospects as well as reasons to like and dislike that program’s chances of playing for a national title. Finally, we’ll list one of the team’s must-watch games this season.

As always enjoy, and Merry College Football Season to all.

1. Georgia Bulldogs
Future NFL Prospects: Knowshon Moreno, SO, RB; Matthew Stafford, JR, QB; Asher Allen, JR, CB; Dannell Ellerbe, SR, LB; Trinton Sturdivant, SO, OT
Reasons to Love: The Dawgs have one of the best collections of talent in the nation, including two Heisman Trophy candidates in Moreno and Stafford. Moreno has already drawn comparisons to former UGA greats Hershel Walker and Garrison Hearst, while Stafford will make his case to be the top quarterback taken in next year’s NFL draft (if he forgoes his senior season, that is). The defense returns nine starters to a unit that ranked 14th in the nation last year and is led by their inspirational senior linebacker Ellerbe.
Reasons to Question: The offensive line is the biggest concern for Georgia entering the 2008 season. Two of the four returning starters from last year’s squad are switching positions, while right tackle Kiante Tripp is a newcomer. The line is inexperienced on a whole, which doesn’t bode well for the two men they’ll be protecting in Moreno and Stafford. The schedule is also a doozy, with road games at LSU, Kentucky and Auburn, as well as home contests versus Tennessee and Alabama. Of course, the biggest game of the year is in early November when UGA will square off against Florida at “The World’s Largest Cocktail Party.�
Game to Watch: vs. Florida in Jacksonville, Nov. 1.

2. USC Trojans
Future NFL Prospects: Rey Maualuga, SR, LB; Brian Cushing, SR, LB; Fili Moala, SR, DT; Joe McKnight, SO, RB; Kevin Ellison, SR, SS.
Reasons to Love: Talent, Pete Carroll and a favorable schedule. The Trojans also have arguably the best linebacker corps in the nation led by Maualuga and Cushing, as well as one of the top defenses, period. Along with a promising quarterback in Mark Sanchez, USC boasts a bevy of talented running backs in McKnight, Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable. Carroll often has the best recruiting classes in the nation and his roster is always chockfull of NFL talent.
Reasons to Question: Sanchez was hurt in a preseason practice and even though it wasn’t considered serious, injuries have a way of lingering all season if the player isn’t given ample time to recover. The defense is stacked, but there was a void created when defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was drafted into the NFL and even though they usually have the best talent in the conference, the Trojans can lose their focus at times and thus are prime candidates to be upset at any given time during the season (ahem, Stanford). Plus, a nasty case of jock itch riddled the team in August.
Game to Watch: vs. Ohio State, Sept. 13.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes
Future NFL Prospects: Chris “Beanie� Wells, JR, RB; James Laurinaitis, SR, LB; Malcolm Jenkins, SR, CB; Alex Boone, SR, OT; Brian Robiskie, SR, WR.
Reasons to Love: This team is absolutely stacked with senior talent, including a Heisman Trophy candidate at running back (Wells) and two of the top defensive prospects in the nation (Laurinaitis, Jenkins). In fact, Laurinaitis might turn out to be the greatest linebacker Ohio State has ever seen. Even though they’ll face decent road challenges at Wisconsin and Illinois this year, the Big Ten is weak on a whole and should be Ohio State’s for the taking. Head coach Jim Tressel also has one of the best offensive minds in college football.
Reasons to Question: The Buckeyes should roll through their Big Ten schedule this season, but the make or break game will be against USC on September 13. If Ohio State can pull off a huge victory, they might cruise into yet another national championship. But if the Buckeyes lose in Southern Cal, they must hope the Trojans fall once or twice during the season so they’re not looking in from the outside in come January.
Game to Watch: at. USC, Sept. 13.

4. Oklahoma Sooners
Future NFL Prospects: Sam Bradford, SO, QB; Duke Robinson, SR, OG; Phil Loadholt, SR, OT; Gerald McCoy, SO, DT; Auston English, JR, DE.
Reasons to Love: Along with Bradford, sophomore running back DeMarco Murray is a Heisman candidate in the Sooner backfield. The offensive line is also the one of the biggest in the nation, led by Loadholt and Robinson, while the defense is loaded with talent from English at end, to safety Nic Harris and corner Lendy Holmes. The secondary might be the best unit in the Big 12, if not the nation.
Reasons to Question: This team didn’t play well on the road last year, compiling a 3-3 record outside of the state of Oklahoma. Bradford must also stay healthy and playing Texas, Kansas and Kansas State in consecutive weeks is a daunting task, too.
Game to Watch: vs. Kansas, Oct. 18.

5. Florida Gators
Future NFL Prospects: Tim Tebow, JR, QB; Percy Harvin, JR, WR; Brandon Spikes, JR, LB; Jermaine Cunningham, JR, DE; Jim Tartt, SR, OG.
Reasons to Love: The Gators have arguably the best player in the country at quarterback in Tebow, and he has a host of weapons at his disposal including Harvin and running back Chris Rainey. The offense appears to be more balanced than it was last year and Spikes leads one of the best front sevens in the conference.
Reasons to Question: As with all SEC teams, Florida’s schedule is brutal. Hawaii is no cupcake to open the year and even though the Gators face LSU, Kentucky and Miami at home, none of those games will be cakewalks. Georgia, Florida State and Tennessee also highlight Florida’s schedule. The secondary is incredibly young too, and will be heavily tested by pass-happy Hawaii in the first game of the season.
Game to Watch: vs. Georgia in Jacksonville, Nov. 1.

6. LSU Tigers
Future NFL Prospects: Ciron Black, JR, OT; Herman Johnson, SR, OG; Tyson Jackson, SR, DE; Kirston Pittman, SR, DE; Darry Beckwith, SR, LB.
Reasons to Love: This team will be able to win the war in the trenches, which will make a big difference on the scoreboard. Pittman and Jackson form one of the best defensive end combos in the country, while Black and Johnson provide more than enough running room for running back Keiland Williams.
Reasons to Question: LSU lost a ton of talent from their national title team of a year ago, including defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, safety Craig Steltz, fullback Jacob Hester and QB Ryan Perrilloux, who was kicked off the team this summer. Throw in a tough SEC schedule and Les Miles’ team has several hurdles to overcome if they hope to defend their title.
Game to Watch: at. Florida, Oct. 11.

7. Missouri Tigers
Future NFL Prospects: Chase Daniel, SR, QB; Jeremy Maclin, SO, WR; William Moore, SR, S; Chase Coffman, SR, TE; Sean Weatherspoon, JR, LB.
Reasons to Love: Much like 2007, Missouri is going to light up the scoreboard again in 2008. Daniel should again be a Heisman finalist and benefits from having the explosive Maclin to throw to in the passing game. Underrated talents Weatherspoon, defensive end Stryker Sulak, defensive tackle Ziggy Hood and linebacker Justin Garrett are all players to watch out look for on the Tigers’ defense.
Reasons to Question: The offense is going to be explosive again, but can the defense match up against the best in the Big 12? The secondary has experience, but isn’t spectacular by any means and the pass rush could stand to be more consistent. MIZZOU was so close to a national title appearance last year but couldn’t hang with Oklahoma in December. Will the same happen this year with the Sooners expected to once again be the favorites in the Big 12?
Game to Watch: vs. Kansas in Kansas City, Nov. 29.

8. West Virginia Mountaineers
Future NFL Prospects: Pat White, SR, QB; Ryan Stancheck, SR, OT; Noel Devine, SO, RB; Reed Williams, SR, LB; Mortty Ivy, SR, LB.
Reasons to Love: The Mountaineers have one of the most exciting players in college football at quarterback (White), and will once again have an explosive offense. Losing Steve Slaton to the NFL hurts, but Devine has speed to burn and should fill the void Slaton left in West Virginia’s backfield. The defense is also a bit underrated and the entire team came together nicely under new head coach Bill Stewart to beat Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl when Rich Rodriguez left the program in the lurch to coach Michigan.
Reasons to Question: Same song and dance as every year – the schedule is favorable, but one slip up against a lesser foe will probably bury WVU’s title hopes. And if White can’t stay healthy, the offense just isn’t the same unit. Devine must also show that he can take on a full rushing load.
Game to Watch: at. Pittsburgh, Nov. 28. (Remember when the Panthers spoiled the Mountaineers’ national championship aspirations in the final game of 2007?)

9. Clemson Tigers
Future NFL Prospects: James Davis, SR, RB; C.J. Spiller, JR, RB; Aaron Kelly, SR, WR; Cullen Harper, SR, QB; Dorell Scott, SR, NG.
Reasons to Love: The Tigers are stacked with experienced talent and boast one of the best running back duos in college football with Davis and Spiller. The offensive line doesn’t have a ton of experience, but their development this summer has been excellent and if the unit can hold its own, the Tigers’ offense is going to be tough to stop in ’08. Clemson is deservedly the favorite to win the ACC this year with this being Tommy Bowden’s most talented team.
Reasons to Question: Bowden’s bunch always seems to find a way to underachieve so why expect anything less again in 2008? And even though their development has been solid, if the offensive line doesn’t gel then the entire offense might crumble.
Game to Watch: vs. Alabama in Atlanta, Aug. 30.

10. Texas Longhorns
Future NFL Prospects: Colt McCoy, JR, QB; Roy Miller, SR, DT; Brian Orakpo, SR, DE; Adam Ulatoski, JR, OT; Cedric Dockery, SR, OG.
Reasons to Love:It’s scary to think that McCoy is entering his third year, with two full seasons already under his belt. Much like No. 6 ranked LSU, Texas will be able to beat teams in the trenches and offers some of the best returning talent in the nation. The defensive line is scary, led by Miller, Orakpo and junior defensive tackle Lamarr Houston.
Reasons to Question: Does McCoy have enough weapons at his dispoal on offense? Vondrell McGee and Foswhitt Whitaker have tons of speed and Chris Ogbonnaya is well seasoned in the program, but will the running back-by-committee approach work? The Longhorns also have major question marks in the secondary after allowing an average of 376 yards per game and 16 touchdowns in the final five games of 2007.
Game to Watch: vs. Oklahoma in Dallas, Oct. 11.

11. Auburn Tigers
Future NFL Prospects: Sen’Derrick Marks, JR, DT; Antonio Coleman, JR, DE; Tray Blackmon, JR, LB; Jerraud Powers, JR, CB; Lee Ziemba, SO, OT.
Reasons to Love: The Tigers have one of the best defensive backfields in the conference and if the front seven can generate a better pass rush this season, the secondary should blossom even more. Powers was excellent as a sophomore last year and the safety combo of Mike McNeil and Zac Etherdige is amongst the best in the SEC. The defense will carry Auburn again in 2008…
Reasons to Question: …but the offense has some question marks. Quarterback Kodi Burns is talented, but consistency might be an issue and Texas Tech transfer Chris Todd is currently dealing with an injured shoulder. For how good the defense should be, the pass rush was an issue last year and losing Quentin Groves (although injured at times last year) doesn’t help. The Tigers are talented, but they also have a fair amount of question marks heading into the season.
Game to Watch: vs. Georgia, Nov. 15.

12. Wisconsin Badgers
Future NFL Prospects: P.J. Hill, JR, RB; Travis Beckum, SR, TE, Jonathan Casillas, SR, LB; Shane Carter, JR, S; Matt Shaughnessy, SR, DE.Reasons to Love: The Badgers are stacked at running back and Hill should once again prove to be a headache for opponents to bring down. Beckum is also one of the top tight ends in the nation and the schedule is incredibly favorable with Wisconsin getting Ohio State, Illinois and Penn State all at home.
Reasons to Question: Injuries are piling high and deep on defense. Allen Langford and Aaron Henry, the Badgers’ top two corners, are both coming off ACL injuries and the entire defensive line is banged up. The quarterback situation is also a huge question mark and even though they’re expected to be Ohio State’s top competition in the Big Ten this year, Wisconsin won’t stand a chance against the talented Buckeyes with a banged up roster.
Game to Watch: vs. Ohio State, Oct. 4.

13. Kansas Jayhawks
Future NFL Prospects: Todd Reesing, JR, QB; Joe Mortensen, SR, LB; Mike Rivera, SR, LB; Dexton Fields, SR, WR; James Holt, SR, LB.
Reasons to Love: The Jayhawks were one of the best stories in 2007 and they return their star player in Reesing. Kansas led the nation in turnover margin last year and ranked seventh in passing efficiency. They also have maybe the best linebacker corps in the Big 12 led by seniors Mortensen, Rivera and Fields, and the trio will only benefit having a solid line in front of them.
Reasons to Question: Compared to last year, Kansas has a brutal schedule this season. The Jayhawks face Texas and Texas Tech at home, travel to Oklahoma and then end the season with their annual trip to Kansas City to take on rival Missouri. They won’t be able to sneak up on anyone this year and their special teams must improve as well.
Game to Watch: at. Oklahoma, Oct. 18.

14. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Future NFL Prospects: Michael Crabtree, SO, WR; Graham Harrell, SR, QB; Brandon Williams, JR, DE; Darcel McBath, SR, S; Louis Vasquez, SR, OG.
Reasons to Love: If you like points, you’ll love the Red Raiders. Harrell and Crabtree are Heisman Trophy candidates and they play in one of the most explosive offensive systems in football. The unit is also experienced, which means there’s a smaller learning curve at the beginning of the season.
Reasons to Question: The defense is going to make or break this team because the offense is going to score points. Last year Tech couldn’t stop the opposition from running at will and allowed 177 yards per game on the ground. If opponents can run the ball again this year, they can control the clock and also keep the potent Red Raider offense off the field.
Game to Watch: at. Oklahoma, Nov. 22.

15. Virginia Tech Hokies
Future NFL Prospects: Victor Harris, SR, CB; Orion Martin, SR, DE; Cam Martin, JR, LB; Kam Chancellor, JR, S; Sean Glennon, SR, QB.
Reasons to Love: Frank Beamer always produces some of the best special teams in college football and to no one’s surprise, VA Tech will boast a terrific defense again in 2008. “Macho� Harris is one of the top cornerback prospects in the nation and will get plenty of help from Orion Martin, Cam Martin, Chancellor and sophomore defensive end Jason Worilds.
Reasons to Question: Brandon Ore is gone and therefore so is a lot of the positional talent on offense. Glennon is steady, but will have to battle Tyrod Taylor for snaps. The offensive line must also play better too after struggling in the beginning of 2007 before regrouping in the second half. While the defense should once again be one of the best units in the ACC, losing Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi hurts.
Game to Watch: at. Miami, Nov. 13.