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

#1 Ohio State
Some believe the Buckeyes’ offense might be close to catching up to their defense in terms of dominance, which is saying something with the way OSU’s D played a year ago. The Buckeyes return all three leading rushers from 2009 in Brandon Saine, Dan Herron and quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who some believe has become a more committed teammate over the offseason. The key to OSU becoming a national title threat is Pryor, or more specifically, whether or not he’ll make opponents respect his passing game. The good thing for him and the Buckeyes on a whole is that they return four starters to a veteran offensive line that will open up plenty of holes for a deep and talented group of running backs. Defensively, OSU was a top five unit last season and could be once again this year assuming they can generate a pass-rush and the safeties can hold up in coverage. Cameron Heyward is one of the nation’s best defensive ends and Ross Homan is a playmaker at the outside linebacker spot. The secondary isn’t flashy, but cornerbacks Chimdi Chekwa and Devon Torrence are solid. From a schedule standpoint, if they can beat Miami in Columbus in the second week of the season, they should be 6-0 heading into Madison on October 16. From there, they’ll be tested by Wisconsin, Penn State and Iowa, but this is your clear favorite to win the Big Ten.

#2 Iowa
The Hawkeyes lost a couple of studs from their offensive line in tackles Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway, as well as guard Dace Richardson and center Rafael Eubanks. But with players like Riley Reiff ready to step in, Iowa should repopulate their O-line and not miss a beat this season. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi took plenty of heat last year for his spotty play, but the bottom line is the guy won. Assuming they don’t choke early in the season against an inferior opponent (which almost happened on multiple occasions last season), the Hawkeyes should challenge the Buckeyes for a conference title. It helps that they play Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin at home this year. That November 20th battle in Iowa City against the Buckeyes could determine the Big Ten champion.

#3 Wisconsin
John Clay, Montee Bell and Zach Brown – talk about an elite group of runners. That trio could potentially give the Badgers the best rushing game in the nation by season’s end and will only serve to help quarterback Scott Tolzien and the passing game. While the defensive tackle and secondary positions are question marks heading into the season, there’s no reason to think that Wisconsin couldn’t challenge Ohio State and Iowa for the conference title. They certainly have enough talent to do so, although they have a grueling two-game stretch at the end of October to worry about. The back-to-back games against Ohio State (home) and Iowa (away) will determine how good this Wisconsin team is and don’t discount the trip to West Lafayette either. If the Badgers were able to knock off the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes, the game against Purdue in early November has letdown written all over it.

#4 Penn State
I don’t blame you if you hate Penn State’s chances this year. After all, they have to replace their starting quarterback, plus all three linebackers and also have to play Alabama, Iowa and Ohio State on the road. But toss out the ‘Bama game for a second and realize that if they beat either Iowa or OSU, then the Nittany Lions could challenge for the Big Ten title. If they lose both, however, they’re likely done because two losses (especially against the top 2 teams in the conference) probably won’t cut it this year. Evan Royster is an absolute stud, but the fear is that PSU will become too one-dimensional unless quarterbacks Kevin Newsome or Matt McGloin step up. That’s not a good sign considering the front sevens that Ohio State and Iowa have, which is why I have the Lions ranked where I do. That said, this team can still contend with the teams listed above. I’m just not that crazy about them doing so.

#5 Michigan
It’s now or never for Rich Rodriguez. Another disastrous season could cost him his job and actually, another bowl-less season could just as easily lead to him getting the boot in Ann Arbor. He needs to decide between Tate Forcier or Denard Robinson and then the winner of said quarterback competition needs to be more consistent this season than they were in 2009. Even though the Wolverines lost both of their leading rushers from a season ago, the interior of the offensive line looks strong with guard Stephen Schilling and center David Molk returning. The defense has some talented playmakers and the 3-3-5 alignment plays well for the depth that UM has in its secondary. The key is how this team plays in the second half, with home meetings with Iowa and Wisconsin, as well as road tests against Penn State and Ohio State. A fast start and a bad finish will do nothing to help Rich Rod keep his job.

#6 Michigan State
The Spartans have a slew of playmakers and plenty of depth on both sides of the ball, but like most years, the concern is that they’ll drop a game or two that they shouldn’t have. They luck out by not having to face Ohio State this year, but losses against Wisconsin, Iowa or Penn State will push them out of contention and games against Michigan, Northwestern and Purdue are gimmies. Sparty has plenty of offensive firepower thanks to Larry Caper, Edwin Baker, Keith Nicol and Mark Dell, but the key is whether or not this team can replace three starters on an offensive line that allowed only 14 sacks last season. Defensively, linebacker Greg Jones might be the best defender in the nation, but the secondary remains the unit’s weak link.

#7 Northwestern
It’s easy to get excited about the Wildcats this season. Quarterback Dan Persa is a dual threat from under center, the linebacker trio of Quentin Davie, Vince Browne and Nate Williams is solid and Kevin Watt is a talented pass-rusher. That said, this is a team that struggled to run the football last year and if the offensive line can’t open up holes for the slew of running backs that are expected to get carries this season, then Persa could get eaten alive. Also, the defense gave up too many big plays last season and that’s a concern considering they have to replace three of the four starters in the secondary. The Wildcats should be fun to watch again this year, but it’s hard envisioning them knocking off one of the top teams in the conference like they did last year in Iowa City.

#8 Purdue
The Boilermakers will rest their hopes on former Miami Hurricane quarterback Robert Marve, who has impressed the coaching staff this year with the way he can both pass and run. That said, Caleb TerBush could see snaps if Marve struggles early, so Purdue has options. Whoever is under center this year will benefit from the ultra-productive Keith Smith, who finished with 1,100 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season. Running back Al-Terek McBurse is also very talented, although the offensive line returns just two starters and will be inexperienced as a whole. The defense has a solid front seven, but the secondary is highly inexperienced and the run defense wasn’t very good last season. This team won’t have to play Iowa or Penn State this year, so they could wind up making some noise. But I can’t see them beating either Wisconsin or Ohio State in order to emerge as a true sleeper.

#9 Illinois
The Illini lost their top two playmakers from a season ago in receiver Arrelious Benn and quarterback Juice Williams, but they should be able to run the ball effectively with Mike LeShore, Jason Ford and dual-threat quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. The defense will likely be more aggressive than it was a year ago, but if the unit can’t force more turnovers then it’ll likely struggle again. This is an intriguing team to keep an eye on, but there’s just too much unproven talent at key positions to think U of I will make any noise this year.

#10 Indiana
Thanks to quarterback Ben Chappell, running back Darius Willis, and receivers Tandon Doss, Damarlo Belcher and Terrance Turner, the Hoosiers will score plenty of points in 2010. It’s just a matter of if they’ll stop anybody. The defense only returns four starters from last year and there are plenty of question marks surrounding the seven new replacements. That said, with Towson, Western Kentucky, Akron and Arkansas State on their non-conference schedule this year, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Indiana will snag two conference wins and head to a bowl game this year, which would be a nice accomplishment.

#11 Minnesota
Too many questions surround the Gophers this year to ignore. They have potential issues at every level of their defense and if they can’t run the ball more effectively than they did in 2009, then talented quarterback Adam Weber and the rest of the passing game will suffer. Considering they have a solid group of freshman coming in this year, there’s reason for hope in Minnesota but chances are this team will sink to the bottom of the conference.

Check out other 2010 College Football Conference Previews: SEC | Big Ten | Big 12

Check out our other 2009 college football previews.

Preseason Ranking: No. 9 in AP Top 25; No. 8 in USA Today Poll.

Key Returning Players: Evan Royster (RB); Stephon Green (RB); Daryll Clark (QB); Mickey Shuler (TE); Dennis Landolt (OT); Stefen Wisniewski (G); Navorro Bowman (LB); Josh Hull (LB); Jared Odrick (DT); Ollie Ogbu (DT); Drew Astorino (S).

Key Losses: Deon Butler (WR); Aaron Maybin (DE); Jordan Norwood (WR); Derrick Williams (WR); Gerald Cadogan (OT); A.Q. Scirrotto (C); Tony Davis (CB); Lydell Sargeant (CB); Maurice Evans (DE); Josh Gaines (DE); Rich Ohrnberger (G); Mark Rubin (S); Tyrell Sales (LB).

Player to Watch: Navorro Bowman, LB.
Quarterback Daryll Clark and running back Evan Royster are just as deserving to be mentioned here, but Bowman is one of the best linebackers in the nation and arguably the best defender in the Big Ten. He made the most of his playing time opportunities last year after Dan Connor was drafted and Sean Lee was out with an injury. In his first start of the season, Bowman recorded 11 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception in a 45-3 trouncing of Temple in Week 4. That performance lifted him to a fantastic ’08 campaign, one that was capped with him being named a consensus First Team All-Big Ten player. Now a redshirt junior, Bowman is looking to gain superstar status and get nationally recognized as one of the best linebackers in the country.

Team Strength: Is there anything else to write about in this section besides PSU’s linebackers? With the return of Bowman, Lee and Josh Hull, “Linebacker U” will once again be stout in the middle of their defense. Bowman is an emerging star and before being sidelined for the entire ’08 season with an injury, Lee was supposed to be the Lions’ best defender. If Lee can bounce back, Penn State will once again have one of the best linebacker corps in the nation.

Potential Weakness: These are the names that PSU lost on their offensive and defensive lines: Aaron Maybin, A.Q. Shipley, Maurice Evans, Josh Gaines, Rich Ohrnberger and Gerald Cadogan. That’s quite a lot of talent to lose in the trenches in one offseason. The Lions have quality offensive pieces in Clark and Royster, as well as one of the best linebacker corps in the country. But if they can’t win in the trenches, PSU won’t be able to stay in national title contention all season.

Outlook: Thanks to Clark, Royster and a terrific linebacker crops, the Nittany Lions are going to push Ohio State for the Big Ten title and most likely stay in the thick of things in the polls. Their schedule is favorable, with non-conference games against patsies like Akron, Syracuse, Temple and Eastern Illinois, as well as home games against Ohio State and Iowa. An early October road game against Illinois could prove to be trouble, as well as a November trip to East Lansing at the end of the year, but getting the Buckeyes at home is huge. That said, the Lions have major questions to be answered on the offensive line and even if the unit does produce, Clark lost his top three receivers from a year ago. The defensive line could be an issue as well, which would negate how productive PSU’s linebackers will be.

Realistically, PSU probably lost too much talent to beat out Ohio State in the conference and make a legitimate run at a national title. But Clark and Royster should keep the Lions in contention all season.

Every couple of weeks during the 2009 season, I’ll rank the top 10 Heisman Trophy candidates based on their chances of winning college football’s most prestigious award. Players will either rise or fall in the rankings based on their performances throughout the year.

Below is Version 1.0. Obviously with no games being played yet, I’m mostly projecting with this top 10. These types of rankings always stir up a lot of debate, so I encourage readers to tell me which players should be rated higher or lower. I’ll update the list after the first week or two of the season.

Without further ado…

1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
After Sam Bradford edged Tebow out in last season’s Heisman race, some will argue that the Oklahoma QB deserves to be at the top of this ranking. But I’m giving the slight edge to Tebow right now after he absolutely destroyed the competition in the second half of last year. Florida will incorporate the no-huddle into their offense this season, which should only benefit Tebow’s style of play and give him even more scoring opportunities than he already had. Outside of Florida having to replace tackles Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins, there’s little reason to believe that Tebow will take a step back in 2009 and considering the Gators are once again national title contenders, he should be the front-runner to win this year’s Heisman.

2. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
After throwing for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns last season, I don’t doubt that the reigning Heisman winner could be even better in 2009. But the Sooners’ offensive line is a major question mark entering this season with the losses of Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson, Jon Cooper and Brandon Walker. That’s a lot of change in one offseason and while OU should light up the scoreboard once again, I could see Bradford taking a backseat to Tebow when the final Heisman results are tallied.

3. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
McCoy is one of the nation’s best and is truly exciting to watch each week. He could once again lead the Longhorns in both passing and rushing yards this season, which only helps his cause for winning the Heisman. But does he have enough pieces around him to get Texas to the national championship? Quan Cosby should emerge as a solid go-to receiver, but the Longhorns would benefit from having Vondrell McGee, Chris Ogbonnaya or Foswhitt Whitaker step up in the running game. Plus, the defense lost some talent with the departures of Marcus Griffin and Frank Okam, so with Tebow and Bradford also in the mix, McCoy’s numbers alone might not carry him in the eyes of voters. He may have to get UT into the title game, if not win it, to snatch this year’s Heisman.

4. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
With a year of seasoning under his belt, Pryor should take the next step in 2009. He reportedly has embraced a leadership role for the Buckeyes and given his athletic talent, he could become one of the nation’s best players as a sophomore. But the problem in his quest to win the Heisman is that he probably won’t post the kind of numbers Tebow, Bradford and McCoy will. So he’ll likely have to lead OSU to the national title to win the award. If the Buckeyes do reach the title game, Pryor will have played a huge role, so his chances of winning the Heisman might be tied to whether or not OSU can make a run. As long as he doesn’t experience the arm fatigue that hurt him down the stretch last season, Pryor and the Buckeyes have a shot at a tremendous season.

5. Jahvid Best, RB, California
Following his 1,580-yard, 15-touchdown performance last season, Best could become a household name this year. The Cal running back rushed for 8.1 yards per carry last season and was also a factor in the passing game, totaling 27 receptions for 246 yards. He reminds some of the Titans’ Chris Johnson in that he’s small, but he’s got amazing speed and is incredibly dangerous in the open field. The only problem is that the Bears lost offensive linemen Alex Mack and Noris Malele this offseason and that could hinder how successful Best is. He’ll put up great numbers, but will they be enough to give him an edge over the other candidates?

6. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Most of the college football world is focused on whether or not Charlie Weis will hold onto his job this season, which takes away how good Clausen could be this year. Weis is now calling all of the offensive plays for the Irish, which could mean big things for Clausen, who threw for 401 yards and five scores in a 49-21 win over Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. Given Weis’ play calling, ND’s favorable schedule, as well as having weapons Golden Tate and Michael Floyd at his disposal in the passing game, Clausen is a sleeper candidate to win this year’s Heisman.

7. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
Dwyer was highly productive in Tech’s offense last year, rushing for 1,395 yards and 12 touchdowns on 200 carries. And unlike fellow Heisman candidate Evan Royster, he didn’t wear down at the end of the season as he rushed for 145, 157, 128 and 144 yards against Florida State, North Carolina, Miami and Georgia, respectively. Those numbers are pretty impressive considering the defenses he faced. It’s a long shot, but as long as an offseason hip injury doesn’t slow him down, Dwyer could come out of nowhere to claim this year’s Heisman.

8. Evan Royster, RB, Penn State
Royster often took a backseat OSU’s Chris “Beanie” Wells and MSU’s Javon Ringer last year, but he was just as valuable to his team as his fellow Big Ten backs were to theirs. On 191 attempts, he rushed for 1,236 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also catching 17 passes for 155 yards. But after totaling over 100 yards in five of his first eight games, he failed to crack the century mark in any of PSU’s final five contests, including their Rose Bowl loss to USC. Was it a product of fatigue or does he struggle against tougher competition? It’ll be something to keep an eye on this season.

9. Charles Scott, RB, LSU
The bruising Scott rushed for 1,174 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. Les Miles thinks his running back is set up for a huge season, although his success could be tied to how well Jarrett Lee performs at quarterback. Scott will once again be the backbone of LSU’s offense and will be aided by a solid offensive line. But if Lee can’t keep opposing defenses honest via the passing game, Scott could have trouble posting Heisman-worthy numbers.

10. Jevan Snead, QB, Ole’ Miss
Snead is one of the more intriguing names on this list given that he’ll be the leader of what should be a dynamic offense this season. Ole’ Miss made some noise last year by beating Florida (on the road), Auburn, LSU and Texas Tech (Cotton Bowl). If the Rebels climb the rankings this season, Snead will be one of the main reasons why and he could certainly post passing numbers similar to Tebow’s this year, making him a viable Heisman candidate.

Other players receiving consideration: Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State; Daryll Clark, QB, Penn State; Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State; Max Hall, QB, BYU; Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State; Stafon Johnson, RB, USC.

The USA Today Coaches’ Top 25 college football coaches’ poll has been released and to no surprise, Florida ranks No. 1.

Here’s the top 15 (via ESPN.com):

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. Ohio State
7. Virginia Tech
8. Penn State
9. LSU
10. Mississippi
11. Oklahoma State
12. California
13. Georgia
14. Oregon
15. Georgia Tech

The most intriguing team to watch this year in the top 15 is Ole’ Miss. The have a solid quarterback in Jevan Snead a true playmaker in Dexter McCluster, a couple of quality receivers and several capable rushers. But the one thing that could keep the Rebels from taking that next step is the play of the offensive and defensive lines. They lost two significant pieces of both lines last year when Michael Oher and Peria Jerry were drafted into the NFL. Can they replace both of those players and make some noise in the SEC?

Another team to at least keep an eye on this year is North Carolina, who is ranked 20 in the preseason poll. They lost receivers Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate to the NFL, but their offense is still chockfull of potential and their defense was incredibly opportunistic last year. I’m not saying the Heels will challenge for a national title this season, but they’ll be competitive.

The Heisman race is going to be fun to watch all year, too. Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Terrelle Pryor hold the edge going into the season, but watch out for sleepers like Evan Royster, Jonathan Dwyer and Jahvid Best.

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.

FedEx Orange Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
Dolphin Stadium, Miami, January 1, 8:30PM ET FOX
The job Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly has done this year has been remarkable. This is a team that was ransacked by injuries earlier this season (most notably at quarterback where they’ve used four different starters) and still found a way to win a Big East title. The Bearcats’ offense will revolve around whether or not they can strike a balance between their dynamic passing game, and a sound running game. Kelly’s offense excels at spreading a defense out and attacking the middle of the field with short, timely patterns that allow receivers to make the catch and get up field. While Cincy can strike quick, the offense is at its best when it methodically moves up the field by attacking the seams. Quarterback Tony Pike and his wideouts Dominick Goodman and Marty Gilyard will certainly have their hands full with Virginia Tech’s physical defense. Frank Beamer’s Hokies love to send multiple defenders at the quarterback and force him to get the ball out of his hands quickly and make mistakes. If Pike can’t read the defense at the line, than he’s going to have a long day. Still, the Bearcats have an experienced defense and match up well against an inexperienced Hokie offense. While Tyrod Taylor looked good in the ACC Championship Game against Boston College, he must prove that he can win moving the ball through the air. If the Bearcats contain him and not allow him to keep drives alive with his feet, Tech might struggle putting points on the board. But this game should come down to two things – defense and special teams, which happen to be two things Beamer’s team excels at. Cincinnati has had a hell of a year and this one is going to be tight, but Tech wins a nail bitter down the stretch.
Orange Bowl Prediction: Virginia Tech 21, Cincinnati 20.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Utah vs. Alabama
Superdome, New Orleans, 8:00PM ET FOX
Will this be a repeat of the Boise State-Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl game two years ago where an undefeated “no name team” beats the program from the elite conference? Doubtful. The Utes have had a great year and you don’t win 12 games by accident. That said, Alabama has a major advantage up front on both sides of the ball and even though their offense has lacked explosiveness at times this season, the Tide will shove Glen Coffee down Utah’s throat for four quarters and wear them down. Outside of an impressive come-from-behind win over TCU, the Utes haven’t faced a superior opponent all season. ‘Bama has one of the best defensive lines in the nation and will certainly give quarterback Brian Johnson fits. Utah hasn’t faced a defense as fast as the one they’ll play in New Orleans come January 1 and while I hate to fall into the masses that believe that just because Alabama played in a better conference that they’ll roll in this game, I just don’t think Utah has the players up front to win.
Sugar Bowl Prediction: Alabama 34, Utah 14.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Texas
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, January 5, 8:00PM ET FOX
Outside of the national championship game, this might be the best bowl matchup of the season. Ohio State lost each of their toughest games this season when they were defeated by USC and Penn State, but freshman quarterback Terrell Pryor brings an added dimension to the field and seems to be getting better each game. Of course, it helps having a running back in Chris “Beanie” Wells in the same backfield. An early season injury cost him the opportunity to possibly win the Heisman Trophy, but Wells has been otherwise dominant this season. His blend of speed and power make him one of the best backs in the nation and the Texas defense hasn’t seen a player like Wells all season. For Texas, everything revolves around quarterback Colt McCoy, who has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. McCoy excels at getting the ball out of his hands quickly and accurately, and allowing his receivers to make plays after the catch. And when his receivers are blanketed, McCoy is equally effective with his legs as evidence by his team-leading 576 rushing yards. While many pundits will be quick to assume that Texas will roll in this game because of the Buckeyes’ weak schedule, the fact of the matter is that the Longhorns haven’t faced a defense as good as OSU’s this season. The Buckeyes are experienced and physical on that side of the ball and will certainly focus on getting pressure on McCoy and not allowing receivers Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby to break free for big plays. And if the Buckeyes can control the tempo with Wells and keep McCoy on the sidelines, then an upset could be in the making. But I don’t have the marbles to predict an OSU victory – not after their last two bowl appearances, at least. Texas is still pissed at being snubbed by the BCS and they’ll use this game to prove that they deserved a shot to play in the national championship. In the end, I don’t think Pryor will make enough plays in the passing game for OSU to win.
Fiesta Bowl Prediciton: Texas 30, Ohio State 24.

BCS National Championship Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma
Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida, January 8, 8:00PM ET FOX
With some fantastic storylines, this will be one of the most anticipated national championships ever. 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow faces 2008 winner Sam Bradford. Who will come out on top: Florida’s dynamic defense vs. Oklahoma’s explosive offense? Can Urban Meyer win two titles in three years? Will Bob Stoops lose yet another bowl game? The individual and team matchups are outstanding and it’s too bad a dynamic playmaker like DeMarco Murray will miss the game. Still, the Sooners’ offense is loaded with talent and this is a team that hasn’t scored less than 60 points in over a month. But they’ll face their toughest challenge of the season in the Gators, who have the fastest defenses in the country next to USC. It’ll be interesting to see how Meyer will game plan his defense to stop Bradford, who has seemingly been unstoppable this season. Even in OU’s loss to Texas, Bradford threw for 387 yards and five touchdowns. He’s simply outstanding and his numbers have been extraordinary this season, but as well as he’s played, Tebow has played equally as well. And Tebow didn’t have the luxury of facing weak defenses all year in the SEC like Bradford did playing in the Big 12. Tebow beat LSU, Georgia and Alabama, and did so in convincing fashion. If Percy Harvin is healthy (which he should be), Tebow won’t have any problems putting points on the board against an OU defense that was shredded by Texas and Oklahoma State this season. Both teams will score points, but Florida has the clear advantage on defense and I’ll always take a stout defense over an explosive offense, even if that offense is averaging well over 50 points a game. Bradford will face more pressure in one game than he faced all season.
BSC National Championship Prediction: Florida 44, Oklahoma 37.

But PSU remains undefeated on the season after beating Purdue 20-6 on Saturday and even though they’re still flying under the national championship radar, teams better start taking notice. Not only do the Lions have one of the best offenses in the nation (they were averaging close to 50 points a game coming into this weekend), but they also flashed a little defense in their victory over the Boilermakers.

Penn State doesn’t have a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback like Oklahoma, Missouri or Texas – three teams currently ranked ahead of them in the polls – but so far Daryll Clark has proven that he’s an excellent fit for Joe Paterno’s new spread offense. And while he doesn’t have unworldly size and athleticism like fellow Big Ten back Chris “Beanie” Wells of Ohio State, RB Evan Royster is a workhorse that can grind out tough yards like he did Saturday against Purdue when he rushed for 141 yards and a 7.8 YPC average.

It was interesting to see PSU win like it did against the Boilermakers because it was unlike any of its previous victories this season. They didn’t light up the scoreboard or win with flash; they just kept moving the ball methodically on offense, didn’t turn the ball over and played solid defense. They proved today that they could win without relying on the big play, which should only serve them going forward.

The next three weeks will prove whether or not Penn State is a true contender or not. They’re at Wisconsin, home against Michigan and then travel to Columbus to take on OSU through the rest of October. That’s a daunting three-week task.