Category: College Football (Page 289 of 296)

In honor of the 2006 college football season, Bullz-Eye.com will preview an up-and-coming game of the week, each week, for the entire length of the NCAA season.

Each week a game will be highlighted and broken down by each team’s strengths and weaknesses vs. its opponent. Plus, no preview would be complete without a forecasted score – along with the game breakdown, you’ll find a prediction on Bullz-Eye.com as well.

On tap this week: #11 Florida State at #12 Miami (FL)

Anybody ready for some football?

With the NFL still a week away, the NCAA kicks off its action tonight with a bevy of games on tap. The only ranked team playing tonight is No. 24 Arizona State taking on Northern Arizona, but so what?

We’ve been without football for nearly seven months and I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m clamoring for some pigskin action that actually counts in the record book.

Now that the college season is upon us, what would the fun be without a little look into the crystal ball? My NCAA College Football Preview is up on Bullz-Eye.com and for a little taste, here are the top five programs on my list.

For the full 20, you’ll have to click on the link to Bullz-Eye at the bottom of the post.

1. Ohio State
Studs: Troy Smith, QB; Ted Ginn Jr., WR; Quinn Pitcock, DT; Antonio Pittman, RB
Despite only returning two starters on defense, the Buckeyes are primed to make a run at the National Championship. QB Troy Smith’s comparisons to Vince Young aren’t as far off as some people will have you believe. Smith can make plays in the spread offense both through the air and on the ground. WR Ted Ginn Jr. will have plenty of opportunities to dazzle in OSU’s offense and on special teams while getting a chance to line up as a quarterback in shotgun formations. The running tandem of All-Big Ten Antonio Pittman and freshman Chris Wells will be hard to stop this year. Experience on defense will be the only question mark heading into the season, but having a dominating force such as DT Quinn Pitcock will help ease the transition. Also, facing a Texas team that will have an inexperienced QB so early in the season (Sept. 9) will only help the Buckeyes chances of being the top dog in January.
Game to Watch: at Texas, Sept. 9

2. Texas
Studs: Frank Okam, DT; Tarell Brown, CB; Justin Blalock, OT
With such high expectations heading into the season, expect either Colt McCoy or Jevan Snead, whichever young QB wins the job, to struggle initially. Look for the defense to carry the Longhorns early in the season with corners Aaron Ross and Tarell Brown. Both are dependable enough to play on islands and top LB recruit Sergio Kindle should make a huge splash even as a freshman. Texas has a solid offensive line led by All-American OT Justin Blalock and can run the ball efficiently with Jamaal Charles and Selvin Young. The Longhorns may take an early loss to Ohio State, but the defending champs have all the makings for a repeat title run.
Game to Watch: vs. Ohio State, Sept. 9

3. USC
Studs: Dwayne Jarrett, WR; Lawrence Jackson, DE; Ryan Kalil, C
No Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush or LenDale White? No problem for head coach Pete Carroll and the Trojans. USC has an explosive wide receiver duo in Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith. Jarrett is a 6-foot-5, 215-pound junior with unbelievable playmaking skills that should be double covered on every play. Smith is a nice complement on the other side of Jarrett and, sticking with the offensive theme, tailback Chauncey Washington should have no problem carrying the load left by Bush and White. In fact, when Washington was a freshman, coaches considered him the better prospect over Bush and White, but grades kept him from showing his potential. Weaknesses in the secondary and replacing so many high talent playmakers will be the only thing that can keep USC down this year.
Game to Watch: vs. Notre Dame, Nov. 25

4. Notre Dame
Studs: Brady Quinn, QB; Tom Zbikowski, S; Jeff Samardzija, WR
When you have a Heisman Trophy candidate as your quarterback, as the Domers do in Brady Quinn, expectations will understandably be soaring heading into the regular season. Quinn doesn’t have to do everything on his own, however, as he has some veteran weapons at his disposal in wide receivers Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight. Quinn also will be paired with RB Darius Walker in one of the top backfields in the nation. Depending on who you ask, Notre Dame’s weakness is in the secondary. However, cornerbacks Tom Zbikowski and Chinedum Ndukwe are leaders and can play man coverage as well as the pair from Ohio State can. If ND can get past a physical schedule early on and head into November undefeated, they’ll be tough to bounce out of National Championship contention.
Game to Watch: at USC, Nov. 25

5. Auburn
Studs: Kenny Irons, RB; Quentin Groves, DE; Courtney Taylor, WR
A top-five backfield and secondary will aid the Tigers’ chances at a title in ’06. Tailback Kenny Irons’ breakout 2005 season (1,293 yards, 13 touchdowns) provided a surprisingly smooth transition from Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown the year before. Teamed up with Irons will be steady QB Brandon Cox, who excels at the little things like selling play fakes and handling the ball. When new coordinator Will Muschamp moved All-SEC free safety Will Herring to linebacker this offseason, he improved his LB corps, but many wondered if he hurt his secondary. But with David Irons and Jonathan Wilhite returning at corner this season, Muschamp had the flexibility to make the move, and the risk should pay off during the season. Point of weakness for the Tigers heading into ’06: They need WR Courtney Taylor to bounce back to 2004 form quick, fast and in a hurry.
Game to Watch: vs. LSU, Sept. 16

Read the rest at Bullz-Eye.com