Has there been a college football preseason with more hype than this one? Given the University of Spoiled Children have already been awarded their own pedestal by the all-knowing press, the question around the country is who will play them in the Rose Bowl. The din of “It’s us” has never been greater. The Big Ten claims four contenders: Michigan and Ohio State say it’s their birthright and Iowa and Purdue claim the stars and the moon are finally aligned. The SEC claims four more: LSU and Florida say they will do it with new coaches, the former due to a stockpile of talent and the latter via sainthood. Tennessee claims there is no better way to develop youngsters then to put them on probation. Auburn says just a few players graduated from their 13-0 team, not the entire student population, as some assume. The ACC claims three: Florida State and Miami due to tradition (see Michigan/Ohio State). Both have been seemingly quiet as the football Gods will put one of them out of their misery September 5th. Virginia Tech is pleased it will be a two team race on September 6th. The Big 12 has but two (sorry Texas A&M and Nebraska, but you’re just not ready): Texas is convinced Mack Brown finally learned how to coach during one Rose Bowl game and Oklahoma is elated to know that 50% of fans have short memories and the other 50% turned their last game off at half-time. The Pac-10 has three contenders: Obviously USC, who’s fans now sport T-shirts that say “We’re not spoiled, we’re just better than you”… praying all the time that pedestal isn’t made of “Chow Mein”. Then there’s Arizona State and Cal, knowing one good showing on one fateful Saturday will produce the instant glory they deserve. The new Big East has one: Louisville says “It’s us” by default, i.e. not having to play any of the teams mentioned above. Sadly, for most of these teams, their fate will be decided in September… in the first 24 days to be precise. All the “It’s us!!” will be blown away. The press will quickly revise their “long summer of garbage” and tell us they knew all along what has now happened is somehow what they had predicted. Seems like a lot of hype for four weeks of work, doesn’t it? Sept. 3: A&M/Clemson; Ga/Boise St; Au/GaTech Sept. 5: FSU/Miami Sept 10: OSU/Tx; Mich/ND; LSU/ASU; Ga/SCar. Sept 17: Okla/UCLA; FSU/BC; Lou/OreSt; Fla/Tenn Sept 24: VTech/GaTech; Mich/Wis; Iowa/OSU; USC/Oregon; Tenn/LSU; Purdue/Minn 30 days hath September… good luck!!
their schedule is brutal just as ours was last year. also, I wonder about their running game as well to help tate. will be interesting in the big 10 anyhow. i think Michigan is overrated and may lean to OSU but Henne is the real deal.
Here's hoping for a Cap One Bowl rematch (with us winning, of course) in the Rose Bowl. Did anyone see Mike Gottfried put the kiss of death on Ohio State by saying they'll meet the Condoms for hte MNC?:geauxtige
I am a fan of iowa after the cap one bowl. I'd like to see them take the big 10 it was like the bluegrass miracle... except we actually came out with a win in that one... haha.
BIG 10: I think the Big 10's got the most potential for success & failure at the same time. Any one of the 4 teams mentioned (Michigan, Ohio St, Iowa & Purdue) could have a monster season and challenge for the national championship, but with plenty of question marks to go around, a few of them could fall quite short of expectations as well. I like Purdue to win the Big 10 simply because of their schedule. They won't be the best team in the conference by far, but with no championship game it's all about the schedule. ACC: Florida St challenging for the national championship is a joke. History can't make them win games with all of their problems this comming season. Miami? I expect them to challenge for the ACC & probably win 9-10 games, but I don't foresee any national championship this season. Virginia Tech could very well win the ACC & challenge for the National Championship, if - a very big if, little Vick can be a leader & demonstrate half as much skill as his big brother. BIG XII: As usual, this overhyped conference truley only does have 2 good teams. I look for Texas to lose to Ohio St & to Oklahoma, again. Watch out for Oklahoma, they should win the BIG XII, but probably won't make it to the nat. championship game again. PAC 10: There's the obvious, it's been said that USC could lose 1 game & still get in the national championship game above an undefeated team. Cal takes some major losses but if they beat USC... maybe. Arizona St? I don't think they will beat LSU or USC. Big East - I hope nobody consideres putting anyone from this conference in the national championship game. SEC: Florida thinks they can contend for a national championship next season? How strong is that koolaid? Tennessee, I think, will lose 2-3 games next year. Auburn could have a pretty good season, but won't be going undefeated again.
