So with practices starting in about 3 weeks and games coming in about a month and a half, I figured it was time to start the madness...

My thoughts on a few teams:

Everyone's consensus #1, Univeristy of Florida
I think this season will be much like their 2007 season, given the loss of there biggest playmaker, Percy Harvin... Harvin continuously made plays when the UF team needed them and was vital to the teams success... Don't get me wrong, UF is still a very good team, and Saint Tebow is still there, but they will lose 2 or 3 games this year without Harvin... They should runaway with the SEC east, but I think they will lose to LSU (at LSU), and possibly trip up against USC... Whether or not they beat the *****, they will also lose to whoever they play in the SEC title game, whether it be Alabama(who needs to find a QB), Ole Miss(who has a very favorable schedule) or even LSU again... so i predict a 10-3 regular season for the Ga(y)tors...

Virginia Tech
The class of the ACC, again, will run away with the ACC in 2009... They will likely trip up against Bama in week one, unless Bama's QB issues are worse than we know... After that, they will likely win the remainder of their games, with the possible exception of playing Georgia Tech in Atlanta... However, b/c the Jackets have to play at Miami and FSU, and will likely lose both those games, VT will win the Coastal and play in and beat the representative from the Atlantic Division (likely FSU)... so i predict an 11-2 regular season for the Hokies...

USC
USC has a fairly easy schedule, and unless Notre Dame and Cal are vastly improved (both road games), USC will only have to worry about playing in the Autzen Zoo on Halloween and a vastly improved Arizona State the following week... Playing at Ohio State could cause a few headaches, but Pryor can't do it all by himself, as OSU lost the majority of their weapons and will still be acclimating to their new players in week 2, and the overall superior talent of SC will win out... predicted record is 11-1...

Texas
In my opinion, this was the best team last year... They beat OU by 10 on a neutral site, beat a very good Ohio State team in a bowl game many thought they would lose b/c they were "sad" about not being selected for the Big 12 title game and subsequently the National Championship, and their only loss came on the last play of a game at TT... This year will repeat a lot of last year, but I think Texas will go undefeated, which means they will beat both teams from Oklahoma... They should be able to handle OU at the Red River Shootout, as they can put pressure on Bradford, and when you do that against OU, Bradford and OU both fold (see 2008 Fiesta Bowl against WVU and last years BCS title game)... Okie State, I think, poses a bit more of a challenge with that wide open offense and weapons a every skill position on offense... However, there D wont be able to hold McCoy and company out of the endzone either, and while the game is in Stillwater, I think the horns will pull it out... predicted record for the real UT is 13-0 with a win over a decent KU squad in the Big 12 title game...

WVU
Now that PW5 is gone, everyone thinks WVU will fall into obscurity... This is not the case with 2009 Mountaineers... They return all but 2 players off of a defensive squad that was ranked 11th nationally in scoring D allowing 17 points per game... This coupled with the incoming phenom that is DE Tevita Finau (who was the top rated DE when he was a HS senior and the JUCO player of the year 2x)... WVU got him over schools like USC, UF, Cal, ND, Auburn, OU and Tennessee and he will make an immediate impact on D... Now for the offense, as Jarret Brown picks up where PW5 left off... Brown is more suited for the more pass friendly attack that was installed last year, with a better arm and accuracy... He is not as fast as White, but the 6'4'' 220 lb Brown is no slouch on the ground... He, coupled with walking youtube highlight reel Noel Devine, will continue the WVU dual threat attack that the school has become known for... With incoming 5 star recruits such as WR Logan Heastie, WR Stedman Bailey, RB Tavon Austin and QB Gino Smith (who will get playing time) making an impact offensively with stalwarts on the WVU offense, such as Jock Sanders, Alric Arnett, and a curious weapon, the 6'8'' WR that is Wes Lyons... They have a bit of a rough schedule, but they should not lose more than 2 games this season... Potential road blocks to the Big East title are at Cincy and at USF, but Cincy lost its entire D, and USF is hit or miss, given when you play them... Regardless, I think WVU will win the Big East and get the BCS bid... Predicted record is 10-2, with the possibility of them being a dark horse BCS title game contender at 11-1, if USC stumbles like they usually do...

Predictions for the BCS Bowls
BCS Title Game: Texas vs USC, just like the 2006 game in the same stadium
Rose Bowl: Oregon (PAC 10 rep) vs PSU (Big Ten Champs)
Fiesta: Oklahoma (Big 12 rep) vs Alabama (at large)
Sugar: Ole Miss (SEC Champs) vs Georgia Tech (at large)
Orange: VT (ACC Champs) vs WVU (Big East Champs), the old Battle for the Black Diamond Trophy

Discuss...