2009-2010 College Football Season Preview
Today is June 26, meaning the college football season kicks off in 62 days! Here is my annual season preview with a look at the 15 best games of the year, my Heisman watch list, and my pre-season top-25. Just by way of reminder, my top-25 is based on where (today) I think the top teams in America will finish the regular season, NOT necessarily the 25 best teams. Enjoy
Top 15 Games of 2009
1. Texas v. Oklahoma (17 Oct)
2. USC @ Ohio State (12 Sept)
3. Texas @ Oklahoma State (31 Oct)
4. USC @ Notre Dame (17 Oct)
5. Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma (28 Nov)
6. Ohio State @ Penn State (7 Nov)
7. Alabama @ Ole Miss (10 Oct)
8. Florida @ LSU (10 Oct)
9. Virginia Tech v Georgia Tech (17 Oct)
10. LSU @ Ole Miss (21 Nov)
11. Florida v. Georgia (31 Oct)
12. Alabama v. Virginia Tech (5 Sept)
13. LSU @ Alabama (7 Nov)
14. Georgia @ Oklahoma State (5 Sept)
15. Oklahoma @ Nebraska (7 Nov)
Ridiculously Early Heisman Watch List:
1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
2. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
3. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
4. Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss
5. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
6. Daryll Clark, QB, Penn State
7. Max Hall, QB, BYU
8. Terrell Pryor, QB, Ohio State
9. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
10. Joe McKnight, RB, USC
Pre-season Top 25 (with predicted record in parentheses and predicted bowl game in all caps):
1. Florida (12-0) – 18 returning starters including all-everything QB Tim Tebow, plus an easier than usual schedule with most tough games at home. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
2. Oklahoma (11-1)- 14 returning starters including Heisman winner Sam Bradford. The Sooners play a very hard schedule which is why I have them ahead of the Longhorns. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
3. Texas (11-1)- 16 returning starters including Colt McCoy. The Horns play a pretty easy schedule, but do face OK in Dallas and travel to Stillwater to play Oklahoma State. FIESTA BOWL
4. USC (11-1) – The Trojans have to rebuild their entire defense and break in a new QB, but they have the luxury of very, very deep talent. Still, their hardest games (OSU, Cal, ND) are all on the road with a brand new QB. ROSE BOWL
5. Ole Miss (10-2) – Ole Miss is everyone’s trendy pick to win the SEC West because they bring back 16 starters including QB Jevan Snead. They lose a lot of talent on both lines, however, which is why the Rebels may be this year’s Clemson and drop out of the top-10. SUGAR BOWL
6. Penn State (11-1)- The Lions have a pathetically easy schedule, so despite returning only 9 starters, they are the favorite to win the Big Ten. QB Clark and RB Royster both return and they face Ohio State in Happy Valley. ROSE BOWL
7. Alabama (10-2) – If Ole Miss stumbles, Alabama and its 13 returning starters would be the most likely challenge to the SEC West throne. Still, they have to rebuild their offensive line and break in a new QB against a brutal schedule. FIESTA BOWL
8. Virginia Tech (10-2) – This may be the best Tech team Frank Beamer has had since Mike Vick left. They have 16 returning starters, including QB Taylor, and despite playing the 8th hardest schedule in America, the only really tough road game is at Georgia Tech. ORANGE BOWL
9. Oklahoma State (10-2) – Like Ole Miss, the Cowboys are a very trendy pick this year with their studs on offense. They should join with Texas and Oklahoma to form another Big 12 South threesome like last year with Texas Tech. Like Tech, if the season ended in a 3-way tie, State would be the odd man out. COTTON BOWL
10. Notre Dame (10-2) – The Irish are absolutely loaded on offense returning 10 offensive starters including QB Jimmy Clausen who was simply perfect in their bowl win. The defensive line is a big question mark, but the Irish are finally deep and experienced, and they play the weakest ND schedule in recent memory. They should be favored in 11 of their 12 games. SUGAR BOWL
11. Ohio State (10-2) CAPITOL ONE BOWL
12. Georgia Tech (10-2) GATOR BOWL
13. California (10-2) SUN BOWL
14. Georgia (9-3) COTTON BOWL
15. Boise State (12-1) LIBERTY BOWL
16. Illinois (9-3) OUTBACK BOWL
17. BYU (10-2) LAS VEGAS BOWL
18. Rutgers (9-3) ORANGE BOWL
19. TCU (10-2) POINSETTIA BOWL
20. Iowa (9-3) INSIGHT BOWL
21. North Carolina (9-3) CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
22. LSU (8-4) CAPITOL ONE BOWL
23. West Virginia (9-3) GATOR BOWL
24. Nebraska (8-4) INSIGHT BOWL
25. Pittsburgh (8-4) SUN BOWL
Others to Watch: Miami, UCLA, Clemson, Southern Miss, Michigan State, NC State, Arkansas, Nevada, ECU, Stanford, Oregon State, Kansas, Baylor
June 27th, 2009
Am I missing something here?
June 29th, 2009
I can’t figure out how to use the page-breaks on this new system.