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The Resident College Football Expert Week 1: 2008 Preview
By: The Resident College Football Expert
It’s time again for the most wonderful time of the year. It’s time for college football! That means you lucky devils have the pleasure of once again reading The Resident College Football Expert’s annual college football preview. Why, you might ask yourself, is The Expert’s yearly preview so important? Well you see most noble of readers, some people are pessimistic. If you have been reading The Resident College Football Expert for years, then you know there is no forecasting, guessing, or prognostication is these hallowed words The Expert broadcasts through cyber space. No, what The Expert reports to you is bankable FACTs. The Expert’s most loyal readers know that they can take his picks each and every week and turn them into easy, easy cash. Others are more reserved and we are in a depressed economy. But the beauty of The Expert telling you in August who will win the National Title in January is that it allows you to place what is called a “futures” bet. That is where you can place a very small wager and win lots of dough. Today, even the teams with the most lofty of expectations are giving close to 10 to 1 odds on the futures bet. That means you could wager just a measly ten bucks on The Expert’s sure-fire, can’t miss, total lock national championship pick and be sitting pretty to win one hundred smackers!
Maybe you’re still skeptical. Well then play his top two teams, or top three, you’ll still come out ahead and you haven’t really risked that much. So enjoy as The Expert lays out all the true contenders from all the major conferences in college football. However, if you like surprises, you may wish to divert your eyes because after you read this, there may not be much use in even watching the season play out . You’ll already know what’s going to happen.
The ACC
There are no “real” contenders in this whole motley crew. Since Papa Bowden’s descent into senility, it’s been hard for any ACC team to finish with less than three losses. Hope these guys enjoy playing in 2008, because only one of them will still be playing in 2009.
Contenders:
Clemson: Everyone says they have great skill players on offense and that is true. But didn’t they have the same guys last year and didn’t that team go 9-4? Here’s what The Expert knows. Their quarterback is overrated, their coach is incompetent, and Clemson will not play for a National Title. Maybe they’ll win the ACC, if 9-3 is good enough to win the ACC.
Virginia Tech: One of so many late season chokers from last year. Truth is, they played a little over their heads all last year. They will win some games, but every time they meet up with a team who can contain a mobile quarterback, they’ll be going down in flames.
Wake Forrest: Really? THIS is the third best team in ACC? It may be even worse than The Expert thought.
Possible Dark Horse:
North Carolina State: They appear to have all the pieces in place. Good coach, rich recruiting pool in the home state a couple of years ago, a chip on their shoulders after a couple of bad seasons, and a weak conference. NC State could find themselves in the top 15 in January.
The Big 12
Let’s all pray there’s not another debacle like last year and Kansas and Missouri just go back to stinking like they should. Just let Oklahoma and Texas rise back to top and let everything return to normal.
The Contenders:
Oklahoma: The Sooners are looking pretty good. They need to improve the running game and be more consistent on defense but they should have shored those things up during the off-season. The Sooners are looking pretty good this season to coast right on through the regular season.
Missouri: Chase Daniel is back, but have they found any defense? If not, they’ll have to beat teams 42-38 again this year. It’s too hard to perform at that level on offense every week. Missouri will lose at least three this year.
Texas: The more games he plays, the more film on Colt McCoy that becomes available and the more interceptions he throws. He went from seven as a freshman to eighteen as a sophomore. If that trends continues, he’ll throw six hundred and fifty picks this year, which is not good for Texas.
Good for a Few Late Season Upsets:
aTm: The Expert likes Mike Sherman. While the Aggies will struggle early in the season, Sherman should put things together and jump up and bite a team or two later in the season.
Big East
The Contenders:
NONE
Potential Dark Horse:
No One
Big Ten
The Contenders:
Ohio State: Unfortunately for college football fans, the Buckeyes have another favorable schedule and decent team. The outlook is very good for them to get blown out in yet another national championship game.
Wisconsin: They have become the perennial #2 team in this conference. With their slight talent edge over the rest of their conference and conservative style, nine wins should be easy to accomplish for the Badgers this year.
Because you want to know…
Michigan: The transition will hit the Wolverines hard along with the need to fill some big shoes at key positions. If Michigan finishes the season above .500 they should consider it a good year.
Pac 10 (or USC and a cloud of dust)
The Contenders:
Southern Cal: Despite key loses on offense and defense, the Trojans have more than enough talent to put together another fine team. They are the pride of the Pac 10 and should be a heavy favorite in every game this year. It’s hard to imagine them losing to anyone this season, but after losing four in the last two years, sometimes it seems like the coaches’ hearts aren’t in it anymore. Don’t consider them a lock.
A big MAYBE:
Arizona St: Here is another team that needs to throw the ball to be successful. It’s just too easy to be out of sync for a game or two and thus why it’s hard to pick a team like this to have too much success.
SEC East
Contenders:
Georgia: Talent and experience wise, UGA is probably the best team in the SEC. Being the best team in the best conference though does not mean a national title. A brutal schedule will be good for at least one loss and more than likely two.
Florida: It’s hard to fall in love with the Gators this year because of the lack of a solid running back. Tebow is good, but the more defensive coordinators get a look at him and Urban Meyer’s offense, you have to think they will be less and less successful. Three losses for the Gators this year.
Best of the Rest:
South Carolina: The Expert knows that South Carolina is the dark horse in the East this year, not the Vols or the Wildcats. Spurrier has found ways to get game experience for the QBs on his roster while the Vols and Cats last year did not. They have a solid defense and will make more than a little noise this season.
SEC West
Contenders:
LSU: Another team with a lot of holes to fill, but another team with the talent to do it. They probably have the talent and experience to go all the way, but had more talent and experience last year while still finding a way to lose two games. LSU will be upset more than once this season.
All-Barn: A lot of talent of defense doesn’t guarantee success. Way too big a question mark at QB and all over the offense for the Tigers. The Expert is thinking at best, 8-4. Probably 7-5.
Best of the Rest:
Alabama: You would have to be “Nutts” to pick anyone else. How good the Tide is this season depends on how well the freshmen contributors turn out to be. Do they make silly mistakes or get their heads in the game? The Expert sees a team that will improve throughout the season and surprise a lot of folks.
The Final Verdict:
The Expert has gazed into the future to a see a BCS title game featuring Oklahoma and Ohio State (sorry) with the Sooners capturing the National Title in blow-out fashion. More importantly, Notre Dumb will have another dismal season and Charlie Weis will be shown the door. And that’s just not what might happen, that’s what WILL happen. Now on to week one’s brilliant picks!
Thursday Night Special:
North Carolina State Vs South Carolina
An early start for two of the Expert’s Dark Horse picks. The Wolfpack will make some noise in the ACC, but lack the talent to compete with the SEC. The Gamecocks will capture their first win of the season at home on Thursday Night: South Carolina 27 NC St 17
Saturday
Hawaii Vs Florida
Colt Brennan is gone and any chance of the Warriors upsetting the Gators left with him…….Ok, they wouldn’t have had any chance WITH Colt Brennan. Florida 48 Hawaii 14
USC Vs Virginia
Jet lag can really stink, especially when flying from the West coast all the way out East and losing three hours. It stinks almost as bad as having to deal with the Trojans’ offense which is even more grueling for a team as mediocre as the Cavaliers. USC 31 UVA 14
Illinois Vs Missouri
Ron Zook had his Illini playing way over their heads last year but let’s face it, he’s still The Zook. It usually takes a passing team like Missouri a couple of games to get in sync, which means this game will stay close for a while. Look for the Tigers to get it together late to beat Illinois. Missouri 24 Illinois 17
Sunday
Kentucky Vs Louisville
Will Louisville find any defense this year? Will Kentucky? Has either team found a Quarterback? Hard to say what will happen in this one, well, unless you’re a College Football Expert. Kragthorpe’s had another year to implement his system in Louisville while the Wildcats will struggle this season. Louisville 25 Kentucky 23
Monday
Tennessee Vs UCLA
The Viles took a pounding on the West Coast to start off last season. The difference this year is that the Viles learned a lot from that experience and this season, they are playing a team that’s not nearly as good as the one they played last year. The Viles will win on Labor Day and won’t have to labor that hard to do it. Tennessee 35 UCLA 20
Mind Blowing Upsets of the Week
Utah Vs Michigan
Off season distractions for Rich Rod, a late start on recruiting, and having to recruit Pryor until May makes the Wolverines ripe for another stunning upset to start off the season. Plus, this Utah team isn’t terrible and they will make sure history repeats itself. Meaning the recent history of Michigan starting off the year 0-1. Utah 23 Michigan 20
Alabama Vs Clemson
Clemson started last season with a stunning upset of Florida State. This year they find themselves as a favorite going into the start of the season. The Tigers have spent the off season talking about how great they are going to be and all the winning they will do this season. All their dreams will come crashing down around them on Saturday night. Alabama 31 Clemson 24
By: The Resident College Football Expert
It’s time again for the most wonderful time of the year. It’s time for college football! That means you lucky devils have the pleasure of once again reading The Resident College Football Expert’s annual college football preview. Why, you might ask yourself, is The Expert’s yearly preview so important? Well you see most noble of readers, some people are pessimistic. If you have been reading The Resident College Football Expert for years, then you know there is no forecasting, guessing, or prognostication is these hallowed words The Expert broadcasts through cyber space. No, what The Expert reports to you is bankable FACTs. The Expert’s most loyal readers know that they can take his picks each and every week and turn them into easy, easy cash. Others are more reserved and we are in a depressed economy. But the beauty of The Expert telling you in August who will win the National Title in January is that it allows you to place what is called a “futures” bet. That is where you can place a very small wager and win lots of dough. Today, even the teams with the most lofty of expectations are giving close to 10 to 1 odds on the futures bet. That means you could wager just a measly ten bucks on The Expert’s sure-fire, can’t miss, total lock national championship pick and be sitting pretty to win one hundred smackers!
Maybe you’re still skeptical. Well then play his top two teams, or top three, you’ll still come out ahead and you haven’t really risked that much. So enjoy as The Expert lays out all the true contenders from all the major conferences in college football. However, if you like surprises, you may wish to divert your eyes because after you read this, there may not be much use in even watching the season play out . You’ll already know what’s going to happen.
The ACC
There are no “real” contenders in this whole motley crew. Since Papa Bowden’s descent into senility, it’s been hard for any ACC team to finish with less than three losses. Hope these guys enjoy playing in 2008, because only one of them will still be playing in 2009.
Contenders:
Clemson: Everyone says they have great skill players on offense and that is true. But didn’t they have the same guys last year and didn’t that team go 9-4? Here’s what The Expert knows. Their quarterback is overrated, their coach is incompetent, and Clemson will not play for a National Title. Maybe they’ll win the ACC, if 9-3 is good enough to win the ACC.
Virginia Tech: One of so many late season chokers from last year. Truth is, they played a little over their heads all last year. They will win some games, but every time they meet up with a team who can contain a mobile quarterback, they’ll be going down in flames.
Wake Forrest: Really? THIS is the third best team in ACC? It may be even worse than The Expert thought.
Possible Dark Horse:
North Carolina State: They appear to have all the pieces in place. Good coach, rich recruiting pool in the home state a couple of years ago, a chip on their shoulders after a couple of bad seasons, and a weak conference. NC State could find themselves in the top 15 in January.
The Big 12
Let’s all pray there’s not another debacle like last year and Kansas and Missouri just go back to stinking like they should. Just let Oklahoma and Texas rise back to top and let everything return to normal.
The Contenders:
Oklahoma: The Sooners are looking pretty good. They need to improve the running game and be more consistent on defense but they should have shored those things up during the off-season. The Sooners are looking pretty good this season to coast right on through the regular season.
Missouri: Chase Daniel is back, but have they found any defense? If not, they’ll have to beat teams 42-38 again this year. It’s too hard to perform at that level on offense every week. Missouri will lose at least three this year.
Texas: The more games he plays, the more film on Colt McCoy that becomes available and the more interceptions he throws. He went from seven as a freshman to eighteen as a sophomore. If that trends continues, he’ll throw six hundred and fifty picks this year, which is not good for Texas.
Good for a Few Late Season Upsets:
aTm: The Expert likes Mike Sherman. While the Aggies will struggle early in the season, Sherman should put things together and jump up and bite a team or two later in the season.
Big East
The Contenders:
NONE
Potential Dark Horse:
No One
Big Ten
The Contenders:
Ohio State: Unfortunately for college football fans, the Buckeyes have another favorable schedule and decent team. The outlook is very good for them to get blown out in yet another national championship game.
Wisconsin: They have become the perennial #2 team in this conference. With their slight talent edge over the rest of their conference and conservative style, nine wins should be easy to accomplish for the Badgers this year.
Because you want to know…
Michigan: The transition will hit the Wolverines hard along with the need to fill some big shoes at key positions. If Michigan finishes the season above .500 they should consider it a good year.
Pac 10 (or USC and a cloud of dust)
The Contenders:
Southern Cal: Despite key loses on offense and defense, the Trojans have more than enough talent to put together another fine team. They are the pride of the Pac 10 and should be a heavy favorite in every game this year. It’s hard to imagine them losing to anyone this season, but after losing four in the last two years, sometimes it seems like the coaches’ hearts aren’t in it anymore. Don’t consider them a lock.
A big MAYBE:
Arizona St: Here is another team that needs to throw the ball to be successful. It’s just too easy to be out of sync for a game or two and thus why it’s hard to pick a team like this to have too much success.
SEC East
Contenders:
Georgia: Talent and experience wise, UGA is probably the best team in the SEC. Being the best team in the best conference though does not mean a national title. A brutal schedule will be good for at least one loss and more than likely two.
Florida: It’s hard to fall in love with the Gators this year because of the lack of a solid running back. Tebow is good, but the more defensive coordinators get a look at him and Urban Meyer’s offense, you have to think they will be less and less successful. Three losses for the Gators this year.
Best of the Rest:
South Carolina: The Expert knows that South Carolina is the dark horse in the East this year, not the Vols or the Wildcats. Spurrier has found ways to get game experience for the QBs on his roster while the Vols and Cats last year did not. They have a solid defense and will make more than a little noise this season.
SEC West
Contenders:
LSU: Another team with a lot of holes to fill, but another team with the talent to do it. They probably have the talent and experience to go all the way, but had more talent and experience last year while still finding a way to lose two games. LSU will be upset more than once this season.
All-Barn: A lot of talent of defense doesn’t guarantee success. Way too big a question mark at QB and all over the offense for the Tigers. The Expert is thinking at best, 8-4. Probably 7-5.
Best of the Rest:
Alabama: You would have to be “Nutts” to pick anyone else. How good the Tide is this season depends on how well the freshmen contributors turn out to be. Do they make silly mistakes or get their heads in the game? The Expert sees a team that will improve throughout the season and surprise a lot of folks.
The Final Verdict:
The Expert has gazed into the future to a see a BCS title game featuring Oklahoma and Ohio State (sorry) with the Sooners capturing the National Title in blow-out fashion. More importantly, Notre Dumb will have another dismal season and Charlie Weis will be shown the door. And that’s just not what might happen, that’s what WILL happen. Now on to week one’s brilliant picks!
Thursday Night Special:
North Carolina State Vs South Carolina
An early start for two of the Expert’s Dark Horse picks. The Wolfpack will make some noise in the ACC, but lack the talent to compete with the SEC. The Gamecocks will capture their first win of the season at home on Thursday Night: South Carolina 27 NC St 17
Saturday
Hawaii Vs Florida
Colt Brennan is gone and any chance of the Warriors upsetting the Gators left with him…….Ok, they wouldn’t have had any chance WITH Colt Brennan. Florida 48 Hawaii 14
USC Vs Virginia
Jet lag can really stink, especially when flying from the West coast all the way out East and losing three hours. It stinks almost as bad as having to deal with the Trojans’ offense which is even more grueling for a team as mediocre as the Cavaliers. USC 31 UVA 14
Illinois Vs Missouri
Ron Zook had his Illini playing way over their heads last year but let’s face it, he’s still The Zook. It usually takes a passing team like Missouri a couple of games to get in sync, which means this game will stay close for a while. Look for the Tigers to get it together late to beat Illinois. Missouri 24 Illinois 17
Sunday
Kentucky Vs Louisville
Will Louisville find any defense this year? Will Kentucky? Has either team found a Quarterback? Hard to say what will happen in this one, well, unless you’re a College Football Expert. Kragthorpe’s had another year to implement his system in Louisville while the Wildcats will struggle this season. Louisville 25 Kentucky 23
Monday
Tennessee Vs UCLA
The Viles took a pounding on the West Coast to start off last season. The difference this year is that the Viles learned a lot from that experience and this season, they are playing a team that’s not nearly as good as the one they played last year. The Viles will win on Labor Day and won’t have to labor that hard to do it. Tennessee 35 UCLA 20
Mind Blowing Upsets of the Week
Utah Vs Michigan
Off season distractions for Rich Rod, a late start on recruiting, and having to recruit Pryor until May makes the Wolverines ripe for another stunning upset to start off the season. Plus, this Utah team isn’t terrible and they will make sure history repeats itself. Meaning the recent history of Michigan starting off the year 0-1. Utah 23 Michigan 20
Alabama Vs Clemson
Clemson started last season with a stunning upset of Florida State. This year they find themselves as a favorite going into the start of the season. The Tigers have spent the off season talking about how great they are going to be and all the winning they will do this season. All their dreams will come crashing down around them on Saturday night. Alabama 31 Clemson 24
Loved it Randy! Keep 'em coming!
