It is easier to say who will not in no particular order...
1.
Texas might make it to their conference championship & lose the competition but I don't see them beating OSU at home on 9/9.
2.
PSU. I don't get the logic of them at all. They do have a great defense but they have lost Mike Robinson. He was like BC for us & most of us are certain we will not get too deep into NC race.
3.
ND might be in the race b/c the only teams they play that may have a 7+ win season is USC, GT, PSU, Michigan, & Michigan State. Of these teams PSU & Michigan stand a solid chance to beat them, but it's a toss up. Therefore ND could be in just b/c of their week competition.
4.
OK plays more wusses w/ the only exceptions of Texas, TT, & Missouri. Maybe Fran can do something w/ A&M give them some competition at home but I hope OK pounds them again.
5.
West Va will only play maybe two 9+ win teams, Louisville & Pitt, they should win their conference & be in the Top 5 by end of season.
6. I'm voting against
AU simply on the basis that we can beat these guys & that is what I'm pushing for, obviously (so much for objectivity,:wink
. They could enter the Iron Bowl undefeated, very realistic, but I want us to return the favor to them for the '88 or '87 Iron Bowl.
7.
LSU plays AU at home. I think AU will be too much for them & BAMA will be looking for payback. Period. It's That simple.
8.
NOBODY FROM THE PACK 10!!! Need I elaborate?
9. What about the
MIAMI? If they win out against FSU then I don't think anyone (regular schedule & Conferance Championship) can beat these guys. Remeber, they had the best defense in the ACC, statistically, & their offense is getting better. However, what happened to them when they allowed 40 points by LSU w/ a second string QB? Perhaps, they didn't play that many good O's in the ACC.
10.
BAMA. As much as I want this as the rest of you, conventional thinking will not allow it. But we could be in the mix depending on how we start & we hold up against UF. Nobody's giving JPW much of chance as a QB as a sophomore or freshman (as some magazines have it). But hey, Brandox Cox was superb after GT & we won a NC w/ Jay Barker as a Sophomore for an O that hardly ever passed. Conventional thinking is against us but that has always helped us.
OSU, seems to be the best fit for me. OSU will play Texas, PSU, Michigan State, Minn, & Michigan. All teams that should finish w/ 7+ wins if not 8+. OSU seems to be more believable to win them all solidly but they could lose to any of them b/c of how they execute or lack thereof, not b/c the other teams dominate. Also, they'll be in the top 5 at preseason so it will be easier to work leap a team or not have to leap a team.