Conference Preview 2010 - ACC

Projections

Costal Division

1.       North Carolina

2.       Miami

3.       Georgia Tech

4.       Virginia Tech

5.       Duke

6.       Virginia

Atlantic Division

1.       Clemson

2.       Florida State

3.       Boston College

4.       Wake Forest

5.       Maryland

6.       NC State

Conference Champions: North Carolina

Team Previews

The Best

North Carolina Tar Heels

The ACC may be the most difficult of the conferences to project heading into the 2010 season, because they really do have so many good teams.  Miami, VT, GT, FSU, Clemson, or this Tar Heel squad could win the conference this year and it would not be a surprise.  The reason that I am projecting UNC to carry the title in this crowded conference is a result of the old adage “defense wins championships.”  The bottom line is this Tar Heel defense is my highest rated in the nation, boasting 5 players who could be off the board in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.

On the offense, senior quarterback TJ Yates will have the opportunity to carry this team.  He has some experience as a starter, and if he can throw just a few more TDs and a couple fewer INTs, he should keep this offense putting up enough points to win a lot of games.  If Shaun Draughn is healthy for the whole season, he could approach the 1000 year mark this season, if Butch Davis uses AJ Blue in the wildcat again, this could be a fairly effective rushing team.  The receiving corps will all be back and have a lot more game time under their belt than at this same point last year.  Senior, Greg Little will put up another 60+ catch campaign, and if Erik Highsmith continues to develop, Yates will have some real weapons at his disposal.  Considering that the hogs up front will be the best o-line unit that Davis has had in his time at UNC, this offense will be good enough for the team to win most games.

If defense truly does win championships, the Chapel Hill faithful have to be very excited about 2010.  Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin are both projected as top 10 picks in next April’s NFL draft, and these guys will give UNC one of the scariest fronts in college football.  You will not run against this team, and if Quinn can continue to penetrate into opposing backfields, passing will not be any fun either.  Rounding out the front seven you find two more first round prospects in OLB Bruce Carter, and MLB Quan Sturdivant in the mix.  Bottom line is these guys will fly all over the field and tackle anything and everything.  This is bad news for opposing offenses. When opponents are able to stay upright for long enough to look downfield, they had better account for safety, Dunta Williams, who will be patrolling the secondary looking to improve on his 122 tackle, 6 interception junior season.  Another first round talent, this ball hawk is a dangerous man to throw against. 

As for the schedule, no team in the ACC has it easy.  The Heels open up with a tough battle against LSU, but I think they can come away with a win in that one.  Home games against Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Virginia Tech will all test this team.  They also have to visit Miami, and FSU this year, so the team will have to remain sharp all year, but in the end, I expect to see this team shut down almost everyone they face, and be in the hunt all season long.

The Surprise

Duke Blue Devils

For years Duke football has been a forgotten entity in the heart of basketball country.  Now entering his third season in Durham, head coach David Cutliffe is poised to surprise some teams this season.  No longer should opponents simply pencil in a “W” when they see the Blue Devils on their schedule.  They do however play in a very crowded Costal Division, so wins for this team will not come easily.

Duke loses the second all time leading passer in ACC history as Thaddeus Lewis graduated, and now they place the ball in the hands of Sean Renfree.  This kid showed real flashes when he did play last year, but his torn ACL could result in a slow come back for this kid.  If it does, expect the team to insert freshman Sean Schroeder, who they are very high on.  Running back Desmond Scott will be the primary ball carrier for Duke this year, and I think he could surprise some folks and put up some real respectable totals in 2010.  Conner Vernon, Donovan Varner and Austin Kelly make up a solid group of receivers, and should provide this team the ability to stretch the field a bit.  The real strength of this offense will be the big boys up front.  This is easily the best group of o-linemen Cutliffe has fielded in his tenure, with seven of last year’s top eight players returning.  The group will open holes for the backs, and provide time for the QB to find his receivers.

On the defensive side of the ball things are a bit different.  The defensive line will not be as good as it was in either of Duke’s past two seasons.  Wes Oglesby is the only returning starter on this unit, and he is not good enough on his own to make opposing offenses have to adjust for him.  Unless one of his line mates can step it up, this group could struggle.  The linebackers have a little more game experience than their d-line counterparts, but again, this is a unit without a real star.  Each of the three starters can be good within the system, but none can be counted on to take over a game.  The secondary on the other hand I believe is on an upswing.  I really like the decision to move former wideout, Johnny Williams to corner, and I think he could have a good season this year.  Matt Daniels will be back with 12 starts under his belt at safety too, and I think although the group lost their star in Leon Wright, they be a better unit overall this year.

From a scheduling perspective, the Blue Devils will have to play hard to earn some wins, but I think they are ready for the challenge.  If they can win an early season match up against Wake Forest, they could find themselves facing Miami on October 16^th win only one loss on their record (Alabama).  Unfortunately, they have to travel to Blacksburg the next week, and then they finish the year at Boston College, home against Georgia Tech, and then on the road against UNC.  Despite a tough schedule, if Duke can surprise Wake and beat two Costal Division opponents, they could legitimately finish the year 7-5 and playing some post season football.

The Slip

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

After winning the ACC last season, the Yellow Jackets are going to be a good team, capable of defending that conference crown.  Unfortunately, with the maturation of the Tar Heel defense, and the talent of other Costal Division teams like Miami and Va Tech, I expect the Yellow Jackets to slip a bit in 2010.

Joshua Nesbitt is a do it all type of quarterback that can beat you with his arm or his feet.  If he continues to improve, especially in the passing game, he could be a real threat to unseat Christian Ponder, Tyrod Taylor, or Jacory Harris as the best QB in the conference.  In the offensive backfield with Nesbitt will be Anthony Allen.  Although they team lost Jonathan Dwyer to early entry last season, Allen showed flashes of brilliance, rushing for an amazing 9.7 ypc in his 64 attempts last season.   Even if that average gets cut in half in 2010, this will be a very productive backfield for Tech.  As far as receivers go, Georgia Tech will be weaker than they were a year ago.  Demaryius Thomas jumped for the NFL, and his absence will leve this team lacking a true number one target for Nesbitt to throw to this season.  It is a good thing that Paul Johnson runs a true option offense, and they will pick up a large number of their yards on the ground.  As for the o-line, the team does return Senior Center, Sean Bedford and he will be good.  Unfortunately, he is the only proven commodity on this line, and that could make it a bit more difficult, especially in the early part of the season, for this team to hit their stride. 

Georgia Tech will transition this year into a 3-4 defense.  Overall I like this move, mainly because they have a stronger linebacking unit than they do a defensive line.  Georgia Tech loses defending ACC DPOY Derrick Morgan this year, and I believe this will make them weaker up front.  The linebackers however have the chance to become a strength of this team, ast they return Brad Jefferson and get Kyle Jackson back from injury.  These guys should emerge as the leaders of this defense with Morgan gone, and I expect them to make a lot of tackles in 2010.  The secondary also losses their top player from last season, but they have added two outstanding freshmen to this unit.  Once they get some game time under their belt they will be good, but until then, I think this group will slip some from last year too.

With a weaker defense, and some questions at receiver and o-line, the Yellow Jackets could be ripe for the picking.  As early as September, they have to hit the road and take on a tough challenge in the Tar Heels, and then later in the year they have to visit Clemson, Virginia Tech, and then close at UGA.  With a home battle against the Hurricanes mixed in, it will be a tough road for a title defense for the Jackets.  Whereas I fully expect this team to be in each and every game they play this year, and I envision a Jan 1^st Bowl Game for them, I do not expect them to be earning a BCS Bowl bid this year.

Don’t Forget About

Miami Hurricanes, Virginia Tech Hokies, Clemson Tigers, and Florida State Seminoles

As I have mentioned a few times in this article, the ACC is really anyone’s conference.  There are a lot of really good programs this year, and that is why this section was so difficult to write.  How could I pick just one team to tell you not to forget about.

The Miami Hurricanes for example, may be the most talented team overall in the conference.  With Jacory Harris at QB, and Leonard Hankerson at wideout, they will have the most dynamic QB/WR combo in the conference.  Add to these guys a defense that features DE Allen Bailey, CB Brandon Harris, FS Ray Ray Armstrong, and a slew of fast, hard-hitting linebackers, and you have a very good team that will win a lot of football games.

Virginia Tech also has a feature QB in Tyrod Taylor.  Another guy who can beat you with either his arm or feet, Taylor is poised to challenge for All-ACC 1^st Team honors this season.  Ryan Williams is a very good running back, and this sophomore will be picking up both yards and touchdowns all season long.  With their most experienced receiving corp in years, the Hokies will score a lot of points this year.  Considering that Beamer Ball will be alive and well for its 24^th straight year, you can count on exceptional special teams play from this group too.

Clemson is another team that has some real talent on their roster, and are my choice for repeating in the ACC Atlantic.  Kyle Parker is a talented QB ready to make a name for himself on the national scene.  Running backs Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper make for an outstanding pair in the Clemson backfield.  On the defensive side of the ball, Clemson features two possible first rounders in next year’s draft with DE Da’Quan Bowers, and S DeAndre McDaniel.  With all of this talent, and one of the best young coaches in college football in Dabo Swinney,  they should really make life difficult for all of their opponents.

Finally, the FSU Seminoles look poised to become part of the national discussion once again.  The legendary Bobby Bowden has retired, but his protégé Jimbo Fisher is not brand new to the system, and the team should not miss a beat in transition.  Although I believe he is a bit overrated, Christian Ponder is still a quality signal caller, and with a good QB, you will have your chances to win.  Losing Jarmon Fortson will hurt this team though, so Ponder is going to have to find a new target to rely upon.  Rodney Hudson anchors the big guys up front, and he will prove that not only is he the best true guard in the country, but the Noles o-line is one of the best units in the entire nation too.  The defense was not real good in Tallahassee last year, but with Sophomores Greg Reid and Jacobbi McDaniel leading the way, the future looks bright for this FSU defense. 

As I mentioned, I think the ACC is the toughest conference to call.  In fact, except for Virginia, there are no bad teams in this conference.  Even schools like Maryland, NC State, and Wake Forest will put up wins next year, especially if you look past them.  Because of this it is difficult to predict who will come out on top, but what is not hard to guess is that there will be some great football to watch all season long in the ACC.

Conference Preview 2010 - Big 12

Conference Preview – Big 12


Projections

Big 12 South

1. Oklahoma

2. Texas

3. Texas A&M

4. Texas Tech

5. Baylor

6. Oklahoma St


Big 12 North

1. Nebraska

2. Missouri

3. Colorado

4. Kansas

5. Kansas State

6. Iowa State



Conference Champions: Oklahoma Sooners



Team Previews

The Best

Oklahoma Sooners

After having 3 players selected in the top 4 in April’s NFL draft, one would think the 2010 version of Bob Stoops Sooners could experience somewhat of a backslide. Even I warned of this situation in an earlier post this offseason. However, after some more in depth studying, I am changing my tune. I see Oklahoma as one of the nation’s elite teams, and they could very easily find themselves playing for the National Championship should either Alabama or Iowa slip.

After watching the Rams choose Bradford 1st overall, the Sooners are already re-stocked at QB. Landry Jones is the sophomore QB who will now be the man in Norman. He got some playing time last year in Bradford’s absence, and with that experience under his belt, he should be ready to compete right out of the gate. Senior tailback, Demarco Murray, is a very dangerous runner, and he could put up Adrian Peterson type numbers in this offense. A healthy Ryan Broyles could break his own team record of 15 receiving TDs in this offense, especially with DeJuan Miller starting across the field from him. Despite watching Trent Williams get drafted early, the o-line will be more experienced overall, and possibly better as a unit. This offense has the potential to put up 40+ points per game in 2010, and that is not good news for the rest of the Big 12.

When you place 40 on the board, you are going to win a lot of football games, but when you don’t give up points, you don’t need 40 to win, and that is exactly the situation the Sooners are in. This defense is amongst the nation’s best, so the high scoring offense is really a luxury for this team. The defensive front saw Gerald McCoy get selected by the Buccaneers third overall in April, and despite this loss, the unit should still be very good. Jeremy Beal is a top NFL prospect this season, and as long as Adrian Taylor can occupy linemen in the middle, Beal should again torture opposing QBs. Travis Lewis will lead a linebacking corp that although has a lack of experience, makes up for it with some serious technically sound, athletes. The secondary is young and they are going to be playing with something to prove. Again, they may lack some game time, but there is no shortage of playmakers amongst this bunch.

The schedule also works in the Oklahoma’s favor this year too. Although the early season schedule features Florida State, Cincinnati, and then Texas, I think the Sooners will be just fine. Both the Seminoles and the Bearcats have new head coaches in place, and both teams will not be the forces they have been in the recent past. Texas will still be good, but I think Oklahoma will take care of business when they meet up on October 2nd. Their toughest two games after the Red River Shootout will be at Mizzou, and at Texas A&M, but again, Stoops troops shouldn’t be able to handle. As of now, I look for Oklahoma to run the table and keep the pressure on both Alabama and Iowa all season long.



The Surprise

Colorado Buffaloes

Entering his fifth season as the HC in Boulder, Dan Hawkins has a lot of pressure on him to push Colorado to the next level. With their impending move to the PAC-10, Colorado wants to get into the recruiting mix, and a strong showing in the Big 12 this year will help them do just that. After a 3-9 record last year, the Buffs could find themselves back in a Bowl game for the first time since 07, as I predict them hanging 7 wins on the back of only 5 losses.

At quarterback, Colorado is in good shape. They return their all-time leading TD passer in Cody Hawkins, and they also have Tyler Hansen who has of this writing supplanted Hawkins on the depth chart. Rodney Stewart will take over as the primary ball carrier this year, and despite losing Darrell Scott, I think this team could be more productive on the ground in 2010. Scotty McKnight is one of the country’s most underrated receivers, and with Michigan transfer Toney Clemons and returning starter Markques Simas on board, this will be one of the nation’s best receiving corps. The Hogs up front are going to be lead by Ryan Miller. With all of the top 10 players on the line from last season returning, this will be a big strength for Colorado. Quarterbacks will have time to exploit defenses, and the runners should have some nice hole to run through.

On defense, this team lacks any superstars who can take over a game, but that does not mean this will be a bad unit. MLB Michael Sipili will be the defensive leader for Colorado, and he will lead this group by example. A sure tackler, and good leader, Sipili will have some talent around him. LB BJ Beatty, and CBs Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown are all going to be key to the success of Colorado in 2010. Each of the units is slightly more game ready than the 2009 versions, and this additional field time should convert to allowing fewer YPG and fewer points against too.

As I mentioned earlier, I can see 5 losses for this Colorado team, and they should be at California, at Missouri, at Oklahoma, at Nebraska, and home against Georgia. The rest of their games should be victories. The Texas Tech game on Oct 23rd in Boulder could prove to be the pivotal game on the Buffs schedule this year, but with them having a new coach in place, and a subsequently lower powered offense, I see this game as winnable for Colorado.




The Slip

Oklahoma State Cowboys

If the Stillwater faithful are expecting the same team that posted a 9-4 record last year to take the field on September 4th , they are going to be very disappointed. Gone are Dez Bryant, Parrish Cox, and Zac Robinson. In fact 21 other lettermen are also gone from last year’s team. This team could be in for a very long season.

I know that the Cowboys are installing an offense more in the mold of the high flying Texas Tech aerial attack, but I do not think they have the talent on the current roster to make it work in 2010. The starting QB will likely be Brandon Weeden, who has very little expierence under center after sitting behind Zac Robinson. RB Kendall Hunter will be the bright spot on this offense, and he will have to be a workhorse if this team is to succeed. The receivers could be successful, but much of that will be dependant on if the QB can get them the ball. The system should be able to make these guys more dangerous than they were last year, and they are already used to playing without Dez Bryant who only saw action in three games last year before being suspended. The o-line is a definite area of concern for this group, and with question marks under center this is a formula for bad things to happen. Last year the unit underperformed, and that was with having to ten draft pick Russell Okung in the mix. Now he is gone, and the group lacks any real bright spots at this point in time. Unless one of these guys up front step it up this season, I see inconsistency for the offense all season.

The defense is in the exact opposite position of the Buffalo defense which I reviewed earlier. They too lack any real star power on that side of the ball, but unlike Colorado, this group has much less experience in each defensive unit. The defensive front return 7 of the ten men who were in rotation last season, however, there are no true standouts in this group. All of these guys are average talents, and that could result in some pedestrian numbers. The backers lost Donald Booker, Patrick Lavine, and Andre Sexton, who all started all 13 games for the Cowboys last season. The guys who are stepping in are as a group much less game ready than their predecessors, and that is not good news. In the secondary, superstar Parrish Cox is now playing on Sundays, and the guys who have returned are not to his level. This means that although they may have more expierence, they have much less talent. Unless safety Markelle Martin can hoist this team on his shoulders, this will be a below average defense this year.

Although the schedule features some winnable games, it also features some difficult matchups too. They play Washington State at home to open the season, and they also have to play host to Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Oklahoma throughout the season. They have some tough road challenges too, with games at Texas Tech and Texas on the docket. An early season battle at home against Troy, and road fights agains Kansas and Kansas State will go a long way to determine just how badly the Cowboys slide in 2010.



Don’t Forget About

Nebraska Cornhuskers

When writing this section, I had a difficult time deciding between the Longhorns and the Cornhuskers. I ultimately chose Nebraska because under Bo Pelini this team has gotten much better each year, and now that they are going into the third year in his system, I think they will really hit their stride this year.

Zac Lee was injured for most of last season, but her returns to the team this year, and with last year’s QB Cody Green also back, the Huskers have some real talent under center. Roy Helu was also banged up last season, and he is also returning to Lincoln in 2010. He should put up some good numbers in this offense. With Rex Burkhead on the depth chart behind him, this unit will be very solid too. The receivers also boast the return of their top player from last season as Niles Paul is back. With the move to WR from TE, Mike McNeil makes this a sizable group with some nice upside. Rickey Henry is going to lead the big fellas up front in 2010. Considering the group that Va Tech head coach, Frank beamer called “exceptional” is returning 4 of their five starters from last year, I expect this to be another strength for this Husker team.

The defense should also be a force in 2010. Sure they lose Suh, the second overall pick in last years draft from their defensive front, but Baker Steinkuhler is ready to step in and prove his worth. While he may not fully replace Suh, if he can offset some of the loss, this will stillbe a very good unit this year. DT Jared Crick is on the verge of becoming an excellent player, and I think this front will make some waves this year. The starting two linebackers are both sophomores, and having both played as freshmen, they should begin to elevate their games this year. The Peso spot (a S/LB hybrid) will be manned by Eric Hagg, who has had a fabulous spring, and is looking like he could make a lot of plays for this group in the fall. Prince Amukamara is one of the country’s top corners. His ability to shut down opposing wide outs will mean a lot of passes will be going to the other side of the field. Alfonzo Dennard is expecting this too, and he is ready to emerge this year. With Amukamara at corner and DeJon Gomes at safety, the Huskers secondary could be the best in the country.

Nebraska will have ample opportunity to prove they belong amongst the nation’s elite this year, as they have a manageable schedule this season. They should open up the season 5-0, and take their undefeated record into their October 16 showdown with the Texas Longhorns. This will be their opportunity to prove they belong. Another home game two weeks later against Missouri should seal them the Big 12 North, and then they have to travel to play Texas A&M near the end of the season. Is it possible for the Huskers to be undefeated when they meet Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game? I think it could be.

Conference Preview 2010 - Big 10

Big 10 Projections
1. Iowa

2. Ohio State

3. Michigan

4. Penn State

5. Wisconsin

6. Northwestern

7. Michigan State

8. Purdue

9. Illinois

10. Indiana

11. Minnesota



Conference Champions: Iowa Hawkeyes



Team Previews



The Best

Iowa Hawkeyes

Last season ended with Iowa drubbing Georgia Teach in the Orange Bowl. Despite their BCS Bowl victory, I think the 2010 Iowa Hawkeyes could be even better than last year. In fact, right now it is my expectation that not only will this squad win the Big 10, but I also think they will be playing the Crimson Tide for the National Championship. This team is that good.

Rickey Stanzi will return to lead the Hawkeyes from under center this year. Although not as flashy as some of the other QBs in the FBS, Stanzi is consistent and I think his leadership skills will help this team play good football each and every week. Talented sophomore, Adam Robinson will be the team’s primary back in 2010, and although I don’t expect him to put up Shonn Green type numbers just yet, I do expect him to improve on his 834 from last year, especially if he remains healthy for the full slate. DJK will return as Stanzi’s top target, and this guy has everything it takes to emerge as a game changer at receiver. The only question on the offense is the o-line who lost a lot with Bulaga heading to the NFL. They still are a pretty good group, and Kirk Ferentz is a guy who takes pride in his o-line so I expect them to perform well enough to keep the sticks moving.

On defense this team is pretty scary as well. The defensive front features top NFL prospect Adrian Clayborn and he will get a lot of attention. Unfortunately for opponents however, this could make the impact of teammates Christian Ballard and Karl Klug even more significant. All three of these guys will need to be accounted for on every play if your offense stands a chance at succeeding against Iowa. As if this scary front was not enough, Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood both return this year at safety and together they make up the nation’s best safety tandem. If the linebackers and corners can support these studs this will be the Big Ten’s top defense this year.

Even the schedule makers gave Iowa some love this year. The team’s toughest two road games this season are at Michigan and Northwestern, both games they should win. At home, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State will come calling. I can tell you that none of those teams are excited about having to play Iowa in Iowa City. If they avoid a fall against non-conference Arizona during the early season, I expect Iowa to face Ohio State on Nov 20th with an undefeated record, creating a de-facto Big 10 Championship Game.



The Surprise

Northwestern Wildcats

There is no doubt that the Big Ten is a strong conference, and makes for some great football each season. Unfortunately for the fans in Evanston, the Wildcats have been an afterthought amongst the Big Ten team for some time now. Pat Fitzgerald has done a really good job of making this program relevant again, and that was evidenced by an excellent performance last year, culminating with a high-scoring closely fought battle with Auburn in the Outback Bowl last January.

For the Cats to return to a January Bowl, they will need to have good play out of their offense which was a strength last year. QB Mike Kafka is now gone, but his replacement, Dan Persa is a talent kid who pushed Kafka last summer for the starting job. Although he lacks game experience, he is skilled, and that should help him adjust. Remember that Kafka only had 6 starts when he took over as the starter last year. I also expect to see the other skill position units improve too. Arby Fields will return as the lead tailback for Northwestern, and although they have lost some playmaker at the wide receiver position, the unit as a whole is much more experienced and that should provide some comfort to Persa. One of the most important areas to the Cats success will be the o-line, and I expect this group to be very good. They retrun 5 guys all who have spent time as a full time starter and this bodes well for both the passing and running games.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Wildcats will be tested. The secondary has some question marks and they lost underrated talent Corey Wooten of the edge. Having said that, Ben Johnson, Quentin Davie, and Nate Williams all return to their starting linebacker spots, and if Bryce McNaul continues to emerge, this will be an awesome group in 2010.

As far as scheduling goes, I would not be at all surprised to see this team jump out to a 6-0 start heading into their bye week on October 16th. During the second half of the season, Northwestern does have to go visit Penn State and Wisconsin, both of which could be difficult games, and they play host to Iowa which will be very tough. If the Cats can surprise one of these three previously mentioned teams, plus add wins against Michigan State and Illinois, this team could find themselves once again playing football on New Years Day.



The Slip

Penn State Nittany Lions

First, I must start by saying that I don’t see the Lions being a bad football team in 2010, however I have a hard time seeing them put up the kind of numbers the Happy Valley faithful have come to expect from this team, especially considering they landed in BCS Bowls twice in the last five seasons.

First, let’s take a look at the good. Evan Royster is an excellent back, and he has the potential to have a breakout season. Stefen Wisniewski is moving back to his natural position at guard, and he is one of the country’s best interior linemen, and this should also contribute to good numbers for Royster. Unfortunately, the Lions will go into 2010 with a real question mark under center. Right now it appears that sophomore, Kevin Newsome will get the call, however there are two freshmen, Robert Bolden and Paul Jones who will try and win the starting job too. With no experience, and none of these guys being uber-talented, I have some real concerns about the viability of this whole offence. The receivers all bring some game knowledge to the field with them in 2010, but there is not really a standout, go-to receiver in the group.

On the defensive side of the ball there are also some things to be excited about and some nagging questions as well. The d-line and secondary are returning some guys who have game time under their belt, and overall that is a good thing. Unfortunately however, they are not returning three individuals who really made this defense work last year. Jared Odrick, Sean Lee, and Navorro Bowman will all be playing on Sundays this fall, and the absence of these studs makes me wonder how far the defense will fall.

To top things off, Penn State has a very difficult challenge looming in terms of its road schedule. This year they have to travel to play Alabama, Iowa, and Ohio State, and that could easily result in 3 losses for the team. Home battles against Michigan, Northwestern, and Michigan State could also all prove to be more difficult than expected, and if they fail to get it done against all of these teams, a 4 or 5 loss season is not out of the realm of possibility.



Don’t Forget About

Ohio State Buckeyes

When your starting QB is one of the most physically dynamic athletes in college football, you know that you will have a good chance at winning a lot of football games. Ohio State has exactly that will Terrelle Pryor under center. This kid has really improved as a passer and his feet are exceptionally dangerous too. He reminds me a lot of Vince Young, and I think he will be in the Heisman conversation all season long.  Brandon Saine and Boom Herron are both returning to the Ohio State backfield and although neither eclipsed the 1000 yard mark last season, I still look at this unit as one of the better backfields in the Big Ten. A guy that I really think could make an impact is Redshirt Freshman Jaamal Berry. He could wind up as the best of the three by season’s end.  Although the names at wide out won’t be recognized on a national level just yet, both DeVier Posey and Duron Carter could soon be. Both are quick, talented receivers with good hands, and along with senior, Dane Sanzenbacher, this unit is one of the most complete, top to bottom, in the whole country.  The o-line is the weakest part of the entire offense, but this does not mean it will be a bad group. In fact, this is a veteran bunch who I expect to be even better than they were last year, and that could prove to be trouble for the rest of the Big Ten.



The defensive front may not be as deep as it has been in recent years, however, they do boast the best NFL prospect they have had in some time with Cameron Heyward. The senior is near the top of my big board, and for good reason. He will be difficult to keep away from opposing QBs, and a good pass rush can cover up a lot of other weaknesses on a defense.  At linebacker, seniors Brian Rolle, and Ross Homan make up a nasty 1-2 punch, and I expect these guys to make plays all over the field. With traditional standouts at linebacker like AJ Hawk, Chris Spielman, Andy Katzenmoyer, and James Laurinaitis, the expectations are high these guys, but I definitely expect them to deliver.  The secondary is always a strength for the Buckeyes, and this year’s unit, led by Safety, Jermale Hines, should be solid as well. These guys show good break to ball when it is in the air, and they are all athletic enough to stay with almost all the receivers they will be asked to blanket this year.

Although the schedule features some tough match-ups, most of their most difficult contests will be played in friendly confines of the Horseshoe. This year the Buckeyes play host to Penn State and Michigan, as well as a non-conference showdown with Miami on September 11th. Their tough road games include Wisconsin, and what is likely to be a pseudo Big Ten Conference Title Game against Iowa on November 20th.  All in all I expect to see the Buckeyes run the table until they face Iowa in late November. This is an excellent team, and although they don’t have a slew of nationally recognized names, this will be one tough team to beat.

2010 Conference Preview - SEC

With this article I introduce you to the 2010 college football conference previews.  For those who haven't read my Conference Previews before, I will show how I expect the final conference standings to fall out, I will pick a conference winner, and I will talk in some detail about 4 different teams.  The Best will detail the projected conference champs.  The Surprise talks about a team that may be flying under the radar.  The Slip will cover a team I think may take a step backwards in 2010.  Then finally I will talk about a team that you shouldn't look past in a section called Don't Forget About.

So lets get the 2010 previews underway with a look at the South East Conference...

Projections


SEC East

1. Florida

2. South Carolina

3. Georgia

4. Tennessee

5. Kentucky

6. Vanderbilt



SEC West

1. Alabama

2. Auburn

3. Arkansas

4. Mississippi

5. LSU

6. Mississippi State



Conference Champions: Alabama Crimson Tide



The Best

Alabama Crimson Tide

The defending National Champs will have a tough road in front of them, as they will have big targets on them, and a defense that is only going to be returning 2 starters from last season. Having said that, they are a team poised to make a run at repeating, on the backs of what is promising to be a devastatingly good offense.

Greg McElroy is not the most flashy of starters, nor is he the most draft ready of prospects, but he does possess incredible intangibles as a starting QB, and the kid knows how to win. Including his high school career, McElroy is 30-0 as a starter and that is hard to argue with. Mark Ingram will be back in the Tide backfield, and along with backfield mate Trent Richardson, they make up the nation’s best tandem of ball carriers. Julio Jones is one of the country’s most dangerous wideouts and will provide ample opportunities for the Tide to stretch opposing defenses.

On the defensive side of the ball, studs like McClain, Cody, Arenas, and Jackson are all now playing on Sundays, but although young, the cupboard was not left bare. DE Marcell Dareus is one of the top prospects for NFL and could become one of the nation’s premiere linemen. SS Mark Barron will return to Tide as the lead pass defender from the SEC last year, amassing 7 picks. Donta Hightower was expected to be an impact player at LB last season, but injuries curtailed him. In 2010 he will be back as the leader of this unit, and I think if he stays healthy he can become an adequate replacement for McClain.

As for their schedule, the Tide will get tested early as Penn State comes to town for a week two showdown. As for their SEC games, they get Florida and Auburn both at home this year, with their toughest road contest coming against South Carolina. Their Sept 25 matchup on the road against Arkansas could prove to be the stumbling block for Bama though, as the Gators are on deck, and the Razorbacks will be much improved.



The Surprise

South Carolina Gamecocks

Year after year, the fans in Columbia are waiting for the great Steve Spurrier to lead the Gamecocks to SEC glory. This year will be the best chance for him to do just that.

South Carolina will have the uber talented, but often troubled Stephen Garcia lining up under center. He is an athletic, fast footed Quarterback who now has some experience under his belt. I expect for him to put up real good numbers this year, if he stays focused. He will have a tall receiving corp to throw to this year, and that could create some matchup problems for opposing defenses. Barnes, Gurley, and Jeffery are 6’4”, 6’5”, and 6’4” respectively… yikes! TE Weslye Saunders is one of the top TE prospects in the country this year, and he too brings some size at 6’6”, 273 lbs.

The defense will be anchored by DE Cliff Matthews, who right now has a fringe first round grade for next year’s NFL draft. He will provide pressure off the edge for the Gamecocks and will make opposing signal callers quite uncomfortable. Losing Eric Norwood in the middle will hurt this unit, although the unit as a whole is more experienced than last year’s group at the same point in time. In the secondary, the continued improvement of CB Stephon Gilmore should result in the continued improvement of the whole unit, and subsequently the entire defense.

The schedule maker gave South Carolina the opportunity to play host to Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Arkansas at home this year, but they will have to visit Gainesville, Auburn, and Clemson. Road wins over Auburn and Clemson would go a long way to establishing this program as a legit SEC power.



The Slip

LSU Tigers

The biggest bright spot for the Tigers in 2010 will be at QB as they are returning Jordan Jefferson. He is a good QB and should be a better passer this year with some experience under his belt. The running backs should out produce the numbers the unit put up in 2009 considering all of the injuries they sustained. Although they are younger, if they stay healthy they could support Jefferson’s passing game a bit. The receivers should be fine targets for the returning QB, especially the converted QB, Russell Shepard, who will be a full time pass catcher in 2010. The o-line has lost Ciron Black, and will be relying on LT Joseph Barksdale to keep defenders off Jefferson and their stable of running backs.

The Tiger defense is expected to be a pretty good unit, especially in the secondary on the back of one of the nation’s best corners, Patrick Peterson. Brandon Taylor and Jai Eugene are both skilled Safeties, and I think this could be one of the best defensive backfields in the entire country. Having said this, the team will still have to stop the run to be effective, and MLB Kelvin Sheppard will be expected to lead the team in stops again in 2010 to make this happen. There is nothing overly impressive with the front four, and although they may equal the units production from a year ago, those numbers were nothing to write home about.

Opening the season in Atlanta again ACC upstart North Carolina will be a tough way to start the 2010 season. They also have road games at Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas waiting for them over the course of the season too. They will host Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, all of which should be difficult battles for the Tigers this season.



Don’t Forget About

Florida Gators

Although not as star studded as past Gator squads, the 2010 version will still be the class of the SEC East. The prodigal son has left Gainesville for Denver, as did a large portion of the defense, but Florida doesn’t rebuild, they simply insert studs you don’t know yet.

With Tebow gone, Jeff Brantley will get the reigns of Urban Meyer’s offense. I think the true impact of Tebow’s absence will be in the running game however, as Brantley is actually a better passer than Tebow was. Jeff Demps is one of the fastest players in the nation, and he will be the primary weapon for the Gators offense in 2010. He should have some holes to run through as I expect big things from C Mike Pouncey and G Carl Johnson. I think they are two of the nation’s top interior linemen, and will create some space for Demps to take advantage of.

On the defensive side of the ball I expect the unit to still play well. Although the d-line is composed of guys who many around the country haven’t heard of, they are a very talented group, and by season’s end you will know the name Omar Hunter. The sophomore shows some serious promise and will be an impact DT this year. The linebackers are young and don’t bring a lot of experience, but Brandon Hicks and AJ Jones are both real good athletes and should improve as the year progresses. The secondary boasts Janoris Jenkins at corner and Will Hill at safety, which will make this a very dangerous unit.

The Gators will only leave the swamp for 5 battles this year, with the most notable coming on Oct 2 at Alabama. South Carolina and LSU both have to visit Gainesville this year, and although Florida has to travel to Doak to close the season, the Gators have owned FSU in recent years.

Mailbag 5.21.10

In the Mailbag, I will answer questions sent in by you.  Remember, if you have a question you want to see answered, send it in an email to ezfootballfutures@gmail.com

Hello EZ…

   So with the spring ball now in the books, which schools do you think will be in the mix for the national title?  Any that are typically not on the national radar who could make some noise?  How about some schools that are usually title contenders that could take a step backwards? 

Matt B.
San Jose, CA

Hello Matt…

    Wow, a three part question.  Very nice.  Well, let’s start by talking about some teams who could be on the decline.  First, I am going to point out some SEC teams like Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.  Each of these big time programs has been competitive for much of the last decade, especially Florida.  Each of these squads I think will miss the mark somewhat in 2010 though.  The Vols and the Dawgs are both rebuilding a bit.  Dooley becomes the third coach in three years in Knoxville, and the Dawgs need to find some answers at QB before they will challenge for the conference crown again.  The Gators lost an immense amount of talent this offseason, and although they guys that will replace them are all going to be studs, it may take a year for the team to rebuild the chemistry that made them title contenders and winners in recent years.

   

   Some other teams that could slide a bit include Oklahoma, who like the Gators lost a huge amount of talent to the NFL this offseason, and the Trojans, who now have a new HC in town.  Although talented, I am just not sure Lane Kiffin will have this team performing the way Pete Carroll did.  Don’t forget about Texas Tech either, who may find that although they wanted Mike Leetch out of town, he may have just taken that powerful aerial attack with him.  Also watch for slides from Penn State, Cincinnati, and Texas.

   

   As for some contenders, we have to start with the defending champs.  I think Bama will enter the season with a number one overall ranking, and deservedly so.  They are a very talented program who is well coached.  They still have one of the nation’s most dynamic players in Mark Ingram, and overall more experience.  Losing Cody, McClain, Jackson, and Arenas from their defense could hurt, but I expect them to still be a dominant program.

   

   Another team to watch will be of no surprise if you are a regular reader of the blog. I think that the Carolina Tar Heels could have quite a year in front of them.  Not typically a factor in the ACC, I think UNC will have maybe the best defense in the country this coming season.  With guys like Bruce Carter, Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn, Dunta Williams, and Quan Sturdivant all currently projected as possible first round picks in next year’s draft, I think this defense will keep them in every game they play this year.  If Butch Davis can motivate the offense to put some points on the board, they could very well make a run for the ACC title, and possibly enter the national title discussion this year.  Some other teams on the rise include South Carolina, Miami, Oregon State, Ohio State, and West Virginia.

Thanks again for the question Matt.

EZ…

    Recently, the sportswriters were asked to revote on Brian Cushing’s ROTY award from this past season.  Some of them felt this was completely inappropriate despite his testing positive for a PED.  What are your thoughts on this?

Casey M.
Dallas, TX

Casey…

   Thanks for the question.  First, let me be clear.  I was not warning teams against drafting Brian Cushing.  I said in numerous posts, that he has tenacity and upside, both of which would serve him well at the next level.  I did however question if he had the strength necessary to be linebacker worthy of a first round selection. 

  

   Now, another thing for me to point out here is that I am not a doctor.  Heck, I don’t even play one on TV.  As a result, I can only form an opinion based on the information I read and hear.  According to the league, Cushing failed a test early during the season, and then didn’t fail another one.  According to Cushing, he was not using performance enhancing drugs.  Was he?  Wasn’t he?  Ultimately I am not sure we will ever get a definitive answer to the question.

   

   I do know this however.  The league is very clear on what substances are banned.  If you take any of them, intentionally or not, you should be punished.  These are professional athletes we are talking about.  Their body is their tool needed to be effective at their trade.  Therefore they, and only they are responsible for what goes into it.  Each player has a responsibility to be cognizant of everything they ingest.  I don’t care if it was prescribed to them or not, they have to know what they are taking, and what the associated risks are. 

   

   Regardless of whether the intention to cheat was there or not, Cushing popped positive on a test, and the league rightfully reacted.  Suspensions are nothing new in the NFL.  Guys like Julius Peppers and Shawn Merriman have tested positive for banned substances before, and been punished accordingly.  I know some folks were turned off by the league calling for a revote on Cushing’s ROTY status, but I think it is the right thing to do.  If you cheat to win, and are later caught, you should not be allowed to reap the benefits of winning.  If it is found that a college team doesn’t follow proper protocols for player eligibility, they are stripped of wins, even after the fact.  If it is found out that Grammy Award winning artists actually were lip-synching,  they get stripped of their award.  It was absolutely the right move for the league to call for a revote on Cushing’s award.  Now, he did in fact re-win the vote, and as such will maintain his award, but I do think he tarnished his reputation in the process.  If he goes on from here, keeping his nose (and the rest of his body) clean, and continues to produce, we may eventually lose sight of this setback, ultimately filing it away next to blips like Brett Favre’s addiction to pain killers.  But until then, every success and accomplishment will be cautiously examined.  And that is the way it should be.  After all, intentionally or not, Cushing has shaken our trust in him.  It will take some time for him to earn it back.

Good question Casey.

Hey EZ,

Big fan of the blog, keep up the great work! My questions are about all of the conference expansion talk swirling around in the media right now. If the Big East winds up having 3 of it's top teams poached, do you think the conference can survive by adding some new schools, would it survive but wind up losing it's BCS eligibility, or would it simply be doomed and headed for extinction? If there is a possible future, which schools do you think would be the best candidates for addition? Thanks,

Eric R.
Ft Lauderdale, FL

Hey Eric…

   Conference expansion in college football has been a hot topic lately, so I am glad you asked this question.  Unfortunately the answer at this time is really unknown.  Right now, no one knows much, and anyone who claims they do, unless they are a conference commissioner or school president probably doesn’t know what they are talking about.  The truth is all we know is that the Big 10 has made strong overtures to 5 schools (Missouri, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and Syracuse) in an attempt to become the nation’s first “super conference”.  How the other conferences react is still very much an unknown.  We have heard that the Big 12 is not interested in dissolving, and with teams like Texas supposedly wanting to stay put, there could be a real chance of the Big 12 maintaining its existence, although probably not in the form we know now.  As for the Big East, losing three teams out of an 8 team football conference, makes it difficult at best to remain a legitimate force, or maintain their BCS bowl alignments. 

   But since we don’t really know a lot let’s instead do a little speculation of our own.  Below, I have included a table which shows a new conference layout proposal I am suggesting.  The teams highlighted in yellow are current Big East schools.  The teams in green are currently members of the Big 12.  Those teams highlighted in blue are not currently part of a BCS conference.  Lets take a closer look.  

   As we have already mentioned, the Big 10 is making some waves, so let’s assume this moves forward.  They would now be a 16 team “super conference” with some good teams and rivalries.  Michigan and Ohio State stay put, as do Indiana and Purdue.  Pittsburgh comes into the conference and renews its in-state rivalry with Penn State, and both the Rutgers/Syracuse and Nebraska/Missouri rivalries come over in tact. 

   This move would drop the Big 12 from 12 teams down to 10.  My next prediction would include the Big 12 trying to replace their two lost teams with two others from the Big East (Cincinnati and Louisville).  These teams would open the Big 12 to some new television markets, which increases both conference revenues and conference footprint.

   The next conference to make a move would then be the ACC.  The ACC is no stranger to expansion, having added Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College a few years ago. My prediction with them would be to add 4 more teams to become the second “super conference”.  Having lost 5 of 8 teams already, I would expect the ACC to grab the remaining three teams from the Big East (Connecticut, South Florida, and West Virginia), relegating the Big East to a basketball only conference.  Then, to round out the picture and give them an even 16 teams, I think they would go and add a school like C-USA’s Central Florida.  They are a big school, in a growing media market, and they would be able to renew the War on I-4, with rival and new conference-mates South Florida.

   To remain competitive in this new alignment, the Pac 10 will react, and try to add two schools of their own, increasing to a 12 school conference.  Boise State is a good program, who fits geographically, and would add to the conference’s overall talent pool.  Same thing could be said for BYU, who is currently a member of the smaller Mountain West conference.  

   This would leave us with 2 super conferences, and 3 other “BCS” conferences, accounting for a minimum of 5 of the 8 spots need to fill the current BCS bowl games.  For the final three spots, I would recommend making them “at large bids” given to some subset of a group comprised of the losers of the super conference title games, and the conference winners from all of the other conferences across the country like C-USA, the Mountain West, the WAC, the MAC, and the Sun Belt to name a few.  The only stipulation is that in order to obtain a bid to one of these bowls (and consequently be eligible for a national title), a school would have to be a member of a conference.  This would mean that a team like Notre Dame would still be eligible to compete in any of the other bowls with which they maintain an alliance, however, they would be excluded from BCS Bowls until they joined a conference. 

   So although this is all simple conjecture, this is one of my predictions.  Thanks again for the question Eric, and I hope I gave you something to think about.
 

. Big 10 SEC Big 12 ACC Pac 10 . Illinois Alabama Baylor Boston College Arizona . Indiana Arkansas Cincinnati Central Florida Arizona State . Iowa Auburn Colorado Clemson Boise State . Michigan Florida Iowa State Connecticut BYU . Michigan State Georgia Kansas Duke California . Minnesota Kentucky Kansas State Florida State Oregon . Missouri LSU Louisville Georgia Tech Oregon State . Nebraska Mississippi State Oklahoma Maryland Southern Cal . Northwestern Ole Miss Oklahoma State Miami Stanford . Ohio State South Carolina Texas North Carolina UCLA . Penn State Tennessee Texas A&M North Carolina State Washington . Pittsburgh Vandy Texas Tech South Florida Washington State . Purdue Virginia . Rutgers Virginia Tech . Syracuse Wake . Wisconsin West Virginia