2008 College Football

[TruffleShuffle]

It's never too early, right???

 

Who's going to play for the championship? Oklahoma looks loaded to me, unless they lose a number of juniors to the NFL draft, and their schedule is pretty soft. I guess I'll pick them to play for the title, where they'll inevitably underachieve and lose.

 

Who do they play? Not sure. Ohio State will be very good again, and I think they'd end either 0 or 1 loss if they beat USC, but I don't think they will. USC is losing a lot of offensive talent, but their third string would probably be a top 25 team, so they should be really good again. Even though Notre Dame won't be very good, they still play a tough non-conference schedule (@Virginia, home vs Ohio St)

 

Georgia returns a buttload of talent, but they still have to run a tough SEC gauntlet (@S Carolina, vs Tennessee, @LSU, neutral field vs Florida, @Auburn) and have a tough non-conference roadie against Arizona St. Mizzou should also be really good, and if they can win against Illinois, they've only got one bear of a game after that (@Texas). Plus the Big XII title game, of course, which I think will end up being another one in which a team is in the BCS championship game if they win.

 

I guess I will go with Oklahoma versus USC - but I reserve the right to change my mind.

 

As for Penn State, I have a feeling we'll be really good next year. And that's not a "homer" pick - I picked us to go 9-3 this year, and was a blown 17-point lead against Michigan State away from being right on the nose. Just call it a hunch. We return all of our offensive line and, assuming that Derrick Williams is not dumb enough to go to the NFL (being the #1 high school recruit doesn't make you an automatic first rounder, pal) the offense will return their top receivers as well. The only losses are Rodney Kinlaw, who was a pretty good RB but not essential, and Anthony Morelli, who sucked.

 

On defense, most of the defensive line returns, except for Chris Baker, who hopefully will get thrown off the team because he's a douchebag. Dan Connor is a great linebacker, but Sean Lee will fill his shoes just fine, and the team is loaded at that position. Justin King's decision to stay or go to the NFL will be a big one. I figured he was a lock to go earlier this year - was supposed to be a mid-first round pick, and he's already finished his degree. But he didn't play very well the second half of the year and a lot of people moved him down their draft boards. My guess is that his physical tools will show at the combine, he'll move back up into the first round area and go pro. If he does, we still return three starters in the secondary, and A.J. Wallace will be a good CB - he'll just have to move up from nickel to starter, and we'll be kinda thin on passing downs.

 

The last time we had a good, experienced O-line, a loaded defense and a mobile senior qb, we went 11-1 and finished behind only USC and Texas. The difference there was that Michael Robinson was more talented than Daryl Clark, who I'm sure will be the starter if for no other reason than he is a senior. He should be able to run the ball well, but passing? Who knows. I'm going to pick 10-2 at this point, with losses at Ohio State and either at Wisconsin or at home against Illinois. I'm predicting that next year we will finally get over the hump and beat those f***ers from Ann Arbor.

[shnsajax]

Oklahoma is my #1. USC will probably be jut as good, the WR's have a year or experience. Mark Sanchez got in some good action this season, and Joe McKnight will look like Reggie Bush jr. Georgia, LSU, and Florida will all very great. The Big 10 will probably underwhelm again next season. Michigan will be restructuring their offense, OSU will probably run away with it again. I haven't really seen if Virgina Tech is losing anyone, and West Virgina needs to wait and see who they are bringing back. Either way Devine and Pat White alone make them very good.

[TruffleShuffle]

for those who are interested, this page:

 

http://www.nationalchamps.net/

 

is a great resource for future schedules, and they also have a pretty thorough projection of each team's depth chart, including who each team is losing and who might go to the draft. very good site.

[CuseCubFan69]

for those who are interested, this page:

 

http://www.nationalchamps.net/

 

is a great resource for future schedules, and they also have a pretty thorough projection of each team's depth chart, including who each team is losing and who might go to the draft. very good site.

 

 

Thanks Truffle!

 

WV is playing Auburn and Colorado which should help them regarding the voters if they win.

 

OU plays Cincy in the first game, that ought to be interesting.

[Derwood]

I am going to predict Penn State to go 8-4 every year until they prove otherwise.

[CuseCubFan69]

Missouri has an easy schedule in 2008 and if they have their guys back it ought to make them a 2 loss team at the very worst. Kansas and USF ought to be interesting.

[CuseCubFan69]

I am going to predict Penn State to go 8-4 every year until they prove otherwise.

 

Hey, look out for Syracuse! Believe it or not we are having a pretty good year recruiting.

[TruffleShuffle]

for those who are interested, this page:

 

http://www.nationalchamps.net/

 

is a great resource for future schedules, and they also have a pretty thorough projection of each team's depth chart, including who each team is losing and who might go to the draft. very good site.

 

 

Thanks Truffle!

 

WV is playing Auburn and Colorado which should help them regarding the voters if they win.

 

OU plays Cincy in the first game, that ought to be interesting.

 

There are some really good early-season matchups to look forward to:

 

Miami vs Florida (ok not a great matchup, but I like this rivalry)

Cincy @ OU (probably would be more interesting if it were OU @ Cincy)

O$U @ U$C (hooo doggie)

Georgia @ Arizona St

U$C @ Virgina

Illinois vs Mizzou (should both be top 15 this time)

Kansas @ South Florida (nice to see Kansas playing a real non-conference game this year)

Auburn @ WVU

Texas Tech (hahahaha just kidding... they host Tulsa, go to Nevada, and host SMU and UMass. will they ever play a tough or even non-joke OOC schedule?)

Arkansas @ Texas (ok only a good game if McFadden loses his mind and stays)

Tennessee @ UCLA

Wisconsin @ Fresno St (Fresno could be top 25 next year)

South Florida @ UCF (unfortunately Kevin Smith is going to the NFL though)

Oregon St @ Penn St

Virginia @ Uconn

Boise St @ Oregon

UCLA @ BYU

Colorado @ F$U

Cal @ Maryland

 

 

not bad for the first three weeks of the year. 9/13 (O$U-U$C, Georgia @ S Carolina, Kansas @ USF, Arkansas @ Texas, Wisconsin @ Fresno, Auburn @ Miss St, Penn St @ Syracuse :lol:, Virgina @ Uconn, UCLA @ BYU, Central Michigan @ Purdue for the 12th time in 2 years, Hawai'i @ Oregon St, Cal @ Maryland, Michigan @ ND) looks like it will be a great Saturday to park yourself in front of the TV.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

1. Oklahoma

2. Iowa

[Andy]

Notre Dame has its easiest schedule set up since I became a fan of the team. They only have 6 home games, but they get North Carolina and Washington back on the schedule, both road games (one more chance to punk Ty Willingham before Washington does what they should've done this year and can him), Syracuse, San Diego State and Pittsburgh come to South Bend (SDSU is part of the deal to move BYU game in 2004 to the opener, as is Nevada in 2009), and the teams that are usually good on the schedule will be in transition periods (Michigan without Carr, BC without Ryan, USC without a crap ton even though they'll just reload).

 

If ever there was a way ND can jump right back to consistently good, the 2008 schedule sets up beautifully for it. If the freshmen improve at the rate they should in the off-season, a bowl game, if nothing else, is likely.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd participate in this thread, but I'm still enjoying LSU's National Championship.

 

I may be back once the season begins.

[The Voice of Reason]

Notre Dame has its easiest schedule set up since I became a fan of the team. They only have 6 home games, but they get North Carolina and Washington back on the schedule, both road games (one more chance to punk Ty Willingham before Washington does what they should've done this year and can him), Syracuse, San Diego State and Pittsburgh come to South Bend (SDSU is part of the deal to move BYU game in 2004 to the opener, as is Nevada in 2009), and the teams that are usually good on the schedule will be in transition periods (Michigan without Carr, BC without Ryan, USC without a crap ton even though they'll just reload).

 

If ever there was a way ND can jump right back to consistently good, the 2008 schedule sets up beautifully for it. If the freshmen improve at the rate they should in the off-season, a bowl game, if nothing else, is likely.

 

I'm sure the SEC and the other conferences would love to see Notre Dame back in a bowl - they guarantee good ratings and do wonders for their opponents egos.

[inari]

1. Oklahoma

2. Iowa

 

No, no, football.

[SouthSideRyan]

1. Oklahoma

2. Iowa

 

No, no, football.

 

I can't imagine what that could be a ranking for.

[CuseCubFan69]

1. Oklahoma

2. Iowa

 

No, no, football.

 

I can't imagine what that could be a ranking for.

 

Wrestling?

[Andy]

Notre Dame has its easiest schedule set up since I became a fan of the team. They only have 6 home games, but they get North Carolina and Washington back on the schedule, both road games (one more chance to punk Ty Willingham before Washington does what they should've done this year and can him), Syracuse, San Diego State and Pittsburgh come to South Bend (SDSU is part of the deal to move BYU game in 2004 to the opener, as is Nevada in 2009), and the teams that are usually good on the schedule will be in transition periods (Michigan without Carr, BC without Ryan, USC without a crap ton even though they'll just reload).

 

If ever there was a way ND can jump right back to consistently good, the 2008 schedule sets up beautifully for it. If the freshmen improve at the rate they should in the off-season, a bowl game, if nothing else, is likely.

 

I'm sure the SEC and the other conferences would love to see Notre Dame back in a bowl - they guarantee good ratings and do wonders for their opponents egos.

Indeed.

[Mephistopheles]

we all know floridas going to be the best team next year

[SouthSideRyan]

we all know floridas going to be the best team next year

 

2 years in a row?

[Mephistopheles]

i didnt say they were the best team this year. not once. i also said they werent the best team last year..next year though they'll be loaded. it should be pretty obvious, if not you're just not paying attention.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt07.htm

[SouthSideRyan]

I know you didn't think they were the best team last year. I seemed to recall you having them at the top of your Meph rankings one week, can't remember if it was when they had 2 or 3 losses.

[Guest]

Nice link, Truffle. Thanks.

[Mephistopheles]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc07.htm

 

wow the sec was really head and shoulders above everyone this year. the 2.5 difference between the typical sec team and the typical pac 10 team (the #2 conference) was the biggest spread this century. The difference between the SEC and the #3 conference was bigger than the difference between the worst BCS conference and the MWC.

[Mephistopheles]

I know you didn't think they were the best team last year. I seemed to recall you having them at the top of your Meph rankings one week, can't remember if it was when they had 2 or 3 losses.

 

I never had them number one. I've maintained that LSU was better than them all season long, as well as Oklahoma. They return everybody and their mother. There's no reason they shouldn't beat top 2 or 3. The UGA/UF game next season will likely feature the #1 and #2 teams in the country when it goes down.

[CuseCubFan69]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc07.htm

 

wow the sec was really head and shoulders above everyone this year. the 2.5 difference between the typical sec team and the typical pac 10 team (the #2 conference) was the biggest spread this century. The difference between the SEC and the #3 conference was bigger than the difference between the worst BCS conference and the MWC.

 

Hey maybe you guys could have 3 4 team divisions in 2008 and have a wildcard team so you can play even more game$. Plus, then you could say a team like Georgia won their division.

[rawaction]

USC will lose a lot of D too, with probably 5 starters being drafted in the first 2 rounds in April. I think they will probably NOT win the NC again this year, despite having the best talent. Who wins that QB job may be the most interesting battle of the offseason.

 

My national championship game is Georgia over Ohio St, as the SEC takes turns beating on OSU.