Welcome to the newly redesigned and nautically themed Mid-Atlantic Bias. If I had any web design skills, we’d really be in business here. It’s going to be a busy 10 days at the bias. We have the college football preview and my NFL preview. And then I won’t post for a few months. On to the college ball:
Conference breakdown (BCS conferences and some notes on the MWC and WAC). I’ll give my predicted order of finish, conference game of the year, player of the year, and a breakdown of why I think the conference champion will win. Why do I bother to explain this?
ACC:
Atlantic:
1. Florida State
2. Wake Forest
3. North Carolina State
4. Clemson
5. Maryland
6. Boston College
Coastal:
1. Virginia Tech
2. Georgia Tech
3. Miami (FL)
4. North Carolina
5. Virginia
6. Duke
Conference Championship: Virginia Tech over Florida State
I’m fairly confident that Florida State will win the Atlantic division. The Coastal comes down to the game of the year. I give Virginia Tech the nod because of QB Tyrod Taylor. You’ll notice that a lot of my picks later on will be about players who I feel are ready to break out. Taylor is one of them. With Sean Glennon out of the picture, this is Tyrod’s team and I think he will flourish. And as always, the defense will be there. Georgia Tech is on the rise, but for now, I still like the Hokies in the ACC.
Game of the Year: Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech (10/17)
Player of the Year: Tyrod Taylor (QB/Virginia Tech)
Big (L)East:
1. Cincinnati
2. Rutgers
3. Pittsburgh
4. South Florida
5. West Virginia
6. Connecticut
7. Louisville
8. Syracuse
The trend pick in the Big Least is Rutgers because they have the easiest schedule. By far. Sure, they lose their 3 year starting QB Mike Teel and starting Wide Receiver Tiquan Underwood? But they should be able to rebound fine. I mean, they did win the Big East last year, right? No? Oh, it was Cincinnati? Who returns their starting QB Tony Pike and ready-to-bust-out stud WR Marshawn Gilyard? Frankly, I don’t get the support for Rutgers, beyond the fact that their only road games are against Maryland, Army, Syracuse, UConn, and Louisville. Cincy won the conference last year and returns a better squad than Rutgers. We won’t have to wait long however to decide this. Why?
Game of the Year: Cincinnati @ Rutgers (Labor Day). The Big Least decided to just get the whole conference championship game out of the way early, apparently. Leaves us with plenty of time to enjoy South Florida playing UConn.
Player of the Year: Mardy Gilyard (WR/Cincinnati)
Big 12:
North:
1. Kansas
2. Nebraska
3. Colorado
4. Kansas State
5. Missouri
6. Iowa State
South:
1. Oklahoma State
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Baylor
5. Texas Tech
6. Texas A&M
Conference Championship: Oklahoma State over Kansas
Okay, so I’m sure that the one thing that just jumped out at you was that I have Oklahoma State as my champion. And yes, I’m probably intentionally going against the grain. I mean, it’s supposed to be Texas or Oklahoma and that’s it. So allow me to make the case against the two before I make the case for Oklahoma State. Texas is, in my mind, terribly overrated. I think Colt McCoy is a very beatable QB. Play tight coverage on the UT WRs and only rush 3, with your LBs in zone and a safety as your spy. Unlike OU’s Sam Bradford, I have never been impressed with McCoy throwing with time. I think if you give McCoy time, without the ability to run, he’s beatable. Texas Tech made him look bad this way last year. And bear in mind, Texas has always had difficulty, historically, travelling to Stillwater to play the ‘Pokes as they have to this year. As for the Oklahoma Sooners, I have very little to take away from them. In fact, I have nothing. Returning Heisman trophy winning QB Sam Bradford. Best TE in the nation (Jermaine Gresham). One of the best coaches in college football in Bob Stoops (even if they lose big games). What makes me choose Oklahoma State over Oklahoma here is that I think Zac Robinson, the Cowboys’ QB, is ready to breakout more than any other player in college football. He’s the second best dual threat QB in the nation, behind Tim Tebow. I expect Robinson to pass for 3,000 yards this season and rush for 1,000. I’m not kidding. And yes, I even think their defense will stop someone. They may not go undefeated. They may even lose to Oklahoma. But I will stick my neck out and crown them the Big XII champion.
Game(s) of the Year: Oklahoma v. Texas (10/17), Oklahoma v. Oklahoma State (11/28), Oklahoma State v. Texas (10/31)
Player of the Year: Zac Robinson (QB/OSU)
Big Ten:
1. Ohio State
2. Penn State
3. Illinois
4. Michigan State
5. Iowa
6. Wisconsin
7. Minnesota
8. Purdue
9. Michigan
10. Northwestern
11. Indiana
I love Terrelle Pryor. And I’m not so certain that I love a retooled Penn State defense. This conference comes down to the game of the year.
Game of the Year: Ohio State @ Penn State (11/7)
Player of the Year: Terrelle Pryor (QB/OSU)
Pac-10
1. USC
2. California
3. UCLA
4. Oregon
5. Oregon State
6. Stanford
7. Washington
8. Arizona State
9. Arizona
10. Washington State
First, Washington will win a conference game. Remember, they would have beaten BYU last year if not for one of the worst “unsportsmanlike conduct” rulings in the history of football against QB Jake Locker. Locker was hurt the next week, did not play again, and the Huskies went winless. Locker is a great QB. Oh, also, USC will win this conference. Not Cal. Not Oregon. Not UCLA. All the prognosticators who are talking about any team that is not USC to win this conference is an idiot. Freshman quarterback or not, it’s USC.
Player of the Year: Joe McKnight (RB/USC)
Game of the Year: California @ Oregon (9/26…in the battle for the Holiday Bowl)
SEC:
East
1. Florida
2-6. Everyone else
West
1. LSU
2. Mississippi
3. Alabama
4. Arkansas
5. Auburn
6. Mississippi State
Conference Championship: Florida over LSU
There is nothing I can say about Florida that you haven’t already heard and likely aren’t completely sick of hearing. Tim Tebow is the greatest college football player of my lifetime. There is no argument. What more does he need to do? Win another Heisman? Another National Championship? If so, get back to me on January 7, 2010.
For the record, I think South Carolina will finish second in the east, followed by Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. None will sniff Florida at any point in the season. In fact, when Florida plays Tennessee on September 19, the Gators will win by at least 4 touchdowns. I don’t care if Peyton Manning has a game of eligibility left for the Vols and plays against the Gators. Lane Kiffin asked for this. Shut your mouth, Lane.
Out west, I’m very intrigued by the 3 team race. LSU has been overlooked by most people who are paid to talk about college football when it comes to this division and I’m not sure why. They loaded up on 5 star recruits. Their offense should be exciting with Russell Sheppard playing every position, including QB from time to time, explosive freshman receiver Reuben Randle, and super sophomore Jordan Jefferson at QB. And defensively speaking, they’re still LSU. I like this team a ton.
Game(s) of the Year: Florida @ LSU (10/10), LSU @ Alabama (11/7), LSU @ Mississippi (11/21)
Player of the Year: Tim Tebow (QB/Florida)
MWC and WAC
BYU, Utah, Boise State, and TCU have all been mentioned, again, as potential BCS busters. BYU, however, would need to beat Oklahoma (they also play Florida State) to make a BCS bowl. And that won’t happen. Utah’s biggest stumbling block is against BYU in their final game. TCU has to play BYU and Utah as well. I think by season’s end, all 3 teams will have a loss (BYU to Oklahoma, Utah and TCU to BYU), but BYU’s non conference strength of schedule will help them get a bid.
In the Wac, I just hear everyone talking about Boise State. However, don’t sleep on Nevada. Nevada’s premier non-conference game will come against Notre Dame this Saturday. And Nevada will beat Notre Dame. For all of that talk about Notre Dame as a sleeper BCS team, I think Nevada will end that quickly. They’re lead by a terrific junior QB (Colin Kaepernick) and return nearly all of their defensive starters from last year. They will challenge Boise State in the WAC. Neither, however, will make a BCS bowl. That’s right kids. I don’t see any busting this year.
Five Non-Conference Games (and fearless predictions) You MUST Watch:
9/3: Oregon @ Boise State (Great game for day 1. I like the Broncos to win a shootout)
9/5: Georgia @ Oklahoma State (OSU wins in a potential Game of the Year. I’ve been waiting for this game all summer.)
9/5: Alabama v. Virginia Tech (Virginia Tech pulls the upset in a neutral site game)
9/12: USC @ Ohio State (Ohio St. exacts revenge for last year’s game in Los Angeles.)
9/19: Florida State @ BYU (An interesting test for both teams. If BYU somehow upsets Oklahoma, a win here could get BYU a game against Florida in January. I don’t think they’ll beat the Sooners. I do think they’ll win this game.)
Heisman Trophy:
1. Tim Tebow (QB/Florida)
2. Zac Robinson (QB/Oklahoma State)
3. Sam Bradford (QB/Oklahoma)
Sleeper: Jordan Jefferson (QB/LSU)
BCS Bowls:
Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn State
Sugar Bowl: Cincinnati vs. LSU
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. BYU
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma
BCS Title Game: Florida vs. Ohio State (Florida wins. Did you expect anything else?)
Mid-Atlantic Bias 