1.
The Florida State-Clemson game on opening weekend would be intriguing even without the family soap opera. This game could give us a hint as to which Bowden (Bobby or Tommy) will be the last one standing.
2.
Can Boise State or Hawaii crash the BCS party again? The Broncos did it last season, and with TB Ian Johnson returning they will be favorites to win the WAC for a 6th straight time. Hawaii QB Colt Brennan returns for a shot at a BCS Bowl, but the Warriors' weak schedule -- which includes 2 DI-AA opponents and Brennan's off-field bashing of the Bows Program i.e. "Soap-Gate", might be enough to distract the Warriors and Heisman voters.
3.
Can the SEC be the best conference once again? LSU could be there but they suspended JaMarcus Russell's replacement indefinitely, the Swamp may need a moat to help protect the endzone, and the Dawgs D has been impounded by problems and graduation as well. UTennessee lost lots of yardage and its' big-play receivers, and will Tommy Tuberville's team be able to rebound a year after they were pick to win the conference. Don't count out The Old Ball Coach and the Cocks as well as Kentucky!
4.
What will be Big Ten be like? Is Illinois finally a legit contender. They have only won 4 games in the last two years and lost 20-21 conference games. Juice Williams returns as QB and they have a highly touted freshman class led by a receiver who they stole from Notre Dame. OSU has questions at QB and receiver after losing them in the draft, Wisky has 9 offensive starters back from a 12-1 team, didn't have to play OSU last year, have Wazzu and UM at home, and road games vs. PSU and OSU to earn their stripes. Meechagun was 11-2 and their D allowed less than 13pts. in their first 11 games, but that awful taste of 42pts scored by OSU and 32 by USC at season's end is hard to get out of your mouth. They have Sept. games vs. Oregon, ND and PSU but all in Ann Arbor which could set them up nicely. As for Penn State, Morelli must improve and off-field problems with the law may catch up to Anthony Scirotto and Chris Baker 2 returning D-backs. The Lions must also replace an O-lineman who had to quit for health reasons.
5.
The MAC was a weird conference last year. The perennial FAVS faded (Akron, Miami, BG and UT). Conference Champ Central Michigan returns the MAC Freshman of the year in QB Dan LeFevour who threw for 3031 yards, 26TD and 63.7% completions but the Chipps lost their head coach to Cincinnati. LeFevour threw for 221 vs. BC, 360 vs. UK, 295 vs. Toledo, 268 vs. Temple, 294 vs. Buffalo and 314 vs. Ohio. Ball State has the best passing attack in all of Indiana with sopomore Nate Davis at the helm for the second season. Davis threw for 1975 yards, and 18 TDS in just 7 games with 298 vs. NIU, 247 vs. Buffalo, 250 vs. Michigan, and 268 vs. Kent. QBs have been king in the MAC with Kent's Julian Edelman a runner and thrower, and NIU's Dan Nicholson more than adequate in relief of Phil Horvath. Several schools have question marks at the spot i.e. with Akron having to replace Luke Getsy.
The Florida State-Clemson game on opening weekend would be intriguing even without the family soap opera. This game could give us a hint as to which Bowden (Bobby or Tommy) will be the last one standing.
2.
Can Boise State or Hawaii crash the BCS party again? The Broncos did it last season, and with TB Ian Johnson returning they will be favorites to win the WAC for a 6th straight time. Hawaii QB Colt Brennan returns for a shot at a BCS Bowl, but the Warriors' weak schedule -- which includes 2 DI-AA opponents and Brennan's off-field bashing of the Bows Program i.e. "Soap-Gate", might be enough to distract the Warriors and Heisman voters.
3.
Can the SEC be the best conference once again? LSU could be there but they suspended JaMarcus Russell's replacement indefinitely, the Swamp may need a moat to help protect the endzone, and the Dawgs D has been impounded by problems and graduation as well. UTennessee lost lots of yardage and its' big-play receivers, and will Tommy Tuberville's team be able to rebound a year after they were pick to win the conference. Don't count out The Old Ball Coach and the Cocks as well as Kentucky!
4.
What will be Big Ten be like? Is Illinois finally a legit contender. They have only won 4 games in the last two years and lost 20-21 conference games. Juice Williams returns as QB and they have a highly touted freshman class led by a receiver who they stole from Notre Dame. OSU has questions at QB and receiver after losing them in the draft, Wisky has 9 offensive starters back from a 12-1 team, didn't have to play OSU last year, have Wazzu and UM at home, and road games vs. PSU and OSU to earn their stripes. Meechagun was 11-2 and their D allowed less than 13pts. in their first 11 games, but that awful taste of 42pts scored by OSU and 32 by USC at season's end is hard to get out of your mouth. They have Sept. games vs. Oregon, ND and PSU but all in Ann Arbor which could set them up nicely. As for Penn State, Morelli must improve and off-field problems with the law may catch up to Anthony Scirotto and Chris Baker 2 returning D-backs. The Lions must also replace an O-lineman who had to quit for health reasons.
5.
The MAC was a weird conference last year. The perennial FAVS faded (Akron, Miami, BG and UT). Conference Champ Central Michigan returns the MAC Freshman of the year in QB Dan LeFevour who threw for 3031 yards, 26TD and 63.7% completions but the Chipps lost their head coach to Cincinnati. LeFevour threw for 221 vs. BC, 360 vs. UK, 295 vs. Toledo, 268 vs. Temple, 294 vs. Buffalo and 314 vs. Ohio. Ball State has the best passing attack in all of Indiana with sopomore Nate Davis at the helm for the second season. Davis threw for 1975 yards, and 18 TDS in just 7 games with 298 vs. NIU, 247 vs. Buffalo, 250 vs. Michigan, and 268 vs. Kent. QBs have been king in the MAC with Kent's Julian Edelman a runner and thrower, and NIU's Dan Nicholson more than adequate in relief of Phil Horvath. Several schools have question marks at the spot i.e. with Akron having to replace Luke Getsy.
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