Let's start in the BIG EAST
With the loss of Brian Kelly, I see Dave Wannstedt and PITT having a great year. They will have their hands full right off the bat with a well coached Utah team, but they should look to a 10-2 or 9-3 finish. Their ground game will be too strong led by Dion Lewis and Ray Graham, and this open things up for Jon Baldwin.
(Photo courtesy of http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/)
Up next the ACC
ATLANTIC
Last year was Georgia Tech and Clemson, with a well coach Paul Johnson led GA Tech team bringing home the hardware. Hats off to Coach Paul Johnson for doing what he does best - Turning his teams into formidable foes that grind it out. In the Atlantic Division, I see Boston College. Thye don't really start playing football until 9/25, when the Eagles face off against Virginia Tech in Boston (in what could turn out to be a rematch of the ACC Championship Game), and the rest of the schedule shapes up nicely with only a road trip to Tallahassee to worry (10/16). The only team I see shaking a stick a BC this year in the Atlantic is the Clemson/FSU debate. I am a big fan of Dabo Sweeny, and Clemson has an amazing Offensive and Defensive line. Plus Kyle Parker is back for one more year, but Mr Everything, CJ Spiller, is gone. And when it comes down to 3rd and long, I think Clemson will struggle a bit - reference last years season finale against USC. As for FSU, I think Jimbo Fisher should have things turned around on the defensive side of the ball - where they were horrible last year --- but it is a hard call to make at this juncture and BC just looks better built upfront.
COASTAL
The Coastal Division is flat out loaded...With UNC, Miami and Virginia Tech all looking to have great seasons. I think GA Tech is going to have a hard time picking up where they left off last year. Departures to the NFL can add up, and VA Tech has one of the best backfields in the country, while UNC has one of the best Defenses in the country. But after all is said and done, I like Virginia Tech with Beamer and Foster to have VA Tech back in the ACC Championship game bringing home the hardware. Miami is a very sexy pick, but there schedule is brutal. They face Ohio State and PITT on the road, followed up by a road game at Death Valley, then a home game to FSU. I forecast some some banged up players resulting in some losses there.
(Photo courtesy of http://www.hokiesports.com/)
Now let's take a look at the BIG TEN
Its very easy to pick Ohio State with the Defense they bring to the table this year led by Senior Cameron Heyward. Terrelle Pryor should have a fantastic year (if the knee is fully healed back up and he can stay healthy). I see OSU, possibly losing 1 game to Wisconsin or Iowa, but that's it. They should roll through the regular season. Iowa has potentially one of the best coaches in the country in Kirk Farentz, and Wisconsin looks big and beefy this year. Look for the Badgers to give the Buckeyes fits on 10/16 as they face Ohio State in Madison this year. Sidenote - Michigan will be better than last year, but unfortunately Coach Rich Rodriguez is a goner.
(Photo courtesy of http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/)
With this being the last year of the 10 team format, one has to wonder what could have been for Oregon. If Jeremiah Masoli keeps his nose clean, they could have rumbled through the PAC-10, and The Ducks could have easily made a great case (if undefeated) to play for it all...But that's not what happened. Masoli is now in Oxford. Ole Miss and with Houston Nutt are already putting a disclaimer that he's on a VERY short lease, and they are instantly a better football team. But back to the PAC-10, and its basically anyone's conference this year, especially considering what has transpired in LA, with USC taking it on the chin. I like Oregon State. They have an amazing coach in Mike Riley. He secured the Rogers Brothers, and the Offense should produce some amazing numbers this year. They have a tough schedule with TCU (in Corvallis) and Boise State (on the road), but I see Oregon State putting up some points this year and giving opposing defenses fits. If the defense can improve from last year's conference middle-of-the-pack status, then the Beavers should be seeing Roses.
(Photo Courtesy http://www.si.com/)
Last hoorah for the BIG XII
SOUTH
You can say all you want about Texas' dominance, but Colt is gone and they have not had a running back in Austin in what seems like forever. This year it catches up with them, especially considering that sure-handed Jordan Shipley is gone. They don't run through the season like year. Look for Texas to repeat from the South, but they will not be bringing home the hardware.
NORTH
That will be Nebraska. With Bo Pelini returning for Nebraska's last year in the BIG XII North, Nebraska will have it figured out this year. Plus the Cornhusker's shape up with a great schedule and a fierce defense coupled with an offense with a lot of potential. Then they spit for Big Ten land. Nice parting shot if you ask me. You think Nebraska has forgotten last year in Arlington - think again. Nebraska is back.Side-note: Look for Texas Tech led by Coach Tuberville to bring some toughness to a sometimes soft conference.
(Photo courtesy of http://www.huskers.com/)
And now for the SEC
EAST
Let's start in the South. Florida has lost a ton, let's summarize (Tebow, Cooper, Hernandez, one of the Pouncey's, Brandon James, Haden, and Mr Eye Gouger, Brandon Spikes) That's a lot by my count. Brantley is heralded as the second coming, but the loss of Tebow is too much. I think some 3rd and longs will be a bit longer this year, and look for Georgia who shows up with a defense (that has been on a serious slide since Brian Van Gorder left) this year and starts stopping somebody. I'm not sure they beat Florida in Jacksonville, but I think they have enough conference wins to make it to Atlanta. If they are going to beat Florida, this looks like the year to bring it. Led by one of the most experienced Offensive Lines in the Country, A.J. Green, Caleb King, Washaun Ealey, and a phenomenal speacial teams unit, Georgia should be much improved.
WEST
They will face off against Alabama come 12/4. It's not a hard call to make as Saban has things revved up some kind of hot in Tuscaloosa right now. They do have a tough road to hoe this year as everyone (it seems like) they face has the previous week off. This will add up, as the Crimson Tide will be consistently getting everyone's best punch. It is a bold strategy, but I don't think BAMA will not go undefeated this year. I think it catches up with them at some point and they have a loss, but they still book a return trip it to the ATL and they bring home the hardware - again.
(Photo courtesy of http://www.courtsidepost.com/)
Let me know what you think. How do you see the 2010 conferences finishing?
