Spring ball has ended, the draft is over, and now all we can do is....wait. Yep wait. Today is June 1, 2007 and all we can do is wait until August. I suppose NFL Europe can fill our football void, but I doubt it. I will say however, thank the football gods for the Fox College Sports channels. I can watch Spring game recaps all summer from various conferences. And I can watch them as many times as I want. And I will.
Anyhow, football guides are coming out. Athlon's is counting down their top 25. And soon SI, Lindy's, Blue Ribbon, The Sporting News, and ESPN will chime in (and Lord knows who all else). So with that said, here is my Top 10 and other musings. Why only 10? Because 25 teams don't have a shot at the NC, so why worry about the other 15? Predicted record is based on regular season games only. Potential conference championship game appearance or bowl are not factored in.
10. Louisville: New head coach Steve Kragthrope is a great coach with an offensive background, so don't expect much in the way of rough transition with Bobby Petrino's loss. Having a pretty good QB in Brian Brohm helps too. Defensive transition will be the key. However, LB Malik Jackson and SS Jon Russell with help ease the pain of the losses on D that included #8 pick DT Amobi Okoye. Games at Kentucky and at West Virginia will provide the stiffest challenges. Predicted record: 10-2
9. Florida: The Gators lost a lot, but have recruited so well you have to think Urban Meyer will have this team back in the hunt. DE Derek Harvey and S Tony Joiner are the only two returning starters from last year's defense, so the offense will have to carry load, at least early on. QB Tim Tebow and WR Percy Harvin will pace the Gator attack. A veteran O-Line anchoring the Gator offense will be huge as well for Florida's success. Getting Tennessee and Auburn at home helps, but a trip to Baton Rouge will not be easy for the Gators. Predicted record: 10-2
8. Texas: The Horns will be in the hunt. As usual in Big XII play, it will all come down to the OU/TX game (played October 6, 2007 in Dallas, TX). The Horns return QB Colt McCoy, WR Limas Sweed, and a committed Jamal Charles at RB. They front 7 on D is loaded as well, anchored by DT Frank Okam. But questions in the secondary and O-Line, plus a challenging schedule(TCU, Nebraska, OU in Dallas, at Texas A&M), could make the road tough for the Horns. Predicted record: 10-2
7. Virginia Tech: The Hokies return 16 starters (8 on offense; 8 on defense) for last season's 10-3 team. QB Sean Glennon will have to improve last seasons TD to INT ratio (1 to 1) but having RB Branden Ore to hand the ball off too can make the looks downfield a little easier. The conference schedule sets up well for Tech (FSU and Miami in Blacksburg), but an early season trip to LSU will provide a gauge how good the Hokies really are. Predicted record: 11-1
6. Wisconsin: Replacing 3 year starting QB John Stocco is this teams biggest hurdle. Kansas State transfer Allan Evridge looks to fill that role. Sophomore RB PJ Hill (1569 yards, 15 TDs)will ease the transition for whoever fills the QB role. Six starters return to a defense that produse All Big Ten performer Matt Shaughnessy. The Badgers have road tests at Penn State and Ohio State, and get Michigan at home. Predicted record: 11-1
5. Michigan: The Wolverines return the best QB-RB-WR combo in America in Chad Henne, Michael Hart, and Mario Manningham. With All American Jake Long anchoring arguably the best O-Line in the country, the Wolverines will have a high powered attack. Questions defensively could hurt the Wolverines BCS title hopes. The Wolverines will play Oregon and ND at home, and get Ohio State in the Big House. A trip to Wisconsin will provide their stiffest road test. Predicted record: 11-1
4. Oklahoma: Replacing All Big XII RB Adrian Peterson will be easier than most expect. OU was 10-1 the last two years in the 11 games Peterson missed substantial parts of, or all of. The Sooners are loaded at every position, boasting among the best O-Lines and secondaries in the country. Oh wait, there's that little matter of who will QB the Sooners? RS Freshman Sam Bradford looked to have the edge in spring ball. The Sooners schedule sets up nicely for a run in 2007, even with potential new QB issues. The Sooners get Miami at home and the annual tilt with Texas, but the toughest road test will be at Texas Tech. Predicted record: 11-1
3. LSU: Losing your QB, who just happened to be the #1 pick in the NFL draft, would scare most teams. Not the Bayou Bengals, however. Matt Flynn of 2005 Peach Bowl MVP fame will get the full time nod. The pending off field issues with Ryan Perrilloux could ultimately pose some depth a QB questions if he is dismissed (as of this blog he is still on the team). The O-Line returns 3 starters as well, including All SEC guard Will Arnold. The Tigers boast the best DTs in the country with Glenn Dorsey, Charles Alexander, and Marlon Favorite. Craig Steltz will keep the secondary in check, after the departure of LaRon Landry. The Tigers schedule is favorable, getting Virginia Tech, Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas in Death Valley. Road trips to Kentucky and Alabama could be potential landmines. Predicted record: 11-1
2. West Virginia: QB Patrick White and RB Steve Slaton make up the best backfield in America. They will do their damage behind an O-Line that returns 3 starters, including All Big East performer Ryan Stanchek. Defensively, 5 starters return, including leading tackler safety Eric Wicks and all conference DT Keilen Dykes. The schedule sets up very well for West Virginia, getting Pitt and Louisville at home. At Rutgers is the toughest road trip. Predicted record: 12-0
1. USC: Where do we begin? Most talented roster in America, bar none. Offensively the Trojans return QB John Booty, and all 3 RBs that saw substantial playing time (CJ Gable, Emmanuel Moody, and Chauncey Washington). The O-Line returns two time All American tackle Sam Baker, and 3 starters total. The defense returns 10 starters including All American tackle Sedrick Ellis, the best LB core in the country, and star in the making safety Taylor Mays. Road tests at Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Cal will provide the toughest challenges for the Trojans. Predicted record: 12-0
Teams just on the cusp of the top 10: Ohio State, Rutgers, Tennessee, TCU, Florida State
Teams you likely won't find in most pre-season top 25 polls that will raise eyebrows: Kentucky, Missouri, Arizona, Alabama
Friday, June 1, 2007
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