2008 College Football Predictions
by Robert Ferringo
I live in the South. And for these hillbillies and sodomites college football season never really ends. It just takes a six-month TV timeout. And instead of taking a trip to the john or grabbing another cold beer, the hibernation of their National Sport of the Confederacy simply gives these folks an opportunity to brag up their teams and make wild and baseless college football predictions for the upcoming fall.
We are still a month away from the start of fall practice, the true genesis of the quest for the 2008 Bowl Championship Series national championship, and we're over a month away from the release of the initial college football poll. However, that doesn't mean that we can't take a time out from our summer vacation to make some college football predictions on who will win this year's hardware.
Here is a look at the prime contenders play in this year's BCS national championship game, as well as some random college football predictions. We've separated the highest-rated schools, according to their futures odds, in four tiers based on how I predict their actual chance of winning the BCS national championship:
FIRST-AND-GOAL
Florida (5-to-1)
Last year was supposed to be rebuilding. It was supposed to be a hangover from the National Championship. Instead it may have been the perfect seasoning for a second championship in three years. Tim Terrific is back under center and the Heisman Hero is one of nine offensive starters that return on a unit that hung 45 or more points in eight of their 13 games. Defensively, the Gators return six starters in the back seven including all three linebackers. This team has experience, a mad scientist coach, athletes that would make Cold War Russia jealous, and a winning pedigree. If they can navigate the SEC and sweep their games with in-state rivals Miami and Florida State then the Gators could be primed for another title tilt.
Oklahoma (6-to-1)
After watching Missouri and Kansas control the Big 12 last year I think it's safe to say that Bob Stoops and his boys are going to be ready to once again grab the conference by the throat and wrestle it to the ground like it was some feeble baby calf. The Sooners have 16 starters back from the 11-win squad that mutilated Miami, 51-13, and manhandled mighty Missouri, 41-31. Sam Bradford is the triggerman for a potent Sooners attack, but the questions on this team will be whether or not the young secondary can handle some of the pass-wacky offenses in the conference. They get Kansas and Texas Tech at home and, due to scheduling, avoid a trip to Missouri.
Ohio State (8-to-1)
Third time is a charm, eh? If you do place this wager you're going to know its fate pretty early. The Buckeyes travel to USC to face the mighty Trojans on Sept. 13 in a game that could, legitimately, suffocate the title dreams of one school before they begin. The Buckeyes returned 18 starters from last year's runner-up, including all of their key cogs: Todd Boeckman, Beanie Wells, Brian Robiskie, and James Laurinaitis. The question on this team isn't motivation. The question is talent, on a national level. Is Ohio State good enough, strong enough, and, most importantly, fast enough to handle the other top teams in college football? We'll find out. But since they do play in the sorry ass Big Ten that means a win over USC may be the only prerequisite for another title game trip.
SECOND-AND-SHORT
Georgia (8-to-1)
They can't do it. I would love to say that they could. And there is absolutely nothing not to love about this Bulldogs team, which was playing the best ball in the nation last year when the season ended. And yes, that includes LSU. The Dawgs have 17 starters back from that bloodthirsty crew of hillbilly heroes. That includes nine starters on what will be one of the best five defenses in the nation and, on offense, future pro studs Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, the early frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy. The problem is the schedule, which is insane. The Dawgs play at South Carolina, at Arizona State in what could be a letdown game, at LSU, in Jacksonville against revenge-minded Florida, and at Auburn. They won't go undefeated, and if they lose to Florida there's the possibility of not making the SEC Title game. This team is loaded, and if they make it to the BCS Title game you can put this one in the books.
Kansas (25-to-1)
Let's see how these ladies look the morning after. The Jayhawks took the college football world by storm last year, posting a 12-1 record and winning the Orange Bowl. They bring back QB Todd Reesing and some other playmakers from the No. 2 offense in the country, along with nine starters from the nation's No. 4 scoring defense. However, the Jayhawks did benefit from a creampuff schedule last year and won't be sneaking up on anyone this season. They face Texas Tech and Oklahoma this year (they faced neither in 2007) and have a date with Missouri to close the season. Also, a trip to South Florida in early September looms as a barometer of how strong this club really is. Topping last year will be impossible for this club. And since they didn't win it all then I don't see how they could now.
Southern California (3-to-1)
I think that these odds represent a tremendous leap of faith. Every year you can say that USC is the most talented team in the country and few would argue. But will that translate in a title? I say "no way". USC has just four starters back from an offense that was just No. 34 in the nation last year. They have a new quarterback, new running backs, a solid but not spectacular receiving corps, and questions on the offensive line. Now for the good news: their defense is angrier than Suge Knight and should overwhelm a pretty pedestrian Pac-10 this season. Pete Carroll is 76-14 at USC, and I don't doubt his genius. But I do doubt that this offense is seasoned enough to bring home the crystal.
THIRD-AND-LONG
Missouri (10-to-1)
The thought of laying your green on Heisman hopefuls Chase Daniels and Jeremy Macklin does seem appealing. But this isn't a championship team. Their pass-happy, fast-break offense is no match for teams with superior athleticism. That's why they lose to Oklahoma every year. The real value for a futures bet on the Tigers is that, like Kansas last year, they have a cupcake Big 12 schedule. However, they have to travel to Texas and have a revenge game against the Jayhawks to close the year. Even if they sweep both they would have to take down OU in the Big 12 Championship just to then have a shot at some badass SEC school. It ain't happening.
Clemson (20-to-1)
Stop me if you've heard this one before about the Tigers: they should win the ACC and they should be in the mix for a major BCS bowl. How many times have you heard that and then watched this club slink its way to a 7-5 year? The Tigers do have some obstacles and, I believe, this is a sucker bet. But since summer is the time of optimism in college football, we'll focus on what they have. And what they have is the best running back combo in the country in James Davis and C.J. Spiller. If they can top Alabama in Atlanta in their opener the Tigers have five of their first six at home to build some steam. However, that means they end with three of four on the road in conference. But this team could run the table in the ACC and, with some luck, could slide into the title game. (Like I said: sucker bet.)
FOURTH-AND-FOREVER
Auburn (20-to-1)
Don't sleep on the other Tigers. This Auburn team is not national title-caliber, but is in a unique situation: they could win the SEC while being the third-best team. The SEC West is pretty poor this year and the Tigers get their main competition, LSU, at home. If they win the West and somehow pull a shocker in the SEC Title Game, viola, they could be BCS bound. They also have a crack at West Virginia mid-season to boost their numbers. It's a longshot, especially with a new quarterback, but stranger things have happened. However, these odds should be AT LEAST 30-to-1 so it's not great value.
Texas (10-to-1)
See: USC. Texas won five of six games to close the season, including an impressive dismantling of Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. And with Colt McCoy back you would think the Longhorns would be in business. However, youth is overflowing on the offense. And I'm not sure that a defense that was very shaky at times last year while being ranked No. 45 in the nation can carry the extra water. Mix in a tricky conference that has four squads posted at 25-to-1 or better and three at 10-to-1 or more and I think these odds are a lot longer than the numbers suggest.
If you enjoy reading this article you'll like our sports gambling advice page. If you plan on betting college football you'll also want to read our NCAA college bowl game schedule page. Doc's sports book bonus codes resource is a must read for college football wagering. Each of the handicappers listed under "the Advisory board" on the left navagation bar posts free college football picks on their individual pages.
West Virginia (15-to-1)
Wow - this has square play written ALL over it. The Mountaineers missed their window at a title and now aren't even the best team in the conference entering fall ball. There isn't enough space to write why this is a ridiculous wager at insane odds. The two primary reasons are that this year will be a transition to Bill Stewart's system (you know, the one that has resulted in a 8-25 career record) and they only have four defensive starters returning. They travel to Colorado for a tricky game and host Auburn before playing three road games in four weeks against the meat of the conference. Noel Devine is an absolute freak of nature and will get some Heisman votes. But he and Pat White can't do it alone and this team won't come close to winning a title.
Virginia Tech (22-to-1)
I will tip my hat to the Hokies for the way in which they handled last season, succeeding in the wake of one of our nation's great tragedies. That said, I think these expectations are a bit inflated for this club, or any club out of the ACC for that matter. The Hokies play in the paper mache ACC Coastal. But they don't have the depth or the experience to be considered a shoo-in for even a division title, much less a conference one. They welcome back just 10 starters, and that includes the two-headed monster of Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. Expect more controversy and a letdown season out of this crew. Save your money and don't make this wager.
Docsports.com