The Scandals Fade Away

Editors Note: I began this article yesterday and finished it a day after the first games so pardon any outdated references.

It's finally here! The first day of football for the collegiate ranks! We can finally move beyond the scandals and infractions and just start playing football. As I have posted previously, collegiate football is my 2nd favorite sport ahead of professional football. There are many reasons why: the pageantry, the true rivalries (so intense people kill trees over them), the exotic and variable offensive packages, the crowds almost 50% larger than any NFL crowd at many schools, the sheer number of entertaining games to watch on any given Saturday, and the ability to watch sure fire NFL prospects perform spectacular feats (just go on youtube and watch any Reggie Bush USC highlight package to get a feeling for what I am talking about).



I heard something on Colin Cowherd's show I agreed with (a rare circumstance for me) regarding football fans who aren't fans of one or the other of our most popular iterations of football. He said for the college fan that detests the NFL (which is understandable), Colin suggested playing fantasy for one year. I agree, once you play fantasy it helps get you involved in games you would never have watched. I would also add gambling to this since gambling makes everything more fun.

He also could never understand why an NFL wouldn't like college football even if they did not go to a football school or live in the region of a popular one. Unlike almost all of college basketball there are many professional level players in the college ranks. Watching football on Saturday is a small precursor to Sunday and I agree. Going all the way back to my beginnings as a college football fan when I was 12 I always enjoyed seeing the transformation or failure of a stud college football player in the pros.

So for you people who claim to be football fans, get on board with college football. There are already two games with BCS championship implications on the first weekend and many more to come. Now that we've endured a spring and summer of scandal after scandal that has zero impact on the performance on the field, we can finally get back to cheering or hating the teams on the field, not in the NCAA infractions committee.

As my precursor to the season, which starts tonight with a BCS contender Wisconsin taking on MWC gutter trash UNLV, and sneaky scary Mississippi St taking on C-USA unknown Memphis, im going to offer my opinion on the current AP top 25 as well as some predictions for the BCS bowl games.

1. Oklahoma - Not sure that Oklahoma can run the table. They have a good talent base across both sides of the ball and may be the most complete team even if they dont have the best players at their positions. They have a tough schedule, with three matchups against top 10 opponents, another against 21st Missouri, and two tough non ranked opponents in Texas and Tulsa. I see 11-1 in their future.

2. Alabama -Pretty curious to see how they fare now on offense with McElroy and Julio Jones gone. They do return Trent Richardson who is arguably as talented as Mark Ingram who also left. The defense returns a number of sick players starting with Dont'a Hightower. That typical SEC swarming defense will keep them in every game but im worried about them falling behind in a game with this offense. They have the typical difficult slate of games in the SEC but they probably have the best team in the league and could run the table.

3. Oregon - Returning their heisman hopeful LeMichael James and QB Darron Thomas will give them as much as offense as they need in most of their Pac-12 games. They have been dealing with their own scandal this offseason into its recruiting practices and a number of other suspensions for disciplinary reasons. I think they are good, but I dont think they will even be the best team in their own conference. Oregon had its shot last year.

4. LSU - Ran into disciplinary problems this offseason as well and now they will be without their starting QB and a starting WR for the Oregon game. I look at the roster and I'm not sure how LSU gets to #4, but they will again have an excellent, ferocious defense in Baton Rouge. I actually think they beat Oregon, but as is customary they lose a game or two somewhere along the line in the SEC and finish 10-2.

5. Boise State - Gotta give Coach Petersen credit for hanging in there with this program despite the obvious disadvantage of being Boise St. They get two make or break games this year for their BCS resume: Georgia and TCU, which both arent the most exciting programs this year. They return Kellen Moore and are expected to start 10 seniors on defense. This is their last chance to break into elite. Honestly, I think it ends this weekend against an up and coming Georgia team.

6. Florida St - Ugh, its been a while since these assholes were ranked higher than Florida heading into a season. Christian Ponder is gone, but Jimbo Fisher has done a monster job turning around this roster in his two years of recruiting. This is easily the best ACC team and very well could go undefeated....if they beat Oklahoma. The game is in Tallahassee, so they are going to have to ride that crowd to victory against the preseason favorite. Otherwise they are a lock for the Orange Bowl.

7. Stanford - This is my dark horse. Andrew Luck is clearly the best QB in the nation and is overall a very good football player. Even with much of the coaching staff gone to the 49ers the Cardinal return a lot of very good players. They have concerns on the O-Line right now, but they have a soft first month in the schedule to let those players gel. Unlike other teams in the Pac-12, Stanford has a real defense that can stop Oregon and I think Stanford, not Oregon has the best chance to win the Pac-12.

8. Texas A&M - I was kinda shocked to see them here. They played well last year, especially late but I just dont see too much talent on either side of the ball to justify this ranking compared to the next team on the list. They have a good offense, and returning starters on a 55th ranked defense, but the loss of Von Miller and the big fat target they put on their backs by announcing their decision to leave the Big 12 will likely make this a difficult year for them.

9. Oklahoma St. - I think they are going to be better than A&M, and I honestly think they have the next best shot to win the Big 12 this year. While Dana Holgorsen left for West Virginia, the impressions he imparted on the offense and Brandon Weedon will carry over. The offense is every bit as good if not better than Oklahoma's. The difference will come down to the evolution of OSU's defense. The first test of my theory comes in back to back games against Tulsa and A&M, both on the road.

10. Nebraska - I applauded the move to the Big 10 for a lot of reasons, many of which involve the spotlight. While OSU and Michigan still exist in this conference, they are not in a position this year to overshadow Nebraska. Nebraska has the most talent of any team in the Big 10, especially on defense. Nebraska is going to bring a different brand of football to this conference and its a winning brand. Taylor Martinez and the Cornhuskers have a real shot at heading to the BCS game this year based on the countries irrational bias towards the Big 10 and a softer schedule.

11. Wisconsin - A usually decent Big 10 team that I think would far much worse in a few other conferences. They added Russell Wilson, whom I a big fan of and I think he will be the best pure QB in the league, Taylor Martinez and Denard Robinson, and Dan Persa are all nice collegiate QBs but they are better runners than passers. Wisconsin lost some players, but not a lot of experience as only one player makes his first start ever this year. They can be good, but there is always an issue with this team finishing big ball games and I think they stumble against Nebraska or one of those back to back road games against MSU or OSU.

12. South Carolina - This may be an appropriate rank for Spurrier's Cocks but they will definitely be higher than this come SEC championship game time. While they do have the usual tough SEC schedule it doesn't come with Alabama or LSU on it and they reside in a division with a still rebuilding Georgia and a possibly rebuilding Florida. They have two unbelievable playmakers on offense, added the best defensive recruit this year to an all ready tough defense. I wouldnt be surprised to see them 12-0 come championship time.

13. Virginia Tech - Ehhhh. They always have nice athletes and usually make the strongest run at the ACC title in a middling conference, but they ALWAYS seem to get beat out of conference. I think sensing this they have scheduled a craptacular out of conference slate. They lost Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Williams from a decent offense but an easy schedule (not a single preseason ranked team) puts them on track for the ACC title game where I predict they get blasted by FSU.

14. TCU - A personal favorite team of mine because of those uniforms and the absolutely tenacious style of Coach Patterson. I worry greatly about all the losses from that senior-laden team of last year starting with Andy Dalton. The MWC may not be a joke this time around for the Horny Toads, especially with the addition of Boise St. I see a down year for TCU before they head off to dominate the east coast.

15. Arkansas- Of course the obvious question is how they fare without Ryan Mallett who I have always felt was the most NFL ready QB in the draft and a total steal for the Patriots who may need to call on him in a few years. But Tyler Wilson got enough work last year that he shouldn't be shell-shocked by the SEC. The problem for Arkansas is that schedule. As if playing Auburn, Alabama, LSU and South Carolina werent enough they have a road game against their new companion, Texas A&M. I think they are closer to 25 than 15 this year.

16. Notre Dame - The media just LOVES to jump on this bandwagon. Call me when they beat Stanford this year, in other words don't call me at all. To their credit, their defense really came on last year which has been the problem in South Bend for years. I do really like Manti Te'o, so its worth it to tune in just for this stud. Their BCS hopes rest on whether Crist can finally find some consistency but the road is not easy with Michigan State, USC, and Stanford on schedule as well as a date with Michigan who expects to find themselves in the polls.

17. Michigan St. - Sure did me a favor by taking down Ohio State last year and showed a lot grit in going 11-2 last year. They are like a poor man's Virginia Tech for me, they always have some really top notch players like Kirk Cousins and Will Gholston but always lose games they really shouldn't. This year's team is not as good as last year's and I wouldn't be surprised to see them finish 8-5 and out of the polls.

18. Ohio St. - How the mighty have fallen...and I think most non-Ohio State fans couldn't be happier. This was a team that always was overhyped and overrated and never quite as good as everyone thought. The team does have talent but several players good players are suspended for 5 games, Pryor is gone (even though he'll suck balls in the NFL he was a very deadly college player) and the architect Tressel (hahaha replay booth consultant? really?) is gone leaving the program in complete chaos. I think they'll probably do better than most people think probably 10-2, but they won't be Big Ten champs this year.

19. Georgia - Mark Richt is officially on the hot seat and it starts with Boise State this weekend and gets possibly even harder against South Carolian the following week. As a Gator fan i have loved this new terrible Georgia program (and even more so the awfulness that is Tennessee) but I think they are going to be stronger this year even with out AJ Green. It starts with the continued development of Aaron Murray at the QB position and the continued growth of a defense that returns 7 starters. They have to be better than last year's 6-7 but there is a great chance they aren't in the polls at the end of the year and Mark Richt (or all of his assistants) are gone.

20. Mississippi St. - While these guys are SEC foes for my Gators they were always liek Kentucky and Vanderbilt...non-threats. That is until they took away Urban Meyer's best assistant and recruiter Dan Mullen. It was absolutely no shock to me that they won 9 games last year in Mullen's second season. I think they are going to be a dangerous out for every SEC team this year and may play BCS buster more than once.

21. Missouri - I think Missouri may be underranked a little. They are returning a lot of good players from last year's team. They are without Gabbert, but this decade they havent really seemed to miss a beat at QB when a star leaves. Brad Smith, Chase Daniel, Blaine Gabbart all filled in flawlessly for their predecessors and James Franklin may do the same. They also return the same front seven from last year's Big 12 leading scoring defense. I think Missouri will be like Mississippi State, a tough out every week in their conference against everyone they play.

22. Florida - Oh how the mightier have fallen even farther. Im sure with all the cheers that went up with Ohio State's struggles thre were an equal number cheering on Florida's awful (by its standards) season last year. John Brantley was a square peg trying to fit into the round hole of Urban's spread offense. But it wasn't just his fault, that offensive line was terrible last year starting with the failed experiment of Michael Pouncey at center. Florida has a lot of changes in place this year and the learning curve will be steep, but if anything falls in their favor its the pure athletic talent they bring in every year. I'm hoping for the best but they have a brutal stretch of games starting on October 1st where they play home against Alabama, at LSU, at Auburn, at Georgia, and at South Carolina over the next six weeks.

23. Auburn - The 8th SEC team in the top 25 (the debate ended years ago, this is easily the best conference in football), I doubt they survive here. Last year's special run was largely predicated on Cam Newton putting up an all time offensive season. With him and the incredibly talented and incalculably valuable Nick Fairley gone I expect them to take steps backwards and in the SEC where the margin is razor thin week to week I think they get beat by almost every SEC team above them on this list. I doubt they will be in the polls come Dec. 1.

24. West Virginia - Ah the obligatory Big East team finally makes an appearance. I actually think this team will be better this year with Holgorsen (the defect from Ok. St mentioned above) at the help. Coach Stewart just didn't have the edge you need from a top 15-25 program. I think he knew as much when he hired someone to dig up dirt on Holgorsen to help him keep his job. Given how explosive Holgorsen's offenses are (he was the architect behind Texas Tech, Houston, and OK St's light em offenses) it will counteract a young and inexperienced defense. Given the weakness of this conference there is a very real chance they end up in the top 10 or 15 with an 11-1 or 10-2 schedule. They play at LSU so its doubtful they will go undefeated.

25. USC - Its all about Matt Barkley. That's it. I think USC is better than this 25 ranking but none of it really matters since they are still ineligible for a bowl or even the inaugural Pac-12 championship game. We'll revisit them next year.

BCS Predictions:

Sugar Bowl (SEC Champ v. BCS At-Large): Because I think this year's SEC Champ will go to the BCS championship they get two at-larges with one of them assuredly being an SEC team. I don't know that LSU survives their brutal schedule and this spot goes to South Carolina, loser of the SEC title game and liekly owner of a 10-2 record. The tricky part is predicting the other at-large. Given regional considerations i would think the best shot is Virginia Tech, loser of the ACC title game, but because I think the ACC title game winner goes to the BCS championship, Ill go with an 11-2 Wisconsin team that loses the Big 10 championship. So thats what ill go with: South Carolina v. Wisconsin. (SC winning)

Orange Bowl (ACC Champ v. BCS At-Large): I'm going way out on a limb here and I'm going to say my projected ACC Champ goes to the BCS title game. Which means they get two at-larges and likely an ACC replacement being a 12-1 Virginia Tech team that loses in the ACC title game. I think the other spot goes to Oregon who goes 10-2, but doesn't even get to play in the Pac-12 title game because of their loss to Stanford. So my that's my pick Virginia Tech v. Oregon (Oregon winning).

Fiesta Bowl (Big 12 Champ v. Big East Champ - this year) - Because neither the Pac-12 or Big 10 champs will play in the BCS title game this year, this bowl gets the remaining AQ's, Big 12 and Big East. Because I think Oklahoma loses to Florida State (at least), I dont have them playing in the title game. There is no Big 12 championship game anymore so I think Oklahoma finishes at worst with one loss in the conference and wins it. West Virginia is the defacto Big East champ. Oklahoma v. West Virginia is the pick (OK winning).

Rose Bowl (Big 10 Champ v. Pac-12 Champ) - I have Nebraska winning the Big 10 but with a loss somewhere so no title shot. Because their division is so weak I see them having no problem making the title game and winning. I have the same thing for Stanford but because I think they beat Oregon they can absorb a loss and still make the title game against what ever weak ass team in the other Pac-12 division takes USC's place. The pick's in: Nebraska v. Stanford (a personal favorite of mine among the projected bowls with Stanford winning).

BCS Title Game (BCS #1 v. BCS#2) - I think Alabama is a strong contender in the SEC, especially with a weaker East division again and a weakened LSU and Auburn due to infractions and defections. Alabama runs the table and gets in easily. The other pick is a lot more controversial both because they are not a common pick and also because I hate their fucking guts: Florida State. The ACC isn't a strong conference for sure but really outside of the SEC every conference has significant flaws. They play two preseason ranked teams Oklahoma and Florida. If they win them both which unfortunately I'm predicting them to do as well as win all other games including beating Va Tech in the ACC Championship game then a 13-0 Florida State has to get in. So it's Alabama v. Florida St. (with Alabama winning the SEC's 6th straight title in a runaway score of like 55-7 while Florida State's program gets the death penalty immediately afterwards).

It's going to be a fun and exciting season and I can not wait to see how this all shakes out with hopefully Florida shocking the nation and going 13-0 and winning their 3rd title in 6 years.