Better Know the College Football 2009: Predictions

Well today marks the first day of the 2009 College Football season. Huzzah. With the help of the BSD bus, I've criss-crossed the country analyzing the various conferences and coming up with various predictions that should be used only when betting Colonel's money. At the end of all the travels I've come to the conclusion that any monkey with a pencil (read College Football Poll) could come up with ...the mythical BCS Championship Game will be Florida over Texas. I know anti-climatic. But championships are won by schedule and perceptions as much as on talent and Texas and Florida have talent, a favorable schedule, and perceived as hailing from the best two conferences. Factor in negative info out of V-Tech (lost star running back) and USC (freshmen QB, numerous lost starters) and the path seems clear for the Big 12 and SEC to go head to head again. That said there's still lot's of interesting storylines to play out.....

Mighty (pictured above) was ever vigiliant to his surroundings. Mmm cupcakes

1) Fall of Troy? USC has won the Pac 10 for 7 straight years. However this might be the year that string ends. First, USC has now a pattern of inexplicably dropping easy games. Second, it lost 8 starters on defense and a QB (nearly all selected in the first 2 rounds) ...even for USC that's a bit much. Add in a true freshman QB (Matt Barkley) and losing 6 projected starters for multiple weeks to injuries and academics this Summer and things look ugly. Finish off with a tough schedule ( trips to tOSU, Cal, Notre Dame, and Oregon) and this might be the year USC trips up.

Beware of Oregonians bearing gifts

2) The Return of Irish Mania? For several years now the Charlie Weis internship has produced all sorts of laughs and joy for Notre Dame haters. However this might, just might be the year they return to the national spotlight instead of national punchline. There's a favorable schedule , easy opponents, and experienced talent stockpiled. Frankly its do or die for Weis at Notre Dame - without any minimum contention for a BCS berth and Weis will get towed out of South Bend.

Sarcasm and Billboards - Things that should go together more often

3) BCS Buster?
I'm not sure if anyone tuned in but once again a mid-major not only busted into the BCS but beat a heavy weight (so much for SEC invicibility). This year there are number of contenders again for mid-major automatic births with top 25 rankings already bestowed on Boise State, TCU, Utah and BYU . In other words it's going to happen again...it's just a question of who

Umm different Buster

Predictions

BCS Championship: Florida over Texas
Orange Bowl : V-Tech Over Notre Dame
Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss over Boise State
Fiesta: Oklahoma over West Virginia
Rose Bowl: USC over Penn State

Anyway send away your predictions and/or story lines you'll be following.....