College Football Preview 2009

At last it is the long awaited College Football Preview for 2009. This will include the predictions for each conference and a top 25 overall for the nation. I will have win projections as well the champions, team on the rise, team on the decline, and sleeper(unexpected success) for this year. So without further ado:

ACC Atlantic

1. Florida State 8-4 (6-2)

2. N.C. State 9-3 (5-3)

3. Wake Forest 8-4 (4-4)

4. Clemson 7-5 (4-4)

5. Boston College 6-6 (3-5)

6. Maryland 6-6 (3-5)

ACC Coastal

1. Virginia Tech 11-1 (7-1)

2. Georgia Tech 9-3 (6-2)

3. North Carolina 8-4 (4-4)

4. Miami 7-5 (4-4)

5. Virginia 4-8 (2-6)

6. Duke 4-8 (1-7)

Champion: Virginia Tech

Team on the rise: N.C. State

Team on the decline: Clemson

Sleeper: Wake Forest

Anaylsis: Virginia Tech is the favorite by all accounts. They have a strong defense and are the champions of the conference the last 2 years. Big question marks on offense with Tyrod Taylor at QB and the loss of RB Darren Evans for the year. Taylor is the key for this team, if he is good they could be a darkhorse for the national title race if he is not good than they won't even be in the ACC Championship game. Georgia Tech should be a strong challenger in their second year under Paul Johnson. Their offense is really dynamic and should only be better than it was last year. UNC is an interesting squad, Butch Davis has restocked the talent on this team, if they can find some playmakers on offense they could be a sleeper team in this conference. Miami will be better but their record won't reflect it as they face a brutal early season schedule. Virginia and Duke won't be very good. The other division is a lot more muddled and there is no clear favorite. I like FSU because I like Christian Ponder and they have a solid OL for this year. N.C. State probably as the best QB in the conference in Russell Wilson, very accurate with the ball, does not turn it over. Wake is interesting because they have a senior QB and teams with senior QB's tend to do real well. They are well coached like N.C. State and tend to overachieve, but have they reached their ceiling as a program. Its tough to build a program with such a small student population as well as the difficult academic standards. Clemson will underachieve like they do every year. I don't like Dabo as the coach. They have not won anything really in about 20 years. BC and Maryland should bring up the rear. BC just doesnt have any players on offense and no QB to speak of, which is a problem.

Big 12 North

1. Nebraska 8-4 (5-3)

2. Colorado 8-4 (5-3)

3. Kansas 8-4 (4-4)

4. Missouri 6-6 (3-5)

5. Kansas State 6-6 (3-5)

6. Iowa State 2-10 (0-8)

Big 12 South

1. Texas 12-0 (8-0)

2. Oklahoma 10-2 (6-2)

3. Oklahoma State 9-3 (6-2)

4. Texas Tech 9-3 (5-3)

5. Baylor 5-7 (2-6)

6. Texas A&M 4-8 (1-7)

Champion: Texas

Team on the rise: Nebraska

Team on the decline: Missori

Sleeper: Colorado

Analysis: I don't think Texas will go undefeated, but I struggle finding more than 2 teams that have a legit shot at beating them (the 2 Oklahoma schools). There are 3 teams that have a shot at this division and thus the conference crown which will stay in the South. Texas Tech won't step back much from last year. They are a consistent winner and I expect that to continue. They will probably beat somebody they shouldn't and lose to someone they shouldn't. Baylor is intruiging. Art Briles is a good coach and they have a young dynamic QB who could upset some teams. They should contend for a bowl game. A&M is not good and that is a disapointment for a school with this kind of tradition. The North should be pretty competitive with Nebraska returning to prominence under Bo Pelini. Their schedule is tough and 8 wins would be an excellent achievement. I expect Colorado to take a step up this year and seriously challenge for the division, their schedule sets up pretty favorably for 8 wins, if they don't win that many Dan Hawkins may be gone. Kansas has the senior QB and some veteran receivers, but again I do not like how their schedule sets up. Those are the 3 teams that can win the North. Missouri will take a big step back without Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin on offense. K-State is wrestling in mediocrity and Iowa State is just really bad. I don't know how anyone can win there.

Big 11

1. Penn State 10-2 (6-2)

2. Ohio State 9-3 (6-2)

3. Michigan State 9-3 (5-3)

4. Iowa 9-3 (5-3)

5. Illinois 8-4 (5-3)

6. Northwestern 8-4 (4-4)

7. Wisconsin 7-5 (4-4)

8. Minnesota 7-5 (4-4)

9. Michigan 7-5 (3-5)

10. Purdue 3-9 (1-7)

11. Indiana 3-9 (1-7)

Champion: Penn State

Team on the rise:

Team on the decline: Ohio State

Sleeper: Iowa

Analysis: This conference is wide open with 3-4 teams having a legit shot at the top spot. Ohio State lost a lot of people and I just don't think they have the horses this year to get it done. I like Penn State because of their schedule and because of senior QB Daryl Clark. The Nittany Lions seem to have that swagger back and I like them this year. Iowa and Michigan State won't win this conference but will have a say in who does. Iowa will be a team to watch this year. Great offensive line and a veteran QB. The next tier of teams in the Big 11 consists of Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. All are about 6-8 win teams. Illinois has talent on the field but has a questionable head coach. Northwestern is well coached. Wisco is heading in the wrong direction. Michigan is intriguing, Rich Rod won at WVA and is offense produces with the right players in place and they may finally have that. They will be young, but face a difficult schedule this year. A bowl season would be a step in the right direction. Purdue and Indiana are bad.

Big East

1. Pittsburgh 9-3 (6-1)

2. Rutgers 9-3 (4-3)

3. West Virginia 8-4 (4-3)

4. Cincinnati 8-4 (4-3)

5. South Florida 7-5 (4-3)

6. Connecticut 6-6 (4-3)

7. Louisville 5-7 (2-5)

8. Syracuse 2-10 (0-7)

Champion: Pittsburgh

Team on the Rise: Cincinnati

Team on the Decline: West Virginia

Sleeper: Rutgers

Analysis: This conference sucks and all the teams are pretty close together which means their are a bunch of average teams. Somebody has to win and so this year its Pittsburgh time. I don't why but I guess they have the talent,toughness and schedule to grind it out. Rutgers, West Virginia, Cincy, and South Florida could steal it. West Virginia will disapoint because Pat White hid a lot of flaws on this team, most notably poor defense and poor coaching. Syracuse may win more double that total I listed above, but until they do so I can't put them down for more than 2 wins.

Pac-10

1. USC 11-1 (8-1)

2. California 10-2 (7-2)

3. Oregon State 8-4 (5-4)

4. Oregon 7-5 (5-4)

5. UCLA 7-5 (5-4)

6. Stanford 7-5 (5-4)

7. Arizona State 6-6 (4-5)

8. Arizona 6-6 (4-5)

9. Washington 3-9 (2-7)

10. Washington State 0-12 (0-9)

Champion: USC

Team on the rise: UCLA

Team on the decline: Arizona State

Sleeper: Oregon State

Analysis: USC wins again, what a suprise. New QB, overhaul at LB, sam result. They will contend for a National Title appearance and probably lose to Cal if at all. Cal is the main challenger to the crown this year. They have an explosive offense. The rest of the conference is jumbled in the middle except for the two Washington schools, who bring up the rear. I expect to Oregon State to do well this year and finish in the top 3. They are well coached and have playmakers on offense. UCLA is a team on the rise, their defense will be strong and their talent is gradually getting better, I expect them to flourish in 2010. Washington will be better, only because they have no other option but to. They have had teams win in the past, so they can do it again. Washington State will challenge Iowa State and Syracuse, for the worst team in a BCS conference this year.

SEC East

1. Florida 11-1 (7-1)

2. Georgia 9-3 (5-3)

3. Kentucky 7-5 (3-5)

4. South Carolina 5-7 (2-6)

5. Tennessee 6-6 (2-6)

6. Vanderbilt 4-8 (2-6)

SEC West

1. Ole Miss 10-2 (6-2)

2. Alabama 10-2 (6-2)

3. LSU 9-3 (6-2)

4. Auburn 8-4 (4-4)

5. Arkansas 8-4 (4-4)

6. Mississippi State 4-8 (1-7)

Champion: Florida

Team on the rise: Ole Miss

Team on the decline: Tennessee

Sleeper: Arkansas

Analysis: Florida is great, not good, a great team. Everything thats been said about this team is the truth, they are loaded, if they were playing in any other conference they would be undefeated, but since they are in the best conference in the land they will lose 1 game, and it probably will be to LSU on the road. UGA will be good for around 9-10 wins. The defense worries me a little, as well finding some additional playmakers on offense for Joe Cox to throw to. Richard Samuel will be a stud. He is from Cartersville and is built like another SEC bruiser from a few a years ago from the same town (Ronnie Brown of Auburn). Not saying he's as good, but hes built like a horse. He can be physical and can run away from defenders. The rest of the East is pretty average by this conferences standards. I expect Kentucky to lead the way and for Tennessee to not be as good as the hype surrounding them this fall. The west is the best division this year. 5 teams will win 8 games this year (not counting bowl games). Three teams will probably win 10 and I expect Ole Miss to lead the way. Everyone seems to be split between Ole Miss, Bama, and LSU. I lean towards the Rebels because of their QB play, their playmakers on offense, and their front 7, their front 4 is especially nasty and deep. Bama brings in a new QB and has to replace 3 guys on the OL. They are talented and have a strong defense and running game to hold them up this year. As well as Julio Jones at WR. LSU is talented but Les Miles is pretty lucky and his teams play undiscliplined. They are a sleeper potentially for the national title if they get some solid play at QB because they have proven talent at every other part on their team. Arkansas and Auburn will be in the mix as well but I don't expect to see either in Atlanta for the championship game. Solid teams that I feel are on the rise this year and the years to come. Auburn will bounce back from last years disapointment and rely on a strong running game and a strong defense. Arkansas will be explosive on offense but struggle mightily on the defensive side of the ball. Mississippi State won't make it out of the cellar. They would be a bowl team in another conference but not this one.

Top 25

1. Florida

2. Texas

3. USC

4. Oklahoma

5. Ole Miss

6. Alabama

7. Virginia Tech

8. Oklahoma State

9. LSU

10. Ohio State

11. Penn State

12. Georgia Tech

13. UGA

14. California

15. Oregon

16. Boise State

17. TCU

18. Florida State

19. Utah

20. North Carolina

21. Iowa

22. Notre Dame

23. BYU

24. Nebraska

25. Oregon State

National Title: Florida over Texas

Heisman: Tim Tebow

My Bucket List

I was reading through SI's lists of all of their writers top 5 bucket lists of sporting events they would to go to as well as the best event they have ever covered. So in honor of that I have complied my own list, its about 20 deep and is in no particular order, although the ones that came first to me are at the top and they are of a little more importance than those at the bottom of the list. So here we go:

Matt's Sports Bucket List

1. The Masters- I have always wanted to go this event. It is in my home state, so maybe one day this can happen.

2. World Cup- I started playing soccer at 4 and played for 10 years. I would say my knowledge of the game has grown so much since then. I have paid more attention to what goes on in the world of soccer over these last few years. So why not try and attend the top level event for this sport. It doesn't even have to be the U.S. playing. Brazil in 2014 seems like a likely destination for me.

3. Kentucky Derby- Ever since 1997 I have followed the Triple Crown. Every year since then my desire to attend this event increases.

4. English Premier League- Any game it doesn't matter which one. Preferably a rivalry game.

5. Fenway Park- I have been outside of this famed stadium, but never inside. A regular season game would be fine, it doesn't even have to be the Yankees, but I think it would make it better.

6. Iron Bowl- A game near and dear to my friends heart. This is the top rivalry in college football, not Ohio St-Michigan, this one, where your neighbor of the rival team lives next to you for 365 days out of the year.

7. College Football Stadiums- Some of the bigger ones I want to see a game at are: Penn State, Michigan, the Rose Bowl, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Notre Dame, just to name a few.

8. SEC Football- I want to see a game in every stadium in this conference. Only been to a game in one, 11 to go.

9. UGA National Championship- I want to witness this in my lifetime, doesn't have to be in person, but I think that would make it better.

10. Tour de France- Like soccer and horse racing my knowledge and appreciation of this sport has grown incrementally over the last decade or so. Lance Armstrong's success has a little to do with that. I think I would enjoy the scenery of the area more than race, but I am sure the race would be exciting as well.

11. Duke-UNC- I have been inside both of these arenas when no games were being played, I'd like to see one during the season. These games are rarely dull.

12. Wimbledon- I really just want to go to England, this would just happen to be going on at the same time.

13. Boston Marathon- A friend just told me he wants to run Boston next year. Well in order to do that you have to qualify. I know the work it takes to put in for one of these, just getting motivated to enough mileage to qualify and get in. I have been 50/50 on this for awhile, sometime within the next 2-3 years would be the best bet. It wouldn't matter how fast because I would be running the streets of one of my favorite cities in a historical event.

14. NCAA Tourney Game- First round, second round, sweet 16, elite 8, final 4, it doesn't matter as long I'm there and the game is good.

15. Wrigley Field- Not as high a priority as Fenway but still one to see. (day game)

16. Heyward Field- Nestled away in a corner of the country I want to explore. This jewel of track and field and absolutely legendary place would give me goosebumps.

17. No-hitter or some other historical event- In live and in person, something that rarely happens would be something cool to see.

18. British Open- Preferably St. Andrew's, but any course would do. It would be another excuse to get me to go to the U.K. Then I would go to a pub afterwards and share a drink with the locals.

19. See a game at every MLB park- Dodger Stadium would be at the top of my list. I have been to games in Baltimore, Detroit, and St. Louis.

20. See a sporting event in every state- Self explanatory and just an excuse to accomplish one of my goals of visiting every state in the U.S.

21. College World Series- Just so I can say I went there.

Best event ever attended: Without a doubt Game 4 of the 1995 NLCS. Braves sweep the Reds to go onto win the World Series. Just me and Dad in a packed house at Atlanta-Fulton County chanting "SWEEP, SWEEP, SWEEP, SWEEP," over and over again.