BLOGPOLL QUESTIONS: ROUND 2

A week (or two late) and more than a dollar short . . .

1. ND-USC. To be perfectly honest, I don’t follow the national scene that closely. I’d have to go look up schedules to even know what key games are being played this year—and that would require like, um, work. However, of the teams I am familiar with, I’d have to go with the Notre Dame-USC game. Why???? Hell if I know. But let’s look at it this way. ND—like them or not—play 3 teams that have dreams of going all the way—the Wolverines, the Trojans, and Tennessee. They open with Pitt that dreams of repeating as Big East chmapion. ND is a big question mark—new coach. Do they have the talent? The Irish have the opportunity to be major spoilers on the scene this year. Hey I had to pick something.

2. NORTHWESTERN. Read it again. A lot of talk is focused on Minnesota. Some are even thinking 5-0 before knocking helmets with the Buckeyes. Beep, beep, beep. Back the bandwagon up a bit. PSU has not won a Big Ten Opener since 1999.

The talk in Happy Valley this year is a new attitude. Winning first. Blah, blah, blah. Is it just talk or can we walk the walk??? If we don’t choke on the first conference game, then I’ll start to think about becoming more optimistic. But who cares about Minnesota or Ohio State if you can’t get by the Purple Mildcats.

3. We Beat Michigan at Ann Arbor. Can’t get much nuttier than that.

And wolverine fans will probably be giddy as Pitt fans counting recruits when they see I mentioned them twice in these answers.

SEPTEMBER’S NOT COMING FAST ENOUGHVia Every Day Should Be Saturday, here are three quick questions on the college football season:

1. OU v. texas…..This could very, very easily determine the regular season Big XII Champ. A texas win could give them the confidence to roll.

2. Texas A&M v. texas tech…..The only reason this is the most critical game for us, IMO, is because our schedule is pretty weak until our last 3 games…..@tt, @OU, home v. texas. We could be going into those final games with a 7-1 record and winning a game in Lubbock, a place where we have simply sucked, would be a huge emotional boost for the team going into those final two against OU and texas.

3. Just randomly I’m going to go with ISU over Iowa on September 10th. Rivalry games always give you crazy results and this one is so early in the season and Iowa seems to stumble early in the season.

1. What’s THE critical game of the season on the national scene?
Lots of good games to choose from. Here are a couple of good options.
Sept. 17 Florida/Tenn – The Vols. have great potential and could win the SEC. Urban Meyer has a great chance to make an immediate impact in the SEC.
Oct. 8 OU/Texas – OU has a 5 game winning streak over Texas, but Mac Brown has the better team this year. Should that matter? It’s “do or die” time for Brown and the Longhorns.
Oct. 22 Auburn/LSU – Les Miles will, “play any sucker in America”, and he has the defense to do it now. Question for both teams is, who is going to play QB. Winner of this game should play for the conference championship.
             Michigan/Iowa – Look for Iowa to make some noise in the Big 10 this year. This game could be between two top 10 teams.
Nov. 5 Miami/Va. Tech – These teams used to play for the Big East Championship, now they will play to decide the ACC championship.

2.What’s the most critical matchup for your team?
OU/Texas Oct. 8. OU has enjoyed a 5 game winning streak and has also reaped the benefits by winning the recruiting wars. If OU keeps winning the best recruits in Texas will keep coming.

3. What’s your wingnut upset prediction of year?
Sept 24 – Oregon over USC

The biggest national game this year? I’d love to say Ohio State-Texas, in the hopes that it WILL be and will encourage more teams to play such terrific intersectional tilts rather than cash in against the likes of Buffalo and Louisiana Tech. But it won’t be. Ohio State-Michigan? So 1970’s. Penn State-anybody? Nah. USC-Cal? Trojans by 27. Florida-Tennessee? Maybe, but Meyer may take a while to settle in. Big East … right, you said critical game … Iowa at Ohio State? Now this is getting close. I can’t stand either team, but the winner may be in the Rose Bowl playing for it all.

But given that, under the BCS, there seems to be a rule that the Big 12 gets a team in the final, and the only Big 12 game that will matter is Oklahoma-Texas as the other 10 don’t have a prayer against the big two, I pick the Red River Shootout, or whatever it’s called, as THE game.

Critical game for my team: Penn State at NORTHWESTERN, Sept. 24. I think the Nits are paper lions, that Joe is washed up, and all this yapping about a PSU comeback is wishful thinking from a media too used to just picking the same old names and going back to sleep. If my Wildcats can muster enough defense win this, we’re going bowling. Go Cats!

Wingnut upset pick: Northern Illinois over Michigan would be delicious. Ditto Temple over Wisconsin. But in the realm of rationality, how about Steve Spurrier ruining ANOTHER Tennessee season? I’ll go with that.

http://sportingfool.blogspot.com/2005_06_26_sporti1. What’s THE critical game of the season on the national scene? I think it will be USC hosting Fresno State on Nov. 13. It’s a matchup the Trojans took after Pat Hill publicly goaded Pete Carroll over and over again. And to Carroll’s credit he reali…

Blogpoll Discussion #21. What’s THE critical game of the season on the national scene? I think it will be USC hosting Fresno State on Nov. 13. It’s a matchup the Trojans took after Pat Hill publicly goaded Pete Carroll over and over again. And to Carroll’s credit he reali…

1. Texas vs. Oklahoma – “How big a boy are ya?”
As a UGA fan for the past 16 years, I know what it’s like to be owned. The Gators owned from ‘90-2003 much in the same way that we owned them from ’65-84. Once you’ve been owned for that long a period of time, overcoming the mental side of the game is huge. If Tejas can get past OU, they should run the table til USC in the Rose Bowl.

2. UGA vs. UF
The game vs. UT will probably have a more immediate and possibly even large impact on THIS season’s SEC East race. But the UF game is larger. We just got the monkey off our backs with a win vs. Zook last year. Starting Meyer off in the Cocktail Party series with a win, would put us right back behind the 8 ball.

3. UT vs. SC
I’m picking the Gamecocks. It’s not an absurdly impossible prediction, but I’m going with it.

Thanks for the award. I have so many people to thank and the music has already started…

1, LSU-Florida (and I’ll have two chances to be right)

2. Georgia-Auburn

3. Arizona State-USC

You’ll have to click on the link to get all of my ill-reasoned statements justifying those picks.

Blog Poll Questions #1 and #2What’s THE critical game of the season on the national scene? Boise State-Georgia.
This is the biggest chance the little guys have to break up the college football power structure ever.

Most critical game for your team? Texas Tech-Oklahoma. If Mi…

What’s THE critical game of the season on the national scene?
Boise State-Georgia. It will either shake the power structure of college football or discourage non-BCS schools for years to come.

What’s the most critical matchup for your team?
Texas Tech-OU. If Mike Leach doesn’t beat OU this year when they are rebuilding, they ain’t never gonna beat OU under Leach.

What’s your wingnut upset prediction of year?
Texas Tech over Texas A&M. It’s insane because Texas A&M is much better than Texas Tech this year (and my pick to win the South), but for no good reason other the game is in Lubbock and I’m a homer, I’m picking my Red Raiders.

Orson on Oxford cabs:

We know they’ve got at least one in town…

Er, that was exactly one cab, and you’re not going to find it on the Square at closing time. Coach O really needs to tell his coaches to walk home… although, at this point, they’ve got enough goodwill that any frat guy would take ‘em home. (We’ll see in early November whether or not the goodwill holds up…)

click on the above for the trackback from Heismanpundit.com

click above for HP’s response

or cut and paste:

http://heismanpundit.com/?postid=364

The problem is that who does USC play, outside of Cal, who will be able to keep USC honest in the passing game enough to run well? You could argue Cal, but their QB is less proven that USC’s defensive tackles. Oregon? They don’t really have a great running back to make the Trojans pay. Neither does ASU. UCLA, by game 11, might be the answer to this question. However, there can be no doubt that USC’s defense will only get better as the year goes on and those young guys get experience. It goes back to the notion that to beat USC, it has to happen early. That’s why I picked Oregon as the most likely scenario: tough stadium, good QB and new, funky system. However, even given that, teams will have to out-score USC.

BlogPoll Questions, Round 21. What’s THE critical game of the season on the national scene? We’re looking for the one that will influence the most outcomes in a single span of sixty minutes. Please try to diversify your answers and think of something other than Ohio State-Texa…

1.Well since strength of opponents schedule isn?t on the BCS list, clearly the vaunted Idaho vs. UL-Monroe game won?t matter that much. But a game that could seriously take the nation by storm is Miami vs Virginia Tech. Think about it, assuming FSU loses to Miami right, then goes undefeated the rest of the way they are in the ACC championship game. Ok well then who would the Noles rather face in the game? Va Tech or Miami. Take into consideration the teams with one loss who will be behind FSU if they run the table, seeing as where they only lost in game number one. *Side note maybe one team will go undefeated this year (its my law of averages rule). * Anyway, with FSU playing Miami then National Championship game may be very different than if FSU played Va Tech.

2.As a Seminole fan the easy way out would be Miami, but that is not the case for me, I figure if we lose that game then the rest of the schedule is winnable until we get to a nemeses more hated than even the ?Canes. Yes people the UF game. Urban Meyer has that team on the cusp and I am thinking they will be the only thinig standing between FSU and a National Championship. Sure we have to get thru landmines like Virginia and Clemson, but those games are at home. Florida is going to be our ticket in.

3.I really don?t think anybody is going undefeated and that includes USC. Something about that Oregon game just doesn?t rub me right. It?s not early enough to get the full attention of the staff, and its not really late enough for the team to be fully aware that the season is underway. And I mean it is in Autzen.

For what its worth, I was torn between Oregon and Cal for USC’s toughest opponent in my first post. Settled on Cal because of Tedford. However, the thing that worried me about Oregon was the fact that it is played at Autzen.
To beat USC, you must be able to either run the WCO to perfection (see Tedford and 28 straight completions), or sustain a running game. I believe (not certain though) that every game that USC has lost since 2002, they allowed over a hundred yards rushing. The key to beating SC is to be able to run for 4+ yards a pop, which brings us to their run defense.
The only position that I am truly worried about on USC’s defense is the D tackle position formerly occupied by Sean Cody. Sedrick Ellis has stepped up to replace Mike Patterson, and they basicly have 2 returning starters at linebacker (Sartz and Rivers – there is a reason he is wearing #55). Middle linebacker? A slight concern, but not huge due to the logjam of talent at the position – expect either Thomas Williams or Oscar Lua to start the season, but dont be surprised to see Rey Maualuga getting an awful lot of minutes, even as a true freshmen.
 In the end though, talent helps, but what really matters is coaching. In his first season, Carroll’s defense allowed over 21 points four times, and over 30 once. I doubt that anyone believes that this defense is less talented then that. Toss in an offense with everyone and their cousin returning, and I believe two things.
One, there will be 1 or 2 games that the offense will have to win. Two, I believe in the effectiveness of the senior quarterback in college football, and SC has a (very good) senior quarterback coming back. Can they be beaten? Yes. Would I bet money on any specific team on the schedule doing so? No.

Well, my post is up here: http://catholicpackerfan.blogspot.com/2005/06/blogpoll-roundtable-2.html

I have some sane picks and some longshots…that’s what its all about.

Just wanted to say…these BlogPoll discussions are wonderful.

Blogpoll Roundtable #2My picks: read now, laugh now, and heck, probably laugh harder later.

I’ve decided that the wingnut upset I most want to see is South Carolina over anyone good, just to see the wicked Visor smile and to hear the heavy, panicked breathing from Florida, UT, and Georgia partisans. God I love Spurrier… comes back to college and goes to SOUTH CAROLINA, instantly adding about six completely fascinating games to college football.

CHRIS: The problem with your pick is Ole Miss is not going to be good. You still don’t have a dependable QB, over half your OL from last year (a unit that didn’t set the world on fire) is gone, and you’re learning a completely new system. No. The OM-Ark will likely decide who is 4th in the SECW.

Question #1: Tennessee @ LSU, Sept. 24. These are the two most talented teams in the SEC and the nation. The winner solidifies BCS contender status, while the loser slides to the second tier. The two may meet again in Dec. (ala LSU-UGa, 2003).

Question #2: Miss. State v. Houston, Oct 22. The Dogs will have passed the meat of the schedule (@Aub, UGa, LSU, @UF) and it’s time to start winning. Besides, the Cougs embarassed State in Jackie Sherrill’s forgetable last year (‘03). No games for MSU are easy, but this should be a win. A loss here and the seaon goes into the tank and time to start wondering about Croom’s future.

Question #3: Any Mississippi State game (other than the UK, Ole Miss and Arkansas games). Last year’s Maine and Florida games prove that State can win/loss to just about anyone. I exempted the UK, OM, and Ark games because there’s not much difference talent-wise between the 3 and Miss. State.

I’ll have to admit to being a shameless homer for the Blazers too since I graduated from UAB, but is there really any reason not to love Hackney? During the TCU game last season some linebacker knew he had him and Hack laid the greatest stiff arm I’ve ever seen on him. The entire crowd at Legion Field went nuts everytime they replayed it on the jumbotron (a good ten times before they got another play off). The only real issue I see with upsetting UT is the manhandling they took from FSU last year. But like I say, Offense is handled, if they can get some D in the offseason and pull off a Colts-like shooting match it’s totally within the realm of possibility.

Teams will beat USC this year because they won’t be able to stop the run. They lost too much in the middle. Patterson and Cody are in the NFL, Manuel Wright left to get into an NFL supplemental draft and their JUCO who was expected to step in immediately didn’t qualify (Gabe Long). Consider that and they’ll have a young LB corps, I think they’ll struggle stopping the run.

Wouldn’t surprise me at all if they lost 2-3 games this year, despite having Leinart. Teams are going to be able to run on USC and in order to stop that, they’re going to have to load the box which will mean that balanced teams can have some success throwing the ball. Teams that threw on first down last year against USC had more success..on third & long in an obvious passing down, teams didn’t. USC has a ton of young talent on defense but I don’t think the match-ups are in their favor for stopping the run.

what the hell does beat USC? The best clue we have is running, running, and more running right at them, keeping that offense off the field.

One thing that’s been at least semi-successful has been a high-percentage possession passing game. A spread-type offense seems to be helpful as well.

Stanford’s Trent Edwards was 23-for-35 for 183 yards last year in that 31-28 near-miss. Cal’s two quarterbacks were 27-for-37 for 326 yards in ’03.

Obviously, that’s easier said than done. You pretty much need to play a perfect game to beat USC. I’m just saying that a spread-’em-out possession passing attack can be a big help.

Blog Poll Questions Round 21. The critical game of the season on a national basis would have to be Iowa at Ohio St. I’m already on record with Iowa in the Rose Bowl, and sorry Michigan boys, they aren’t going to lose to Michigan in Iowa City, so that leaves the trip to Columbu…

http://straightbangin.blogspot.com/2005/06/blog-bickering-2.html

1. As a shameless homer, I’m going to say that year three will be the one where Shula finally gets it together on both sides of the ball and Alabama/Florida will determine the SEC this year. The strong defensive secondary that kept us from being outright shamed last year is still pretty much intact and if we can manage to keep a few starters in the backfield (is there anything else Croyle can hurt?) the playbook should start moving a little beyond Darby up the middle. Beating the much hyped Urban Meyer Gators would be a very serious step for Shula if he doesn’t want to be be run out of the state on rails.

2. I just said Florida will be a critical game “nationally”, but personally Tennessee will be the most important. Also, Shula really needs to beat at least two out of UT, AU, and LSU if he wants to avoid the aforementioned rails. When your only SEC victories involve Ole Miss, Miss. State and Kentucky something is seriously wrong.

3. UAB over Tennessee, and not just because I hate UT and would relish the idea of a UAB victory. The Blazers have the offensive talent to put up big numbers and if they work on developing a little defense in the offseason UT isn’t a total impossibility.

BlogPoll, Take Two1. USC-California
2. Bowling Green at Boise State
3. Oregon over USC (yikes!)

More comments and snark at http://thejamootz.com/blog/archives/00000278.html

2 things: 1, why are several people picking an upset over Tennessee? Is it a lack of faith in Fulmer? or something else? And 2, I know from my college days that driving a golf cart while under certain influences can lead to just as interesting situations as a driving a car in while under said influences. Don’t ask for more details.

1. ND v. USC – I think USC will come in to South Bend undefeated and highly overrated. They’ll leave with their tail between their legs.

2. ND v. Pitt. Let’s see what we’re going to get. A win here will be critical to start off a brutal opening stretch on a high note. Lose here and an 0-2 record will be staring the Charlie Weis era right in the face.

3. Penn State over Meeeechiiigan.

BlogPoll II – the QuickeningTo generate a little preseason hype, we’ve been doing a series of questions as a run-up to the season kickoff. This week, EDSBS (Every Day Should Be Saturday) is hosting the roundtable…

No idea why my trackback didn’t work, but here’s my half-assed attempt for the week:

http://www.haveyoumettony.com/index.php?p=389

And, for the record, calling Toledo’s campus a cesspool is an insult to cesspools everywhere.

what do they have that matches up well with USC? Besides Autzen stadium?

Well, given the way USC has rolled everything in its path recently, it’s tough to know what exactly matches up well with them.

That said, Oregon has a stout defensive line, which should help contain the run. They’ve got an experienced, if not exactly spectacular, defensive backfield. They’ve got a mobile QB with a cannon for an arm, and a diverse offense.

There are weaknesses – the linebackers and offensive line are concerns heading into the season. But if you’re going to work from the assumption that Cal is the sort of team that gives USC fits, well…Oregon is probably the closest thing to Cal outside of Berkeley. Obviously not as good, but still…

http://boifromtroy.com/archives/004211.php

1. Boise St. vs. UGA
2. USC-Cal
3. Ucla over Oklahoma

Blogpoll Round IIJoe’s Thoughts in a nutshell:

1. Boise St at Georgia (Oh no he didn’t)
2. Texas Tech at Nebraska
3. Texas at Baylor

Jesus, Brent. Woke up on the Heismanpundit side of the bed today I see.

WATB: Since you didn’t mention Texas at all, yes. You’re the diversestest yet.

1. Florida-Tennessee. I hear that fat shitbucket in Tennessee is supposed to have a pretty good team this year. This game is important because of Meyer’s supposed impact on the SEC and in turn CFB in general. Night game, national television, if UF beats UT, and I mean hangs 50 on them and wins by 3 scores, look out. He might be able to form a juggernaut down there. The second coming of visor boy? We’ll see, and this game will go a long way in answering that question.

2. Michigan-Notre Dame. If we lose to those fuckers again and I have to listen to their fans, it’s going to be bad. Keep your eyes on the news folks, cause there’s going to be a serial killer on the loose here in SE Michigan. Not that I’m saying it’s going to be me per se… Ok, It’ll be me. I’m going to kill people. Lots of them. Be somewhere else. I’m not kidding.

But a loss to OHowIHateOhioState could be equally as bad. Basically, if we lose to ND, MSU, OSU, or PSU (hell if we lose any games this season) look out. That’s right folks. I’m predicting an undefeated season for Michigan. Again. Same old shit, just a different day.

3. Kansas over Oklahoma. I wanted to pick UCLA beating them but too many others have already so for originality’s sake, I’m picking a different game. I’m not sold on OU at all and I think they’re looking a 3-4 losses this season. Texas, OSU, A&M, and maybe UCLA, Kansas, or Neb. Hell, maybe whatever passing robot Texas Texas has this year will thow for 600 yards and take them down. Paper tiger here folks.

BlogPoll roundtable v2Here’s the link to the second roundtable, this time hosted by EDSBS. 1. What’s THE critical game of the season on the national scene? We’re looking for the one that will influence the most outcomes in a single span of

The critical game of the season? Georgia-Florida. Assuming both teams come in undefeated (see below), the winner here will likely set itself up for a run at the Rose Bowl.

The most critical matchup for my team? Tennessee in the Swamp. The Wyoming and La. Tech games will be spirited dry-humping and ultra-heavy petting, respectively. The Tennessee game is where Urban Meyer’s Gator cherry is popped on a glorious Saturday night. If we win this one, we’re the de facto co-favorites to win the SEC East, and will have tremendous momentum after knocking off a likely top 5 team. Meyer’s first big test… EVER, and the ultimate stage-setter for a magical season.

My wingnut upset? Mississippi State over LSU. The Tigers come off a bye week, the Gators will be two weeks away, and… why the hell not?

“Please diversify your answers?” Both the SEC West and SEC East are included in my replies. Does that count?

Here’s the abridged version to the above link:

1) FSU at Virginia
2) VT at NC State
3) Wake Forest over Nowledge

BlogPoll Roundtable Part IIThe BlogPoll roundtable part two: honestly, I’m not trying to be this biased…

Navarre was green QB – nevertheless it was a sweet win for us – considering none of the blowhards on ESPN gave us a shot – also we were equally handicapped – we had lost Cory Paus in the opener against Alabama and were playing with McCann – one of the worst QBs in our recent history.

here is the link from BN:

http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2005/6/28/173319/161

“think back to those UCLA – Michigan”

no.

(also much of that loss was on freshman John Navarre, and the rest was on Goddamn Hayden Epstein.)

1. The most critical game is Florida vs. Tennessee. If the Gators have the offense ready to go, they will crush the Vols on the way to an undefeated season and a berth in the Rose Bowl against USC. What can be more important than determining who will play in the title game vs. USC?

2. The most critical matchup for USC is at Oregon. If the Trojans don’t trip up there—or the next week at ASU—they will not get caught.

3. Off-the-wall upset: UCLA over Oklahoma.

1. What’s THE critical game of the season on the national scene?
The obvious one is Michigan vs. Ohio State. Both teams will be undefeated and the winner goes to the Rose Bowl. Does anyone remember 1966? This will be the game of this century. Not so obvious is Pittsburgh vs. Louisville. It may be the last chance to derail Louisville from the Rose Bowl game. A Pittsburgh victory may guarantee them a BCS slot. Hard for me to imagine a more important game of the season.

2. What’s the most critical match up for your team?
See number 1 above ? Go Blue!

3. What’s your wingnut upset prediction of year?
Certainly not on the order of Indiana beating Oregon last year 30-24, my upset prediction is Iowa State beating Iowa. It may not even be that much of an upset other than Iowa is preseason Top 10 by many of the guru sites. However, the game is in Ames, its early in the season, ISU is a decent team (ref: 17-10 loss at Kinnick stadium last year) and Iowa started slowly last year (ref: Arizona State 44-7 loss).

1. The critical game of the season on the national scene? – I am going to go with Miami at Florida State on September 5. I think this is the game that will set the tempo. for 05. If Miami wins, I just don’t see anyone stopping them (sorry Hokies). But if FSU wins, everything becomes very interesting.

2. Most critical match up for UCLA in 05? The game that will really be telling for us is the against the Cougs at Pullman on October 15. This is the kind of game Bruins have choked in our recent histories after getting off to a good/solid start – starting that end season slide. Going into this game, I can see us being 4-1 or (hint for next question’s answer) 5-0, and this would be the kind of game where we would face adversity in those God awful rural Pacific Northwest. We usually lose these games – and it would be a critical test on whether KD’s program have developed some sort of winner mentality in his third (show me) year of his program.

3. Wingnut upset? – oh this is sooo obvious. Bruins will take care of those over-rated Boomers Sooners when they strut into Pasadena on September 17, and promptly melt in the Pasadena heat. Bruins pull out this early season upset – think back to those UCLA – Michigan, UCLA – Alabama games at the Rose Bowl in 2000. And after this happens UCLA beating SC won’t be an upset. In fact we are expecting that if KD wants to keep his job in Westwood.

yo yo yo. trackback above, talking here. I can’t shut up about OSU…

1. Chalk: Ohio State-Texas. If Ohio State wins, there will be a Big Ten team in the national championship game. (eat the BOLD, bitches!)

2. OSU! AAAH! Look, I don’t want to answer Ohio State. It’s boring and predictable. But I have absolutely no choice. Cheatypants Sweatervest is now 3-1 against Michigan.

3. Penn State over Ohio State: The college football equivalent of that horrific Indiana-Detroit Eastern Conference Finals last year, this series has degenerated into an uglyfest unparalleled nationwide. Every year someone wins without deserving it in any way whatsoever, usually off a freakish play by a tall fast Buckeye. This year Penn State will have a fighting chance because they have some guys—Derrick Williams, Dan Connor, Alan Zemitas, Justin King—who can make the big play that leads to the game’s only touchdown.

There’s more at blog…

Penn State over Ohio State? Wacky enough? PSU was 4-7 last year.

Response #2It’s on again, this time over at EDSBS.

For more detail click to my blog, but here is my take:
1. Pittsburgh at Louisville
2. FSU at BC
3. USC at ND

1. What’s THE critical game of the season on the national scene?
Miami vs. Virginia Tech, November 5. I know, I know… Bryan Randle is gone, Miami has finally lost Brock Berlin (wait – that might be a plus). However, i believe that this game will be for the ACC crown. Bowden is losing it at Florida State, thanks to son Jeff. Boston College – not bad, but does anyone believe that Tom O’Brien is as good as Frank Beamer? I thought not. Virginia and Maryland? They’ve choked to often – they do not have the winning mindset (for an example of the winning mindset, see Louisville vs Miami 2004). NC State lost their D coordinator to Auburn, and since Rivers graduated, that was the best part of the team. Miami has the talent, and enough coaching. Virginia Tech has the coaching, and enough talent. This game will be for a BCS bowl, and perhaps a Rose Bowl slot.

2.What’s the most critical matchup for your team? Again, we know we’ll hear OSU-Michigan from you
Wolverines, but we ask you to think in terms of multiple scenarios here.
Tough… not too many teams apart from Cal are matching up well with USC these days. (God, I love typing that). AZ State might be the best team, but Carroll’s defenses have destroyed Koetter’s offenses the last few matchups. Fresno State would be dangerous early in the season, but depth will take its toll. Arkansas? Thank the Lord Matt Jones graduated. Oregon has diminished since Tedford left, and while Crowton is a good OC, the game is early enough his system probably won’t be fully implemented. In the end, just like the past few seasons, it will come down to Cal. By 11/12, whoever the quarterback is will have settled into the position, and this year, the game is back to Berkely. If Cal can get through the early Pac 10 schedule unscathed, this could be for the Pac 10 championship, or even the Rose Bowl.

3. What’s your wingnut upset prediction of year?
My first impulse is SC over Florida, (South Carolina that is), but I just don’t believe that Spurrier has the quarterback to pull it off – I doubt the completion rate will be high enough. I’d also like to pick Texas over OK (hey, there’s a chance!), but in the end, Mack Brown will prove yet again why he makes Bob Stoops look like a good big game coach. In the end, I have to go with Ole Miss over Tennessee. Yes, it’s at Neyland. Yes, I’m saying this because Orgeron coached at USC. BUT! Even that early in the season, he will have the defense playing football. They may not pull off the upset. However, I believe that Ole Miss vs. Tennessee will turn into a defensive slugfest, with the team that hits a little harder, hustles to the ball a little more, winning. And in that type of contest, I like Orgeron’s chances.

Blogpoll #2Let’s dispense of the notion that Texas vs. Ohio State is going to have some major bearing on the national title race right now. It’s certainly possible, but there are a couple of solid reasons why one might expect to it turn out all but irrelevant.

Dear god, I hope Virginia- Virginia A&M is a game that has any sort of meaning.

Speaking of HP, check out my comment in his post about the “aftermath” http://heismanpundit.com/?postid=357.

1) It will be a trendy pick (like the Boise State upset of UGA), but I’ll say OU vs UT. Mostly, because I’m hopping to see UT lose. Again. And then play in the Holliday bowl. I would derive much enjoyment from this outcome. Nothing against any Longhorns. I do sympathize – I know all too well what it is like to be on the ass-end of a winning streak (with both UF and UT).

But I know people laughed when it happened to us. Well, now I’m laughing back.

It’s really probably USC vs Cal, if Cal proves to be any good. Tedford is pretty sharp, and Cal was close last year. Really, for a game to have a major impact it has to happen later in the year. I think UT vs OU is right on the cusp of the event horizon – where a loss generally knocks you irrecoverably from the national title picture.

2) UGA vs UF

The reasons are myriad. We can lose at UT but still have a shot in the east. Since we’re playing up there I’m inclined to give UT a significant edge, and I have to pencil in a loss right now though I think people are overrating them some.

Also, it would be nice to prove that last year was not 97. Of course, if we somehow navigate UF and UT 2-0, then we should be headed towards the SEC title game and that would be huge (not happening this year, but I can dream).

3) Well, I’m pulling this out of my rear end, but Biose State loses to Bowling Green to start the season 0-3. They’ll lose pretty close in all 3 games. But in the end, they’ll still be Boise State. And 0-3.

In short (click on my URL to read the full responses):

1. South Carolina-Georgia on September 10.

2. Bowling Green-Wisconsin on September 3.

3. Miami (Ohio) over Ohio State on September 3.

1. Texas-Oklahoma. Sorry it’s a predictable answer but Mack Brown has the quarterback who can win him a national championship and the Heisman trophy. Their defense is good, and this could be the year they finally beat the Sooners.
 
2. Pitt-Notre Dame (Sept 3). Bigger games against Michigan, Purdue and Southern Cal dot the schedule but this game is similar to the Maryland game from 2002. It could set the tone for the season. In a season where many pundits are predicting 6 or 7 wins for the Irish, it could mean the difference between making a bowl and making a good bowl.
 
3. Boston College will upset Florida State at Chestnut Hill on 9/17. They are going to smack the Seminoles around with a brand of power football that FSU isn’t comfortable playing. (And I hate Boston College…it pains me to predict this.)

Probably something late in the season… the easy answers are the big rivalry games (OU-OSU, Michigan-Ohio State, FSU-Florida) but there could be a less nationally-big rivalry game that ends an undefeated season and rearranges the BCS picture: Virginia-Virginia Tech, perhaps.
Ole Miss-Memphis on Labor Day will set the tone for the Rebels’ season… a win over the Tigers would get that monkey off the team’s back. I don’t see the conference games being that important, though if the Rebels are decent they have a favorable schedule—UT and Auburn are the only conference road games that a good Rebel team would have to seriously worry about losing. But I’m still not convinced the Rebels are going to be good enough this year. (If the Rebels are good, then Ole Miss-Arkansas in Oxford is probably going to decide who wins the West—I don’t see Auburn or LSU doing anything this year, State is still a joke, and Shula still doesn’t know what the heck he’s doing in Tuscaloosa.)
My completely off-the-rails pick: Vanderbilt over UT.