I think Georgia is going to be surprisingly good, though they keep losing players so by September maybe not. I think they roll Boise State in the opening weekend pretty badly.

Stanford will take two steps back this year. Still a bowl team, but 7-5ish. Washington will continue to improve. Arizona State is not a top-25 team.

I don't quite see the Oklahoma love, though they are definitely a top 10 team. Alabama should be the #1 to start the season, and if not them, LSU, IMO.

Even with the weird coaching saga I think West Virginia wins the Big East. In fact, switching to Holgorsen early will help because he isn't a boob.

Florida State is for real this time. I'm buying in. They will beat VT for the ACC championship.

Auburn will finish fifth in their division, lose at Clemson, and fail to make a bowl game one year after winning a national championship.

Lower divisions: Boise State wins MWC, SMU wins Conference USA, Troy wins the Sun Belt, Toledo wins MAC, and Hawaii wins the WAC.

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The Oklahoma love comes from the glaring fact that the Big 12 isn't very good, and got worse with Nebraska leaving.

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I think the conference is pretty OK. Texas A&M is solid though I think they'll disappoint a little, like Ole Miss a couple of years ago. Oklahoma State is solid. Baylor can surprise a few teams with Robert Griffith. Kansas State is the same way. And Texas won't look as bad as they did last year. Plus, Oklahoma plays Florida State OOC in what should be a very entertaining game, so it's not like the Sooners will be able to sleepwalk through their schedule.

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I give Notre Dame a 50% chance at making a BCS bowl this year. If they go 3-0 vs. the Big Ten I put that up to 80%.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I think the early game against Michigan will teach us a lot about both teams. Then again, that was supposed to be true the past two seasons too. 10-2 probably gets them into a BCS game. Maybe 9-3 if the losses are early.

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Fire Phil Emery

IB, what is your early word on my Hogs?

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I think they are very good, but they are going to get pounded in that conference. Their WR corps is absolutely sick. I think they'd win the Big 10. But Alabama and LSU might be the best two teams in the country, and Mississippi State is a legit top-25 team.

I was reading an article that had Arkansas as having the hardest schedule over the course of the past decade, and there wasn't even really a close #2. This year isn't going to help, especially playing a neutral site game against A&M (that will be a great game), though they do get an easy SEC East draw. If all goes right I could see them in a BCS bowl again, though not SEC Champions. Outback or Cotton Bowl is more likely.

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I have never been a fan of playing patsies for non-conference games, but in there case it may be smart. The schedule with just the West teams is enough to make it a Top 25 schedule and you add in everything else and it just becomes brutal. Tyler Wilson will be a fine replacement for Mallet, just hope the defense can stop somebody every now and then.

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Why is Stanford taking such a dramatic step back?

What is your opinion of Luck?

Very few returning starters. Phil Steele has them tied for 82nd in the country, and that's including a returning kicker and punter. Nine conference games is tough, and one of those non-conference games is against Notre Dame. I think they played a little over their head last year also. Add in the coaching change and I see some regression. Luck will still be a top-10 pick unless he completely Brohms.

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Irish Boy, hope you are right about Georgia, but could be down to the 5th running back against Boise, but Richt is talking high about a freshman running back. I just wonder if Arron Murray is good, or just played well when he had AJ Green. Also, Richt needs a big year.

On Stanford, could see a step back, but could start 7-0 if they go to Arizona and win.

As a Canes fan, hurts to type this, but do see Florida State winning the ACC, also on West Virginia in the Big East.

As crazy as this could be, Notre Dame could be a dark horse for the national title, I thought they closed out the season well last year.

Some suprise teams, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, and South Carolina.

Arkansas may have taken a hit, with their top running back Kniles Davis leaving practice on a cart.

I know

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2018
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Now ESPN has a report on Kniles Davis that Arkansas expects him to miss the season.

Yes, he is out for the season. He has done something to his ankle. This is a big blow to them, as he was set for a big season.

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A couple things looking at the betting lines, Miami was about a 6 point favorite over Maryland, I have checked 2 sites and the game is off now.

Just 1 to look at, Your a Colorado Buffaloes fan, 1st game at Hawaii and a touchdown underdog.

3 things, Dayne Crist has been named the starter at Notre Dame.

I know people may get tired about talking about the SEC, but you look at the teams and that conference is stacked, like LSU, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and after that they still have really good teams in Tennesee, Mississippi State, and I have to see Auburn looks like, this could be a sixth straight year for the national championship.

Lastly, just about the opening week schedule, and I know some teams play patsies, but the opening Thursday, and maybe the good game would be Wake Forest vs Syracuse and I don't think that's on tv, is basically 3 games on tv, all looking like blowouts, last year they gave us some decent ones, and then on Saturday, Northwestern vs Boston College on the U, the good ones don't start to late afternoon to the 2 big night games. Just wish they would try to schedule more decent game or show us diffrent games. ESPN and ESPN2 are showing Auburn vs Utah State and Ohio State vs Akron.

So which SEC team wins the national title this year?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

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How high do you see Depaul being ranked?

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I like a nice dark horse pick in South Carolina.

Higher than they've been in basketball.

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Even though we all support the troops for everything they do, how bad do you think NIU beats Army next weekend?

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If it wasn't the first week of the season, I'd worry. But since they'll have plenty of time to prepare for the triple option, 10 points or so is about right. Army is pretty decent.

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why do you think stanford takes a step back? losing harbaugh? i thought they were returning nearly all their starters

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, no respect

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2018
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On Stanford, They have to break in some new offensive lineman and the receivers may be an issue.

Hawg Ass, I forgot Arkansas, but they are part of the SEC discussion, losing Davis hurt, but Wilson played pretty well against Auburn last year when I seen him.

, losing Davis is a killer. Just hope he can come back and be ready for next year. I think are going to be good, but they have the potential to be really good next year.

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The big winner early on could be Oregon, may have to play LSU without Jefferson, I know Jefferson isn't that special, but still the starting quarterback.

I expect our offense, which is returning eight starters, to easily roll their defense. But i'm worried about our defense vs. the triple-option offense. While we did rotate the defensive line and LB positions a lot under Jerry Kill, we still only return two starters (too bad we lost starting LBs Devon Bulter and Tyrone Clark for this season). A team that hardly ever plays against such an offense can only simulate it so well during scout team practices.

We could certainly score more points than what i'm predicting if we keep their clock-eating offense off the field and force a few turnovers but for now i predict:

NIU - 30
Army - 20

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NIU Football:
2011, 2012, & 2014 MAC Football Champions