Coaches Hot Seat

Coaches Hot Seat


Houston Nutt at Ole Miss


Ole Miss has always had a short leash with head coaches and this season will mark back to back losing seasons in Oxford. Fans and Alumni will not stand around and do nothing forever. I expect for Nutt to be fired following the season


Rick Neuheisel at UCLA


I hate putting slick Rick in this conversation because I think he is a good football coach. I think the real reason he hasn't done well at UCLA is because of UCLA's commitment level to football. I don't think they invest enough in the program to make it successful. I hate it but Rick will be fired at years end and UCLA will be on the coaching search again and the program will find itself in a hole as usual.


Frank Spaziani at Boston College


This one is pretty easy to describe...Boston College has went from a respectable team that won 8 or 9 games a year to possibly the worst team in major college football. They have no talent at any position and couldn't beat Duke. Expect BC to have a short leash here and cut Spaz ASAP.


Paul Wolfe at Washington State


Paul has been under the spot light at Wazzu since day one. The Alumni and Fans have been yearning for years past with great Wazzu QB Ryan Leaf , and being annual competitors for a chance to play in the Rose Bowl Game. It hasn't came to pass under Wolfe until this point, but I don't feel if as this is all his fault. What I am basing this upon is how damn hard it is to get players to Pullman Washington. Pullman is in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing to do anywhere close. The weather is awful it never gets much hotter then 85 degrees but It only does that in Aug. The Average Temp for the year in Pullman is 58. IT RAINS AND SNOWS A LOT 21 inches of rain and 28.5 inches of snow. So I guess you get my point Pullman well sucks and why would you want to go play college football in Pullman. With all that said I am among those that wish that Washington State was a national contender again. I grew up watching them in big games. Washington state plays Oregon State as of writing this piece they are 3-3 and with a win today will be 4-3. If the win today they still have UTAH and CAL on the Schedule and those are both winnable which could give the cougars a bowl game birth and save Wolfe's job. 


We have already saw Mike Stoops at Arizona get canned I wanted to say that I hate it for Stoops because Arizona is another job where the Football program isn't as committed as they should be. Stoops lost 80% of his offense last off season and it is just hard to reload at a place like Arizona. I wish Stoops the best of luck. Arizona will not hire a sexy name they will stay safe and Stoops will get a nice coordinator job and eventually another head coaching job.  If although Arizona wants to go after a big name I could see Rich Rodriguez landing here


Speaking of Rich Rodriguez he will be one of the bigger names available in the off season. I can already see him at a place like Arizona. I think though that if Ole Miss fires Houston Nutt then it would be very conceivable for them to hire Rich. I think Ole Miss looks at Miss State with the spread offense and sees Rich's offense fitting that mold.


The biggest name that will be on the block will be Urban Meyer
and the School that I think is the front runner is Penn State. I think Coach Paterno will be even excepting of Meyer taking his spot this off season. I think Meyer would be a wonderful fit for Penn State and if Meyer was to get this job I would serve warning to the rest of the B1G because a Storm would be brewing in Happy Valley.

Top 10 Week 8

1. LSU


2. ALABAMA


3. OKLAHOMA


4. OKLAHOMA STATE


5. WISCONSIN


6. STANFORD


7. BOISE STATE


8. CLEMSON


9. OREGON


10. ARKANSAS

AD TOP 15 Week 7

AD TOP 15 Week 7

As of this week I will no longer be posting fifteen teams. Only about five teams really have a realistic shot at making a trip to the national championship game. I will though include a top ten just in case of complete disaster

1.   LSU

2.   ALABAMA

3.   OKLAHOMA

4.   WISCONSIN

5.   OKLAHOMA STATE

6.   STANFORD

7.   OREGON

8.   BOISE STATE

9.   CLEMSON

10.                     MICHIGAN

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

VA TECH

ILLINOIS

KANSAS STATE

GEORGIA TECH

ARKANSAS

AD TOP 15 Week 6

1.   LSU
2.   ALABAMA
3.   OKLAHOMA
4.   WISCONSIN
5.   OKLAHOMA STATE

6.   STANFORD

7.   BOISE STATE
8.   OREGON
9.   CLEMSON
10. MICHIGAN

11. GEORGIA TECH

12. TEXAS

13. NEBRASKA

14 .ARKANSAS

15. AUBURN

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

KANSAS STATE

WEST VA

ILLINOIS

SOUTH CAROLINAARIZONA STATE 

10/1/11 picks

Where We Stand

So where do we stand now four weeks into the college football season?

We have seen LSU beat Oregon (Neutral Site) and West Virginia in Morgantown.

We have seen Alabama beat Penn State in Happy Valley and dismantle Arkansas at home.

We have seen Oklahoma look impressive on the road in a mad house vs Florida State.

We have seen Notre Dame turn the ball over and over again only to recover with two straight wins to be 2-2.

We have seen Ole Miss get hammered by Vanderbilt and that really has lit a fire under Houston Nutt's seat.

We have seen Robert Griffin the 3rd carry Baylor into the AP top 25. He is 70 of 82 with 13 touchdowns and NO interceptions

We have seen how bad is bad like Boston College-They lost to Duke who Lost to FCS Richmond. Or Minnesota who played step by step with USC but lost to North Dakota State.

We have seen why Purdue is now Purdon't. You CAN NEVER GET pounded by RICE.

We know that both Oklahoma and LSU have to play Serious games in the future. Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State and LSU vs Alabama

We know that college football is better when Michigan is better. Love or hate they are compelling. Same goes for Notre Dame.

It actually does suck that USC isn't eligible for postseason play because watching them win or lose just doesn't matter.

We know that the BCS Championship will not include Boise State. 1-loss BIG XII or SEC or PAC 12 Schools are just more appealing and have played better competition.

I defer to Heismanpundit.com for Heisman talk and their article can be found here. I really like Marcus Lattimore and Justin Blackmon.   http://heismanpundit.com/2011/09/27/the-hp-heisman-watch-week-4-2/

Coaches currently on my coach of the year short list. I like Dabo Swinney,Paul Johnson,Brady Hoke,and Ron Zook so far.

Just a few of my thoughts so far. Comment and Enjoy!

AD Top 15 Week 5

1. LSU

2. OKLAHOMA

3. ALABAMA

4. WISCONSIN

5. OKLAHOMA STATE

6. BOISE STATE

7. STANFORD

8. OREGON

9. NEBRASKA

10. SOUTH CAROLINA

11. VA TECH

12. CLEMSON

13. FLORIDA

14. TEXAS A&M

15. MICHIGAN

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
GEORGIA TECH
TEXAS
HOUSTON
ILLINOIS

FIVE BIG GAMES OF THE WEEKEND WEEK 4

I LIKE THE FOLLOWING FIVE GAMES


ARKANSAS AT ALABAMA 3:30 ON CBS


WINNER:ALABAMA


VANDERBILT AT SOUTH CAROLINA


NOT SO FAST SPECIAL:SOUTH CAROLINA CLOSER THEN LEE CORSO THINKS


SATURDAY SPECIAL


SAN DIEGO STATE VS MICHIGAN


CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: MICHIGAN


MOUNTAINEER HO-DOWN


LSU AT WEST VA


WINNER IN A LANDSLIDE: LSU


SOUTHWEST AIRLINES GAME OF THE WEEK


OKLAHOMA STATE AT TEXAS A&M


WINNER: A&M

AD TOP 15 Week 4

WEEK4 TOP 15

1. OKLAHOMA (2-0)

2. LSU (3-0)

3. ALABAMA (3-0

4. WISCONSIN (3-0)

5. TEXAS A&M (2-0)

6. OREGON (2-1)

7. BOISE STATE (2-0)

8. NEBRASKA (3-0)

9. STANFORD (3-0) 
10. FLORIDA STATE (2-1)

11. SOUTH CAROLINA (3-0)
12. ARKANSAS (3-0)

13. OKLAHOMA STATE (3-0)

14. VA TECH (3-0)

15. FLORDIA (3-0)

AD TOP 15 Week 3

WEEK 3 TOP 15 (PRVS RANKINGS REP ADTOP15)


1. OKLAHOMA (1-0) (0-0) BYE


2. LSU (2-0) (0-0) W VS NWST 49-3


3. ALABAMA (2-0) (0-0) W AT PENN STATE 27-11


4. WISCONSIN (2-0) (0-0) W VS OREGON STATE 35-0


5. FLORIDA STATE (2-0) (0-0) W VS CHAR SOUTHERN 62-10


6. OREGON (1-1) (0-0) W VS NEVADA 69-20


7. BOISE STATE (1-0) (0-0) BYE


8. TEXAS A&M (1-0) (0-0) BYE


9. NEBRASKA (2-0) (0-0) W VS FRESNO STATE 42-29


10. STANFORD (2-0) (0-0) W AT DUKE 44-14


11. SOUTH CAROLINA (2-0) (1-0) W VS GEORGIA 45-42


12. ARKANSAS (2-0) (0-0) W VS NEW MEXICO 52-3


13. VA TECH (2-0) (1-0) W VS EAST CAROLINA 17-10


14. OKLAHOMA STATE (2-0) (0-0) W VS ARIZONA 37-14


15. ARIZONA STATE (2-0) (0-0) W VS MISSOURI 37-30


OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

TEXAS
FLORDIA
MICHIGAN STATE
SOUTH FLORIDA

Five Best Games of the Weekend

#3 ALABAMA AT PENN STATE 3:30 ABC


WINNER: CLOSER THEN CLOSE 17-16 TIDE


PRIMETIME BATTLE ND AT MICHIGAN 8:00PM


WINNER ND


SATURDAY SLEEPER BYU AT TEXAS


WINNER TEXAS


WESTERN SHOWDOWN MISS STATE AT AUBURN


WINNER MISS STATE


EASTERN DUAL


SOUTH CAROLINA AT GEORGIA


WINNER GEORGIA

SEC Changes

THE SEC FOOTPRINT TODAY.

THE SEC FOOTPRINT AFTER TEXAS A&M

TWO OPTIONS TO CONSIDER. THIS ENTIRE THING IS ABOUT TV AND RECRUITING FOOTPRINT. LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY HAS ZERO TO DO WITH IT. FOR THOSE WHO THINK FLORIDA STATE AND CLEMSON ARE CLIMBING ABOARD THINK AGAIN. FLORIDA WILL VOTE FLORIDA STATE DOWN EVERY TIME. CLEMSON DOES ZERO WITH OUR FOOTPRINT AND IS TO MUCH OF A THREAT TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

SCENARIO ONE THE SEC LOOKS AT BASKETBALL IN THIS RACE AND SAYS LETS GET KANSAS,NORTH CAROLINA AND DUKE. BOTH STATES THE SEC DOESN'T HAVE A FOOTPRINT IN AND IT MAKES THE SEC THE BEST BASKETBALL CONFERENCE IN THE COUNTRY    

W/KANSAS AND NORTH CAROLINA

SCENARIO TWO THE SEC COULD GET MISSOURI AS FIRST PROPOSED AND COULD ADD WEST VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND. WEST VIRGINIA REALLY GETS YOU AWFUL CLOSE TO PITTSBURGH AND WESTERN OHIO. MARYLAND GIVES YOU ALL OF NORTHERN VA/AND THE ENTIRE WASHINGTON D.C. REGION. THAT IS A VAST UNTAPPED MARKET. IT REALLY  DOES THEN MAKE YOU RELEVANT EVERYWHERE.

MAP WITH MARYLAND AND MO.

LOOK HOW BIG OF A FOOT PRINT THAT IS. LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF THE ACC AND BIG TEN THE SEC WOULD EAT UP. NOW THIS IS THE BEST CONFERENCE WAGGING IT'S STICK AND TELLING EVERY BODY ELSE TO BACK AWAY. THE SEC HAS THE BIGGEST STICK AND EITHER WAY THEY ARE ABOUT TO SWING IT AT EVERYBODY AND ANYBODY. 

Top 15 Week 2

WEEK 2 TOP 15 (PRVS RANKINGS REP ADTOP15)


1. OKLAHOMA (1-0) (0-0) W VS TULSA 47-14


2. LSU (1-0) (0-0) W VS RANK 2 OREGON 40-27


3. ALABAMA (1-0) (0-0) W VS KENT STATE 48-7


4. BOISE STATE (1-0) (0-0) W VS RANK 14 GEORGIA 35-21


5. FLORIDA STATE (1-0) (0-0) W VS LA MONROE 34-0


6. OREGON (0-1) (0-0) L VS RNK 5 LSU 27-40


7. WISCONSIN (1-0) (0-0) W VS UNLV 51-17


8. TEXAS A&M (1-0) (0-0) W VS SMU 46-14


9. NEBRASKA (1-0) (0-0) W VS CHATTANOOGA 40-7


10. STANFORD (1-0) (0-0) W VS SAN JOSE STATE 57-3


11. VA TECH (1-0) (0-0) W VS APPALACHIAN ST 66-13


12. ARKANSAS (1-0) (0-0) W VS MISSOURI STATE 51-7


13. SOUTH CAROLINA (1-0) (0-0) W VS E. CAROLINA 56-37


14. OKLAHOMA STATE (1-0) (0-0) W VS LLU 61-34


15. TEXAS (1-0) (0-0)  W VS RICE 34-9


OUTSIDE LOOKING IN


WEST VA
ND
SOUTH FLORIDA
PENN STATE

Week One's Big EIGHT Games

1. OREGON VS LSU IN ARLINGTON 8PM ON ABC


WINNER OREGON


2.GEORGIA VS BOISE STATE IN ATLANTA 8 PM ON ESPN


WINNER BOISE STATE


3.SNEAKY GOOD GAME MINNESOTA AT USC


WINNER USC


4.SUNDAY SPECIAL TEXAS A&M VS SMU (SUNDAY)


WINNER: TEXAS A&M


5.EARLY CONFERENCE GAME MIAMI(FL) AT MARYLAND


WINNER:MIAMI(FL)


6.FUNNEST GAME OF THE WEEKEND UCLA AT HOUSTON


WINNER:UCLA


7. LUCK OF THE IRISH---NOTRE DAME VS SOUTH FLORIDA


WINNER:ND


8. RIVALRY OF THE WEEKEND THE FRIENDS OF COAL BOWL WEST VIRGINIA  VS  MARSHALL (SUNDAY)


WINNER:WEST VA

Predictions of each conference and BCS Bowls

Big East-South Florida


I like a few teams in the Big East this year. I really do thou see the conference coming down to either WVA or South Florida. They of course play each other late in the season again this year. I will take the Skip Holtz coached SF Bulls to win the Big East


ACC-VA Tech vs Florida State
Champion- VA Tech


Make no mistake. Va Tech is good again. They have a young QB in Logan Thomas who could be a Cam Newton like talent at QB. I see Va Tech running the ACC table all the was thru Florida State in the ACC championship game.


Big 10(plus2) :-)
First Big 10 Title Game Nebraska vs Wisconsin
Winner Nebraska


Nebraska simply has the easier road to the First BIG 10 Title game. I also think they have the best D of anybody they may face in that championship game. Look for Nebraska to get that BCS birth from the BIG 10


BIG XII (minus 2)


BIG XII-Oklahoma


I think Oklahoma is going undefeated so this is the only logical pick to win this conference although I think Texas and Texas A&M will be big factors in the race.


PAC 12-Oregon vs UCLA
Champion-Oregon


I know I know...UCLA...how could I do such a thing. I think UCLA is one of the most improved teams in the country. When Kevin Prince has been healthy they have won games. I think since USC isn't eligible for post seasons games and Utah has some work to do to compete at his level every week that UCLA slips in the back door. It won't matter they will be running into a buzzsaw named Oregon and UCLA has no chance. 


SEC
Georgia vs LSU
Champion: LSU
Gerogia may win the East by pure lack of anybody else that has enough talent or returning players to be good enough to do so. Mark Richt sure hopes this is his year to make a return to Atlanta because his job is on the line. LSU on the Other hand has had legal issues that will hurt the start of the season but they will be fine and that Defense I think is just as good as Alabama's. I will take LSU over Georgia in Atlanta


Rose Bowl
Nebraska (BIG 10) vs Texas (AT Large)
Winner: Texas


Fiesta Bowl
Notre Dame (ND EXCEPTION) vs Boise State (At Large)
Winner: ND


Sugar Bowl
South Florida (BIG EAST) vs LSU (SEC)
Winner: LSU


Orange Bowl
Va Tech (ACC) vs Alabama (At Large)
Winner: Alabama


National Title
Oklahoma (BIG12) vs Oregon (PAC 12)
Winner: Oklahoma

Top 15 List

Week 1 AD Top 15


1. Oklahoma


2. Oregon


3. Alabama


4. Boise State


5. LSU


6. Nebraska


7. Florida State


8. Notre Dame


9. Texas A&M


10. Wisconsin


11. Arkansas


12. South Carolina


13. Oklahoma State


14. Georgia


15. Texas

AD Top 15........ # TWO

#2 THE OREGON DUCKS


WHO THEY ARE


COACHED BY CHIP KELLY OVERALL (22-4)
AT HOME UNDER KELLY (13-0)
AWAY UNDER KELLY (9-2)
VS TOP 10 UNDER KELLY (3-2)
VS PAC 12 UNDER KELLY (17-1)
PREVIOUS RECORD (12-1)
RETURNING STARTERS 12 SEVEN ON OFFENSE AND 5 ON DEFENSE
QB DARRON THOMAS 2881 YRDS PASS 30-9 TD TO INT 486 RUSH 5 TDS
RB LaMICHAEL JAMES 1731 RUSH 21 TDS
SB KENJON BARNER 551 RUSH 6 TDS
FS JOHN BOYETT 78 TKLS 5 INTS


WHO THEY PLAY


SEP.3   LSU (ARLINGTON)
SEP.10  (H)  NEVADA
SEP.17  (H)  MISSOURI STATE
SEP.24   @   ARIZONA
OCT.1   BYE
OCT.6   (H)  CALIFORNIA (THURSDAY)
OCT.15  (H)  ARIZONA STATE
OCT.22   @   COLORADO
OCT.29  (H)  WASHINGTON STATE
NOV.5    @   WASHINGTON
NOV.12   @   STANFORD
NOV.19  (H)  USC
NOV.26  (H)  OREGON STATE
DEC.3   PAC 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME


WHY #2


The Ducks have came a long way in the past 10 years. Thanks Phil Knight---just kidding. No Chip Kelly installed the fastest offensive pace I have ever seen last year. I expect fully for that pace to be the same if not faster this year. I also think that the 45.5 ppg average that we saw last year could really keep going. They might get to 50 ppg this year. Defense on the other hand will be not so good. Only 5 Returning starters from a defense that made some plays when it needed to but did allow big plays. The offense is so hard to contain. I see two major games on the road to a pac 12 championship the opener vs LSU and at Stanford nov. 12th. If the Ducks get by LSU I see 11-1 at the least. I just feel like it is super hard to repeat undefeated regular seasons because the attrition is a factor. ROSE BOWL at a Minimum but once again serious National Title implications live in Eugene  

AD Top 15....... # THREE

#3 THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE


WHO THEY ARE


COACHED BY NICK SABAN OVERALL (134-53-1)
ALABAMA UNDER SABAN (43-11)
AT HOME UNDER SABAN (24-4)
AWAY UNDER SABAN (13-4)
VS TOP 10 UNDER SABAN (9-4)
VS SEC UNDER SABAN (26-8)
PREVIOUS RECORD (10-3)
RETURNING STARTERS 17 SEVEN ON OFFENSE AND TEN ON DEFENSE
QB AJ McCARRON   NO TRUE EXPERIENCE
RB TRENT RICHARDSON 719 YARDS 6 TDS PLAYED BEHIND HT WINNER MARK INGRAM
WR MARQUIS MAZE 557 YARDS 3 TDS
SS MARK BARON 75 TKLS 2 SACKS 3 INTS




WHO THEY PLAY


SEP.3   (H)  KENT STATE
SEP.10   @   PENN STATE
SEP.17  (H)  NORTH TEXAS
SEP.24  (H)  ARKANSAS
OCT.1    @   FLORIDA
OCT.8   (H)  VANDERBILT
OCT.15   @   MISSISSIPPI
OCT.22  (H)  TENNESSEE
OCT.29  BYE
NOV.5   (H)  LSU
NOV.12   @   MISSISSIPPI STATE
NOV.19  (H)  GEORGIA SOUTHERN
NOV.26   @   AUBURN
DEC.3   SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME


WHY #3


Nick Saban has done wonderful job at Alabama. One National Title in 4 years. Top 5 recruiting  classes over and over again. Heisman Trophy winner for the first time in Alabama history. The Program in Tuscaloosa Alabama is moving right along and really has been ripping up the SEC for the last 2 years. Alabama returns 10 starters on Defense. I don't know if I even need to say anything more. They are going to be force on that side of the ball. Nick is a seriously good Defensive coach and bring the 3-4 style to Alabama has given them a pro style defense with lots of future pros on that side of the ball. The major question mark I have with the crimson tide is QB. I know like a lot of people that McCarron is a heralded QB out of HS but HS vs the SEC is a gigantic difference. Look over the past few years teams don't win with rookie starters in this league. In this case he has bunches of talent around him. Two really good WR's one Stud RB a very good O line. I am not saying that he won't win games. You just don't have any idea what you have until that young QB plays in a big game for the first time and it is the most important position in football. He and Alabama will get that chance early in a trip to a sure to be white out at Happy Valley vs an Improved Penn State team on Sep.10.  The rest of the work load much easier then last year. Still though it is the SEC. I think Alabama could run the table. I do think though Somebody will sneak up on the Tide and that Alabama will although win the West will do it with 1 loss along the way and play for the right to be SEC Champions in Atlanta. BCS bowl for sure. National Title could very well be in the picture. 12-1 for the Tide.   

AD Top 15....... # FOUR

#4 THE BOISE STATE BRONCOS


WHO THEY ARE


COACHED BY CHRIS PETERSON OVERALL (61-5)
AT HOME UNDER PETERSON (32-0)
AWAY UNDER PETERSON (25-3)
VS TOP TEN UNDER PETERSON (3-0)
VS PREVIOUSLY WAC (38-2) FIRST YEAR IN MNT WEST
PREVIOUS RECORD (12-1)
RETURNING STARTERS 14 SEVEN ON BOTH SIDES
QB KELLEN MOORE 3845 YRDS 35-6 TD TO INT (HEISMAN CANDIDATE)
RB DOUG MARTIN 1260 YRDS 12 TD




WHO THEY PLAY


SEP.3  GEORGIA (ATLANTA)
SEP.10  BYE
SEP.17   @   TOLEDO
SEP.24  (H)  TULSA
OCT.1   (H)  NEVADA
OCT.7    @   FRESNO STATE  (FRIDAY)
OCT.15   @   COLORADO STATE 
OCT.22  (H)  AIR FORCE
OCT.29  BYE
NOV.5    @   UNLV
NOV.12  (H)  TCU
NOV.19   @   SAN DIEGO STATE
NOV.26  (H)  WYOMING
DEC.3   (H)  NEW MEXICO


WHY #4


They are the media's underdog. They will start out ranked high in the media polls and will finish high if they get past the bulldogs in week one. I don't know that I would ever be for Boise State playing for a National Title and not playing enough games vs BCS Conf teams. One Game vs Georgia in week one isn't enough for me to say that you are worthy of playing for and being national champion. I will say that now playing in the Mountain west gives the Broncos more to offer but just for this one season. Because after this season TCU is leaving for the Big East and getting replaced by Fresno state which will make this a stronger version of the old WAC. I do though feel as if Boise does have the Talent to win big games. I am ok with Boise going 13-0 and playing in a BCS bowl game at season end and trying to add another BCS game win under there belt. I feel as if Kellen Moore could be one the top 3 college QB's in the nation along side Landry Jones and Andrew Luck. I think Kellen will be in New York with a serious chance to win the Heisman. I think Boise has a real challenge to go to Atlanta in the heart of Bulldog county and win a game vs UGA. If they do the Broncos will go undefeated and play in likely the Fiesta bowl at seasons end.

AD Top 15........ # FIVE

#5 THE LSU TIGERS


WHO THEY ARE


COACHED BY LES MILES OVERALL RECORD (90-38)
LSU UNDER MILES (62-17)
AT HOME UNDER MILES (37-6)
AWAY UNDER MILES (18-9)
VS TOP 10 UNDER MILES (9-8)
VS SEC UNDER MILES (34-16)
RETURNING STARTERS 15 EIGHT ON OFFENSE AND SEVEN ON DEFENSE
QB JORDAN JEFFERSON 1411 YARDS 7-10 TD TO INT RATIO + 7 RUSH TD
WR RUSSELL SHEPARD 254 REC YRDS 253 RUSH YRDS 3 TOT TDS
LB RYAN BAKER  87 TKLS WITH 7 SACKS


WHO THEY PLAY


SEP.3   OREGON (ARLINGTON)
SEP.10  (H)  NORTHWESTERN STATE
SEP.15   @   MISSISSIPPI STATE (THURSDAY)
SEP.24   @   WEST VIRGINIA
OCT.1   (H)  KENTUCKY
OCT.8   (H)  FLORIDA
OCT.15   @   TENNESSEE
OCT.22  (H)  AUBURN
OCT.29    BYE
NOV.5    @   ALABAMA
NOV.12  (H)  WESTERN KENTUCKY
NOV.19   @   MISSISSIPPI
NOV.25  (H)  ARKANSAS (FRIDAY)
DEC.3   SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME


WHY #5


The most difficult schedule in the entire SEC and I wonder to myself even why I believe that LSU has a chance to be one of the best teams in the county. It all comes down to talent. LSU over the years has collected the best talent in the country and in years that a majority of that talent has been returning they have been very successful. Two National titles in years such as those and this year is another year with a large percentage of an older team returning. Les Miles although perceived as lucky from time to time has done a real solid job in leading this team way beyond the Nick Saban era. If Jordan Jefferson can just double his TD numbers this year from 7 to 14 and just limit turnovers then that will give the tigers the best qb play they have had in the past 3 seasons and The explosive talent they have at WR will finally be noticed. On defense many people over the years have came to know and understand what you are getting from a John Chavis coached defense. They will bend and not break and will play lots of zone. With 7 returning starters and what I am sure are talented replacements at the other postions I am sure that John will have them being a force in the SEC once again. We finally take a look at the work load this year and it is going to be a challenge. They open against another Team in this list the Oregon Ducks. Both teams of which are in my top 5 and no matter who wins or loses I feel will end up in the final top 5. So that opening weekend LSU's National title hopes are on the line along with Oregon's. So you better be ready to play. They also go on the road to likely preseason favorite to win the Big East at West VA and of course have to play killer teams in the SEC such as Alabama and Arkansas. It will be a grind but, LSU has been doing this for a few years they play schedule like this often i feel as if the Oregon and Alabama games are the true road blocks on the list and I see 10-2 but I still see an At large bid to a BCS game and a Final ranking in the top 5 due to the nature of the tough schedule they will pick up some point from voters because of it.

AD Top 15...... # SIX

#6 THE NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS


WHO THEY ARE


COACHED BY BO PELINI OVERALL RECORD (30-12)
AT HOME UNDER PELINI (17-5)
AWAY UNDER PELINI (10-4)
VS TOP 10 UNDER PELINI (1-5)
VS FORMERLY BIG 12 (17-9) FIRST SEASON IN BIG 10
RETURNING STARTERS 12 FIVE ON OFFENSE AND SEVEN ON DEFENSE
QB TAYLOR MARTINEZ 1631 YARDS 10-7 TD TO INT 965 YARDS RSH 12 TD
RB REX BURKHEAD (BACKUP LY) 951 YARDS AND 7 TD
MLB LAVONTE DAVID 152 TKLS 6 SACKS 9 FOR LOSS


WHO THEY PLAY


SEP.3   (H)  CHATTANOOGA
SEP.10  (H)  FRESNO STATE
SEP.17  (H)  WASHINGTON
SEP.24   @   WYOMING
OCT.1    @   WISCONSIN
OCT.8   (H)  OHIO STATE
OCT.15  BYE
OCT.22   @   MINNESOTA
OCT.29  (H)  MICHIGAN STATE
NOV.5   (H)  NORTHWESTERN
NOV.12   @   PENN STATE
NOV.19   @   MICHIGAN
NOV.25  (H)  IOWA (FRIDAY) 
DEC.3   BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME




WHY #6


Nebraska has returned to the national spot light the last few years under Bo Pelini. In the mid 90's Nebraska was the best college football program in the nation winning multiple national championships. Nebraska was hurt by being in the Big 12 North for those years after the amazing run in the 90's as they didnt play major spot light games every week. Kansas,Kansas State,Iowa State have not been major players for years. I will always argue that the Big 12 North held Nebraska back for the last few years due to the lack of good teams in the division as it created bad TV slots and possible high school players lost interest in the chance to play at Nebraska.  Pelini has done a wonderful job of bringing back the hard nosed blackshirt defense that once was a terror on the nation.  Allowing only 17.4 points per game last year that defense returns 7 players and they have been seriously good since the arrival of Pelini 3 years ago. I don't see any loss of production on the defensive side of the ball this year. On Offense I would say that it will honestly be all on the shoulders of Taylor Martinez's growth progress. If he is a improved passer by just 50% the Huskers offense will flourish. Taylor ran for almost 1000 yards last year and 12 TD more TDs then anybody on the team. If his passing numbers get to 18 and 7 TD to INT and he keeps up solid production on the ground the Huskers offense around him will fall into place. I Hate Nebraska's schedule. They play Wisconsin,Penn State,and Michigan all on the road with the last two being back to back games. They also draw Iowa and Ohio State this year. The three road games are to 3 of the hardest places to play in the nation and back to back at Penn state and Michigan is going to be a testament to this teams will. I think the huskers open 4-0 and the season will rest on the game @ Wisconsin on OCT.1st. If the Huskers go on the road and win that game I see a 11-1 season and a trip to the first ever Big Ten Championship game.