College Football 2006
 

OK, I just got my USC season tickets, so I'm ready to talk some college football.

Which team will win the national championship? How about your local conference? Your favorite rivalry game? Anyone following recruiting?

If you're a college football fan, let's hear who you root for and what you're thinking about the upcoming season.

:munchin

I root for my alma mater, Virginia Tech.

National Champ: no idea.
ACC Champ: hate to say it, but I think Florida State gets it again. Gak.
VT - UVA: Hokies

Tech's got new starters at QB, TB, half the secondary, 3/4 of the DL, and a chunk of the OL. There's a lot of talent in those slots, but no experience as yet. The schedule starts with a cupcake, but I can easily see inexperience costing a game or two this season. It'll still be respectable, 9+ wins, but not BCS caliber.

I think Miami's dangerous but not consistent enough to get it done. They'll dominate against some and look weak against others. Usually they can scrape out a win even when flat, but they'll drop one too many somehow. Coker ends up with 10 wins and still gets fired.

Tech's been on this weird blitz this summer. Something like 18 verbals in July, total of 22 or so verbals for 2007. Tech's usually got about three when the school year starts, and doesn't get to 20 until the last week of January. This year, they scored a high-buzz QB from Tidewater at the beginning of July and suddenly verbal commitments started flooding in.

The sad thing is, I won't get to watch the bulk of the season. I'll be spending it at Benning for OSUT. :boohoo

Ok I have to be a homer here (and who won't??!!) but Penn State will win the big ten outright and challenge for the national title. Provided our new QB works out of course!

Best recruiting class? USC
Best chance to surprise? Alabama
Biggest flop? Notre Dame (sorry Charlie-tuna anyone?)

You fiends from other teams may fire when ready-the line is hot! :munchin

Go Frogs!!! TCU ought to do well again this year, but I'm biased, as an alumnus.

I didn't even think to consider ND as a flop. Guess I never bought into the love-fest enough to consider a poor season from them as a "flop." :D

Oklahoma just kicked their starting QB, Rhett Bomar, off the team for taking payments from a booster. They kicked an O lineman off too. :munchin

I'll of course be rooting for my Alma Mater, West Virginia University.

I anticipate a stellar year, with another BCS bowl game.

Let's Go Mountaineers!

In good years and in bad, Maryland is my team. ( I was there before the addition of Florida State:p ).

There is just something wrong in having a bowl game actually named after the financial sponsor: ex.: the Chick-fil-A Bowl (jmho)


The ACC:

Bowl Games
The bowl lineup as of the 2006 season, in order of selection (which can be based on any criteria the bowls choose, within the new parameters set by the ACC as of the 2006 season):

1 – BCS (exclusive partnership with the FedEx Orange Bowl*[1])
2 – Chick-fil-A Bowl (formerly Peach Bowl) in Atlanta, Georgia (vs SEC)
3 – Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida (vs Big East, the Big 12 or Notre Dame)
4 – Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Florida (vs Big 10)
5 – Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee (vs SEC)
6 – Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina (vs Big East or Navy)
7 – Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, California (vs Pac-10)
8 – MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho (vs WAC)
A new agreement for bowl selection was set by the ACC during their preseason media day and annual Kickoff news conference on July 25, 2006. The rules set new parameters for how teams would be selected as well as officially swapped the picks for the Chick-Fil-A and Gator Bowls. Under the new agreement, the ACC championship game loser cannot fall below the Music City Bowl (5th pick). Furthermore, a bowl game can bypass a team in the selection process only if the two teams in question are within one game of each other in the overall ACC standings. This was done in response to the mixed reaction resulting from the selection of teams in the 2005 ACC bowls. A newly agreed partnership was announced with the FedEx Orange Bowl, which will be the home of the ACC champion against another BCS at-large selection (the only exception to this would be an instance in which the ACC champion plays in the BCS National Championship Game and the conference does not field an additional at-large school bid).

ND takes it all...
 

Having been raised Catholic in Indiana, I am compelled to say that Notre Dame will return to their former glory and go undefeated, winning the BCS in the process. Brady Quinn is a serious Heismann contender, and rightly so. Charlie Weis is about to bring the dynasty back to South Bend.

The University of Wyoming will finish the season...
 

what...? the Pokes will play all the games on the schedule...
hope i didn't jinx them...

College Football
 

I root for Texas A&M since I attended that university for 3 glorious years. As for who will win the MNC, I think is kind of wide open this year. Texas lost its leader and OU just lost their starting QB. I think ND has a real shot. Ohio State might also be in the hunt if they beat Texas. It should be a great year for the greatest sport around.

As an Italian/German/Irish catholic I feel compelled to say THPPHHHHHHTTTHHH!!!!!!! on ND! :p

Go Lions!

Goggles,

Joe Pa is a class act, but I don't think the Lions have the steam to run the table. GO IRISH!

Preseason coaches poll is out:

Week 1 USA Today Poll
1. Ohio State (28) 0-0 1,487
2. Texas (11) 0-0 1,378
3. USC (1) 0-0 1,348
3. Notre Dame (9) 0-0 1,348
5. Oklahoma (13) 0-0 1,320
6. Auburn (1) 0-0 1,206
7. West Virginia 0-0 1,202
8. Florida 0-0 1,054
9. LSU 0-0 1,037
10. Florida State 0-0 874
11. Miami (FL) 0-0 839
12. California 0-0 798
13. Louisville 0-0 785
14. Georgia 0-0 784
15. Michigan 0-0 778
16. Virginia Tech 0-0 591
17. Iowa 0-0 519
18. Clemson 0-0 493
19. Penn State 0-0 406
20. Oregon 0-0 373
21. TCU 0-0 270
22. Nebraska 0-0 261
23. Tennessee 0-0 216
24. Alabama 0-0 210
25. Texas Tech 0-0 198
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Arizona State 182, Boston College 87, Utah 84, Arkansas 64, South Carolina 55, Boise State 46, Wisconsin 37, UCLA 29, Georgia Tech 28, Fresno State 14, Tulsa 11, Iowa State 9, Minnesota 9, Maryland 8, Purdue 7, TEXAS AM 6, Memphis 5, Nevada 3, UTEP 3, Rutgers 2, NORTHN ILLINOIS 2, Northwestern 2, Oregon State 2, Arizona 2, Brigham Young 2, Colorado 1, Duke 1.

A repeat of last years Fiesta - Ohio State vs. Notre Dame.

I am a lifelong Ohio State and Notre Dame fan. It is hard to choose.

RL, I will be at the ND@USC game this year. I'll look for you on the loser side. :lifter