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Predictions for each conference!

ACC

How I see it: The conference really struggled last season, but stands to be much improved this year as coaching changes at FSU, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, and Boston College could reverse fortune for some of those teams. Canes and Noles should each win 9+ games this year as they climb back to the top of the country.

Projected Order of Finish:

Coastal Division
Virginia Tech
Miami
Virginia
Georgia Tech
North Carolina
Duke

Atlantic Division
Florida St.
Maryland
Clemson
Wake Forest
NC State
Boston College

Champion: Virginia Tech…Hokies get Miami and FSU at home, and if they can pull an upset at LSU then they have a legit shot at reaching the BCS Title game.

Sleeper: Virginia…the Cavaliers avoid FSU, and play Va Tech at home. They also return 19 starters and have great play along both lines.

Sleeping: Boston College…Losing HC Tom O’Brien to NC State a sign of things to come.

SEC

How I see it: Looks like once again this will be the top conference in America, but don’t expect 9 bowl bids like they garnered last year. The East could feature a 4-way tie for first…don’t laugh, but the Gators set themselves up best for winning tiebreakers. The West will be won win the Tide host the Bayou Bengals.

Projected Order of Finish:

East
Florida
Tennessee
South Carolina
Georgia
Vanderbilt
Kentucky

West
Alabama
LSU
Mississippi St.
Arkansas
Auburn
Mississippi

Champion: Alabama…Nick Saban will work his magic in year number one. The Tide get Tennessee, Georgia, and LSU at home, but must still find a way to win the Iron Bowl…if they do, then they will be in the National Title hunt.

Sleeper: Mississippi State…If the Bulldogs can get steady play from whomever plays QB, then the schedule sets up very nice as they play Tennessee, LSU, and Alabama at home, and avoid S. Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.

Sleeping: Auburn…Sorry Tigers, the torch will be passed so quick to your in-state rivals you won’t even know what hit you. Auburn faces a tough schedule, have only 12 scholarship seniors, and were actually outgained offensively last year by over 33 ypg. Amazingly, the Tigers have only lost 3 conference games in the last 3 years…but they’ll lose at least 4 this year.

Big 10

How I see it: Could be wide open this year in the Big 11. I don’t see UM winning it, they lose their 5 best defensive players and only return 10 starters from last season and once again have the bad omen of being ranked high to start the season. The Buckeyes return only 11 starters.

Projected Order of Finish:

Wisconsin
Michigan
Penn St.
Purdue
Ohio St.
Illinois
Iowa
Northwestern
Michigan St.
Minnesota
Indiana

Champion: Wisconsin…boring but effective, the Badgers suffered only one loss last year at Michigan and bring back 16 starters. Games at Penn State and Ohio State will be tough.

Sleeper: Illinois/Purdue…I couldn’t decide so I’ll list both. The Illini return 17 starters and if they could cut down on the turnovers then they could be bowling. Their schedule is extremely difficult. Purdue brings back 18 starters and should be exciting on offense.

Sleeping: Ohio State…it was just three years ago they were a .500 team in conference, they lost a ton offensively, and still putting the pieces back together after their BCS Title Game meltdown.

Big XII

How I see it: As the North continues to restore its once glowing resume, the South will continue to be the face of the conference on the national scene. The game in Dallas will decide who is best again. Mizzu gets the Huskers in Columbia, but I feel Nebraska’s learning curve is greater and they’ll repeat in the North.

Projected Order of Finish:

South
Texas
Oklahoma
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Oklahoma St.
Baylor

North
Nebraska
Missouri
Kansas St.
Iowa St.
Kansas
Colorado

Champion: Texas…The Horns fell apart down the stretch last season which is worrisome, but I think they are the most talented defensive and offensive team in the league and don’t have a QB situation like the Sooners do.

Sleeper: Nebraska…Yes, I picked them to win the North, but they could do much more. An impressive out of conference schedule that includes @ ACC Champ Wake Forest and vs. USC, combined with a Big XII title could have the Huskers as a national title contender.

Sleeping: Texas A&M…This could be dead on, or dead wrong! Just like Nebraska, the Aggies play an imposing, but less managible schedule that could turn a good team in a team barely bowl-eligible.

PAC-10

How I see it: I got ripped on a lot last year for picking Cal over USC as conference champs. The Bears got off to a shaky start, BUT CAL was PAC-10 CO-CHAMPIONS last year. This year, no need to stray as the Trojans are loaded…BUT do face the 2nd toughest schedule in America! I believe the PAC-10 is the DEEPEST conference in America.

Projected Order of Finish:

USC
Arizona St.
California
UCLA
Oregon
Oregon St.
Washington
Arizona
Washington St.
Stanford

Champion: USC…The Trojans will have one of the best defenses in the country, and while they lose both starting recievers, have no fear as Patrick Turner and Vidal Hazalton will become familiar names very quickly.

Sleeper: Arizona St…Sun Devils are loaded on offense, have a new proven winner as HC, in Dennis Erickson, and have a schedule that could have them in first place in the conference til November.

Sleeping: Oregon St…On paper the Beavers look good, they did beat USC last year, but the schedule isn’t kind and that will push the Beavers to the middle of the league.

Big East

How I see it: The conference everyone picks on stood up for itself in a big way last year. Three teams in the national title hunt, and a 5-0 bowl record. As Pittsburgh and South Florida get better the league becomes more legit, even if it is still only the 6th best conference, which it is.

Projected Order of Finish:

Louisville
West Virginia
Pittsburgh
South Florida
Rutgers
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Syracuse

Champion: Louisville…I tabbed the Cards last year and upset quite a few Mountaineer fans, and I am going to do it again despite a trip to Morgantown because top to bottom, the Cardinals are the best on both sides of the ball in the league. Steve Kragthorpe takes over for Bobby Petrino and doesn’t miss a beat.

Sleeper: USF…Hate to say it Knights fans, but the Bulls are leaving them in the dust. A bowl win last year, a win AT MORGANTOWN, the season previous they knocked off highly ranked L-Ville, and USF isn’t just a team trying to belong, they are a team that could win the league!

Sleeping: Syracuse…Would somebody, anybody wake up the Orangemen…er, Orange. How embarrassing for a once-proud school with a wonderful history. Rutgers will also come back down to earth a bit this year, but is still a bowl team.

Mountain West

TCU
Utah
BYU
New Mexico
Wyoming
UNLV
Colorado St.
San Diego St.
Air Force

WAC

Hawaii
Boise St.
Fresno St.
San Jose St.
Nevada
New Mexico St.
Louisiana Tech
Idaho
Utah St.

Conference USA

West
Houston
UTEP
Rice
Tulsa
SMU
Tulane

East
Southern Miss
UCF
Marshall
Memphis
East Carolina
UAB

Champion: Southern Miss

MAC

West
Western Michigan
Toledo
Central Michigan
Ball St.
Northern Illinois
Eastern Michigan

East
Kent St.
Ohio
Miami (OH)
Bowling Green
Akron
Buffalo
Temple

Champion: Western Michigan

Sun Belt

Troy
ULM
Florida Atlantic
Arkansas St.
Middle Tennessee
Louisiana Lft
North Texas
Florida International

Tags: 2007, College, Football, Mike Tuck, NCAA