2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

Inspired by the exchange with Capone0
Last year, the fiesta bowl thread (tOSU pwning ND) became a thread were talk of next year's best team surfaced.

I believe I went with tOSU and SC. (so effing close man...dumb donkey luck)

Well, let's do the same thing here.

Who do you guys have for 2008 champions? top 5?

Here's mine:
1. SC
2. Texas
3. Michigan
4. LSU
5. Louisville

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

Boise St vs Maryland

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

1. Southern Cal
2. Louisville
3. Michigan
4. Nebraska
5. Florida
14. Rutgers

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

I think we should not forget who loses people. Louisville without Brohm and Bush will not be Louisville with them.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

People on this board are huge on Cantwell, Brohm's backup, and I guess I just assumed Bush would be back. But, yeah I'd like to be able to go back on who I think would do well after spring ball. I think PSU could be a suprise team next year, they will lose Tony Hunt and Pusluszny, but the rest of the team is still intact including Morrelli, Connor, and King.

That's just a rough estimate. I think the Big 12 Championship game is Nebraska/Texas with Nebraska coming on top. Big 10 is Michigan/Penn State, Big East will be WVU/UL, SEC UF/LSU, ACC BC/Va Tech(I like BC winning it), Pac-10 is USC(Oregon could be the 2nd best team if they don't let Dixon play but let Leaf play), and then my mid-major is San Jose winning the WAC.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think we should not forget who loses people. Louisville without Brohm and Bush will not be Louisville with them.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a HUGE Hunter Cantwell fan [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

1. Alabama. I mean my God they have SABAN!!!!!
2. USC
3. Michigan
4. Texas

I think after this is gets hazy. Depends on Brohm and Russell's decisions.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

Haven't really looked through exactly who's going to be back, but from what I know off hand:

1. USC: Pains me to put them here but that defense is going to be absolutely sick with some experience. And as soon as they replace the receivers, the offense should be set too.

2. Florida: The only thing that's hurt them this year is the two QB system. Let Urban Meyer run the spread option right and they're a top contender if not the favorite.

3. LSU: They've got a ton of starters coming back and should get the flip side of the scheduling coin after having all their tough games on the road this year. I could see them 12-0 through the regular season before losing to the Gators in the SEC title game.

4. Michigan: Henne and Hart will probably be the best QB/RB duo in the nation next year. The losses on the defensive side of the ball and in the O-line will probably keep them from going undefeated though.

5. Virginia Tech: Kind of my sleeper pick here in a historically good program that went through a rebuilding year, but will have a lot of people back next season.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

Washington Huskies.

Hey, I can dream, can't I? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

b

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think we should not forget who loses people. Louisville without Brohm and Bush will not be Louisville with them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Losing Bush is a non factor. Cantwell looked good when he was in there. They're losing 5 starters on defense and 4 on offense and only a couple of backups.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

I like USC!

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Boise St

[/ QUOTE ]

ROFL

not happening, maybe if no teams from BCS conferences have 1loss or less

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

No way Texas should be fop five pre season. Top ten maybe.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

In no particular order:

Florida
LSU
Michigan
USC
Wisconsin

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

The SEC is going to be a bloodbath next year. I don't see any team getting out with one loss unless Russell comes back for LSU.

1USC
2Michigan
3Texas
4WVU
5UL

Texas has it so easy in the Big XII right now.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Texas has it so easy in the Big XII right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

No they don't. The big XII is wide open next year. A&M and OSU will be good next year. Nebraska and OU will be good if they get decent play from their new QB's. TT is a year older and that can only help playing in a system like theirs.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think PSU could be a suprise team next year, they will lose Tony Hunt and Pusluszny, but the rest of the team is still intact including Morrelli, Connor, and King.


[/ QUOTE ]

As a PSU fan, I agree with this. I expect PSU to finish in the Top 10 next year. Losing Pozluszny will hurt, but Connor is excellent and I'm sure they'll find somebody to fill Poz' shoes.

Morelli's best game was in the Outback Bowl, and hopefully it'll be a sign of things to come. The OL will be older and hopefully give him more time to throw to one of the most potent wideout team in the nation.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

I know I'm a bit of a homer, but I want to know what people think of Tennessee with Meachem and Ainge both coming back as seniors, only losing one olineman (their best in Sears tho). I guess their secondary could be a problem next year as they do lose both starting corners(although Inke Johnson missed the whole year do to injury anyway)

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

USC road games next season. At Neb, Cal, Oregon, UW, ASU, and Notre Dame.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

BTW, I am seriously considering Alabama a darkhorse national title contender. Not joking. Lots of talent at the speed positions and at QB. Defense will be good, and the OL should improve. Watch out.

1. Michigan
2. USC
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. Tennessee

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
BTW, I am seriously considering Alabama a darkhorse national title contender. Not joking. Lots of talent at the speed positions and at QB. Defense will be good, and the OL should improve. Watch out.


[/ QUOTE ]

ROFL

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

Arkansas

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
BTW, I am seriously considering Alabama a darkhorse national title contender. Not joking. Lots of talent at the speed positions and at QB. Defense will be good, and the OL should improve. Watch out.


[/ QUOTE ]

ROFL

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

1. USC - 10 defensive starters back, along with most of the offense. If Jarrett comes back (which I don't think will happen) their offense will be just as loaded.
2. LSU - assuming Russell returns for senior year. As much talent and speed as anyone in the country.
3. Nebraska - assuming Zach Bowman returns 100% healthy and they don't suffer any major injuries, particularly on the dline. QB Keller should be a big upgrade over Taylor
4. Louisville - assuming Brohm returns for senior year.
5. West Virginia - the Big East should be the easiest major conference to run the table. The winner of UL-WV should have a good shot at being undefeated.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Texas has it so easy in the Big XII right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

No they don't.

First they have to come out of the South, which means they have to beat Oklahoma which will always be a chore...Stoops will always have a team ready. They will have to play a rivalry game against A&M, an Aggie team that beat them in Austin this year with an EXTREMELY young core that isn't getting any younger and only getting more experienced. A&M will be tough next year.

OSU is probably one of the most underrated teams in the South, they were just a tick from being a top tier team this year w/o anyone really knowing it. They lost to A&M, TT, OU and K State by 6 points or less. The only game in which they weren't in the ball game in the 4th was the UT game...their worst game of the year. They recruited well and in the past few years have given Texas a serious bump in the road. OSU was closer to being a 1-2 loss team than most people may realize.

Tech was very bad this year but this was also the first time in years that they didn't have a fifth year QB that had been groomed for 4 years to learn an intricate and if ran correct very effective offense to jump in and take the snaps. Instead they had a Sophmore-first year QB. You could also see the difference in this team from the beginning to the end. He is a very good QB and depending upon what Leech added to the program they could be scary next year, b/c if you remember correctly that extremely poor Tech team damn near beat UT this year, it took a magical escape to win that game.

The Big XII has been awful but it is getting a little better in the South.

As for the North, still poor but Nebraska just may be the best team in all of the Big XII next year. They have signed more top 100 High School Recruits last year and this year than any team in the Big 12 and with ASU transfer Sam Keller at QB you aren't losing anything at that position with Taylor gone, you just may be gaining. Keller was on pace to break records before his injury in 05'Keller Bio. He most likely won't put up astronomical numbers in Lincoln with their great running attack but it just adds to their balance. Taylor (QB for Nebraska) was the offensive player of the year and Keller is on another level when comparing talent. You really shouldn't think that Texas just has it easy. All this doesn't mean Texas is going to lose but what it does mean is that they are going to have to show up to play b/c it isn't their conference to run away with anymore.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

What he said /\ /\ /\.

This was the most down the Big 12 has been since the inception of the league in 1996. And Texas still couldn't win their own division!!!

Year in and year out over the last 10 years, the only conference as competitive and with as much talent as the Big 12 is the SEC. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

As an Alabama fan...

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
BTW, I am seriously considering Alabama a darkhorse national title contender. Not joking. Lots of talent at the speed positions and at QB. Defense will be good, and the OL should improve. Watch out.


[/ QUOTE ]

ROFLMAO

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP.

I think we'll be better, but we'll do well to win the SEC West, much less the SEC or compete for a national championship next year.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

1. SC
2. Texas
3. LSU (if russell comes back)
4. Michigan
5. Louisville (if Brohm comes back)

Depending on who decides to up and leave for the draft over the next few weeks, things will shake out a bit. But I think SC is a lock for #1, even with Jarrett leaving, with the way they finished by mopping up Michigan.

After that, I think there's probably about 5-6 teams that will randomly fill in the spots.

One conference nobody has mentioned so far in the Big Ten. Michigan SHOULD be pretty loaded, but what about OSU, Wisconsin, PSU, etc? I expect OSU to have a good, but not great season, just because they will have to bring in a lot of new players. Anyone know what's up with Wisco? I have no idea how many they have returning...PSU, as someone mentioned, could have a great season if a couple key things align. MSU hopefully will at least be bowl-eligable, but with a new coach and system in play, who knows...

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

For those saying SC, are you projecting them to win the Championship or just to be a preseason #1 (which seems much more likely)?

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone know what's up with Wisco?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Badgers are returning all but 6 starters next year. On offense they are going to improve at QB because Donovan is a much better QB than Stocco and should have been starting the past two years. They lose Joe Thomas, but if there's one thing the Badgers can easily replace, its offensive lineman. They've got a nice 6'8" 317 lb Sr LT ready to replace him, and also have 6'8" 312 lb Fr #1 T recruit in the country Josh Oglesby coming in. On defense they will be keeping most of the core of what was already a very solid defense this year.

Badgers win the Big Ten and are top 5 in the nation next year.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Year in and year out over the last 10 years, the only conference as competitive and with as much talent as the Big 12 is the SEC.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

Based on what?

How many different conference winners have they had in that time?

b

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
USC road games next season. At Neb, Cal, Oregon, UW, ASU, and Notre Dame.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunately, it looks like 6-0.

b

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Anyone know what's up with Wisco?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Badgers are returning all but 6 starters next year. On offense they are going to improve at QB because Donovan is a much better QB than Stocco and should have been starting the past two years. They lose Joe Thomas, but if there's one thing the Badgers can easily replace, its offensive lineman. They've got a nice 6'8" 317 lb Sr LT ready to replace him, and also have 6'8" 312 lb Fr #1 T recruit in the country Josh Oglesby coming in. On defense they will be keeping most of the core of what was already a very solid defense this year.

Badgers win the Big Ten and are top 5 in the nation next year.

[/ QUOTE ]
Them versus Michigan is going to be a game next year. That is the only big game Michigan has to play on the road. Notre Dame, OSU, and PSU are all home next year.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Year in and year out over the last 10 years, the only conference as competitive and with as much talent as the Big 12 is the SEC.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

Based on what?

How many different conference winners have they had in that time?

b

[/ QUOTE ]

6 (Nebraska, K State, Colorado, OU, A&M and Texas). 3 national titles (97 Nebraska, 2000 OU and 2005 Texas). I think outside of the SEC you could argue our conference is as deep as any other conference.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Year in and year out over the last 10 years, the only conference as competitive and with as much talent as the Big 12 is the SEC.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

Based on what?

How many different conference winners have they had in that time?

b

[/ QUOTE ]

6 (Nebraska, K State, Colorado, OU, A&M and Texas). 3 national titles (97 Nebraska, 2000 OU and 2005 Texas). I think outside of the SEC you could argue our conference is as deep as any other conference.

[/ QUOTE ]

A Big 12 team also played (and lost) in the national title game twice (2001 Nebraska & 2004 Oklahoma) during this span.

The SEC also has 3 national champions during this span (Florida 1996, Tennessee 1998, LSU 2003) and two other national title game participants (Tennessee 1997 - loss, Florida - tbd).

No other conference comes close to matching what the Big 12 and SEC have done since 1996. They're the 2 upper echelon power conferences of our recent times.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Year in and year out over the last 10 years, the only conference as competitive and with as much talent as the Big 12 is the SEC.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

Based on what?

How many different conference winners have they had in that time?

b

[/ QUOTE ]

6 (Nebraska, K State, Colorado, OU, A&M and Texas). 3 national titles (97 Nebraska, 2000 OU and 2005 Texas). I think outside of the SEC you could argue our conference is as deep as any other conference.

[/ QUOTE ]

My contention is this line:

[ QUOTE ]
the only conference

[/ QUOTE ]

Pac 10 had 8 of the 10 teams top their conference.

I also don't think the SEC is the deepest conference, though they are the most overrated.

b

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

Bernie,

I was just answering the question. PAC 10, Big 10, SEC or Big 12 are all good conferences with plenty of good teams per. The Big 12 does get a bad wrap as being a weak conference or a conference that lacks depth for the most part and this i disagree with.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

SEC has the most number of schools I think that can compete for a NC then any conference. Not a reflection of how they've done the last 5 but maybe last 15 or so.

SEC: Georgia, TN, Auburn, LSU, Florida right now, in the future maybe SC and Alabama.
BE: WVU, Louisville, future maybe Rutgers
P10: USC, OU future maybe Cal, OSU
ACC: FSU, Miami (both teams not lately though)
B10: Wisconsin, tOSU, Michigan (maybe not Wisconsin)
B12: OU, Texas, Nebraska

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

SEC also has a lot of periennel crappy teams such as Vandy, Kentucky, Ole Miss (other than the Eli years) and MSU. So do a bunch of the other conferences, but the discrepency between the good and the bad in the SEC is huge.

Re: 2008 National Champions (NCAAF)
 

[ QUOTE ]
4. Michigan: Henne and Hart will probably be the best QB/RB duo in the nation next year. The losses on the defensive side of the ball and in the O-line will probably keep them from going undefeated though.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think the O-Line losses will hurt at all. Riley (the much-maligned RT), Bihl (C) and Kolodziej (hurt all year). If Steve Schilling had been healthy, he might have replaced Riley this season. Justin Boren got some experience.

Much like opposing receivers, the defensive losses will be significantly harder to cover.