2007 College Football Season Talk

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Never too early to start talking about one of the better sports out there IMO.

I'll leave the Big 10 chatter to the local people who know what they are talking about, and briefly start and inform what is going on near my neck of the woods.

I'm really surprised how much hype my alma mater, TCU is getting. College Football News preview... http://cfn.scout.com/2/647546.html

My school is one of the better non-BCS schools out there, yes. We've finished 11-1 and 11-2 the past two seasons. I absolutely hate how TCU one of the main non-BCS schools that is going to "crash the BCS" so early in the game. Reasons this upcoming season and past seasons being...

Everybody in here can probably recall our stunning upset win at Oklahoma to start the 2005 season. All of a sudden, we are ranked, could crash the BCS after WEEK 1. Guess what happens next week? Despite us finishing 11-1, we lose a clunker to a pretty subpar team in SMU after the big OU win.

Last year, same thing. We had a very impressive win against Texas Tech, limiting their high powered offense to just a FIELD GOAL. Supposed to be the main candidate to crash the BCS at the time before Boise State made noise. After that week though, lost 2 in a row to a very solid BYU team last year and then to a decent Utah team, despite winning out after that and finishing 11-2.

This season, TCU's defense will probably be sickening good again, but we have to groom a new QB, develop WR depth and such. Offense will be in question. A lot of people think we'll give Texas a run for their money in a game at Austin in early September and that we could crash the BCS again. One college football maagazine ranked my school 15 to start the season. I would love for all of this to happen obviously, but my school is receiving WAY TOO MUCH HYPE right now.

Worry about winning our conference, then I'll worry about TCU and BCS talk.

----------

Now to LSU, the nearby school I like to follow. Love the school, cannot stand a lot of the fans, generally speaking. One of the local RBs here that was a hotshot recruit chose USC over LSU and people were saying he was a traitor to the state of Louisiana, he turned his back, etc. It was really sad. LSU fans think they are entitled to almost anything and everything.

If you rememeber the name Ryan Perrilloux, he was one of the most sought-out QBs a few years ago and was finally going to compete for the starting QB this year for LSU. Well, he ran into off-the-field issues at a casino (20, illegal age) and he's probably done this season. Stupid stuff, and he had all the athletic tools to be damned good in a year or two.

That being said though, LSU shouldn't drop off much with the departure of Russell and with Matt Flynn at QB. He's a senior, mature, and from the limited action I have seen him in (plus a dominate Peach Bowl win against Miami in 2005 season), he rarely tries to do too much and is a good game manager. Their defense should be sick as well.

Most of their hard games come at home. Virginia Tech, Florida, and Auburn. If they can win out those brutal home three and beat Alabama on the road, they'll probably play for the SEC Championship, then who knows. Don't want to get too ahead of myself there though, just like with TCU.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Now to LSU, the nearby school I like to follow. Love the school, cannot stand a lot of the fans, generally speaking. One of the local RBs here that was a hotshot recruit chose USC over LSU and people were saying he was a traitor to the state of Louisiana, he turned his back, etc. It was really sad. LSU fans think they are entitled to almost anything and everything.

Yup...Joe McKnight. I have a Rivals.com account, and read a story on him. The kid actually screwed Ole Miss first after he committed after his sophmore year. Then he became hot stuff, and screwed LSU. He finally went to play for sneaky Pete Carrol.

So if you like LSU what do you think about Les Miles?? He could become the next Michigan head coach very soon.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Yup...Joe McKnight. I have a Rivals.com account, and read a story on him. The kid actually screwed Ole Miss first after he committed after his sophmore year. Then he became hot stuff, and screwed LSU. He finally went to play for sneaky Pete Carrol.

So if you like LSU what do you think about Les Miles?? He could become the next Michigan head coach very soon.

I like him a lot. Not as hard-nosed as former LSU/MSU coach Nick Saban (you ought to listen how well he's regarded down here now /sarcasm), but he seems to have a good mix of attitude of hard work and being in your face, along with being the father/mentor type, he doesn't seem to sway too much to either extreme.

I immediately was on the defense for him, because fans were already on his back just as his first season started because he wasn't "Nick Saban" and he hasn't won a National Championship yet. While I like to set the bar high on expecatations, people and LSU fans need a reality check every now and then. The SEC is brutal, even though LSU should always be good with ridiculous amounts of talent for years and years to come, they aren't going to contend for the National Championship or win the SEC Championship/West every year.

Given what Miles has had to put up with, 11-2 his first season after having to deal with such unforseen circumstances dealing with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Louisiana resulting in a solid Peach Bowl win against Miami, to another 11-2 record this past season beating ND pretty good in the Sugar Bowl, I'd say he's done a helluva job so far.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

My very early Big Ten Top 5...

Michigan

Penn State

Ohio State

Wisconsin

Iowa

Everything seems to be lined up for Michigan this year. Plenty of talented Seniors, a favorable schedule (only one road game against a team that had a winning record last year at Wisconsin), and they get Ohio State at home.

Ohio State is gonna be better than people think. No more high flying offense, but Boeckman is a lot like Craig Krenzel. He's not gonna throw for 300 and 4 TDs but he avoids mistakes. The ground game could be huge with sophomore sensation Chris Wells as the started and one of the best RB recruits coming to OSU in Brandon Saine.

The defense should be great, although the secondary will need to step up. Malcolm Jenkins is back though and he's one of the best in the nation at cornerback.

I see Ohio State winning a lot of close games and probably dropping a heartbreaker or two.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

I think the picks are fair above. I think OSU losing so much is kind of overated. OSU is well coached, and like other powerhouse football schools they just keep reloading. OSU reminds me alot of their 2002 team. U-M's DB's scare the crap out of me. No one has proven anything. Trent needs to step up, and Donavan Warren, a 5 star prep from Cali will probably start by week 2 or 3.

I am on of the few people who love Lloyd Carr, and everthing he has done/represents. Sadly I believe this is his final year on the sidelines...sorry HTRW (:

[BlakChamber 8]

I like him a lot. Not as hard-nosed as former LSU/MSU coach Nick Saban (you ought to listen how well he's regarded down here now /sarcasm), but he seems to have a good mix of attitude of hard work and being in your face, along with being the father/mentor type, he doesn't seem to sway too much to either extreme.

I immediately was on the defense for him, because fans were already on his back just as his first season started because he wasn't "Nick Saban" and he hasn't won a National Championship yet. While I like to set the bar high on expecatations, people and LSU fans need a reality check every now and then. The SEC is brutal, even though LSU should always be good with ridiculous amounts of talent for years and years to come, they aren't going to contend for the National Championship or win the SEC Championship/West every year.

Nick Saban can rot in hell. His leaving MSU sent the program into a hole that is going to take years to recover from. History is going to call the Bobby Williams/John L. era "The Dark Ages."

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Nick Saban can rot in hell. His leaving MSU sent the program into a hole that is going to take years to recover from. History is going to call the Bobby Williams/John L. era "The Dark Ages."

While Saban coached MSU I told all my MSU freinds that Saban was a dirty and shady guy. I was literally killed because they thought he was the best thing on earth. I think everyone agrees with me now except Tide fans.....

[Guest DetroitIan]

UofM is gonna be a major powerhouse this season. So many returning players. Hopefully a healthy Mike Hart. Man I just can't wait for UofM/OSU. Alot of beer will be consumed on that day. lol

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

UofM is gonna be a major powerhouse this season. So many returning players. Hopefully a healthy Mike Hart. Man I just can't wait for UofM/OSU. Alot of beer will be consumed on that day. lol

I will be at that game. Our family has season tickets, and it's finally my turn! I can't wait! If Michigan starts the year 4-0 I expect them to run the table, but starting 4-0 will be very hard. They play App State, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Penn State.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Here's the Michigan college football preview on CollegeFootballNews.com for all the locals. Enjoy!

http://cfn.scout.com/2/652466.html

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Here's the Michigan college football preview on CollegeFootballNews.com for all the locals. Enjoy!

http://cfn.scout.com/2/652466.html

Thanks SWF. I agree with everything on there except for the last sentence about maybe mixing up the staff. That won't happen unless Carr retires (which I think he will) If he doesn't he will be allowed to stay as long as he wants. I predict right now Les Miles will be coaching U-M next season.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/6967938

Michigan State's 2007 preview from College Football News/Fox Sports.

[timothy1997 0]

Yahoo's preseason rankings

#1 USC

#2 Michigan

#3 West Virginia

#4 LSU

#5 Texas

#6 Florida

#7 Wisconsin

#8 Oklahoma

#9 Va Tech

#10 Ohio State

#11 Louisville

#12 Auburn

#13 California

#14 Nebraska

#15 UCLA

#16 Georgia

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I would be shocked if anyone comes close to beating USC next season. Their defense is going to be the best ever during the Pete Carroll era, and they are loaded with firepower on offense. The depth chart they have at running back is absolutely lethal. If they do lose, I sure hope it is on October 20th.

[timothy1997 0]

I would be shocked if anyone comes close to beating USC next season. Their defense is going to be the best ever during the Pete Carroll era, and they are loaded with firepower on offense. The depth chart they have at running back is absolutely lethal. If they do lose, I sure hope it is on October 20th.

Not gonna happen. The best chance for a team to beat USC this year is on Nov. 10th at California.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Anyone but USC. I can't wait for them to be old news just like Miami and FSU. And by anyone but USC, I mean anyone but USC and Michigan.....and Notre Dame.........and Florida. Haha

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Not gonna happen. The best chance for a team to beat USC this year is on Nov. 10th at California.

I don't think it will happen either, but it's basically the same scenario as 2005 and nobody gave them a prayer of winning that game either. Yes I do agree, at this point, Cal has the best shot of beating USC. However, that game is in November and I'm fairly certain Carroll has never lost in November at USC.

Edited July 12, 2007 by GoWings1905

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

USC pretty much has a cake walk to the title game. The only game they can lose is Cal (like said above), and if Oregon shows up to play they might be able to. I know I am looking over a year ahead, but I can't wait for Ohio State to play USC in 2008!

[betterREDthandead 58]

I wish there weren't such high expectations for Michigan. With so many new starters on defense, it's more likely than not that there'll be disappointment. We'll have to hope English really is as good as advertised, because the offense should easily be up to the task.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

I wish there weren't such high expectations for Michigan. With so many new starters on defense, it's more likely than not that there'll be disappointment. We'll have to hope English really is as good as advertised, because the offense should easily be up to the task.

Well Michigan's secondary always sucks. Always....Charles Woodson the exception. Their offense should be good enough to beat another weak Big Ten conference though. Maybe the guys steppin in learned something from their excellent rush defense last season.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Expectations are too high for my alma mater at TCU right now.

I love how we've become one of the standard bearers for non-BCS teams, at least I think, in recent years, but I think it's spoiling a lot of people.

I mean I'm reading we have an outside chance at the National Championship if we win at UT early this year even before any conference play starts in the Mountain West. I'm far from a doom-and-gloomer type and I'd love for that to happen, but let's get real here.

While I think we should be favored to win that conference, BYU still should be strong after their 11-2 year last year, and Utah should have a potent offense and be in the thick of things as well.

While our defense should be ridiculously fast again, they are suspectible to a big play every now and then. And my school needs a new starting QB to step up and get wide receiver depth, as there's only one who's pretty proven (and he gets a case of the dropsies a lot).

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Well Michigan's secondary always sucks. Always....Charles Woodson the exception. Their offense should be good enough to beat another weak Big Ten conference though. Maybe the guys steppin in learned something from their excellent rush defense last season.

Not really, but usually 50% of it sucks. We usually have a guy like Marlin Jackson, or Leon Hall on one side, and some bum on the other. The DB's have improved a lot since English took over though.

I wish there weren't such high expectations for Michigan. With so many new starters on defense, it's more likely than not that there'll be disappointment. We'll have to hope English really is as good as advertised, because the offense should easily be up to the task.

I agree. The D-line will be loaded, but after that there are question marks at every position. Will Trent step up? Who will be the No. 2 CB? Will Crable step up? If this D ends up way better then expected this year I am sure English will make the final cut of head coaching canidates (assuming Carr retires)

[betterREDthandead 58]

Well Michigan's secondary always sucks. Always....Charles Woodson the exception. Their offense should be good enough to beat another weak Big Ten conference though. Maybe the guys steppin in learned something from their excellent rush defense last season.

Yeah, hey, wait a minute.....OK, granted, the secondary is almost always the weak point - Michigan has always loved having a monster front seven and recruits that way. But there's almost always at least one very good player in the secondary - Woodson, Jackson, Hall, Ty Law, Cato June....the secondary doesn't always suck. It just never measures up to the D-line.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Yeah, hey, wait a minute.....OK, granted, the secondary is almost always the weak point - Michigan has always loved having a monster front seven and recruits that way. But there's almost always at least one very good player in the secondary - Woodson, Jackson, Hall, Ty Law, Cato June....the secondary doesn't always suck. It just never measures up to the D-line.

My point being, if you want to beat Michigan, you just air it out. It's always been done that way.

My roommate just said, "Ask Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook..." He's an ******* and a Cowboys fan. Nuff said.

Edited July 14, 2007 by Hockeytown Red Wings

[rwfan007 18]

Big ten is considering having 12 schools in it... http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID...6/70726104/1048

this would most likely mean 2 divisions and playoffs/championship game... is this a good idea, and which school would be added?