With the latest installment of college football starting this Thursday, it is as good a time as any to get one's predictions down for the upcoming season. That way, if you are right you have a place you can point to with a smug "see?" and a self satisfied grin. However, if you are wrong, then I suggest vehemently denying every having made predictions or even having ever heard of this "college football" you speak of. Anyway, here's what I think is going to happen this season.
ACC: The ACC doesn't get a lot of national love, but it is usually a pretty exciting conference. I think Florida State will win their division, Virginia Tech will win theirs, and even without Darrell Evans the Hokies will win the ACC and I will once again groan at the idea of them playing in a BCS bowl.
Big East: This is a truly lousy conference. I'm going to pick West Virginia because they have Noel Devine and because they usually win, so why not?
Big Ten: It comes down to Penn State and Ohio State. I like Darryl Clark and Evan Royster more than I like Terrelle Pryor and (insert favorite OSU running back here) and as such I'll take the Nittany Lions. Plus, their schedule is comically easy. I think Appalachian State plays a tougher group of teams this season.
Big 12: While Oklahoma State should be exciting, I don't think they can do what Texas Tech did last year. The Big 12 South will come down to Oklahoma and Texas, and I'll take the Longhorns this time. In the North, it comes down to Nebraska and Kansas for me, and I'll put my money on Todd Reesing and the Jayhawks, but not with much conviction.
Pac 10: One of these years, I hope a team manages to knock USC off their pedestal. Cal and Oregon have a chance this season, but I don't think they'll do it. The Trojans win yet again.
SEC: I think most people are (rightfully) ceding the SEC East to Florida. A lot of people like Ole Miss in the West, but give me Alabama. I really like this Ole Miss team, but I just don't think they have quite enough. I hope I'm wrong on this one, though. I'll take Florida to win the conference.
As for potential "BCS busters" I'll take Boise State as the top candidate to shake things up, provided you don't consider Notre Dame a "BCS buster." With their super easy schedule, I think the Fighting Irish will get themselves a nice blowout loss in the Sugar Bowl or some such big game. I also like TCU and BYU, for what it's worth.
For the national title game, I'll take Texas and Florida, with the Longhorns winning. Incidentally, I think voter prejudices and a genuinely great season will land Colt McCoy the Heisman Trophy this season.
Those are my predictions, hows about you?