Overrated/Underrated for 2009...

[Watson]

Quote: Originally Posted by Husker_OS

Overrated Ole Miss- Don't get me wrong, 9 or 10 wins is possible..but they won't make a BCS bowl. I see them making the Cotton Bowl again. Ohio State- I don't have them winning the Big Ten. I think Penn State wins it and OSU finishes 2nd. Notre Dame- Pre-emptive measure. Underrated South Carolina- If they can win at UGA(who will only be in their 2nd game with the new offensive players), they're going to compete for the first non-BCS slot for the SEC. Florida and Alabama are sure losses but every other game is definitely winnable. Arizona- Just a hunch. Nothing more really. Nebraska- Homer pick, but whatever. The Big XII North is wide open in my opinion.

[BigDofBA]

Quote: Originally Posted by DoogieNoLa80

I didnt know the Big 12 teams actually played Defense. How would you define a monster D this year as a Texas fan? I'm not trying to be a troll or trying to be a jerk. I'm seriously curious on what a Big 12 team considers a monster D. After watching alot of the conferences games last year I didnt seem to notice any. Any real comments appreciated and if I sound like im trying to troll I promise you I am not.

No one has a monster defense.

OU and Texas have good defenses but I wouldn't say they are as good as the USC's and Floridas of the world.

"On paper", both teams should be better on the defensive side of the ball this year.

OU will have a better defense but not as good of a offense this. That being said, that's a trade off I'll take. OU's offense should still be pretty potent with Bradford, Murray, Gresham, and Broyles.

Texas will be really good as well. People can dog the Big 12 all they want but we do have two top 5 teams.

[Hooe]

Mainly an ACC fan (for better or worse) so I'll more or less focus on that league with one exception. Also, don't call me a homer, despite my predictions and collegiate allegiances pointing to such.

OVERRATED:

Notre Dame - every year the media hypes them to the moon, and every year they don't meet expectations. This is supposed to be their year to return to the BCS, but I don't think they get that far. It doesn't help that I am overly biased against them, moreso than any other college football team who I otherwise should have no vested interest either way in.

Virginia Tech - Many in my state and some in the national media are talking the Hokies up to be a national title contender, but this team is by no means a national title contender; the national media is desperate for the ACC to have one good team and given that Tech has been the best team in an overly poor league, they are right-or-wrong the anointed ones for now and the foreseeable future. The problem is they don't have the talent to really compete with the big boys right now. Last year their starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw exactly two touchdown passes; I know he's a playmaker with his legs, but this is by NO means good enough to compete with the bigs dogs like UF, USC, Texas, etc. who can account for his athleticism. Beyond Tyrod, I don't feel like Tech's defense is as stacked as it was in other recent years, and the offenses of said national powers won't be scared of them. Don't get me wrong, the Hokies are justifiably the odds-on preseason favorite in the ACC, and they have been the class of a weak conference effectively since they joined, but they simply don't have the horses to compete at the national stage this year, barring some unforeseen development.

UNDERRATED

North Carolina State: Russell Wilson is without question the top returning quarterback in the ACC; as a redshirt freshman he threw for 17 touchdowns and but ONE interception. The Wolfpack also closed the regular season last year winning six straight, if I recall correctly, but didn't have a good outing in their bowl game. Their leading receiver, Owen Spencer, also returns, as does a couple of talented halfbacks in Jamelle Eugene and Toney Baker. Though their defense wasn't great last year, they do return seven starters from that unit who presumably will have improved a bit through experience. There's plenty of reason for optimism here.

Virginia: Yes this is a homer pick, but don't worry I'm not going too crazy with this one. I'll go as far as to say that the Cavaliers will finish better than fifth in the ACC Coastal (where they are projected) and that we will go bowling. If we don't, Al Groh may yet finally get the axe. There's still plenty of talent on defense, particularly in the secondary, to keep us in (and even win a couple of) games; the key will be how well the offense can perform under new coordinator Greg Brandon and in his spread offense. I'm thinking that, given that Vic Hall is finally at quarterback and also that Marc Verica has actually gotten some first-team reps in the offseason, that they will do enough to get at least to .500, if not better. I'm not saying ACC Championship, but we should be better than expected. In short, don't leave the Wahoos for dead, there is significant reason for hope here.

[Aggies7]

Overrated - Virginia Tech. In all honestly I do not think Taylor is as good as everyone makes him out to be. Will they win the ACC. Yes theres a good chance of that but as for National Title just dont believe they have the team for that.

[thecougarbear]

Quote: Originally Posted by oakfan162

I'm going to go cry myself to sleep tonight...

...me too... i was there.... twice. still have nightmares.

[JerzeyReign]

Quote: Originally Posted by Psyblast

I've been drinking the Koolaid pretty heavily over the week...but 3rd is too high. 3rd would generally mean they're contenders for the conference championship, and they're not there yet. ************************************************* With that said, the Big Ten is pretty wide open this year.

You just contradicted yourself. If it's "wide open" wouldn't that mean anyone has a shot? Either way their MY Wolverines so I'm going to say your wrong and a 7-5/8-4 record is possible with our schedule this year, which is probably going to be good enough to finish third in the Big Ten

[JerzeyReign]

Quote: Originally Posted by WatsonTiger

maybe if yall wore kneepads

I wish he would of got hurt before he played my Wolverines, he set our tails on fire

[Psyblast]

Quote: Originally Posted by SalutationsNJ

You just contradicted yourself. If it's "wide open" wouldn't that mean anyone has a shot? Either way their MY Wolverines so I'm going to say your wrong and a 7-5/8-4 record is possible with our schedule this year, which is probably going to be good enough to finish third in the Big Ten

A 7-5, 4-4 record is not going to finish 3rd in the conference.

And there's a difference between them "having a shot" and it actually being realistic. They "have a shot" at going 12-0, too.