NCAA Football Simulation Dynasty: 2007 and Beyond

[kblu54]

Michigan rivals to battle for West crown
MAC News

It should be a tough battle between rivals Central Michigan and Western Michigan for not only the West Division, but also MAC supremacy. The Chippewas and Broncos are the two highest-ranked squads in the conference to open the year, and are out to prove it.

Last season, Central Michigan edged out everybody, including Western Michigan by 1 game, to claim the West title and eventually the MAC Championship with a 31-10 victory over Ohio. Can the Chippewas repeat or will another squad have something to say?

Let's take a look at the 2007-08 MAC West Division programs, in order of predicted finish.

1) Central Michigan Chippewas (#75)

Last Season Record: 10-4 (7-1 MAC) *MAC Champions*
Postseason Result: Won 31-14 over Middle Tennessee State in Motor City Bowl

Impact Players
OLB Red Keith [SR]
QB Dan LeFevour [SO]
RB Ontario Sneed [JR]

Offense (B-)
Central Michigan is paced on offense by LeFevour, who even as a sophomore ranks as one of the best QBs in the nation. The dual-threat QB will have plenty of targets to connect with, like sophomore WR Bryan Anderson and a top-notch tailback in Sneed. His offensive line looks very average but will start 3 seniors.

Defense (C)
The Chippewas have just as many stars as issues on defense. Senior OLBs Keith and Isaac Brown provide two tackling machines, but the Chippewas have a brutal secondary. The d-line is good enough to form a tough run defense, but opposing passers may have a field day.

Special Teams (B+)
Sophomore kicker Andrew Aguila is pretty solid.

Overall (C+)
Central Michigan has 3 goals this year --- score a bunch of points, try to play defense and win the MAC title. I think only 2 of the 3 will happen.

2) Western Michigan Broncos (#81)

Last Season Record: 8-5 (6-2)
Postseason Result: Lost 27-24 to Cincinnati in International Bowl

Impact Players
SS Antwain Allen [SR]
FS Louis Delmas [JR]
RB Mark Bonds [SR]

Offense (C+)
Sophomore QB Tim Hiller is a star in a making, and the eventual Hiller/LeFevour annual shootout could be a storyline to watch for years to come. Bonds is a great complement in the backfield, but can Hiller find a top target or two to throw to? Senior center Robbie Krutilla anchors a decent offensive line.

Defense (B-)
This defense is the best unit in the conference, with no real competition. Safeties Delmas and Allen combine with junior CB E.J. Biggers to create a scary secondary, while junior DE Greg Marshall anchors a solid defensive line. They have some glaring issues at LB but they can be overcome with great play.

Special Teams (B+)
Two seniors form a solid group.

Overall (B-)
Western Michigan could be the favorite if Central Michigan wasn't the defending champs. The Broncos have a great defense and a developing offense, so they could snatch the crown.

3) Northern Illinois Huskies (#90)

Last Season Record: 7-6 (5-3)
Postseason Result: Lost 37-7 to TCU in Poinsettia Bowl

Impact Players
DE Larry English [JR]
WR Marcus Perez [JR]
MLB Tim McCarthy [JR]

Offense (B-)
Does junior QB Dan Nicholson really need to do anything? He has a great tailback in junior Montell Clanton, a bunch of great receivers like Perez and senior TE Brandon Davis and a solid interior portion of the offensive line. There are some issues at the tackles, but for the most part the Huskies' offense looks good.

Defense (C)
English is one of the best DEs in the country and is only a junior. The Huskies' linebackers are solid, have plenty of depth and most of them are juniors. The secondary, though, looks shaky.

Special Teams (A)
Senior kicker Chris Nendick was voted as the best returning specialist in the conference.

Overall (B-)
The Huskies have a tough squad that could easily supplant both Michigan squads ranked above them for the West Division title. They will need to play up to their potential to do that.

4) Toledo Rockets (#95)

Last Season Record: 5-7 (3-5)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
RB Jalen Parmele [SR]
FS Tyrrell Herbert [SR]
TE Chris Hopkins [SR]

Offense (B-)
The Toledo offense is another great squad, making the West Division a scoring delight. Parmele is arguably the MAC's best tailback, and junior QB Clint Cochran has plenty of receivers to aim for. His o-line is pretty solid with horses like seniors OT John Greco and OG David Perkins doing the work.

Defense (C+)
Toledo is very balanced on defense, with very few weak spots. The talent is there, but there are a few young starters which is always a risk. Players like Herbert, senior CB Nigel Morris and sophomore SS Barry Church make the Rockets dangerous in the secondary.

Special Teams (B+)
Sophomore kicker Alex Steigerwald easily won the job over a senior.

Overall (B-)
Toledo's presence makes Central Michigan's road to a repeat very rough. The Rockets are just as competitive as any team in the MAC and could easily hurdle everybody in the West.

5) Ball State Cardinals (#104)

Last Season Record: 5-7 (5-3)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
QB Nate Davis [SO]
DE Cortlan Booker [SR]
RB MiQuale Lewis [SO]

Offense (C+)
Ball State has a solid offense as well, but their offense will probably be the best in the MAC in a year or two. Players like Davis and Lewis give Cardinal fans huge hope for the future. Ball State also has some great receivers and a very dependable offensive line. Any major success this season will only add the hype.

Defense (C-)
The reason why Ball State is predicted to finish lower isn't due to the youth on offense --- it's their defense as a whole. Booker is the only solid player, and his support looks bad at a bunch of spots. The secondary looks decent but they need better run support from the linebackers to succeed.

Special Teams (A)
Junior punter Chris Miller is already one of the best players at his position in the nation. It's too bad the young kickers joining him are brutal.

Overall (C+)
Ball State has a bunch of great tools that will allow them to compete... next year. This year might be a major learning experience for everyone.

6) Eastern Michigan Eagles (#119)

Last Season Record: 1-11 (1-7)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
DT Jason Jones [SR]
MLB Daniel Holtzclaw [JR]
QB Tyler Jones [JR]

Offense (C)
Eastern Michigan's offense is a perfect way to describe the team in general --- a few great players surrounded by terrible players. Jones should feel secure dropping back behind junior OT T.J. Lang and senior OG Khalid Walton and throwing to senior WR Travis Lewis and senior TE Ken Bohnet. It's too bad he has no running game and the rest of the o-line sucks.

Defense (C+)
Eastern Michigan's defense doesn't look that bad, but it probably won't dominate... at all. Senior DTs Jones and Josh Hunt anchor a decent line, while Holtzclaw headlines an average linebacking corps. The secondary isn't bad and is pretty young, so there is some potential there.

Special Teams (B-)
The Eagles' kicker will wear #66 and #33, which I thought was interesting considering they are almost identical in talent.

Overall (C)
The nation's lowest-ranked team looks like it has a few tools to avoid that honor during the season. Unfortunately, avoiding the lowest rank is probably the best thing they will achieve.

[cubsfan203]

Great start, but man if you do this every year for every team it'll take you months to finish a season haha.

Maybe you're giving us a little too much information.

[kblu54]

hahah yeah i realize it's long but my weekly recaps won't be this detailed... i just want to give some in-depth previews so I can touch on every team...

thanks for following tho... lol only a few more conferences to go, I should be able to finish them soon...

[kblu54]

TCU picked as clear favorite to win Mountain West
Mountain West News

TCU enters the 2007-08 season not as the Mountain West defending champs, but as the only Top-25 ranked squad. This high ranking also makes the Horned Frogs the obvious favorite to run away with the conference title.

TCU has a tough defense, which needs to carry them past contenders like defending champ BYU and a frisky Utah program.

Let's take a look at the 2007-08 Mountain West teams, in order of predicted finish.

1) TCU Horned Frogs (#22)

Last Season Record: 11-2 (6-2 MWC)
Postseason Result: Won 37-7 over Northern Illinois in Poinsettia Bowl

Impact Players
DE Tommy Blake [SR]
SS Brian Bonner [SR]
RB Aaron Brown [JR]

Offense (C+)
The TCU offense actually seems kind of average, with very few stars. Redshirt freshman QB Andy Dalton will try to be efficient with no clear go-to receiver and behind an surprisingly-mediocre offensive line. Brown will need to be strong running the ball to keep the heat off of Dalton.

Defense (B)
TCU's defense is just outstanding and will probably be the cause of victory for most of their contests. Seniors like Blake, fellow DE Chase Ortiz, and safeties FS David Roach and Bonner give TCU some excellent leadership, while young studs like OLB Jerry Hughes provide the excitement. TCU will need to stay tough against every opposing offense to defend their #22 rank.

Special Teams (A-)
TCU has two seniors on board for kicking.

Overall (B-)
TCU has the conference's best D but needs their average offense to produce enough points for a conference title.

2) BYU Cougars (#44)

Last Season Record: 11-2 (8-0) *Mountain West Champions*
Postseason Result: Won 38-8 over Oregon in Las Vegas Bowl

Impact Players
FB Fui Vakapuna [JR]
DE Judd Anderson [SR]
OLB David Nixon [JR]

Offense (B-)
BYU has a very good offense that should dominate every other poor defense in the conference, save for an important war with TCU. Sophomore QB Max Hall is a great signal-caller and will feel secure setting up behind a top-notch offensive line. Hall should feel comfortable throwing too, as he has a bunch of receivers to hit like senior WR Matt Allen and super sophomores WR Austin Collie and TE Dennis Pitta. If BYU can get some solid movement from the ground game, look out.

Defense (C+)
BYU has some great players in most spots, but the positions are a cause for concern. Overall, the group seems capable of competing well on a consistent basis, but good teams could exploit their weaknesses.

Special Teams (B)
Redshirt freshman kicker Mitch Payne really needs to improve.

Overall (B-)
The defending champs have some work to do, but they have a good shot at a repeat.

3) Utah Utes (#47)

Last Season Record: 8-5 (5-3)
Postseason Result: Won 25-13 over Tulsa in Armed Forces Bowl

Impact Players
DE Martail Burnett [SR]
QB Brian Johnson [JR]
WR Brent Casteel [JR]

Offense (B-)
Utah's has a very solid offense, led by QB Johnson. The junior signal-caller has a bunch of weapons besides Casteel to hit, including two senior WRs. Johnson will feel protected behind a good o-line, and will get some relief from senior RB Darryl Poston.

Defense (B-)
Utah has a very capable defensive unit, highlighted by a ferocious defensive line. Burnett and senior DT Gabe Long will be pests for every o-line in the conference, while a great set of linebackers and a decent secondary provide support.

Special Teams (B)
The punter is okay, but the kicker is awful.

Overall (B-)
A big advantage Utah has over TCU and BYU is that their squad is pretty balanced, with neither the offense nor the defense more superior than the other. Still, both sides need to perform well for Utah to snatch the conference crown.

4) New Mexico Lobos (#72)

Last Season Record: 6-7 (4-4)
Postseason Result: Lost 20-12 to San Jose State in New Mexico Bowl

Impact Players
WR Marcus Smith [SR]
RB Rodney Ferguson [JR]
MLB Cody Kase [JR]

Offense (C+)
The play of Smith and Ferguson will really take the pressure off of sophomore QB Donovan Porterie. The Lobos should be able to pound the ball with Ferguson, which should open up playaction opportunities for the passing game.

Defense (C)
Expect Kase to be forced to make every tackle playing behind this awful defensive line. The secondary is solid but opposing squads could run wild past the trenches.

Special Teams (B)
The specialists are average.

Overall (C)
New Mexico needs to concentrate on running the ball and controlling the clock for wins, since their defense might struggle.

5) Wyoming Cowboys (#73)

Last Season Record: 6-6 (5-3)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
WR Michael Ford [SR]
RB Wynel Seldon [JR]
MLB Ward Dobbs [JR]

Offense (D+)
Egads. Not a very impressive group at all. The offensive line is probably the worst unit in the nation. Sophomore QB Karsten Sween has some potential, but will need a lot of help from playmakers Ford and Seldon.

Defense (D)
Oh lord. Just when I thought the offense was bad, I took a look at the defense. If Wyoming holds teams under 40 points per game, I will jump naked into freezing water. Maybe sophomore DT John Fletcher will help me accomplish that, but the rest of his teammates indicate that I won't have to.

Special Teams (D-)
Ouch. It just gets worse.

Overall (D-)
I think Wyoming got this prediction mostly due to their 6-6 campaign last season, but if the Cowboys win more than 2 games I will be shocked. They are headed for a very sudden fall.

6) San Diego State Aztecs (#78)

Last Season Record: 3-9 (3-5)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
WR Chaz Schilens [SR]
FS Ray Bass [SR]
WR Brett Swain [SR]

Offense (B)
The Aztecs have an offense primed for a huge passing season. Senior QB Kevin O'Connell has two awesome WRs, a great group of TEs and two capable tailbacks. Plus, his offensive line looks solid enough to protect, so they might make some noise with this unit.

Defense (C)
SDSU has a bunch of good players at key spots like DE, OLB and in the secondary, but they have very weak holes at DT and MLB. If they can overcome their shortcomings, they could be a good complement to the offense.

Special Teams (A+)
Two great seniors will challenge for the MWC's top unit.

Overall (B-)
The Aztec offense will determine how successful they can be.

7) Colorado State Rams (#88)

Last Season Record: 4-8 (1-7)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
DE Jesse Nading [SR]
TE Kory Sperry [SR]
DT Blake Smith [JR]

Offense (B-)
Colorado State will probably be a very old school offense this season, with a bruising tailback in junior Kyle Bell and a tough TE in Sperry leading the way. The offensive line looks iffy, but if their playmakers can find open space they could be very productive.

Defense (C)
The good parts? Their awesome defensive line, junior MLB Jeff Horinek and senior CB Darryl Williams. The bad parts? Glaring weak spots at OLB and safety.

Special Teams (A-)
Senior punter Jimmie Kaylor is a stud.

Overall (B-)
Colorado State has some good players but seems too average overall to make a serious run.

8) Air Force Falcons (#93)

Last Season Record: 4-8 (3-6)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
QB Shaun Carney [SR]
FS Bobby Giannini [SR]
RB Chad Hall [SR]

Offense (D+)
Air Force looks just like their military counterparts (Navy & Army) on offense, with a triple-option look and a very mediocre squad. Carney and Hall could form a dynamic backfield duo, but the lack of receivers and a weak offensive line will hinder their production.

Defense (D+)
Note to opposing teams: Run up the middle against Air Force. The Falcons have a horrid interior defense, with probably the worst groups of DTs and MLBs in the nation. Giannini and solid position groups at DE and OLB will help out, but Air Force is a team that will struggle defensively.

Special Teams (B+)
A mediocre unit will kick.

Overall (C-)
Air Force will definately not compete for the title and is looking like a 4-win team maximum.

9) UNLV Runnin' Rebels (#98)

Last Season Record: 2-10 (1-7)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
FS Tony Cade [SR]
WR Aaron Straiten [SR]
QB Rocky Hinds [JR]

Offense (B-)
Hinds is a solid dual-threat QB and he has a ton of receivers to throw to. Besides Straiten, fellow WRs sophomore Ryan Wolfe and junior Casey Flair will compete for catches. Two junior tailbacks will also provide some offensive explosion.

Defense (C+)
UNLV has a bunch of top-notch players possibly headed for the NFL like seniors Cade, MLB Beau Bell and CB Mil'Von James and two junior DEs. Unfortunately, the other starters and the depth is very poor.

Special Teams (A+)
Two seniors will kick, including talented kicker Sergio Aguayo.

Overall (B-)
There's no way UNLV finishes dead last, and the only reason they are starting here is because of last year's 2-10 mark. They have too many great players on both sides of the ball to struggle.

[kblu54]

Trojans want to return to BCS glory
Pac-10 News

The USC Trojans, coming off a 11-2 record and an impressive Rose Bowl victory, open the season at #1 in the nation and have the team to back it up. They will face some tough Pac-10 squads on the road to the BCS title game, but they should be able to stay unbeaten.

Fellow California-based programs like Cal and UCLA will challenge the Trojans, and if USC goes unbeaten, then they will be competing for a spot in the Rose Bowl.

Let's take a glance at the 2007-08 Pac-10 programs, in order of predicted finish.

1) USC Trojans (#1)

Last Season Record: 11-2 (7-2 Pac-10) *Pac-10 Champions*
Postseason Result: Won 32-18 over Michigan in Rose Bowl

Impact Players
QB John David Booty [SR]
DE Lawrence Jackson [SR]
MLB Keith Rivers [SR]

Offense (A+)
USC's offense is just a juggernaut. Booty is an excellent QB and he has almost unlimited options at very skill position. The Trojans have more good tailbacks than entire conferences. Some of the WRs that won't catch a pass this year could be all-conference at any other school. The offensive line looks like a steel wall. They could set records for scoring.

Defense (A-)
Oh, you want defense? Don't worry, USC has got plenty of that too. Rivers and Jackson are only two of several top starters for the Trojans' D. Senior DT Sedrick Ellis, three excellent junior linebackers and future star sophomore FS Taylor Mays are bound for incredible seasons.

Special Teams (A)
Junior kicker David Buehler is the perfect complement to a high-scoring offense.

Overall (A+)
Should we hand over the crystal ball now, or let the season play out? Fine, we'll play but expect USC to be in the conversation all year long.

2) California Golden Bears (#16)

Last Season Record: 10-3 (7-2)
Postseason Result: Won 45-10 over Texas A&M in Holiday Bowl

Impact Players
WR DeSean Jackson [JR]
FS Thomas DeCoud [SR]
RB Justin Forsett [SR]

Offense (A)
Cal has a great balance on offense, with a strong passing game led by junior QB Nate Longshore and a bruising run game paced by Forsett. Watch out for WR Jackson, who is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball and will be a return game monster. The o-line is also very talented.

Defense (B-)
Surprisingly, Cal's defense pales in comparison to their offense. In a tough conference like the Pac-10, the Bears might find themselves struggling to stop some of their high-powered opponents. DeCoud needs to get some serious assistance from guys like junior OLBs Worrell Williams and Anthony Felder, and exciting sophomore CB Syd'Quan Thompson.

Special Teams (A+)
Cal's two senior specialists are very good but may not even be the Pac-10's best unit.

Overall (A-)
Cal needs a lot of improvement on defense for them to seriously challenge the Trojans. If they can't do that, then improving just a little could mean a BCS bowl.

3) UCLA Bruins (#19)

Last Season Record: 7-6 (5-4)
Postseason Result: Lost 44-27 to Florida State in Emerald Bowl

Impact Players
FS Dennis Keyes [SR]
DT Brigham Harwell [JR]
RB Chris Markey [SR]

Offense (B+)
UCLA's offense is very good but looks average compared to some of their Pac-10 rivals. Junior QBs Ben Olson and Pat Cowan will battle all year for the starting job, which could provide some inconsistency. Still, the Bruins have a bunch of skill players to make up for that, including Markey and senior WRs Joe Cowan and Brandon Breazell. Senior OG Shannon Tevaga anchors a solid o-line.

Defense (B+)
I really like the way UCLA's defense is built, with plenty of star power and a ton of young depth. Keyes, Harwell and others like seniors OLB Bruce Davis and CBs Rodney Van and Trey Brown are just the kind of leaders the Bruins need. Watch out for talented sophomores like FS Aaron Ware, CB Alterraun Verner and DE Korey Bosworth to show off their skills.

Special Teams (A+)
Redshirt freshman kicker Kai Forbath is already one of the nation's highest-rated kickers.

Overall (A)
UCLA has a very balanced unit that could do some major damage across the conference, but they need some consistency at QB to really produce something special.

4) Oregon State Beavers (#31)

Last Season Record: 10-4 (6-3)
Postseason Result: Won 39-38 over Missouri in Brut Sun Bowl

Impact Players
RB Yvenson Bernard [SR]
WR Sammie Stroughter [SR]
OLB Derrick Doggett [SR]

Offense (B+)
Oregon State has a bunch of great skill players and a domianting offensive line. Bernard and Stroughter give the Beavers two serious offensive threats, which will keep Oregon State in every contest. The question mark is sophomore QB Sean Canfield, who needs to be efficient and careful with the ball to keep the Beavers competitive.

Defense (B-)
Positives: DE, OLB, CB and experience. Negatives: Safety, DT, MLB and general depth. This might be Oregon State's best year for defense in a while, unless they go crazy in recruiting.

Special Teams (A+)
Senior kicker Alexis Serna was a Preseason all-conference pick.

Overall (B+)
Oregon State has a very talented squad and should compete well, but concerns at QB and on defense may hinder their shot at double-digit wins again.

5) Arizona State Sun Devils (#42)

Last Season Record: 7-6 (4-5)
Postseason Result: Lost 41-24 to Hawai'i in Hawai'i Bowl

Impact Players
FS Derrick Carty [SR]
MLB Robert James [SR]
QB Rudy Carpenter [JR]

Offense (B+)
Arizona State has a very good mix on offense, with plenty of solid tailbacks (senior Ryan Torain will start) and receivers (senior Rudy Burgess led last year) to get the ball to. On top of all that, QB Carpenter is very solid and should be able to keep defenses off-balance by spreading the ball around. The exclamation point to this unit is an excellent o-line.

Defense (B)
Carty and James headline a pretty solid group, but they might be in a little trouble due to some weak spots. Opposing Pac-10 squads with top-notch RBs could exploit their d-line, while pass-oriented teams could target their corners. Still, the Sun Devils have a decent squad that should complement their awesome offense.

Special Teams (B+)
A redshirt freshman and a senior, both at about the same talent level, will do the kicking.

Overall (B)
Arizona State is an intriguing squad that could go 9-3 or 3-9, depending on opposing teams' gameplans and their own play.

6) Oregon Ducks (#43)

Last Season Record: 7-6 (4-5)
Postseason Result: Lost 38-8 to BYU in Las Vegas Bowl

Impact Players
RB Jonathan Stewart [JR]
SS Patrick Chung [JR]
WR Jaison Williams [JR]

Offense (A-)
The Ducks will have a very explosive offense behind Coach Mike Bellotti's spread option attack, with the perfect QB to run it in senior Dennis Dixon. Dixon and Stewart form one of the Pac-10's most dynamic backfield duos, which will equal a ton of rushing yards and points. The senior signal-caller also has plenty of targets like Williams and rising sophomore TE Ed Dickson. Oregon should also feel confident in their experienced and talented o-line.

Defense (B)
The Oregon defense looks promising but they have an odd mix of experience and talent. Players like Chung and seniors DT David Faateete and OLB A.J. Tuitele provide the leadership and playmaking, but Oregon has a big weak spot at MLB. The DEs, CBs and free safeties have talent but they are so young. Oregon needs to gel quickly to compete.

Special Teams (B+)
A pretty mediocre unit.

Overall (B+)
Oregon has the offense to take them to the next level, but can their defense catch up in time?

7) Arizona Wildcats (#48)

Last Season Record: 6-6 (4-5)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
CB Antoine Cason [SR]
DE Louis Holmes [SR]
QB Willie Tuitama [JR]

Offense (B-)
Arizona's offense has a bunch of talent, but in reality they lack a lot of experience. Tuitama is a solid QB and has some good weapons to use, but his o-line protectors are ridiculously young (1 senior, next oldest is redshirt sophomore). Arizona might take some lumps this season, but if everyone returns they will be a force next year.

Defense (B)
On the other hand, Arizona's defense is very experienced and will be ready to overcome any offensive shortcoming. Cason is a shut-down corner just waiting to eat up opposing receivers, and Holmes leads an impressive d-line that could pressure opposing QBs into crucial mistakes.

Special Teams (B)
Congrats --- the worst unit in the conference belongs to 'Zona.

Overall (B-)
The Wildcats will need to play out of their minds to compete with the top Pac-10 squads, which they need to do to reach 6 wins again.

8) Washington State Cougars (#51)

Last Season Record: 6-6 (4-5)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
DT Ropati Pitoitua [SR]
WR Michael Bumpus [SR]
MLB Greg Trent [JR]

Offense (C)
Senior Alex Brink is a solid signal-caller and has a few top receivers like Bumpus to aim for, but where is his running game? Without that, the Cougars will suffer. Not helping is a subpar and inexperenced o-line.

Defense (C+)
WSU has a very average defense, which will get blasted in a conference like this. Trent and Pitoitua are solid but have no support anywhere.

Special Teams (C-)
A decent group of kickers.

Overall (C-)
Washington State is headed for the Pac-10 cellar.

9) Washington Huskies (#53)

Last Season Record: 5-7 (3-6)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
OLB Chris Stevens [JR]
RB Louis Rankin [SR]
QB Carl Bonnell [SR]

Offense (B)
Despite Bonnell being considered an "impact" player, he will give way to redshirt freshman Jake Locker. Locker is a future star and has some decent targets to hit, plus a speedy back in Rankin, but he must try to stay upright behind a porous o-line.

Defense (B-)
The defensive line, OLBs and parts of the secondary look great. The rest of the defense looks shaky and will probably get exploited. Still, some of their young depth looks solid.

Special Teams (A-)
Sophomore kicker Ryan Perkins could develop into a clutch guy.

Overall (B)
Locker has all the talent in the world, but can he stay healthy and off his back enough for Washington to reach .500? All preceding signs are pointing towards no.

10) Stanford Cardinal (#77)

Last Season Record: 1-11 (1-8)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
WR Mark Bradford [SR]
QB T.C. Ostrander [SR]
MLB Will Powers [SO]

Offense (B-)
Coach Jim Harbaugh suffered a 1-11 campaign last season, but his offense has taken some strides and may surprise a few teams this year. Ostrander is a solid vet for the Stanford offense, which will need him to be very efficient for them to climb out of the cellar. Junior RB Anthony Kimble and WR Bradford will provide the ability to score.

Defense (C+)
Harbaugh has done a great job recruiting since he arrived at Stanford, bringing some top-notch defensive talent. Most of his recruits are now sophomores and most are starting over a bunch of seniors, meaning the future is now for the Cardinal. Stanford will take some lumps with such a young group, but it should pay off next season and beyond.

Special Teams (B+)
Two seniors on tap here, with punter Jay Ottovegio the most impressive.

Overall (B-)
Stanford will be out of the cellar this season, but a bowl game will be out of the question until next year.

[kblu54]

Florida's BCS title defense begins in tough SEC East
SEC News

The Florida Gators are coming off a surprising 41-14 domination of then-#1 Ohio State in the BCS National Championship, claiming their first national title in almost a decade and their 1st under coach Urban Meyer. The Gators lost a lot of seniors from last year's champions, but they still return an impressive squad that should put up a major fight on the road back to the BCS title game.

Florida will be looking for a the first repeat national championships since USC in 2003-2004, but they first will have to win in a tough SEC East Division. The Gators, who enter the season ranked #4, will have to fend off #15 Tennessee and #18 Georgia to win the SEC East.

Let's take a look at the 2007-08 SEC East Division squads, in order of predicted finish.

1) Florida Gators (#4)

Last Season Record: 13-1 (7-1 SEC) *SEC/National Champions*
Postseason Result: Won 41-14 over Ohio State in BCS National Championship

Impact Players
DE Derrick Harvey [JR]
WR Percy Harvin [SO]
QB Tim Tebow [SO]

Offense (B)
The Gators lost a bunch of seniors from their national title team last year, but they not have a very young and talented squad that could compete for several more years. Headlining the offense is super sophomores Tebow and Harvin, who fit perfectly in Urban Meyer's unique spread attack. Tebow will benefit from his talented group of receivers and a experienced o-line in his first full year as a starter.

Defense (B+)
The Gators only have 4 seniors on their defense... and that makes them scary good. The reason why is because the juniors and sophomores joining them are just unreal and will make Florida one of the best defenses in the nation for the next 2 years. Harvey is a sack machine, but the real players to watch are the Gators' impressive trio of sophomore linebackers (OLBs Dustin Doe and Ryan Stamper, MLB Brandon Spikes). The secondary is awesome and has a bunch of young stars.

Special Teams (B+)
Freshman Chas Henry is pretty good.

Overall (B)
Florida has a very good squad but I'm not sure if they can reach the BCS title game again. They will have a rough road and their young stars are good, but I can see one or two slip-ups along the way. Watch out for next season though.

2) Tennessee Volunteers (#15)

Last Season Record: 9-4 (5-3)
Postseason Result: Lost 20-10 to Penn State in Outback Bowl

Impact Players
FS Jonathan Hefney [SR]
QB Erik Ainge [SR]
RB LaMarcus Coker [SO]

Offense (B+)
The Tennessee offense has a bunch of good players, but I'm not sure where their strength will be. Ainge is a solid passer but has average receivers to throw to. The Volunteers have a bunch of top tailbacks, but who will get the bulk of the carries? Maybe the glue of the team will be their lineman, which has two senior tackles and talented sophomore interior guys.

Defense (B+)
The Tennessee defense is just jam-packed with seniors, with 7 of their 11 starters in their final seasons. They also have some great depth, with talented youngsters like freshmen FS Eric Berry and OLB Rico McCoy playing important roles. They should be solid this year and beyond.

Special Teams (A-)
Junior Britton Colquitt is near the top of the punter ranks on Mel Kiper, Jr.'s list.

Overall (B+)
Tennessee could seriously challenge the young Gators for East supremacy, but they need to find their identity on offense first.

3) Georgia Bulldogs (#18)

Last Season Record: 9-4 (4-4)
Postseason Result: Won 31-24 over Virginia Tech in Chick-fil-A Bowl

Impact Players
WR Mohamed Massaquoi [JR]
RB Thomas Brown [SR]
SS Kelin Johnson [SR]

Offense (B+)
Sophomore QB Matthew Stafford will benefit from two senior tailbacks and a bunch of experienced receivers, but senior center Fernando Velasco needs to keep his freshmen teammates on the o-line focused so Stafford can stay off his back. The Bulldogs' offense should have a nice balance.

Defense (B)
Georgia only has 3 seniors on defense and a bunch of youngsters, including 2 freshman starters. Johnson needs to keep this above average defense on their assignments, because Georgia needs a strong effort from the defense to help out the developing offense.

Special Teams (A+)
Senior kicker Brandon Coutu is outstanding.

Overall (B+)
Georgia has a very solid team but the high amount of youth is a concern. If the senior leaders on both sides can keep everyone on task, the Bulldogs will be a serious threat.

4) South Carolina Gamecocks (#32)

Last Season Record: 8-5 (3-5)
Postseason Result: Won 44-36 over Houston in Liberty Bowl

Impact Players
QB Blake Mitchell [SR]
RB Cory Boyd [SR]
MLB Jasper Brinkley [JR]

Offense (B+)
Coach Steve Spurrier has an above average offense, but is it really ready to compete in this tough division? The Gamecocks have several potential stars like Mitchell, Boyd and a pretty solid o-line, but I'm not sure if they're good enough to make a serious run. They could definately return to the bowl picture with this unit though.

Defense (B)
Just a solid defense all around. No weak spots at any position, including a very tough front seven. They don't have any major stars... yet. Brinkley and sophomore DE Eric Norwood are potential NFL stars and the secondary has a ton of depth.

Special Teams (A)
Junior kicker Ryan Succop needs a real pal --- his sophomore punter is just bad.

Overall (B)
A lot of talent, but seems to be not enough in this tough division. A second-straight 8-win season seems like a major possibility though.

5) Kentucky Wildcats (#39)

Last Season Record: 8-5 (4-4)
Postseason Result: Won 28-20 over Clemson in Music City Bowl

Impact Players
QB Andre' Woodson [SR]
OLB Wesley Woodyard [SR]
WR Keenan Burton [SR]

Offense (B+)
The key to the offense is very obvious. Woodson is one of the nation's most accurate passers, and he has a bunch of targets to throw to. Burton and senior TE Jacob Tamme should get catches in bunches, while senior RB Rafael Little will keep defenses in check on the ground. The huge issue with this offense is the offensive line, which could hinder everyone's production.

Defense (B-)
The Kentucky defense has a handful of top-notch players but some glaring weak positions. Woodyard and a pretty solid linebacking corps will try to join forces with junior DT Myron Pryor and sophomore CB Trevard Lindley, but the rest of the defense looks too average to compete.

Special Teams (B)
One of the lower-tier units in the conference.

Overall (B)
The Kentucky offense should be solid, if their o-line can block someone. The defense has a lot of holes, so they will probably not contend for the title. A bowl game is definately in the works.

6) Vanderbilt Commodores (#62)

Last Season Record: 4-8 (1-7)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
WR Earl Bennett [JR]
MLB Jonathan Goff [SR]
SS Reshard Langford [JR]

Offense (B-)
Someone get Earl Bennett the ball! The junior WR needs to make a ton of plays and score in bunches for this offense to matter, but smart defenses in this conference will probably limit that. Senior OT Chris Williams is pretty solid though.

Defense (C+)
Can Goff get some help? The senior MLB will be trying to do everything himself, since Vandy's front seven looks shoddy. The Commodores have some talented sophomores at the corners and Langford deep, but it won't be enough to stop these SEC offenses.

Special Teams (D-)
An underrated group.

Overall (D+)
A C+ team couldn't compete in the SEC, let alone this below average squad. Getting to 4 wins again might be a stretch.

[kblu54]

LSU looking to upend SEC West foes, win SEC title and possibly more
SEC News

The LSU Tigers compiled an impressive 11-2 mark, but missed out on the SEC title game. Despite that, LSU still managed to sneak into a BCS bowl game, where they crushed Notre Dame 41-14 in the Sugar Bowl. This year, the Tigers bring back a talented and experienced squad looking for more than a shot at the SEC title.

LSU opens the year ranked #3 and wants the SEC title and possibly a shot at the national title, but first they must hold off defending SEC West champ Arkansas and a tough Auburn squad.

Let's take a look at the 2007-08 SEC West Division teams, in order of predicted finish.

1) LSU Tigers (#3)

Last Season Record: 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
Postseason Result: Won 41-14 over Notre Dame in Sugar Bowl

Impact Players
DT Glenn Dorsey [SR]
OLB Ali Highsmith [SR]
WR Early Doucet [SR]

Offense (A-)
LSU has a very experienced and talented offense, and their balanced attack should keep defenses scrambling. Senior QB Matt Flynn will direct this group, aiming for top receivers like Doucet and handing off to two great sophomore backs (Keiland Williams and Charles Scott). The best asset to Flynn will be his protection, which is an outstanding group with 4 out of 5 starters being juniors or older.

Defense (A)
You want to see true SEC defense? Then LSU is the team for you. The Tigers have so many stars it's hard to keep track of them all. Dorsey and junior DE Tyson Jackson anchor a ferocious d-line, Highsmith represents some sick linebackers and 3 seniors lead arguably the best secondary in the nation. Anybody who plays LSU this year will have a tough time finding points.

Special Teams (A)
Junior kicker Colt David will be a very valuable asset in a tough conference like this.

Overall (A+)
That overall rating says it all. LSU is the team to beat in the SEC this year. Period.

2) Arkansas Razorbacks (#10)

Last Season Record: 10-4 (7-1)
Postseason Result: Lost 17-14 to Wisconsin in Capital One Bowl

Impact Players
RB Darren McFadden [JR]
DT Marcus Harrison [SR]
WR Marcus Monk [JR]

Offense (B-)
You want to see a dominating backfield? Then watch as Heisman Trophy candidate McFadden and junior RB Felix Jones scamper all over defenses behind the blocking of senior FB Petyon Hillis. Arkansas should pound the ball in every game until someone stops them... but then they might be in trouble. Junior QB Casey Dick is very average and only has one good receiver (Monk) to aim for. Plus, the offensive line has a few weak spots.

Defense (B)
Arkansas' defense just seems to be missing something. They have some solid defenders like Harrison, senior FS Michael Grant and upcoming sophomore OLB Freddie Fairchild, but they have minimal depth. I'm afraid they won't be good enough as a full unit to capture the West again.

Special Teams (B)
Junior Jeremy Davis will perform both duties, mainly because the Razorbacks don't actually have a punter.

Overall (B)
The defending West champs seem to be missing too much to knock off the juggernaut Tigers. McFadden, of course, could change everything.

3) Auburn Tigers (#13)

Last Season Record: 11-2 (6-2)
Postseason Result: Won 17-14 over Nebraska in AT&T Cotton Bowl

Impact Players
DE Quentin Groves [SR]
OLB Tray Blackmon [SO]
QB Brandon Cox [SR]

Offense (B+)
Does Auburn's offense have enough to make some noise in the SEC? First glance says no. A second glance shows us a pretty decent balance, with Cox passing to some good WRs and two capable tailbacks (junior Brad Lester, sophomore Ben Tate) to carry the load. The o-line needs a little work but Auburn could be pretty good.

Defense (B+)
Groves is a sackmaster. Blackmon is a rising star. Three seniors captain a great secondary. Senior DT Josh Thompson anchors the interior. Sounds like there should be no issues right? That is until you notice I only mentioned 6 out of 11 starters... for a reason. Good, but not good enough.

Special Teams (B+)
The Tigers have some younger guys for specialists.

Overall (B+)
B+ ratings across the board for Auburn, so that means a B+ season is expected. I'm thinking 10 wins.

4) Alabama Crimson Tide (#34)

Last Season Record: 6-7 (2-6)
Postseason Result: Lost 34-31 to Oklahoma State in Independence Bowl

Impact Players
DE Wallace Gilberry [SR]
CB Simeon Castille [SR]
WR D.J. Hall [SR]

Offense (B+)
Alabama should have a pretty solid offense. Junior QB John Parker Wilson has a bunch of top receivers to throw to besides Hall, and he will be protected by an outstanding o-line. He will need some relief from the ground game, but sophomore Glen Coffee should do the job well.

Defense (B+)
Alabama's defense looks pretty solid, and a bunch of senior leaders will help. Two talented youngsters will start (true freshman MLB Rolando McClain, sophomore CB Javier Arenas), which should be exciting. They have plenty of depth, so even after the seniors leave they should be okay.

Special Teams (A+)
Sophomore Leigh Tiffin, a son of a former Tide kicker, is very talented.

Overall (A-)
Alabama is due for a good season and they should improve greatly from that brutal 6-7 campaign last year. They have enough tools to sneak up in the standings.

5) Mississippi State Bulldogs (#61)

Last Season Record: 3-9 (1-7)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
CB Derek Pegues [JR]
WR Tony Burks [SR]
RB Anthony Dixon [SO]

Offense (C+)
A true freshman QB and a sophomore RB behind an average offensive line? Uh-oh. QB Wesley Carroll will take his lumps, but Dixon has a ton of potential. Carroll does have a bunch of senior WRs and TEs to connect with, so his development could be smoother than expected.

Defense (C+)
Pegues is a top-notch corner and is only a junior. Can you get this guy some help? The Bulldogs have so many weaknesses that opposing offenses should have a field day picking them apart. Pegues will do his best to help, but QBs will probably avoid throwing to his side.

Special Teams (A-)
Junior punter Blake McAdams can help out their subpar defense.

Overall (C+)
The offense is down and starting youngsters at QB and RB, while Pegues is the only defender worth mentioning. The Bulldogs might struggle to reach 3 wins again.

6) Ole Miss Rebels (#64)

Last Season Record: 4-8 (2-6)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis [SR]
SS Jamarca Sanford [JR]
QB Seth Adams [SR]

Offense (B)
Ole Miss has a bunch of young playmakers and a solid offensive line, but their QB looks iffy. Adams will start, but he will make Rebel fans wish highly-touted Jevan Snead didn't have to sit out his transfer year. Still, the Rebels could pull some upsets along the way, which will set the tone for next season.

Defense (B-)
This Ole Miss defense is pretty young and just beginning to discover their potential. Sophomore DE Greg Hardy and junior DT Peria Jerry anchor a ferocious d-line, and Sanford patrols a pretty solid secondary. The linebackers are pretty young, but should improve during the season. Next season is looking promising.

Special Teams (A)
The Rebels have a nice group of specialists.

Overall (B)
Ole Miss should not be in the cellar long. This year they may take some hard shots, but next year they should have a year of experience in and be ready to challenge.

[kblu54]

Troy voted as favorite to win weak Sun Belt
Sun Belt News

The good news for Troy is that they are picked to win the Sun Belt title in 2007-08. The bad news is that they are a triple-digit-ranked team and play in the worst conference in the FBS.

I guess Troy lucked out by being the highest ranked Sun Belt squad, checking in at #101. The Trojans are decent but they definately won't dominate this mediocre group. In reality, any of the 8 conference members could win the title this season.

Let's take a look at the 2007-08 Sun Belt programs, in order of predicted finish.

1) Troy Trojans (#101)

Last Season Record: 8-5 (6-1 Sun Belt) *Co-Sun Belt Champions*
Postseason Result: Won 41-17 over Rice in New Orleans Bowl

Impact Players
QB Omar Haugabook [SR]
RB Kenny Cattouse [SR]
FS Tavares Williams [JR]

Offense (C+)
Troy's solid backfield tandem of Haugabook and Cattouse could lift Troy to a 2nd-straight conference title. They run a spread attack that fits nicely with their personnel, but they need their o-line to be strong. In a conference like this, that probably won't be hard.

Defense (B-)
Troy's defense is pretty solid too, highlighted by Williams, senior CB Leodis McKelvin and a deep secondary. The defensive ends and OLBs aren't bad either, but the middle is a possible target for offenses. Still, the Trojans have enough playmakers to wreck havoc in this conference.

Special Teams (A-)
Two 5th-year seniors are the specialists.

Overall (B-)
Troy is the defending champs and have a good enough squad to back up this prediction.

2) Arkansas State Indians (#105)

Last Season Record: 6-6 (4-3)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
SS Tyrell Johnson [SR]
FS Khayyam Burns [SR]
RB Reggie Arnold [SO]

Offense (C)
The Indians have 6 solid starters on offense, which may be good enough for them to have success. Arnold is a beast and should be one of the conference's top rushers, especially in their run-based attack. Junior QB Travis Hewitt has two good targets to aim for but needs his offensive line to keep him safe.

Defense (C+)
You won't be able to throw deep against them. You won't be able to run on their d-line. But a subpar linebacking corps may be their downfall. Johnson and Burns are the Sun Belt's best safety duo, and teaming with senior CB Montis Harrison makes them tough. Senior DE Brandon Rollins and freshman DT Stanley Porter anchor a great d-line, but they will need their linebackers to improve.

Special Teams (B)
Sophomore Brian Sheffield will pull double duty.

Overall (C+)
A solid team with a bunch of stars, making them a legit threat to Troy.

3) Florida Atlantic Owls (#107)

Last Season Record: 5-7 (4-3)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
FS Taheem Acevedo [SR]
RB Charles Pierre [JR]
TE Jason Harmon [JR]

Offense (C)
Sophomore QB Rusty Smith is a good QB on an average team, so his production might be a little low. He has a young group of WRs, an average senior TE (Harmon) and a very shaky o-line. Still, junior tailbacks Pierre and DiIvory Edgecomb should help out tremendously.

Defense (C)
Acevedo and senior SS Kris Bartels will have a tough time covering up the weak spots on this defense --- they're everywhere. The d-line looks average, the backers are worse and their corners don't look very helpful.

Special Teams (C)
Hold on, which team had the worst kicker? I think I made a mistake. The Owls' junior kicker really deserves that honor.

Overall (C-)
The offense has some hope for the future but the defense looks awful. Still, nothing is out of the question in the Sun Belt.

4) Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (#108)

Last Season Record: 7-6 (6-1) *Co-Sun Belt Champions*
Postseason Result: Lost 31-14 to Central Michigan in Motor City Bowl

Impact Players
DE Erik Walden [SR]
FS Damon Nickson [SR]
TE Clinton Corder [SR]

Offense (C+)
The Blue Raiders actually have a pretty solid offense, with a respectable pass game and a potentially dangerous run attack. Junior QB Joe Craddock should connect with junior WR Bobby Williams and two senior TEs early and often, while senior RB DeMarco McNair and speedy sophomore RB Desmond Gee will keep defenses guessing.

Defense (C)
The d-line and secondary is very experienced and very good, but their linebackers are just brutal. Walden and Nickson need their respective units to dominate for the Raiders to contend.

Special Teams (C+)
One of the worst units in the nation.

Overall (C)
The offense should be good this year and next, but the defense needs all their seniors to step up if they want a serious title run.

5) Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (#110)

Last Season Record: 6-6 (3-4)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
SS Lamar Morgan [SR]
RB Tyrell Fenroy [JR]
WR Derrick Smith [JR]

Offense (C)
UL-Lafayette has an interesting offensive group. Fenroy and Smith are their best playmakers, but junior QB Michael Desormeaux is a concern. Their offensive line will start 4 seniors, but their best guy is their sophomore center. Hard to predict, but possible poor QB play could doom them.

Defense (C)
Morgan will need a lot of help. The front seven and other secondary members are just plain bad. Do not expect much of anything from this unit.

Special Teams (B-)
Not a very impressive unit, unless you're impressed at how bad they are.

Overall (C-)
Too few stars, too many issues. They will be middle of the pack... I guess? Will the Sun Belt even have a middle?

6) Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (#111)

Last Season Record: 4-8 (3-4)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
RB Calvin Dawson [SR]
WR LaGregory Sapp [JR]
DE Travis Eickman [JR]

Offense (C)
Dawson is arguably the most complete back in the conference. It's a shame he has to waste all that talent playing with this unit. The Warhawks have a subpar QB, no receivers and a below average line. It will be a rough year for scoring.

Defense (D)
Ding ding ding! And the winner for the nation's worst defense goes to --- UL-Monroe! Oh yeah, this group is that bad. It's not even worth mentioning anyone, because no one is a star here.

Special Teams (B)
Senior kicker Cole Wilson was voted the best returning kicker in the Sun Belt.

Overall (C-)
The funny thing is, despite how bad this Warhawks team is, they will probably not be the worst team in the conference. Hilarious, right?

7) North Texas Mean Green (#113)

Last Season Record: 3-9 (2-5)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
RB Jamario Thomas [SR]
SS Aaron Weathers [SR]
DE Jeremian Chapman [SR]

Offense (C)
Thomas will keep North Texas competitive on the ground, but the passing game will go through some growing pains. True freshman Giovanni Vizza will start, but doesn't seem to have much to throw to and the o-line will probably give up a bunch of sacks.

Defense (C)
The Mean Green defense is actually pretty experienced, so they could be a sound group. The talent is a little low, but there's something about that senior year that makes everyone step their game up a little.

Special Teams (C+)
Another brutal unit, which may turn out to be a common Sun Belt theme.

Overall (C-)
Strong defense and the development of Vizza will bring North Texas out of the cellar. A bowl game seems unlikely though.

8) Florida International Golden Panthers (#117)

Last Season Record: 0-12 (0-7)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
CB Lionell Singleton [SR]
CB Ashlyn Parker [SO]
RB Julian Reams [JR]

Offense (D+)
New head coach Mario Cristobal is inheriting a developing program in only their 5th year as a FBS team, coming off an winless season. Not helping will be their shoddy offense. Reams is a solid back, but the Panthers will start a redshirt freshman at QB and will provide him with no weapons. It might be a tough year for the FIU offense.

Defense (C-)
If it wasn't for FIU's solid corners (and UL-Monroe's joke of a unit), they could be a serious contender for the Sun Belt's worst D. The front seven is awful and the safeties deep could use a lot of work. Points galore for opposing offenses!

Special Teams (B)
Two sophomores on board here, and they aren't that bad.

Overall (C-)
FIU is ready to take on all challengers. Who dares steal our spot at the bottom of the standings?