My Picks

I don't pretend to be the most knowledgeable, but I do love to watch the games. So I'm going to focus less on forecasting and more on commentary here. However, you can't be a real football fan unless you stake your claim every August with some predictions. Most will be wrong. I might nail a couple. And I can always hit the delete button later in the season. Here they are -- apologies for the SEC bias, but the best conference in America has earned it afterall!

SEC -- Florida Gators: Sorry Georgia fans, Heisman Trophy winning QB Tim Tebow is still better than Matthew Stafford. Look for him to emerge as an even better passer as his role in the rushing game diminishes. The Gators will have a much better defined running game this year with Lakeland, FL RB Chris Rainey, USC transfer Emmanuel Moody, returning starter Keystahn Moore, and all-around amazing athlete Percy Harvin. The offense will be scary good. Let's see if longtime coordinator Charlie Strong can improve the defense.

ACC -- Clemson : Great double-headed running attack in CJ Spiller and James Davis. Clemson always seems to choke in big spots but the lack of depth in the ACC tells me this might be their year. Virginia Tech has QB issues which will prove too much to overcome.

Big East -- West Virginia : New coach Bill Stewart seems to be the biggest question. Otherwise they don't miss a beat with returning QB Pat White and new starter RB Noel Devine. Pittsburgh is a dark horse after their surprise upset of the Mountaineers last year.

Big Ten -- Michigan : Why not? We'll get to hear all about the greatness of coach Rich Rodriguez if he can win this once great conference with Lloyd Carr's players. Michigan lost all its play makers but the new spread offense should breathe life into the struggling program. Hopefully Ohio State will be exposed this year sometime before the BCS title game!

Big 12 -- Oklahoma Bob Stoops defense is always good. But this year his offense will really shine led by sophomores QB Sam Bradford and RB DeMarco Murray . Additionally, the Big 12 just might be the best conference this year after the SEC has had a stranglehold on that title for a half-decade. I was impressed by the emergence of Kansas, Texas Tech, and Mizzou last year. Imagine if Bo Pellini can improve Nebraska in a hurry.

Pac 10 -- Arizona State: It's time to dethrone USC already. I predict they'll have QB issues and former Arkansas QB Mitch Mustain won't help any. They lost a lot of O-Line and defensive talent and perhaps it will take a year or two to reload. But for the Sun Devils, Coach Erickson already has a good passing attack led by QB Rudy Carpenter. He'll find quickie junior college players to supplement the team's needs just as he always does wherever he goes.

BCS Champion -- Oklahoma: If Oklahoma gets through that conference without a loss, they deserve a chance to play for the title.

Heisman -- Missouri QB Chase Daniel: Yes, I'm definitely a Big 12 convert for the 2008 season.