Mississippi State Bulldogs

In 2007 things started to look very good for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. They defeated Auburn in Auburn, a ranked Kentucky team on the road, Alabama at home and had their first bowl victory in 7 years! Hopes were so high in Starkville that at the 2008 media day Sylvester Croom pronounced his team’s expectations- an SEC West Crown….the season started rocky as the Bulldogs were troubled by inconsistent quarterback play and finished the season being humiliated so badly by their rival the Ole Miss Rebels (45-0) that Sylvester Croom quickly resigned following the defeat.
The 2008 Bulldogs were full of young talent and one of my DARK HORSE teams. They had a do-able schedule and seemed ready to turn the corner, but they failed to meet expectations. One of the most experienced teams in the SEC last year is now the most inexperienced with only 10 starters returning.

OFFENSE
The Bulldog offensive success will hinge on senior running back Anthony Dixon. Going into the 2008 season, it appeared that Dixon was prepared to rule the SEC. But injuries to the line and a nonexistent passing game hindered his ability to be a game changer. What is working in Dixon’s favor this year is that the offensive line returns six players with starting experience and four players that were every-game starters. The line should be better and be able to open some holes; however a HUGE problem for this team is their quarterback play. Tyson Lee struggled mightily last year throwing for just 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Lee shared time with sophomore (who is now gone) Wesley Carrol because neither quarterback could formulate a way to get the ball down the field and into the end zone. Lee will not have much to work with receiving wise as 2 of his three major targets are under classmen.

DEFENSE
During Sylvester Croom’s tenure at Mississippi State the defense was transformed into a very formidable opponent. However last year’s lack of offensive production caused the defense to be on the field too long and eventually gave up the plays to lose games. This year’s defensive unit will struggle mightily. They only return 4 starters on a unit which gave up more than 328 yards a game and an average of 24 points.

SEASON PROJECTION-
New coach, no belief in the quarterback, and the least returners in all the SEC all combine to make the 2009 season treacherous for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Florida’s old offensive coordinator and Mississippi State’s new head man should turn things around in Starkville but it WILL take time. Until then, the Bulldogs will struggle. Mississippi State goes to Auburn the second week of the season followed by a visit to a turned around Vanderbilt. They also must face LSU, Alabama, Florida, and Ole Miss(ALL TEAMS THAT CAN REACH A BCS GAME). The SEC is a gauntlet and the Bulldogs will be overmatched and outnumbered.

2-10 LAST IN THE SEC WEST

Good Morning!

All right! We have been through all the other conferences and now it is time for an in depth SEC preview.
Today starts the 12 day previews....

Justin Keehne

Big East

Saving the worst conference for last before a more in depth SEC preview is the Big East. Last year a surprise came to the conference as the Cincinnati Bearcats, led by a veteran defense won the conference going 11-2. This year the squad loses 10 starter on defense but has the same offense in tact. Cincinnati's offense averaged nearly 26 points a game last season and should improve, however the losses on defense will cost them a chance to repeat as conference champions.

Each year it seems like South Florida has a squad that can win the Big East, but they always find a way to lose down the stretch and end up in a bottom tier bowl game. This year will be the senior year for Matt Grothe, who has thrown for 8,157 yards in his career and is primed to be the Bulls top passer for a career by the end of this year. Grothe and the Bulls have a tough Big East schedule and must go to the Pittsburgh and Rutgers.

The preseason favorite the Pittsburgh Panthers. They return 15 players overall and finished the season winning thier last two games of the regular season. Pittsburgh's toughest challenge will be at Rutgers. Rutgers has won the last 4 meetings.

Speaking of Rutgers, this team underachieved at the beginning of the season but turned it on late winning thier last 6 and thier bowl game to finish the season 8-5. If the Scarlet Knights can replace quarterback Mike Teel, Rutgers can win the Big East and quite possibly go unbeaten. Thier non-conference is one of the easiest in FBS and thier Big East sleight also seems easy as they play thier top opponents in New Brunswick.

Big East

1) Rutgers 10-2
2) Pittsburgh 9-3
3) South Florida 9-3
4) Cincinnati 7-5
5) West Virginia 6-6
6) Louisville 6-6
7) Uconn 4-8
8) Syracuse 4-8

Big 12

After last season's development of Texas Tech as a national contender and the high powered offenses of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas everyone is wondering who is the conference the reigns supreme over the college football landscape, the Big 12 or the SEC? The Big 12 is very competitive and should remain that way this year. Oklahoma, last year's runner up returns thier Heisman quarterback Sam Bradford and 9 players on defense. Texas returns last years runner up in the Heisman and quarterback Colt Mccoy, 9 offensive starters, and a solid defensive nucleus. Last years surprise team was Texas Tech and with losing thier quarterback and star reciever, they should take a step back only to be replaced by Oklahoma State who surged through the regular season to 9-3 and give hope that the COwboys can compete this season. In the Big 12 North, the powers are shifting after Missouri's reign with Chase Daniel. Look for Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, and Kansas State to all be competitive this year and fight for the North title.

Overall, this conference from top to bottom is probably one of the strongest conferences. Lasseason Texas beat Oklahoma and still lost out on a chance to play in the Big 12 title game and national title. This year the Longhorns will be out for revenge. Look for Mccoy to put up even BIGGER numbers this year and lead the Longhorns to the National Title.

BIG 12 Predictions
North Division
1) Nebraska 9-3
2) Colorado 9-3
3) Kansas 8-4
4) Kansas State 7-5
5) Missouri 4-8
6) Iowa State 2-10

South Division
1) Texas 11-1
2) Oklahoma St 10-2
3) Oklahoma 9-3
4) Texas Tech 7-5
5) Texas A+M 6-6
6) Baylor 6-6

BIG 12 Championship

Texas Over Nebraska

Big 10

The Big 10 has taken its lumps the last few years as the conference as a whole hasn't progressed with the times and gone with speed over power. Three schools, Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan look to be upgrading thier skill postions and favoring a fast, mobile quarterback and are shying away from the old 3 yards and a cloud of dust monicre. It might be a few more years before the talent will officially be there for these schools to compete against the faster and more gifted athletes of other conferences, but its good to see them progressing.

Last season, Penn State won thier first 9 games and beat Ohio State at the Horseshoe, but lost to Iowa in Iowa and settled for a share of the Big 10 title and a blow out Rose Bowl loss. This year I project Ohio State to avenge thier Penn State loss in Happy Valley with a more experienced Terrelle Pryor and 7 returning defensive starters. In fact, it is possible for the Buckeyes to run through the Big 10 schedule unscathed. Michigan should be MUCH better and return to a bowl in Rich Rodriguez's 2nd year in Ann Arbor.

Big 10 Predictions
1) Ohio State 11-1
2) Penn State 10-2
3) Northwestern 9-3
4) Michigan 8-4
5) Wisconsin 8-4
6) Minnesota 7-5
7) Iowa 7-5
8) Michigan State 7-5
9) Illinois 5-7
10) Purdue 3-9
11) Indiana 2-10

ACC

Last year it was the ACC had a down year. Entering the season, Clemson was everyone's dark horse to win get to the national title. They struggled and didn't live up to expectations. Everyone else in the ACC was rebuilding, so when it came down to the end of the season two young 8-4 teams met in the ACC championship game. This year the conference is a little stronger. I project BIG things from Florida State this year. Like last seasons emergence of Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions, I see Bobby Bowden leading the Seminoles back to a BCS bowl game for the first time in 4 years. College football is about progression and building. Two years ago the 'Noles were 6-5 and lost in the Music City Bowl. Last year they added two wins in the regular season and demolished Wisconsin in thier bowl game. This year, as progression goes, State wins the ACC...

Atlantic Division
1) Florida State 9-3
2) Clemson 7-5
3) Boston College 6-6
4) Wake Forest 6-6
5) NC State 4-8
6) Maryland 2-10
Coastal Division
1) North Carolina 10-2
2) Virginia Tech 9-3
3) Georgia Tech 8-4
4) Miami 7-5
5) Virginia 5-7
6) Duke 4-8

ACC Title Game

Florida State Over North Carolina

Pac 10

Starting off with the 2009 College Projections we have the Pac 10 conference. Even reloading on both sides of the ball, USC should be able to win its 8th straight Pac 10 title. Teams are getting better and in a few more years, schools might be able to be more competitive. I have 8 schools reaching bowl eligibility, where they should land will be posted later in the week!

1) USC 10-2
2) Stanford 9-3
3) Oregon 8-4
4) California 7-5
5) Arizona 7-5
6) Arizona State 7-5

7) UCLA 6-6
8) Oregon State 6-6
9) Washington St 3-9
10) Washington 2-10