Six premier conferences...
- Atlantic Coast Conference
- Big East Conference
- Big Ten Conference
- Big 12 Conference
- Pac Ten Conference
- Southeastern Conference
The 2008 college football season begins tomorrow night. Will we see another non-BCS conference emerge, as we have seen the past two seasons, with the WAC? Will Notre Dame rebound from the poor 3-9 season last year and contend for a bowl? Will the SEC make it three straight in the BCS Title Game in '08? Will Ohio State get back to the BCS Title and finally overcome the back to back runner up role?
In the ACC, twelve teams seek the 2008 ACC Championship. Last year, it was Virginia Tech over Boston College, 30-16, but the Hokies lost the Orange Bowl vs. Kansas, 21-24. This year, Virginia Tech is the preseason consensus pick in the ACC Coastal, while Clemson Tigers are getting the most love in the preseason in the ACC Atlantic.
In the Big East, West Virginia, despite a new head coach, is basically the preseason consensus pick in the conference. After coach Rich Rodriguez departed before the Fiesta Bowl, new coach Bill Stewart lead the Mountaineers to a 48-28 win over Oklahoma. The Mountaineers have been to two BCS bowls in three years and look lead in '08 again.
In the Big Ten, the Ohio State Buckeyes are the preseason consensus pick to win the conference. The Buckeyes have won two straight outright and have won at least a share the past three years. Will the Buckeyes make it to three BCS title games in row? Can they overcome the unbelievable failure vs. SEC opponents in bowl games? It should be an interesting season for the Buckeyes. Forty years ago, OSU head coach Woody Hayes lead the Buckeyes to a MNC. Can coach Jim Tressel lead the Buckeyes to their second BCS Title?
In the Big Twelve last year, we saw two teams emerge in the Big 12 North for the first time, with Missouri and Kansas finishing at 7-1 , while the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Iowa State finished last at 2-6. In the Big 12 North, it was Oklahoma, who went on to beat Missouri in the Big 12 Championship 38-17. This year, Oklahoma is picked as the preseason favorite in the South by most previews, but Texas and even Texas Tech, get the top nod each by one preview. In the North, Missouri is the favorite by all but one preview, where KU gets the pick.
In the Pacific 10 Conference, the USC Trojans are the preseason consensus pick in '08 and are going for at least their seven share of a conference title in seven years. For the second straight season, each Pac 10 team will play one another, playing nine conference games and three OOC opponents. USC won the Rose Bowl last year 49-17 over the Big Ten runner up, Illinois.
In the Southeastern Conference, where the past two SEC champions have gone on to win the BCS title game, Georgia or Florida are being picked in the SEC East, while LSU or Auburn are picked in the SEC West, with even Alabama being picked by one preview in the West. LSU won in '07, Florida in '06 and Georgia in '05... but, can Georgia get to their first BCS title game in '08?
Notre Dame is one of only three independents (Army and Navy) and they do get BCS consideration, if they have a bowl eligible season. Only Phil Steele's preview puts the Fighting Irish in the preseason Top 25, after last year's 3-9 mark. Will the Fighting Irish really rebound this year?
Only ten teams are selected for the BCS these days. A maximum of two teams from any conference. So, who will make the BCS in '08?
- BCS National Championship Game
- Rose Bowl
- Orange Bowl
- Fiesta Bowl
- Sugar Bowl
I will say this, if Ohio State gets to the BCS title game for the third straight year... they will win it. They will honor the 40th anniversary of Woody Hayes MNC accomplishment forty years ago. It will be an interesting twist, if it turns out to be a rematch of the top OOC game of the season...
Game of the Regular Season: September 13 - Ohio State at USC
Stay tuned, the kickoff of the 2008 college football season is less than 24 hours away! Game on!
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