Teams that will surprise (good and bad)

[RexFoster]

Thread starter, will add later on


ACC:
Nice surprise: Georgia Tech: Suspensions last year, 8-3 this year

Going down: Miami Fla: Injuries, 6 #1 NFL draft choices, and the close calls in 2003 turn into a 7-4 mark in 2004


BIG 12:

Nice Surprise: Texas Tech: New QB, so what, any defensive improvement and 8-3 is a given

Going down: Oklahoma State: That Division is loaded and this team is not (5-6)

SEC:

Nice Surprise: Vanderbilt: They would be a prime contender if in the West, but even here they come close to winning record (5-6)

Going down: Mississippi: Tennessee lost a Manning (Peyton) and then won the title. Mississippi will not do the same as they are not the same recruiting pipeline (6-5)


Big 10:

Nice surprise: Michigan State: They are not the only team here to lose a starting QB so with other areas maybe improving from last year they watch as other teams drop (8-3)

Going down: Ohio State: Are you kidding! You can not lose 14 starters to the NFL and remain as good (7-4)

Pacific Ten:

Nice surprise: Arizona: They quit last year and can not be judged on that performance. This year they run off 2 or 3 upsets (5-6)

Going down: Washington: This team is one step away from a new coach. A proud program on the decline right now (4-7)


GOOD LUCK!
Rex

 

[volhound]

Memphis Tigers will be good again this year. hopefully will be some soft lines early. They might have one of the best running backs in the country - - good offense. decent defense
As stated above,I also think their will be some value in Vandy at the beginning of the season

 

[volhound]

stay away from betting for or against the Vols
there is no telling. we have QB issues that probably won't be certain til after a few games or maybe never

 

[NYReb]

Memphis is getting too much pre-season press, much like Auburn last year (although on a different scale.) They might be a good team to go against early on.

Ole Miss is not going down. They lost Manning, but the rest of the team is stronger, especially the defense and running game. New QB Spurlock is the fastest player on the team and will create nightmares for DCs. Look for them to surprise.

 

[LSUpete]

Hello there Reb.

Are you ready for this season? I have had some great info from my buddies at different colleges, and I expect to have a banner year. The only thing I need to gaurd against is getting to excited with the plays.

We are gonna tear it up this year.

 

[pinned]

Nice post Rex.
Your analyis is dead on correct. Just not sure about TX TEch. Cumbie is the new QB and the defensive gives up huge chunks of points.
Although Leach is 31-21 at TECH as head coach.
Just not sure.
Agree with the other teams you mentioned.

 

[markymark+]

This may be "out there", but what about Duke?? They had some senior lineman die in a car crash a few months back....could be motive to play harder. I think they have new coach too. You know they'll be getting tons of points for awhile. I don't know..just a thought. Duke football has been terrible for years, but they had a great ATS year I think in 02'.

 

[ppeter]

Texas A&M will be back to form. It takes Coach Fran a season or two to get it going...he is a master recruiter.

 

[ElIguana]

Agree with you somewhat, ppeter. Aggies offense was potent last year, defense was HORRIBLE! They are never short on talent in College Station, and lines might have good value early before the public realizes the improvement. But they play in a brutal division of a brutal conference, hard to completely turn a defense around in one season...just ask Missouri.

 

[ppeter]

Yeah, other than qb Reggie O'Neal and a few decent skill players RC sure left the cubbard bare...Fran's recruits should start making a diff this year.

 

[DanTanna]

Arkansas will surprise. They're picked near the bottom of the SEC West by many publications. They're returning only one starter, although the one starter has been their best offensive weapon for the past three seasons. They're young, but talented. Coach Nutt always seems to overachieve with teams that have no preseason hype.

 

[ashworth07]

PSU could be a surprise. They will have a much improved d-fense. Plus blue chip recruit Austin Scott should have a solid sophmore campaign. He was PSU leading rusher last year while fighting mono for more than two months. The attitude has changed in Happy Valley and PSU may be a dark horse this year. Also leading receiver Humphries will not do jail time for his assault and may be reinstated on the team.

Ashy

 

[Surfsup]

Rex,

OSU will do much better than 7-4 this year. Have you read or done much research on this team? They have one of he greatest coaches in the game who always wins close games. They have an All American place kicker returning. Their defense will better than last years or the national title year. They have 1 of the top 2 linbacker groups in the country with All American A.J. Hawk. Not to mention A.F transfer Schlegal. Along with D'Andrea and Kerr. The offense will be much better than last years(laughing, how can it get an worse?). Redshirted Zwick ('01 USA Today PLOY) at qb. Preseason 2nd team All American Santonio Holmes at WR. Also look for USA Today PLOY, speed demon and US Olmypic track hopefull Ted Ginn as well. All of the coaches, players, and scouts at the Big 33 game said Ginn is simply amazing and on another level. Tressel does nothing but win and at The Shoe, OSU is almost unbeatable. His record proves that.

Best of luck on your upcoming season!

 

[RexFoster]

Thanks for all the comments.

As for Ohio State, it's a good team, but not as good as last year, and there are a number of teams that can play Ohio State tough. Having a great kicker helps.

GOOD LUCK!
Rex

 

[RexFoster]

Adding the Big East:

Nice surprise: None! West Virginia is the class of this league but that is hardly a surprise.

Going down: Boston College. Penn State and Notre Dame want payback. I do not see a great RB and the OL is weaker.

More to follow.

 

[WinOne]

PAC10
Surprise: CAL - Great pitch and catch combo and defense gets some much needed help

Surprise: UCLA - Tons of talent and they have young nucleus on Offense returning. Defense was pretty salty until injuries and offensive ineptitude caused it to wear down. Remember they played OU tough in Norman early last year before youth was served.

BIG12
Surprise: Mizzou No one has found a way to stop Brad Smith. If the Defense steps up look for them to challenge in the North.

Mountain West:
Surprise: Utah - They will probably be top 10 team. No one from that conference will challenge them

ACC: Surprise:
Clemson - I love what Clemson has coming back this year and how they finished last year. I see nothing but good times ahead.

Big 10:
Surprise: Minnesota - If they can just play a little defense, they would have won the Big 1o last year. No one throttled their O, but the defense has to improve.

GL,
WinOne!!

 

[dellmonster]

Ole Miss is going to be alot better than people think this year.

Louisville, Marshall, Miami (oh), clemson, GT

Those are going to be some good teams this year...

 

We can want payback a lot against BC but I think BC is pretty good this year. I just hope the shakeup on the offensive coaching staff will make this team better. Sorry Franny!

WE ARE...PENN STATE! (P.S. we will beat the Buckeyes

)

sb

 

[Mr NJ Sports]

I think COLORADO will be very improved.

HUSKERS will suck. new system and no QB to run it.

CANES will be bad (for them). Brock Berlin is awful and they lost 5 guys taken in the 1st round of the NFL draft.

VA tech lost all of their skill players and their D wasnt "VA tech like" for 2nd 1/2 of last year including their ridiculous bowl outing.

I think NORTH CAROLINA may be a good team . All of their skill is back on O and 7 ret starters on D so maybe it will improve. They may be good dogs .


WISCONSIN will be the best team in that conference. 17 returning starters including the entire O line and Anthony Davis

ARIZONA ST. will be the surprise PAC 10 team this year . CAL will be overrated and WASH ST will suck

Conference USA is a really good conference tons of good teams. I really like UAB to improve . Same for Houston if they play any D .TULANE will be brutal no Losman and no Moore (with them they were only 5-7 last year.

Anyone else think ARMY may improve? atleast ATS? 18 returning starters + Bobby Ross.

RUTGERS in the big east ..Im biased but they were 10-1-1 ATS last year and should get some more wins in the SU column this year.

didnt go over mt west ,wac mac and sun belt yet (thats probably a good thing)

 

[RexFoster]

Mr. NJ Sports

Hope you are right. We agree on many of these.

To finish up!

Mountain West

Nice Surprise: Colorado State. They seem like the forgotten team that is why I list them here. Watch out in October/November.

Going Down: Air Force. For the first time in over a decade they lose more than they win.


WAC

Nice Surprise:

Rice - More experience than usual and they reach a bowl - first time since 1961.

Going Down - Boise State - It has to happen some time, and it does this year although they still are good enoug to win maybe 8.


GOOD LUCK - FOOTBALL IS ALMOST BACK!
Rex