6) North Texas Mean Green
By virtue of their utter meanness, I shall place them fifth and no lower – despite expectations that they will be the worst team in the league. I’m giving new head coach Todd Dodge the benefit of the doubt, and I’m expecting them to pull off a few upsets along the way. Dodge’s new spread offense should at least be fun to watch. Did I mention that Dodge is taking over a Division 1A program directly from coaching high school football? Granted, he was coaching at Southlake Carroll in Texas, who probably has a larger stadium and budget than some MAC teams, but it was high school nonetheless. Dodge was also 98-11 in his seven years at Southlake Carroll. He does have college coaching experience though, having served as North Texas’ offensive coordinator in the early 90s.
7) Louisiana – Lafeyette Ragin’ Cajuns
ULL’s Ragin’ Cajuns have by far my favorite nickname in the SBC, if not the NCAA as a whole. Also, they have my favorite fan in all of college football because of the Internet’s world famous RaginCajunRebel. Go google that name and prepare to have your mind blown. I’m already horrified he’ll come after me for picking his boys so low. They just have so few starters returning that I couldn’t see picking them much higher. They may give the Ol’ Ball Coach a scare in their season opener at South Carolina, but I just don’t see too many victories in store for them this year. I like the Ragin’s quite a bit though, and I hope they prove me wrong.
8) Florida International Golden Panthers
A’mod Ned. That is all you need when you are FIU. Ned is back and he is coming for you Sun Belt. Watch out.
Boise State? Never heard of 'em.
After last year's jesuschristdidtheyjustdothat season, capped off by the Fiesta Bowl victory, Boise State could run the table for the second straight year. Running back Ian Johnson will have to carry even more of his share of the team, now that NCAA Football '07 posterboy Jared Zabransky is no longer a student.
But standing in their way, on the final week of the season, is a November 23 duel with the preseason-ranked Hawaii Warriors. Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan wants to throw about a hundredy billion touchdowns this year, and they have both the offense and home field advantage to do so (seriously, when you're standing on an island, you feel claustrophobic — doubly so when you're surrounded by zealous island natives yelling loudly).
That November 23 Boise St.-Hawaii match might be one of the games of the year in the entire NCAA, considering there's a chance both teams enter the game undefeated. As for me, I have a soft spot for poi and parody. Hawaii will play in a BCS game this year.
Article comments