College Football Preview: Pac-12*

The Pac-10 grew to the Pac-12 by adding Utah from the Mountain West and Colorado from the Big XII. And even though these states are nowhere near the Pacific, the Pac-10/12 has always been a geographically dispersed conference. You've got teams from Washington and Oregon playing against teams from Arizona and southern California. So adding Utah and Colorado isn't too absurd.

Here's the alignment of the Pac-12, divided into two divisions:

North:
Oregon
Oregon State
Washington
Washington State
Stanford
California

South:
USC
UCLA
Arizona
Arizona State
Utah
Colorado

Teams will play 9 conference games (5 within the division, 4 from the other division). The Championship Game will be on December 2, and will be played at the home of the team with the best conference record.

1. Stanford Cardinal

Andrew Luck is the best player in the Pac-12, and perhaps the country. He'll have to play behind a rebuilt offensive line and a new group of WRs, but the Cardinal have some quality tight-ends, and they can run the ball. Last year, Stepfan Taylor ran for 1,137 yards and scored 15 times.

Their defense is good, and I think it's good enough to allow the offense to keep pace with Oregon when they meet in November (in Stanford, CA). Meanwhile, Oregon's defense will have trouble with Luck and the Cardinal's offense.

Stanford will beat Oregon head-to-head.

Key Games:
11/29 @ USC
11/12 vs. Oregon
11/26 vs. Notre Dame

Prediction: 12-1, Pac-12 North winner, Pac-12 title game winner, National Title contender

2. Oregon Ducks

It's hard not to be dazzled by UO's talent at the skill positions. RB LaMichael James ran for 1,731 yards and 21 TDs. QB Damon Thomas threw for 2,881 yards and 30 TDs. The Ducks averaged 47 points and over 530 yards of offense per game. There's little reason to think that their offense won't score at will.

However, their defense was only solid last year, and it's lost some key pieces. Only 5 starters return. While they'll be able to roll over most teams on their schedule, this one slight weakness will keep them out of the Pac-12 title game, and out of the BCS title game.

Key Games:
9/3 vs. LSU (in Arlington, TX)
11/12 @ Stanford
11/19 vs. USC

Prediction: 11-1, 2nd in Pac-12 North, National Title contender

3. USC Trojans

QB Matt Barkley (26 TDs as a sophomore) and WR Robert Woods (65 catches, 792 yards as a freshman) are rising stars in Hollywood's football program. However, unlike the Pete Carroll days, defense is no longer a strength at USC. The Trojans allowed 400.1 yards per game last year, and there doesn't seem to be many signs of improvement on that side of the ball. Thankfully for USC, they're in the South Division.

Key Games:
10/22 @ Notre Dame
10/29 vs. Stanford
11/19 @ Oregon

Prediction: 9-4, Pac-12 South winner, loss in Pac-12 title game

4. Utah Utes

It will be a challenge for Utah to rebuild after losing so much talent, even though the Utes won 10 games last year. Hiring Norm Chow as offensive coordinator can't hurt. And QB Jordan Wynn shows some promise. But they still need to replace their RBs. They also struggled against good defenses, which they'll see plenty of in the Pac-12.

Prediction: 8-4

5. Arizona State Sun Devils

ASU is good on the ground, bad in the air, on both sides of the ball. They have several good RBs, and 4 offensive linemen return. But the QB situation is still a mystery. On the other side of the ball, a good D-line and all 3 LBs returning bodes well for run stopping. The Sun Devils must also find a way to slow down opposing passing games. They were 101st against the pass last year.

Prediction: 8-4

6. Arizona Wildcats

If Arizona wants to reach a school record 4th straight bowl, they'll need QB Nick Foles to continue to excel. He threw over 3,000 yards and 20 TDs last year. The offensive line protecting him has 1 combined start among them, and the rushing game was awful last year. The defense was solid last year and should be just as good in 2011. Despite a tough start (games against Stanford, Oregon, and USC), the Wildcats should go bowling.

Prediction: 7-5

7. Washington Huskies

It's impossible to replace the likes of Jake Locker, but at least Washington has a 1,000 yard back and a 1,000 yard receiver. Their defense can rush the passer, and their DBs also know what they're doing. With the QB talent Washington will face in the Pac-12, those are two very nice defensive assets.

Prediction: 7-5

8. California Golden Bears

The Bears were 73rd in scoring offense last year, have no clear QB, no experienced RB, and little depth at WR. However, they possess one of the best defenses in the Pac-12. It won't be good enough to carry their feeble offense, but it might allow them to win one huge upset game.

Prediction: 6-6

9. Oregon State Beavers

QB Ryan Katz along with some good receivers should improve the passing game. That will be a necessity because their running game will struggle with little talent in the backfield and a suspect line. The defense is a big mess. Losing Jacquizz Rodgers and Stephen Paea has put the Beavers on life support until more talent can arrive.

Prediction: 5-7

10. UCLA Bruins

The Bruins had a shamefully bad passing offense, 116th in the country. They were also -11 in turnovers. Thankfully for them, the defense is likely to improve. Rick Neuheisel replaced his coordinators, and seems to know that he's the next to be replaced if things don't turn around in Westwood.

Prediction: 4-8

11. Colorado Buffaloes

I know why CU wanted to join the Pac-12, to get some exposure in big West Coast markets and to return to the national stage (instead of being dominated by Texas, then ignored when they play Missouri). But I don't know why the Pac-12 wanted Colorado. The Buffaloes have lost 18 straight outside of their state. They can run the ball well, which won't do them any good because the defense is so bad (especially against the pass) that they'll just be running down the clock for their opponents. Their schedule is also quite dumb. 13 games in 13 weeks, including road trips to Honolulu and Columbus, OH.

Prediction: 3-10

12. Washington State Cougars

Both the offensive and defensive lines are pushovers, which is too bad because the Cougars have a good QB, a couple of WRs, and some decent RBs. It won't matter though because they'll lose the game in the trenches.

Prediction: 1-11

College Football Preview: Big XII*

The Big XII now has ten teams in it. Which is an X in Roman numerals. So maybe they should change their name to the Big "X" (pronounced 'ex'). Anyway, the Big XII no longer has a title game, so all the teams will be facing each other every year.

1. Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners' pass-happy offense would make any coach smile. QB Landry Jones finally started to mature last season, and he has weapons like All-American WR Ryan Broyles (131 catches, 1622 yards, 14 TDs) among others. The defense has some soft-spots, but it's good enough for the Big XII. The biggest challenge will be winning tough games on the road. OU's only 2 losses alst year came in Columbia, MO and College Station, TX. This year they have games in Tallahassee, FL and Stillwater, OK to deal with.

But this team is really, really good.

Key Games:
9/17 @ Florida State
9/24 vs. Missouri
11/5 vs. Texas A&M
12/3 @ Oklahoma State

Prediction: 11-1, Big XII winner, National title game contender

2. Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies bring back 18 starters from a 9 win team. They're strong at all offensive positions. For example, WR Jeff Fuller was the first Aggie in history with a 1,000+ yard season. They do need the defense to step up just a bit if they want to win the conference. Because Oklahoma's offense is simply that good. In a slugfest against OU, the Aggies come up just a bit short. So if that defense can gel, and they can slow down the Sooners a bit, they'll win their first conference title since 1998.

Key Games:
9/29 vs. Oklahoma State
10/1 vs. Arkansas (in Arlington, TX)
10/29 vs. Missouri
11/5 @ Oklahoma

Prediction: 11-1, 2nd in Big XII

3. Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Cowboys might have the best offense in the Big XII. They were 3rd in the country last year. QB Brandon Weeden threw 4,277 yards and 34 TDs. WR Justin Blackmon caught 111 passes for 1,782 yards and 20 TDs. The Cowboys' Achilles heel is their defense. Their front 7 is young. Ultimately, their defense will let them down, and keep them out of a BCS bowl. I do think they'll beat Oklahoma, but they'll lose 2 conference games before then.

Key Games:
9/24 @ Texas A&M
10/22 @ Missouri
12/3 vs. Oklahoma

4. Missouri Tigers

The Tigers bring back 9 offensive starters from a unit that was already solid last year. Whoever they find to step up as quarterback will be blessed with riches. They'll be good receivers to throw to, good RBs to hand-off to, and a good line to protect him. The Tigers also bring back 7 defensive starters from a unit that was better than solid last year. They're a dark horse to win the Big XII, although they have some tough road games to endure.

Key Games:
9/9 @ Arizona State
9/24 @ Oklahoma
10/22 vs. Oklahoma State
10/29 @ Texas A&M

Prediction: 9-3

5. Baylor Bears

If you haven't been able to watch QB Robert Griffin, you've been missing out. Last year he threw for 3,501 yards and 22 TDs, and also ran for 625 yards and 8 more TDs. He should have a good 2011 as Baylor boasts some quality WRs. They do need to find some RBs to move the ball on the ground. And unfortunately, their defense will be their undoing. They'll be fun to watch, because games will be high scoring, back-to-back slugfests, but they'll wind up on the wrong end of those against the better teams in the conference.

The Big XII needs teams like Baylor to step up and become solid programs. And in case the Big XX disintegrates, Baylor needs to impress new potential conferences.

Prediction: 7-5

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Tech's up-tempo offense will struggle unless they figure out who is going to throw the ball and who'll catch it. They simply don't have the horses this year. And their defense continues to be a mess. They'll be using their 3rd coordinator in 3 years. They'll beat the weak teams of the conference with ease, but will then be casually brushed aside by the powerhouses.

Prediction: 7-5

7. Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns have turnover problems, and no clear QB. Their entire offense is a one big question mark. However, their defense is something to be proud of. They've got a core of good LBs, and they should keep Texas in games until the start of the 2nd quarter. What's ironic is that everyone gets to watch UT's rebuilding process on TV, thanks to the new Longhorn Network. That channel and the football program might have been better off if it started broadcasting in 2012, instead of 2011.

Prediction: 7-5

8. Kansas State Wildcats

K-State has no clue who their QB will be. They have no clue who their RB will me. And the RB mystery is worse because they relied heavily on the run last year. Even the offensive line is full of holes. The defense will likely improve thanks to its linebackers. But still, this is simply an untalented team without any sense of direction.

Prediction: 3-9

9. Iowa State Cyclones

There really isn't any talent in the skill positions, whatsoever. At least the defense will improve and mount some pressure on opposing QBs.

Prediction: 3-9

10. Kansas Jayhawks

If KU is going to be a contender again, it certainly won't be this year. They've got some talent in the pipeline, but it will take time to develop it. The defense lost its best pass rusher, and looks to be worse than it was last year. Which sucks because it was the 103rd scoring defense in the country.

Prediction: 2-10

College Football Preview: ACC*

For the most part, the Atlantic Coast Conference is similar to the Big East. There are lots of teams that are very good at one aspect of the game, and then godawful at another. However, the ACC does have some legitimately powerful teams at the top. So it's a slightly more entertaining conference to watch.

1. Florida State Seminoles

FSU was solid across the board last year, winning 10 games and going to the ACC title game. They were 33rd in scoring offense, 24th in scoring defense, and they return 17 starters. All their top skill players are back, and QB EJ Manuel has done well in the bowl games he's had a chance to play in.

DE Brandon Jenkins amassed 13.5 sacks last year, their secondary is excellent, and even their kicking game will be good. If not for a meeting with Oklahoma, they'd be strong candidates to run the table.

Key Games:
9/17 vs. Oklahoma
10/22 vs. Maryland
10/29 vs. NC State
11/12 vs. Miami
11/26 @ Florida

Prediction: 12-1, ACC Atlantic winner, ACC title game winner, National Title contender

2. Virginia Tech Hokies

Frank Beamer is 2 wins shy of 200 as Virginia Tech's head coach. The Hokies' offense will have a lot of fresh faces. Most notably, QB Logan Thomas replaces Tyrod Taylor. Thomas is 6' 6" and 245 pounds, but Taylor's playmaking abilities will be sorely miss. Last year Tech had the best offense in the ACC, and the 21st in the country. They'll struggle to be that good again. Although guys like RB David Wilson will still get to the end zone. He rushed for 5 TDs last year, and caught 4 more.

The defense was their weakness last year, and it will have to become a strength. They allowed 155.9 rushing yards per game. They have some stars on that side of the ball, but they're balanced with some liabilities. Thanks to a favorable schedule, and Miami being under siege, the Hokies should still be able to win the Coastal Division with relative ease.

Key Games:
10/8 vs. Miami
11/17 vs. North Carolina

Prediction: 11-2, ACC Coastal winner, ACC title game loss

3. Miami Hurricanes

Will they play? If they do, how many of them will play? Will they be eligible for anything? They were a likely contender to vie for the Coastal Division title. Although they had tough road games in Blacksburg and Tallahassee. The Canes had been experiencing a rebirth and a return to relevance. And now, who knows?

I feel bad for first year head coach Al Golden. After being the defensive coordinator at Virginia, he gets hired by the U in December and probably feels like he's in heaven. Now he's got to tread through a see of someone else's crap.

4. NC State Wolfpack

NC State is defensively strong. Their LBs rush the passer (sacked the QB 41 times last year). 8 starters return from the 24th scoring defense in the country. Unfortunately, the offense will be painful to watch. QB Mike Glennon is untested. There are talented but unproven RBs behind him, and an ugly WR situation. Glennon will be protected by 3 solid returning linemen, but that will just prolong the agony each snap.

Nevertheless, the defense will keep them in games, and they do play in the ACC.

Key Games:
10/29 @ Florida State
11/26 vs. Maryland

Prediction: 10-2

5. Maryland Terrapins

Maryland fans should be excited about new coach Randy Edsall, who built up UConn's program from I-AA to a BCS berth. They should also be excited about QB Danny O'Brien, who threw for 2,438 yards, 22 TDs and 8 INTs as a freshman. Backs DJ Adams and Davin Meggett will run the ball well. Any RB named Meggett is bound to be good, and UConn produced some quality RBs under Edsall. All this, combined with an opportunistic defense that scored 4 times last year, and you get a solid team. Despite a rough schedule, they'll be pretty good.

Then again, they play FSU at home, and if they can win that, they might go to the ACC title game, and possibly a BCS bowl.

Key Games:
9/5 vs. Miami
9/17 vs. West Virginia
10/22 vs. Florida State
11/12 vs. Notre Dame (in Landover, MD)
11/26 @ NC State

Prediction: 9-3

6. North Carolina Tar Heels

UNC went a solid 8-5, only losing to respectable teams. So despite the loss of QB TJ Yates, they should be poised for another decent season. WR Dwight James will be a prime target for new QB Bryan Renner. James had 946 receiving yards last year. And as usual, the Tar Heels boast a strong defensive line.

However, their weak secondary combined with an under-powered rushing offense will make it tough for them to hold leads. The Heels won't be able to drain the clock on the ground, and their opponents will be able to throw the ball at will. For now, UNC is just too raw to win the Coastal division.

Key Games:
10/15 vs. Miami
11/5 @ NC State
11/17 @ Virginia Tech

Prediction: 8-4

7. Boston College Eagles

If this were 1896, and the forward pass were still illegal, then Boston College might be one of the best teams in the nation. RB Montel Harris ran for 1,243 yards last year. And the Eagles had the #1 rush defense in the country. Harris underwent arthroscopic surgery recently, but he should return for the heart of BC's conference schedule.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, passing is part of the game now. BC doesn't have any legit pass rushing threats, nor does it really have a quarterback. There are decent WRs to catch the ball, but no passers to throw it. Meanwhile, BC's offensive play-calling resembles a pro team with a decent QB more than a college team with no QB but a great running attack.

It's frustrating to watch BC football these days, because the defense can play extraordinarily well, only to watch the offense lose the game. Stud LB Luke Kuechly accounted for 183 tackles last year, 110 of them on his own. He's gotten 10+ tackles in 22 straight games. He's a beast, and at least he is entertaining to watch.

No passing game, and a difficult road schedule mean that BC will struggle to make a bowl game.

Prediction: 7-5

8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

I love watching Georgia Tech play. How can you be a fan of college football and not love a team that averaged 323.3 rushing yards and 83.9 passing yards per game last year. The Jackets had the #1 rushing offense and the #119 passing offense. But that was just yardage. They struggled to score. And that struggle will continue in 2011. QB Tevon Washington only completed 41% of his passes last year, so the passing game isn't even a legit wrinkle for GT. It's a leak.

Defensively, they run a 3-4 with few LBs who can make plays. And that just doesn't compute. They'll struggle for bowl eligibility.

Prediction: 5-7

9. Virginia Cavaliers

UVA's 4 wins last year came against Richmond, VMI, Eastern Michigan, and (surprisingly) Miami. But that's actually an improvement. You know the expression "nowhere to go but up?" That was how UVA football could be described in 2009. They dramatically improved in 2010, and had the 75th best scoring offense in the country, and 70th best scoring defense. That sounds awful, but they used to be out of the top 100 in both categories. Now they need to continue to improve. If a QB and/or RB can emerge, then they might just do that. Their defense should also get better, as they return 7 starters. They also have an easy non-conference schedule.

Prediction: 5-7

10. Clemson Tigers

Clemson has a revamped offensive style that lacks the talent to make it effective. They have some good receivers and that's pretty much it. The defense lost its key players up front and in the secondary. It will be a solid unit, but not good enough to keep their lackluster offense in many games. Their kicking is also a major liability.

Prediction: 4-8

11. Duke Blue Devils

Duke is exceptionally good at passing the ball. QB Sean Renfree threw for 3,131 yards, and they have good WRs. It's convenient that they're such good at throwing the ball, because they're going to be behind a lot due to an atrocious defense.

Prediction: 4-8

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

They'll use an option offense because their QB can't pass the ball. RB Josh Harris ran for 720 yards and 7 TDs as a part-timer his freshman year. They'll improve on their 91st ranked scoring offense, and their 110th ranked scoring defense, but not by much.

Prediction: 3-9

College Football Preview: Big East*

After a quick glance at the preseason Top 25, you can see why the Big East added a team from Texas. TCU's ranked higher than West Virginia in the AP Poll, and WVU isn't even ranked by the Coaches'. WVU are the favorites, but each team in the Big East, including WVU, have big enough weaknesses that there are many contenders for that BCS bid. The conference title race might remain wide open until December.

1. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

The Mountaineers are men amongst boys in the Big East. QB Geno Smith will be the spotlight of the offense. He threw 24 TDs with only 7 picks last year, and amassed nearly 3,000 yards of total offense. But he was a supporting actor to Noel Devine, whose loss WVU will have to adapt to. They do have a solid WR group, and their O-line returns 4 starters.

Last year, though, WVU won with their defense. But they only bring back 4 starters. They have standouts such as DE Bruce Irvin, who'll be a full-time end after recording 14 sacks as a 3rd down specialist last year. Corner Keith Tandy intercepted 6 passes. But the linebackers are weak, and most of the secondary is vulnerable.

The offense will have to pick up the slack. But in the Big East, how many good offenses are capable of really exploiting WVU's weaknesses? Not many.

Key Games:
9/24 vs. LSU
10/8 vs. UConn
10/21 @ Syracuse
11/25 vs. Pitt
12/1 @ South Florida

Prediction:
10-2, Big East Champions, and a big loss in a BCS Bowl

2. PITT PANTHERS

Junior QB Tino Sunseri had a respectable 2010, throwing for 2,572 yards, 15 TDs, all with a 64% completions percentage. The offense will be more complex under new coach Todd Graham. In the backfield, RB Ray Graham (another junior) will carry the offense. He ran for 6.2 per carry his sophomore season.

Pitt returns 8 defensive starters from a unit that was 2nd in the conference and 15th in the country in scoring defense, and also 3rd in the conference and 8th in the nation in total defense. But Todd Graham's coaching strengths are on offense. He was also Pitt's 2nd choice in the off-season. He'll implement an "attacking 3-4" which will rely heavily on linebackers. That is also Pitt's only real weakness on defense.

In the Big East, though, there's enough wiggle room to experiment and try new things.

Key Games:
9/24 vs. Notre Dame
9/29 vs. South Florida
10/26 vs. UConn
11/25 @ West Virginia
12/3 vs. Syracuse

Prediction:
8-4

3. UCONN HUSKIES

UConn did well down the stretch last year to win their first Big East title. But they'll have to rebuild heavily at running-back, which has typically been their strongest position. There's also no clear choice at QB.

DT Kendall Reyes has NFL talent, and the defense returns 10 starters. However, there's plenty of room to improve. There's a new defensive coordinator, along with a new head coach. Without Randy Edsall, I don't know if this team will have the character it demonstrated in their stretch run last year.

They started slow last year then got on track. If they're able to do similar in 2011, they can do some damage, as their games against Big East contenders come back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

Key Games:
10/8 @ West Virginia
10/15 vs. South Florida
10/26 @ Pitt
11/5 vs. Syracuse

Prediction:
8-4

4. SYRACUSE ORANGE

Syracuse should have an improved offense, but that's not difficult to do considering they averaged a mere 22.2 points per game last year. That was 93rd in the nation. QB Ryan Nassib threw 19 TDs, and he'll be protected by an experienced line, and have experienced receivers to throw to.

Defense was their strength last year, but they lost 8 seniors. They need help at every level. They need 2 new tackles, 2 new LBs, and 2 new corners. They also need to figure out how to win at home. They were 0-4 in the Carrier Dome, against D-IA opponents. They did beat Maine and Colgate, which would be an impressive feat in hockey, not football.

Key Games:
9/17 @ USC
10/21 vs. West Virginia
11/5 @ UConn
11/11 vs. South Florida
12/3 @ Pitt

Prediction:
8-4

5. SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS

QB BJ Daniels has talent, but he makes mistakes. 11 TD passes, 13 INTs last year. The Bulls have plenty of options at RB, but none of them have been tested. They boast a deep defensive line. Three of their four defensive backs are returning, which is very nice since they had the 24th best passing defense last year.

Their 8-5 record was a bit of an illusion. Wins against Stony Brook, WKU, and Florida Atlantic helped inflate their total. Their 2011 schedule has similar cupcakes, like Ball State, Florida A&M, and UTEP. But, they have to go on the road for some tough games. At Notre Dame, at Pitt, at UConn, at Syracuse. Thankfully, they do host West Virginia.

Their subpar offense and their tough schedule will make this a trying year down in Tampa.

Key Games:
9/3 @ Notre Dame
9/29 @ Pitt
10/15 @ UConn
11/11 @ Syracuse
11/19 vs. Miami
12/1 vs. West Virginia

Prediction:
7-5

6. CINCINNATI BEARCATS

The Bearcats had the best offense and the worst defense in the Big East. And of course, only 5 return on offense, and 10 return on defense. The Bearcats have a good QB, a good RB, but they struggle to hold on to the ball. Their -15 turnover margin killed them last year. They'll get no help from their special teams, and at best, their defense won't hurt them. The offense simply won't be good enough to carry them far.

Prediction:
6-6

7. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

Last year, Louisville won some games because of their between the tackles running, and their ability to defend against the pass (9th best pass defense in country). This year, their runningbacks are smaller. Their pass game isn't good enough to pick up the slack. The safeties are solid, but the corners are weak. This will be a year of practice for the 2012 season. But as of right now, Louisville will struggle to win games.

Prediction:
6-6

8. RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS

The0r 4-8 record was inflated by wins against Norfolk State, Florida International, and an OT win over Army. They were 101st in scoring offense, 110th in rushing offense, and 114th in total offense. Their offensive line allowed 61 sacks, which is an NCAA record. Their defensive pieces have been shifted around, but there's not much to work with there. The bright spot is their passing game, which was 79th last year.

Prediction:
5-7

Motown Meltdown

Pats fans have been putting a lot of stock in the first two pre-season games. Too much stock. So maybe we shouldn't overreact to this Detroit drubbing. However, there were some things I saw in this game that have me concerned:

-Protecting Brady: The offensive line didn't give Brady the time to make reads and find the open receiver. They didn't give him the space to step into his throws. He consistently underthrew the ball, even when pressure wasn't directly in front of him, perhaps as a result of the early pressure that was there. The Jets beat the Pats thanks in part to their pass rush. If Brady doesn't have the time and space to be Tom Brady, then the Patriots don't have the capability to go deep into the playoffs.

-Brady Himself: He didn't look sharp. Some of his incompletions were simply bad passes. He didn't even see the safety on his interception, which is uncharacteristic for him. As well as Detroit's pass-rushers played, Brady didn't take his trademark step in the right direction to avoid the pressure. He didn't seem to have the same pocket instincts we're accustomed to seeing him demonstrate.

-Playing Smart on Defense: How many times was the defense fooled Saturday night? It takes only one guy not doing their job, just one guy out of position in order for an entire defensive scheme to collapse. That happened several times, and the result was disastrous big plays.

-The Quality of the WRs: Wes Welker had a great game, catching 3 passes for 71 yards, and making a nice open-field tackle after an interception. And the Pats do have plenty of pass-catching options at WR, TE, and RB. But none of these guys are a deep threat, so the safeties can pretty much do what they want. And none of these guys require extra attention or double-coverage, so opposing defenses can feel free to send extra bodies to attack the QB.

I'm not in panic mode about this team, but they do have question marks, and they do need to improve in certain key areas. While it's true that some defensive players stayed home in Foxborough, if this team's success is reliant on old men like Haynesworth and Ellis, then it's going to be a very long season.

Pats host the Giants in their final pre-season game this Thursday.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo

College Football Preview: Non-BCS Contenders

Non-BCS teams have done really well lately, and the BCS countered that threat by absorbing them. Boise State tried to form a 7th power conference by moving to the Mountain West. Then TCU was added to the Big East (starting in 2012), the Pac-10 grabbed Utah, and BYU decided to go off on its own. Boise State is still the King of the BCS Busters, but that kingdom is shrinking.

BOISE STATE BRONCOS

BSU returns 7 starters to a unit that was #2 in scoring offense last year. QB and Heisman contender Kellen Moore leads them. Moore threw 35 TDs last year and has RB Doug Martin supporting him. Martin ran for 1,260 yards, averaging 6.0 per carry. The line returns 3 starters, but WR depth could be problematic.

The Broncos were also #2 in scoring defense and also return 7 starters on that side of the ball, 3 of which are on the D-line. They were 1st in the nation in sacks last year, and 2nd in tackles for a loss. They'll have to be strong up front because their secondary is a bit shaky.

They're overrated, frankly. The receivers and the secondary are weaknesses. Their special teams will be a liability with punting, kicking, and coverage problems. But their schedule is weak enough to win lots of games, and win some by large margins.

Key Games:
9/3 vs. Georgia (in Atlanta)
11/12 vs. TCU

Prediction:
11-1, MWC Champions, no BCS bid

TCU HORNED FROGS

TCU are 27-1 in their last 28 games, and although they bid farewell to lots of talent, they'll still be a legitimate team in 2011. The defense won't be as dominant as it was last year, but both LBs return (they use a 4-2-5 scheme), the line should be okay, but the secondary is untested.

They'll be vulnerable on offense. RB Ed Westley rushed for over 1,000 yards and 11 TDs as a sophomore. But the QB position will be a battle between sophomore Casey Pachal and freshman Matt Brown. The offensive line was a tremendous strength last year (only allowing 9 sacks), but only returns 1 starter.

The Frogs won't contend for a BCS berth, but they also won't lose many games. Their schedule isn't too imposing, and they only play 4 games outside of Texas.

Key Games:
10/28 vs. BYU (in Arlington)
11/12 @ Boise State

Prediction:
10-2, 2nd in MWC

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH

When a team goes 8-5, then returns 8 starters on each side of the ball, it normally generates some optimism. Add the name "Notre Dame" to the mix and it generates BCS buzz. But I've never been one to look at Notre Dame through green glasses.

There'll be a QB battle between Dayne Crist and Tommy Reese. There are question marks at RB and WR. On the plus side, the O-line returns almost completely intact.

The defense improves throughout 2010, which isn't saying much because they started the year allowing nearly 400 yards per game. There are two standouts in safety Harrison Smith, who picked off 7 passes last year, and linebacker Manti Te'o, who was part of 133 tackles.

The Irish are overrated by some. They're a Top 25 team, certainly, but aren't in the same league as most of the teams ahead of them. Thanks to a relatively easy schedule, though, they'll likely rise in the rankings.

Key Games:
9/17 vs. Michigan State
10/22 vs. USC
11/26 @ Stanford

Prediction:
9-3, no BCS bid

Why Miami Should Get the Death Penalty

The NCAA should kill Miami's football program, for at least a year. Miami should not be allowed to field a football team until its program has righted itself. More importantly, the Hurricanes need to be an example. If schools and programs don't check their players and coaches, the NCAA should let it be known that the consequences will be dire.

What might stop the NCAA from imposing the Death Penalty is exactly why the NCAA should impose it. The Death Penalty would punish the enitre ACC, it would punish the 12 teams Miami is scheduled to play in 2011. It punishes the 5 teams that Miami was going to visit this year. It punishes other sports teams at the school, and the university as a whole. It even punishes the economy of southern Florida. Everyone suffers, from the rich owner of hotels near Sun Life Stadium to the cleaning crew picking up trash after the game.

All these people are not responsible for what Miami's football program has done. But from now on, they'll be watching that program. And so will the interest groups surrounding other big football programs across the country.

Currently, the NCAA tries to monitor and discipline all the schools and programs in the country. That's a tough task. That's over 10,000 D-IA scholarship football players to keep tabs on, plus over 4,000 scholarship basketball players in D-I. And that's just the big money making programs. With so many athletes at so many schools, there has to be a more effective system of supervision and discipline.

It's all about pressure. If Miami receives the Death Penalty, there'll be pressure on the football team to clean up. That pressure will come from the school's trustees, from the AD, from local politicians. And there'll be pressure to keep the program clean once it's resurrected.

Going forward, the NCAA needs to apply pressure to the conferences. When USC was banned from postseason play for 2 years, the then Pac-10 suffered by losing potential bowl revenue. However, the Pac-10 did not have to relinquish the ill-gotten bowl money that USC was paid for their 2005 Rose Bowl appearance. It might seem unfair to punish the whole conference for USC's transgressions, but isn't it also unfair to reward the whole conference for USC's transgressions?

If the NCAA fines conferences for what happens with individual programs, the conferences will suddenly become excellent watchdogs. The schools running clean programs will lean on those running dirty ones to straighten themselves out. The conferences will investigate their programs. And instead of the NCAA monitoring 120 football teams, each conference can focus on the 8 or 10 or 12 programs under their supervision. That's just so much more efficient.

No conference has been directly punished for the violations of a program under their authority. Not surprisingly, I can't recall a single time that a conference reported a violation to the NCAA. The conferences aren't being watchdogs, because there's no pressure on them to do so.

If the NCAA holds conferences more accountable for what goes on underneath their noses, the NCAA also needs to grant the conferences more power. Conferences should be allowed to withhold TV and bowl game revenues from teams that are violating the rules. And once Athletic Directors are threatened with that possibility, they're going to be watching their coaches like a hawk.

Once the ADs scare the coaches, the coaches will realize that their job depends on the players they coach obeying the rules. The coaches will no longer wait until there's an accusation of foul play until they get off their asses and investigate. They'll actively take an interest in the financial lives of the players under their charge. And when a defensive end suddenly has a new Lexus, they'll take notice.

If the NCAA applies pressure to the conferences, the conferences will apply pressure to their schools. The schools will apply pressure to their programs. The programs will then apply pressure on the coaches, who will apply pressure on the players.

A few weeks ago, Ohio State's football program went unpunished for the memorabilia violations of its players, and the failure of the head coach to report it. The NCAA claimed that the school didn't have knowledge of what was going on, and therefore should not be punished. That's bullshit. In my opinion, Ohio State's football program failed to sufficiently monitor its athletes. Isn't it the job of the program to ensure compliance with NCAA regulations?

As long as the NCAA continues to use passive and soft disciplinary inactions like that, there will be widespread violations of NCAA rules. OSU football was excused for not knowing what was going on in their own program. I believe that OSU, and every other program in the country, needs to be held responsible for what goes on under their supervision. That's the only way to make them actively monitor their athletes' behavior.

There's always going to be sketchy boosters and agents giving money, cars, and girls to athletes. But if the NCAA overhauls its disciplinary system, and holds conferences responsible for their schools, schools accountable for their programs, programs responsible for their athletes. then epidemics of corruption like that at Miami won't occur. There will be single, isolated incidents. But there won't be systems of negligence and abuse that go on for years and involve dozens of athletes and coaches.

It's all about applying pressure, and making people scared that they might lose some money.