Well, well, well - I know it's almost football season when my SI College Football preview comes in the mail and the weather starts getting cooler....and we're supposed to cool down to the low 90s this weekend so things are looking up.

I was so excited that I just had to dust off the old blog and get my smack on. And so much to talk about - where-oh-where to begin.....

Texas Longhorns:
Earlier this year I proclaimed that this very well could be the year that breaks Mack's streak of 7 straight 10-win seasons (maybe 8?) and I still stand by that statement. Not saying the streak WILL be broken, but this year's combination of a very tough schedule and very young team could certainly spell disappointment (at least in terms of Longhorn standards). No doubt that this team will field some very good athletes as they always do, but honestly, things seem to set up for the Horns to make a big run in '09. Colt will be a senior (don't worry, he's not leaving early for the NFL...or ever), all 3 RBs will be back, secondary will have a year under their belts, young receivers will have a year of experience, etc., etc.

I am optimistic about a couple of things - all the injuries to last year's veteran O-lineman will serve these young guys quite well as they got a lot more playing time than they normally would have and I gotta think Colt will shake out of his sophomore slump. And I think we're all anxious to see what Muschamp brings to the picture and I think it's safe to say we're all very optimistic.

If this team wins 10 games this year I think it will be constituted as a huge success - this really is going to be a very tough schedule this year. I'll be honest, I had my eye on that Florida Atlantic game as those cats bring in some wicked athletes down there in Broward County. Not at all saying they were going to come in and upset the Horns, but I had visions of another Arkansas State game from last year when the under-matched visitors were down by 8 with under 5 minutes to play and had the ball. BUT, now that I've read what it is Old-Man Howard had to say I'm going to say Texas weathers an emotional, early push and then proceeds to stomp FAU for 2.5 quarters. 20+ point victory.

I'll continue to say it until the game is over - look out for that 9:15pm kickoff in El Paso in the second game of the year.

One more thing on the Horns, I am quite pleased to see the pollsters NOT automatically giving them a "top 5 benefit of the doubt" for winning a lot of games without winning the big ones. SI poll had them at 13 and frankly that's about right - make them earn that top 5 billing for once. I'm hoping a need to earn consideration as a top-tier contender may motivate them a bit more than seemed to have been in the past.

My Top 4 Contenders:
I make no secret about the fact that I don't like pre-season polls as they contribute more to the issues of CFB vs. doing any good. BUT, they give us something to talk about. Anyway, these are my 4 teams whom I believe have the best chance to compete in the >title game. Why 4? I just can't bring myself to include Missouri, USC, or LSU primarily because they would have to go through at least one of these below teams....and I don't think they're going to be good enough to do that this year.

Ohio State:
I'm not saying I like it, but they're definitely set up to make a big run. Big 10 is still a bit down and they've got a ton of returning talent (9 returning starters on both sides of the ball) - and Michigan will be horrible. Even if they stumble against USC I think they're poised to take yet another Big 10 title and be in a position to play in a third-straight title game...and that's all you can ask for. OSU has had a lot of help from the fact that they DID NOT play a conference title game the last two years, but you have to wonder if that luck will run out. If they can knock off USC then they are squarely in the driver's seat. Watch out for that October 4th game at Wisconsin - that could be the big trap game for them in their quest.

Georgia:
Like OSU these guys are bringing back a ton of talent and the way they ended the season anyone could conceivably think if ever they had a chance to finally get over the hump this would be that year. The recent season-ending injury of their starting left tackle is not something to be taken lightly - after all, the key blocker of your QB's blind side is easily one of the top 4 most important positions on the field. But, I'm still giving them a great chance here. Florida is coming in with lots of question marks on their defense and LSU is replacing a lot of key players on both sides of the ball and so like I said, great chance for Georgia. Keep an eye on their 4th game of the year when they visit Arizona State - that's a nice road challenge early in the year...but not too early.

Oklahoma:
I know these guys have gotten crapped on a bit for their recent performances in the BCS bowls (at least they're going year in and year out), but I still say these guys are one of the most dangerous teams week in and week out. I still contend if I'm making a team from scratch and can pick any coach I want I'm taking Stoops without hesitating.

The Sooners are replacing half of their defense including a whole new set of linebackers. They're front 4 are back and they've got a couple of new secondary guys so they'll have to prove some things early on - especially after giving up about 600 yards to the Mountaineers in the Fiesta Bowl. Offense is another story - they've got their entire O-line, QB, and both RBs coming back. That could be scary. They will be breaking in a new set of receivers though which may take some time. And if history has taught me anything it's that chances are pretty decent that QB Sam Bradford will hit a sophomore slump after leading the nation in pass efficiency last year. We'll see, but these guys could run the table and I wouldn't be surprised - I have absolutely no reason to believe they have much of a chance of losing to Texas, they're only real test early. They get Tech coming to town and they visit the aggies late in the season, but we've got a lot of football between now and then.

Florida:
These guys are also bringing back a lot of talent - of course that may not be a great thing for their defense; they must improve over last year's play - that loss to Michigan CapOne bowl last year was a definite low point. I also think that Tebow will have a ton of the running pressure taken off of him with the addition of USC transfer Emanuel Moody. Percy Harvin is also back as is most of the O-line so I don't think these guys will have any shortage of points in their games. And their schedule is favorable with Tennessee as the only true road test (excluding the Georgia game in Jacksonville....and I guess if I'm half-way right in my predictions it could all may come down to that game).

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