FanNation

This year has been unbelievable; more people than ever are missing college football.  This off-season seems like an eternity and so we are left here making outrageous predictions that won't affect us until who knows, when we could extend the season into a playoff so the off-season would be shorter, but oh well, I'll join the club:

1. USC - Until someone knocks off these guys in a huge upset, the Trojans are headed for the Sugarland.

2. LSU - Supposedly the SEC is the conference in college football and who ever makes it out of there deserves to go to the national title; or at least that's what all of the BS, oops I mean BCS, pollsters will think.

3. Wisconsin - The Badgers will be dominant this season, but they will have one loss; Penn State.

4. Texas -  I'm hesitant but I think Colt McCoy will put together another amazing season, but will once again fall short coming down the stretch.

5. Florida - Until they lose (which they will) they have to stay in the top 5.  

6. Michigan - This is a do or die year for Lloyd Carr.  First he has to start the season the way he started the last ten games of the season; that shouldn't be a problem until the final two weeks.  First he has to go to Madison and beat the Badgers and then return home for "The Game." If he loses to either or both of these teams (especially if it's the Buckeyes) he may have a hard time getting to coach the bowl game.  If the wolverines can get past everyone else and go undefeated, look for a Rose Bowl repeat of last year and the Heisman returning up North.

7. West Virginia - If Pat White can throw the ball, these guys will be hot, but if they don't they will fall off the charts by mid-season.

8. Virginia Tech - The ACC will start its resurrection from the Wake Forest era and the Hokies will play with a new motivation due to the shootings in May.  If the Seminoles cannot make an offense, I don't see any reason the Hokies can't make it to a BCS bowl game or even (heaven forbid) the Nation Championship game.

9.Boise State - Just for the fun of it I'll put them here, but without Jared Zabransky, last years Cinderella story will be lost in the Rockies. 

10. UCLA - One year after the greatest upset of the regular season, UCLA will look to win the PAC 10 crown for the first time in what feels like ages.  They will play well, but I highly doubt another upset like last years.

11. Oklahoma - Bobby will start to move on to the warm chair by the end of the season if he can't beat a descent opponent.  Last year, they lost to Texas and managed to make it to the Big 12 final because Texas fell apart.  Nebraska was descent but was still no where near what it was 5-6 years ago.  If the Sooners can't win 9 or 10 of their games, Stoops may start seeing thelight at the end of the road.

12. Auburn - The only team to beat last years national champs could be good or could be bad.  The SEC will be tough and they have key games on the road, such as LSU, Florida, and Georgia to name a few.  If they can survive two of those, the SEC may just undo itself and beat itself out of the national title game; too badL.

13. Penn State - If you missed the Outback bowl last year, shame on you.  This was a preview of what's to come in Happy Valley.  Morelli will shine this year and the defense will surprise.  JoePa may just put one final run together before having a stroke on the sideline.

14. Texas A&M - My only surprise of the rankings thus far.  The Aggies will be a huge surprise this year.  They beat Texas last year and have them at home this year.  If they get by Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska, look at a new champ from the Big 12.

15. Louisville - The Cards could win the Big East, but they lost a huge defensive player to the NFL in Amobie Okoye.  The offense should be strong led by senior Heisman candidate Brian Brohm but first year coach Steve Kragthorpe may hurt the chemistry Petrino created.

16. California - The Golden Bears could get it done this year if they can beat the Trojans.  If they fall to UCLA in week 8, expect the alums to get agitated very quickly.

17. Ohio State - The Buckeyes will have an off year but will remain in the BCS hunt if the can beat the Badgers and pull off the four-peat against Carr, though I doubt the latter will happen.  The offense will take a while to find itself, but the defense should make it through the first couple of weeks and by then Wells and crew can hopefully get rollin'.

18. Arkansas - I feel the same about the Hogs as I do the Mountaineers, no pass, not a chance.   And with Mustain gone, the odds of any passing threat look very doubtful.

19. Florida State - The Seminoles will return this year and they will make it to the ACC championship game, but it will be by defense.  Weatherford reminds me of Reggie Ball, the quarterback from Georgia Tech.  He can be hot, but he can be extremely off.  And when that happens, the defense will have to do the hard work.

20. Rutgers - The Scarlet Knights will be out to prove themselves and will run into a wall, the fact that people will no longer take them for granted.

21. Georgia - The Bulldawgs will try steal the crown from Florida, but with little success.

22. Nebraska - The Huskers could be dangerous, but it's still the South that rules in the Big 12.

23. Hawaii - Colt Brennan will return to the limelight and make over-whelming records, but they will be forgotten midway through the season when they play nobody.

24. Alabama - Saban will make a huge dent in the SEC.  He was the best acquisition of the off-season by anyone. He will coach to his best and beat LSU in a late season upset.

25. Tennessee - The Volunteers sneak in to this poll because the other teams are too weak to fit this position.  And Fulmer has to do well or he'll be gone by January 1.

Ok, so there they are as of July 19, 2007.  I'll finalize them in August before the season starts.  So until then, enjoy the rest of this everlasting off-season.