College Football: 2007 Conference Outlooks

For the first time in years, there are no clear-cut powerhouses in the college football world.

That makes picking a Top Five pretty hard to do...so I instead I'm breaking down each of the major conferences:

Pac-10 Conference

Everybody says Southern Cal will dominate the Pac 10 Conference.

The problem: The Trojans lost to two teams they should have clobbered in 2006.

John David Booty showed poise in the beginning of the season before faltering against Oregon State and UCLA. He needs to be better for USC this year.

Don't be surprised if Oregon regains its championship form. The Bruins might also have the firepower to make some noise. Expect the Ducks-Trojans matchup to decide the conference.

Pac-10 Champions: USC, via tiebreaker over Oregon

Big 12 Conference

 

In a conference full of turmoil, the Texas Longhorns will destroy the competition.

 

Oklahoma's offseason problems have left the program in disarray. Colorado can't get out first gear. Texas A&M might pose a threat, and Texas Tech is always dangerous, but a healthy Colt McCoy will help the 'Horns finish what they started last season.

  

Big 12 Champions: Texas Longhorns

 

 

Big 10 Conference

 

The Big 10 is wide open. 

 

Ohio State lost their Heisman quarterback and their big-play wideout. Penn State is getting back to basics. Michigan State will be an upset machine. Michigan is the trendy pick...but how the chips will fall is anyone's guess. 

 

For the Wolverines to win, Lloyd Carr needs to be better than he was last season. For the sake of argument, I'm going to call Carr's bluff and pick against his Wolverines.

  

Big Ten Champions: Penn State Nittany Lions

 

 

Atlantic Coast Conference 

 

The Seminoles' era of dominance may finally be at an end.

 

With Bobby Bowden in his waning days, I could see Virginia Tech turning tragedy into triumph. Miami, meanwhile, is in a world of hurt. The Hurricanes will have to find a way to get past their off-field issues and get back to playing football.

 

Defending champ Wake Forest has a tough road ahead, but don't bet against the Demon Deacons. That said, I'm calling Big Bad Bowden to go out with a bang.

 

ACC Champions: Florida State Seminoles

 

 

Southeastern Conference

 

Quite possibly the most talented conference in the country.

 

LSU was outstanding in 2006, and almost kept Florida out of the BCS title game. Alabama could be dangerous with Nick Saban at the helm. South Carolina, on the other hand, is in trouble—Steve Spurrier can't seem to resist stirring the pot.

 

Ole Miss will be bowl-bound, but a division crown isn't within their grasp. The same goes for Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

 

When the smoke clears in December, prepare for an onslaught on orange, green, and blue. For the record, the Gator is green and the "F" is blue, you colorblind knuckleheads

  

SEC Champions: Florida Gators

 

 

That's it for now. See y'all in September...

 

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