Ten Bold Predictions for the 2009 College Football Season

Have you seen their schedule? Other then a home game against USC, Notre Dame should be favored in every game. They play four road games the entire season and they are against Michigan, Purdue, Pittsburgh, and Stanford. Jimmy Clausen isn't shaking in his boots.

In Notre Dame's defense, there should be a lot more talented this season then there was last season. They are returning 10 starters on offense and should be able to put up points in a hurry.

Most years, this Notre Dame team would play in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day. With this schedule, though, anything less than nine wins should be a huge disappointment.

Some might say this prediction isn't very bold, but if you look at the past few years in the Pac-10, the Men of Troy have done nothing less than dominate.

Pete Carroll has done a tremendous job of restocking talent better than Wal-Mart restocks their shelves. This year, though, all of the talent loss is going to catch up to them.

I'm not going to guarantee any particular team to crown, but Oregon State, Oregon, and California all have a shot at overtaking the Trojans. My pick is the Oregon Ducks.

The Rebels beat two of the most impressive offenses around last season, and they return nine of their defensive starters. That by itself should scare the SEC.

Then, look at Ole Miss's schedule. The scheduling gods must like Houston Nutt. They get LSU and Alabama at home and draw South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vandy from the SEC East.

That, paired with the fact that Jevan Snead is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the nation, spells good news for the Rebels.

The favorable conference schedule, paired with a cupcake filled OOC schedule, means that with a little luck, the Rebels might be playing Florida in the SEC championship game for a shot at Pasadena.

Both of these teams lost several leaders on the defensive side of the ball, and both teams lost their starting quarterbacks from last season. The difference in the two teams is that Ohio State has Terrelle Pryor and USC just doesn't.

Pryor showed signs of brilliance last season, as well as signs of ineptness. Last season was a learning experience, and he will be better this season.

If the game was played later in the season, I might have a different opinion of things, but the Buckeyes will be looking for revenge after that embarrassment they received last season and USC won't be experienced enough on either side of the ball to pull out a victory. Taylor Mays can only do so much.

George Selvie might be the best pass rusher in the nation, and Matt Grothe is an experienced, smart quarterback. That, along with the Big East being fairly weak this season, equals success for the Bulls, and a lot of it.

They have OOC games against FSU and Miami. That might spell trouble for them, but I think they will split those two games, as well as slipping up once in conference play to finish the season 10-2 and Orange Bowl bound.

Most experts think that the Texas vs. Oklahoma game will be the deciding factor on the Big 12 championship game. Not so fast my friends.

Oklahoma State is just as experienced and talented as their interstate rival. Also, they have eight home games, only four away games this season, and a bye week before their game at Oklahoma.

Texas should cruise into Stillwater on October 31st, and both teams should be undefeated and ranked in the top five. The winner of the game will have the inside track on the conference title game in Arlington, Texas on December 5th.

Last season, this game ended in dramatic fashion, as the Yellow Jackets recovered a fumble inside their own endzone to preserve a 31-28 victory. This season, I expect the teams to play twice.

The ACC Atlantic division doesn't have one single team that plays consistently. Neither do the Seminoles, but they are the most talented, and thus should be able to overcome their inconsistencies with more ease than NC State and Maryland will be.

The ACC Coastal division is a lot more competitive, but Georgia Tech has their two main threats both at home this season (Virginia Tech and UNC).

This, paired with the fact that they return 17 starters from last year's team, spells bad luck for the Hokies and Tarheels

I am just as confident that Florida will win the SEC East this year as I am that Lou Holtz will stutter this next football season. It's 100 percent going to happen.

The second spot, though, is up for grabs. Every other team in the SEC East has multiple questions. Tennessee might have more than most, but they also have the best player in the SEC East in Eric Berry as well as the best defensive mind in the SEC in Monte Kiffin.

The defense will be a top-10 unit in the nation, and their offense will be just good enough to finish 8-4 or 9-3 and finish in second place to the Gators.

Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech (ACC rep) vs South Florida (Big East rep)

Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss (at-large) vs Notre Dame (at-large)

Rose Bowl: Oregon (Pac 10 rep) vs Ohio State (Big10 rep)

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State (at-large) vs USC (at-large)

These two teams are just the most talented and experienced teams in the nation. They have great quarterbacks, great coaches, and great fan bases. It should be a great end to an incredible college football season.

Each team has only two real obstacles they should be worried about.

Florida will face LSU in Death Valley early in the season, and then will have to play Ole Miss in the SEC Championship Game at the end of the season. Both games should be challenges, but definite W's for the Gators.

For Texas, they have the neutral site game against the Sooners in the middle of the season, and then a couple of weeks later, travel to Stillwater to face the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. Both games should result in Texas victories, but crazier things have happened.

If one of these teams slips up, I think Ohio State will be the team to capitalize and play in this game, but don't count on either team to slip up.