BTB Spring Football Part One: Emerging Stars
Part Two: Emerging Teams
Part Three: Heisman Candidates
Part Four: Preseason Top 25
It’s never too early to preview the 2008 season.
With the fifth and final installment of the spring football synopsis, Beyond the Bleachers is back with a look at important questions that must be addressed regarding college football programs and their players across the country.
Only 85 days until the ’08 season is finally here…
What are the most intriguing games of the 2008 season?
USC-OSU and Georgia-Florida seem to have the biggest implications. Regarding the Pac-10/Big Ten juggernaut matchup, each team needs this win if it looks to reach the BCS title game. Ohio State will essentially be eliminated from title contention if it loses to USC because of its presumed weak schedule—whether that ends up being true or not.
The Gators-Bulldogs game at the World’s Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville will most likely decide which team will win the SEC East and have the best shot at playing for the national title. It is highly unlikely that these conference rivals could ever play against one another in the BCS title game under the current system—even if they are the two best teams—so this game could end up being its own mini title game.
The Big 12 Championship game will be intriguing because there is a decent chance that at least one of the conference members playing will be in a position to play for the national title. Missouri may end up in a rematch against Oklahoma after losing to the Sooners twice last year. Or Texas Tech could even make a surprise entrance as the Big 12 South representative. Stranger things have happened. Kansas went 12-1 last year.
19 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
nixk love about 1 year ago
First off its three yard and a cloud of "dust" not smoke. Secondly its not Jim Tressel that started that offense it was the late great Woody Hayes. Ohio State is not 0-9 against the sec since 1931. They have won games vs the Sec just not in a bowl game. Having said that this is the year for Ohio State. So tell the nation to fuckin deal with it. This is going to be fun.
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Concerned Fan about 1 year ago
Just an FYI... Jenn is not a bandwagon fan at all. She actually attended USF before transferring to FSU. Her family has been USF boosters for a long time.
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Doug Adams about 1 year ago
Erin Andrews question should have been number 1
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Hope Robinson about 1 year ago
Since when is LSU's offense dynamic? The first poster must be an OSU fan just like the two idiots that gave me 7pts against USC, so delusional.
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David Williams about 1 year ago
LSU will be pretty wide open this year. They have about three or four different running backs they can depend on, countless receivers with playmaking ability, and a coach who has plenty of tricks up his sleeve in terms of playcalling...what else do you want
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Timmy Squared about 1 year ago
The Ohio State vs USC game will be just like the Ohio State vs Texas game two years ago. Ohio State will control the ball and the clock and they will win about 27-13.
USC doesnt play goofy confusing offenses like Illinois and they dont have the running dual threat quaterback system like Florida or LSU. Ohio State will get 270 yards running the ball and after the game everyone will be talking about how boring of a game it is and how everyone hates Ohio State.
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Samuel Smith about 1 year ago
Duke will have an easier time beating Virginia or GT, not UNC. Other then that, great article!
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Finnian Laurell about 1 year ago
Timmy, it become obvious your a true student of the game - NOT!!!
USC doesn't need a 'goofy confusing offense' becuase it's got about 12 RB & WR to do the job.
They will run circles around OSU, simply because of the widespread talent and depth.
As for OSU, just recall, the same OSU offense couldn't get it done vs. Ill last year and lost.
USC was able to run and pass on them, and USC'd Defense stopped them were OSU couldn't.
You're making two major mistakes with your assumptions.
1) That OSU will be able to run on USC like it has on most of the Big10. Hey, USC is not the Big10.
2) That USC has a talent for making opponents 1 dimmensional - and shutting down the run.
Even on the run powerhouse teams, USC's defense typically limits the run, to prevent offensve continuity.
It's not OSU that will win by two TD's Timmy, it's USC that will win going away.
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Nick Scarinzi about 1 year ago
Clemson was 9-4 last year not 8-5. This is the year they finally get it done. Don't count Clemson out of national contention either.
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Michael Shibley about 1 year ago
Hey I am all for seeing the Buckeye's back in the title game. If UGA, FLA, or maybe my Vols if I'm lucky play them...we will spot them a TD again and still roll them.
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David Williams about 1 year ago
SEC elitists can talk now, but don't dwell on the last two seasons because it might be a little different. People trash OU and OSU for not getting it done when it counts but don't count 'em out before anything has started yet.
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Timmy Squared about 1 year ago
I am sick of SEC fans talking all this shit about college football team that isnt in the SEC. Besides LSU and Florida, no one in the conference has any room to talk shit about other conferences or teams. Maybe Auburn can but not Georgia, they are just a bunch of underachievers (we will see it again this year).
For all you Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee fans out there talking down about other conferences...get over the hump and win a conference title this century and then you can talk shit, until then sit back and watch your team get dominated by the top level teams in the SEC.
There better not be any fans from Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, or Mississippi State out there hating on college football in the rest of the country, because you all suck and are just riding the coat tails, enjoy it while you can. By the way, has there been any kind of football title at any college level won in Kentucky or Mississippi since the 50's??
South Carolina, your lucky I ran out of time and I like the old ball coach, but your are guilty by association with these other shitting southern schools.
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WarDamn Eagle about 1 year ago
Sorry to all you SEC haters out there but no conference is tougher than the SEC. Week in and week out, everybody in the SEC conference brings their " A " game when playing other SEC foes. Truth is that if OSU or OU or even USC had to play the brutal SEC schedule, there would be more than one loss on the ol' resume. I am not putting down other conferences because there are some very, very good teams out of the Southern region.
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Timmy Squared about 1 year ago
Im not as SEC hater, I am an SEC fan hater. I love watching SEC football games. The players are athletic and they play an exciting type of football. That is what college football fans do, they watch and appreciate good football being played.
If OSU, OU, or USC were in the SEC and took the place of Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Miss St, South Carolina or Arkansas (i love reminding the rest of the country that the SEC does have shitty teams too) then no team would probably ever go undefeated....ever.
If OSU, OU, or USC were to replace LSU and get lucky and kept Florida and Auburn off the conference schedule (or if they just get favorable home games) then there is no doubt in my mind that either OSU, OU, or USC could go undefeated.
Get over yourselves SEC fans and just appreciate the fact that you get to watch good football week in and week out. So your team plays in the most exciting most athletic conference in the country, who cares, unless your team in LSU, you have absolutely no room to talk.
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Jeremy about 1 year ago
It will take the Big 10 at least 2 or 3 more seasons before they are back in the top 3 of the power leagues. By then Michigan will have the players Rodriquez wants and Ron Zook will do the same giving the Big 10 four or five top tier teams, with Wisconsin, OSU, Michigan, Illinois, and then either Michigan State or Purdue will rotate among the best teams.
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snoop cockycock about 1 year ago
timmy, you sound as annoying as your avatar looks. The fact that you are talking up osu, and trying to talk down the sec, shows what an idiot you really are. You say that you are not a sec hater, but you are talking down half of the conference. Are you really too stupid to understand what that means, because while that’s hard to believe, you actually do have me convinced. The only reason that you think these teams are “shitty”, is because of the competition they have to play week in and week out. None of your pathetic big ten teams have to play such schedules, and they still look ridiculously weak. If you put anyone of the teams that you named into any of those other conferences, they would look a hell of a lot better. And if you had any semblance of a brain, you would have already realized that.
And since I can see that you have no life, since you are on just about every thread I have read tonight, I will rest my case here, because I have more to do in my life than sit on an internet board, and carry on an argument with misinformed fan.
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Eric Brown about 1 year ago
Corso sells pencils in the offseason.
Seriously.
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Tully Turk about 1 year ago
I agree with snoop and timmy. timmy goes to family reunions to pick up chicks, but he's right. i don't know why anybody would watch anything but the SEC.
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Reggie Garcia about 1 year ago
Tebow is definetly the front runner for Heisman, but like I said previously, Wells is my favorite to win the Heisman.
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